"King of Porn" Empties Out His Castle
Before reading this article, put down that cup of coffee and swallow that last sip. I will not be responsible for any spewage.
Wes Phillips
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Remembering Jack Kerouac
Yeah, yeah, the relentless drumbeating about <I>On the Road</I> is getting annoying. See the manuscript, read the novel, nostalge about the beats, buy the anniversary edition and the Library of America canonization.
Three Laws Safe
Catherine Arnst writes that making robots more like humans—cosmetically and perceptively—will make them safer, better colleagues for their human co-workers.I'm not convinced, but her account of the first robot "murder" of a human being makes a strong case. (I'm no lawyer, but lacking intent, wouldn't it have to be manslaughter or negligent homicide?)
What's Six or Seven Million Years Amongst Family?
New fossils discovered in Ethiopia "conclusively demonstrates that the Last Common Ancestor (of both man and ape) was strictly an African phenomenon," according to an article published in <I>Nature</I>.
Saul Zaentz
John Fogerty aside, I bet Saul Zaentz <I>can</I> dance. It seems like he can pretty much do anything he sets his mind to.
Sonny Rollins
Jerome Harris sends along this link to his former boss' Proust Questionaire in September's <I>Vanity Fair</I>. Rollins, in case you didn't know, will be <A HREF="http://www.carnegiehall.org/article/box_office/events/evt_10836.html?se… at Carnegie Hall</A> on September 18.
Gould in Love
Lifting the shroud of mystery over Glenn Gould's private life.
Give the Drummer Some!
The Roland TR-909 is now online.
Yay!
A new story by Roddy Doyle. 'Nuff said—except that the "f-bomb" is dropped in the second graf. Of course, I already said it's by Roddy Doyle.
Mad Men
I've been fascinated by AMC's summer series <I>Mad Men</I>. Its depiction of 1960 America is revelatory—even though I was alive then, if only eight. And, as Ellen Feldman observes, it's not just the details that make it so powerful, it's a throwback in terms of character development and, dare I say it, pacing. Although AMC has commercials, it doesn't observe the same rhythm other channels do, so some scenes develop for 11 or 12 minutes before a break.