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I'm voting Republican. Americans from many career types describe why they're voting Republican. More info about the video.
comment posted at 4:02 PM on Jun-30-08

There's just something so pleasing about watching a mixed freight train go by.
comment posted at 4:13 PM on Jun-30-08

The original Emo. Wikipedia states that much of Emo Philips' standup comedy "stems from the use of paraprosdokians and garden path sentences." And, while there are plenty of quotes to support this, it doesn't quite do justice to the man who wrote the best God joke ever--it's in the way he delivers these lines. Experience true Emo here, through these links which I like to call, "Audio and Video Clips from Emo Philips' Website."
comment posted at 7:34 PM on Jun-29-08

Women's rights: What's in it for men? - "Women in rich countries largely enjoy gender equality while those in poor countries suffer substantial discrimination. This column proposes an explanation for the relationship between economic development and female empowerment that emphasises changes in the incentives males face rather than shifts in moral sentiment. Technological change that raises demand for human capital may give men a stake in women's rights."
comment posted at 2:00 PM on Jun-29-08

The New York Times article, Rethinking the Country Life as Energy Costs Rise , is just one of many articles documenting the apparent demise of suburbia. Unlike the notable Atlantic article which focused mostly on the mortgage bubble (previously), these more recent articles are beginning to focus of the rising cost of gas and transportation in general. (Previously) Is this the beginning of The End of Suburbia as predicted by the curmudgeonly James Howard Kunstler? (Discussed previously here and here.) Or are Americans simply readjusting their lifestyles to fit current economic limitations?
comment posted at 3:22 PM on Jun-25-08
comment posted at 6:10 PM on Jun-25-08

Wars around the world have killed three times more people over the past half-century than previously estimated, a new study suggests... The researchers estimate that 5.4 million people died from 1955 to 2002 as a result of wars in 13 countries. These deaths range from 7,000 in the Democratic Republic of Congo to 3.8 million in Vietnam. According to Obermeyer, the estimates are three times higher than those of previous reports. Data from this new study also suggests that 378,000 people worldwide died a violent death in war each year between 1985 and 1994, compared with 137,000 estimated at the time.

ABC News: Study: War Deaths Grossly Underestimated
The study: Fifty years of violent war deaths from Vietnam to Bosnia: analysis of data from the world health survey programme
Related: Measuring deaths from conflict
comment posted at 6:06 AM on Jun-21-08
comment posted at 2:10 PM on Jun-21-08
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comment posted at 7:02 PM on Jun-21-08
comment posted at 5:51 AM on Jun-22-08
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comment posted at 10:48 AM on Jun-22-08

The first known recording of a digital computer playing music, recorded by the BBC in 1951. The music played on a Ferantti Mark 1, one of the first commercial general-use computers, and was entered via punchtape and played on a speaker usually used for making clicks and tones to indicate program progress.
comment posted at 4:04 PM on Jun-18-08

Gore Vidal on The New York Times Magazine. On McCain: "Who started this rumor that he was a war hero? Where does that come from, aside from himself? About his suffering in the prison war camp?". On WFB's death: "I thought hell is bound to be a livelier place, as he joins forever those whom he served in life, applauding their prejudices and fanning their hatred".
comment posted at 2:08 PM on Jun-15-08
comment posted at 2:50 PM on Jun-15-08

The Underground Railroad refers to the effort -- sometimes spontaneous, sometimes highly organized -- to assist persons held in bondage in North America to escape from slavery. Historic places along the Underground Railroad are testament of African American resolve. One of those places is Lycoming County, PA. Freedom means a hard, dangerous trek. Do you try it?
comment posted at 8:19 AM on Jun-15-08
comment posted at 2:16 PM on Jun-15-08

Stupid Design Neil deGrasse Tyson gives a short view from the other side of the coin. (SLYT)
comment posted at 2:39 PM on Jun-15-08
comment posted at 3:08 PM on Jun-15-08

