Wonderful set of stories about Stevie Wonder’s harmonica playing. There’s no denying that Wonder’s harmonica sound is unique but I bet you haven’t given much thought as to why (I hadn’t). Well, these folks have.
A daily miasma of frivolity by two wanna-be cultural critics. Or: just, like, some good links, dude.
Author Archives: Mark Twain, probably
Mille Bornes is an excellent card game, a favorite of both mine and Colin’s. It was originally released in 1954, and like all board and card games, it’s had several art redesigns over the years. Codex 99 has a post showing off some of the different card and box art, and you all should check it out because it’s pretty delightful.
The card selections above are from the 1960 “edition spécial” deck by an unknown artist. I can’t take my eyes off the accident card in the middle.
Gene for poor science journalism discovered
Gene for poor science journalism discovered
Pitch perfect.
Platinum and gold records are a big deal in the music biz, but what about one made entirely of ice? It had been three years since Swedish indie rockers Shout Out Louds released their last album, and they wanted something special to introduce “Blue Ice,” the first single off their upcoming Optica, to the world. In collaboration with the creative folks at ad agency TBWA Stockholm, they came up with a way to transform the physicality of vinyl into something more ephemeral.
The sound quality was a lot better than I was expecting it to be, although you’ll notice it degrades quite a bit by the end. Also, is it actually safe in any way to melt something on a turntable?
Anyway, still fuckin’ neat.
(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
I don’t believe I’ve ever posted anything from 9-Eyes here before. It’s a collection of Street View pictures from Google Maps, curated by Jon Rafman.
I don’t have the slightest idea where this one is located in the world, but it is a pretty neat photograph.
Girls Spike Parents’ Milkshakes To Avoid Internet Curfew
Girls Spike Parents’ Milkshakes To Avoid Internet Curfew
Ed Fletcher, Sacramento Bee:
Two Placer County teenage girls were arrested for allegedly using drugged milkshakes to knock out the parents of one of the girls so they could log on to the Internet, Rocklin police said.
Internet access at the Rocklin home was routinely shut off at 10 p.m., said Lt. Lon Milka, a department spokesman. […]
“The girls wanted to use the Internet, and they’d go to whatever means they had to,” Milka said.
Oh for crying out loud.
California man says he can drive in carpool lane with corporation papers
California man says he can drive in carpool lane with corporation papers
Isolde Raftery, NBC News:
When Jonathan Frieman of San Rafael, Calif., was pulled over for driving alone in the carpool lane, he argued to the officer that, actually, he did have a passenger.
He waved his corporation papers at the officer, he told NBCBayArea.com, saying that corporations are people under California law.
See, the joke is that corporate personhood is ruining this country.
Actually, the real joke is in the next paragraph:
For 10 years, Frieman says he had been trying to get pulled over to get ticketed and to take his argument to court
TEN YEARS
America’s Real Criminal Element: Lead
America’s Real Criminal Element: Lead
Interesting piece about the evidence that lead exposure and crime reates are highly correlated. I recommend reading it. Although I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being taken for a ride.
Firestorm of Criticism for Cabinet Nominee Front-Runner Chuck Hagel
Firestorm of Criticism for Cabinet Nominee Front-Runner Chuck Hagel
PBS Newshour report:
A number of news organizations reported today that President Obama will nominate former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel to be secretary of defense next week. But there was no official confirmation from the White House.
Well okey doke, not sure what the big deal is he—
Former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel has not, so far, been nominated for the top Pentagon job, but attacks like this TV ad began shortly after news accounts named Hagel the front-runner. They focus mostly on whether he’s sufficiently pro-Israel.
So, to lay this one out:
- We’re running television ads to influence not an election, but a Cabinet appointment.
- We’re running television ads to influence a Cabinet appointment nominee who hasn’t even been nominated yet.
Oy vey.
~~~~~~~~~~
Here’s a joke snippet from a conversation I had with Colin about that New York Times piece he posted yesterday:
- ‘Ili:
- “They called this phenomenon the ‘end of history illusion,’ in which people tend to ‘underestimate how much they will change in the future.’”
- ‘Ili:
- Good, I was worried I’d hit a plateau of grumpiness.
Little did I know that it would only take a day for me to get even grumpier.
“Are you also opposed to the wheel because because it is marketed by the big auto companies?”
“Are you also opposed to the wheel because because it is marketed by the big auto companies?”
Mark Lynas:
I want to start with some apologies. For the record, here and upfront, I apologise for having spent several years ripping up GM crops. I am also sorry that I helped to start the anti-GM movement back in the mid 1990s, and that I thereby assisted in demonising an important technological option which can be used to benefit the environment.
As an environmentalist, and someone who believes that everyone in this world has a right to a healthy and nutritious diet of their choosing, I could not have chosen a more counter-productive path. I now regret it completely.
So I guess you’ll be wondering – what happened between 1995 and now that made me not only change my mind but come here and admit it? Well, the answer is fairly simple: I discovered science, and in the process I hope I became a better environmentalist.
Really great piece.