1964 means the Beatles. But listen to the other #1 hits that year! No wonder Douglas Adams broke into the matron's room. Via my second favorite music blog.
comment posted at 6:37 AM on Jun-15-08
comment posted at 8:25 AM on Jun-15-08
comment posted at 3:57 AM on Jun-16-08

E. D. Hill has company. Jamison Foser of Media Matters for America summarizes how Obama is treated by the press. (via Jay Lake)
comment posted at 4:32 PM on Jun-14-08

We've talked about BMI as a metric for health, and possibly laws regulating health. What about waist measurment?
comment posted at 4:39 PM on Jun-14-08

Quiz: Who is more homophobic? Religious zealots or Rappers?
comment posted at 2:39 PM on Jun-13-08

Baby please don't go, baby please don't go, baby please don't go down to New Orleans, I love you so, baby please don't go.
comment posted at 4:54 PM on Jun-12-08

"A venal, dysfunctional government." That is how the San Francisco Chronicle describes the Bush administration's handling of the war in Iraq. Now an investigation by the BBC's respected Panorama TV program estimates that around $23bn (£11.75bn) may have been lost, stolen or just not properly accounted for in Iraq. But they are not allowed to report fully because of US gagging order.
comment posted at 3:51 PM on Jun-10-08

So do you want to see some amazing talent?
comment posted at 7:33 PM on Jun-8-08

Sir Norbert Smith - A Life.
comment posted at 4:07 PM on Jun-8-08
comment posted at 6:51 PM on Jun-8-08

The Black and White Minstrel Show was a (very cheesy) British variety series that ran Saturday nights on the BBC for twenty years. Hard to believe that it was still on the air as late as 1978. A live show, "Memories of the Minstrels ," toured the UK to packed houses in 2004 and 2005. The show was performed white-faced and featured the stars, medley's and costumes from the original TV series. Previously.
comment posted at 4:14 PM on Jun-4-08
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comment posted at 5:06 PM on Jun-4-08
comment posted at 7:01 PM on Jun-4-08
comment posted at 2:52 AM on Jun-5-08

Big Buck Bunny - a fantastic animation. It's also on YouTube, but the download is so much better.
comment posted at 4:10 AM on Jun-4-08

Video of a man going totally beserk in a Russian office. Cellphone video here, w/ audio.
comment posted at 5:48 PM on Jun-3-08

It's just gotta make you feel so good to hear (and see) Sonny Boy Williamson sing and blow the harp. Keep in mind, of course, this is Sonny Boy Williamson II we're talking about here. Yes, there were two harp-blowing Sonny Boys, and here's a documentary on the legendary Sonny Boy the first: Part 1 and Part 2.
comment posted at 2:50 PM on Jun-3-08
comment posted at 5:54 PM on Jun-3-08
comment posted at 4:43 AM on Jun-4-08

Enka is popular Japanese music which started to become popular in the Showa era after World War II. Until very recently, it's pretty much been popular only with the older crowd or in karaoke. Recently, though, a popular young star from Philadelphia has brought about a resurgence with the younger crowd. Look at his videos and be amazed. Presenting Jero.
comment posted at 5:18 PM on Jun-2-08

So, about 9 months ago I started working on this compilation... Until yesterday, however, I hadn't seen a tracklist from the mysterious 10-cd set called the VrootzBox, so this is not a derivative work, however similar it may be...I should mention that not all of these songs are songs that he covered or copped licks from. Most of the music he has made mention to, though a few of the songs were recorded after his formative years and one or two he never would have heard. But they are presented to give an illustration of the styles he drew from (such as gamelan, which he grew up playing in his neighbor's back yard).

Wrath of the Grapevine: The Roots of John Fahey
via FaheyGuitarPlayers
comment posted at 1:39 PM on Jun-1-08

A runner's primer
comment posted at 4:21 AM on May-29-08

Do you have Adultitis?
comment posted at 5:15 AM on May-27-08
comment posted at 6:26 AM on May-27-08
comment posted at 6:43 AM on May-27-08
comment posted at 6:59 AM on May-27-08
comment posted at 9:42 AM on May-27-08