I got an email announcing the opening of this new news site, Truthdig.com, under the motto that, as stated by A.J. Liebling, “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.” This month there’s a feature by Orville Schell called China: Boom or Boomerang? that looks promising. Check it out.
Category: ASIDES
‘Zoiding
Poking around Rudy Rucker’s place, I found a neat little Asteroids Applet I thought you all might enjoy as much as I did. For a few minutes, anyway.
glenn branca: the official web site
Like guitar? Then I bet you’ll like glenn branca.
Dear Tom Cruise,
Do you still think that there’s nobody who needs psychoative medications? It’s alright, Tom. Just breathe.
Various Links of Interest
Links of interest found on the Lost Nomad‘s site: One BBC reporter’s diary of Bush’s Asian tour A judge with what seems like a proper appreciation of Gilbert & Sullivan (or at least their call to let the punishment fit the crime). And via peemil (first point also discussed by Lost Nomad): Do they want to rectify all misconceptions of Korea, or just the ones they don’t like? Take a wild guess… Damned cool jello sculptures. While he lacks the compassion uncritical praising content that most Koreans demand of their critics, usinkorea has a lot of interesting things to say, …
Kobe Beef
American Japanopodcaster Kobe Beef is someone whose show my Japan-enthusiast friend Marvin would enjoy — intelligent discussion of American politics, Japanese history, and a naughty Japanese word in Nihongo time (Japanese-language time) were all featured in the episode I listened to. Maybe some of the rest of you, too.
What It’s Like
Marvin linked to these very interesting and worthwhile essays by someone using the handle Darksyde, which describe what it’s like for an atheist to live in American (or any) society. What it’s Like to be an Atheist Why I’m an Atheist Not recommended reading for those who don’t want an honest, no-holds-barred look at what it feels like to be in a minority in terms of absence of religious belief. But if you’ve ever wondered why atheists sometimes seem so angry and almost evangelical in their fervor, especially the first essay is worth reading, even if you know you’ll disagree …
I’ll Buy That
you are going to die of old age. you’re hardstudying payed off and you did everythingright. you had a very calm and simple life,which is good. How will you die? (beautiful pics!) brought to you by Quizilla That’s about the best answer I could have gotten, I think.
Evolution in the bible, says Vatican – The Other Side – Breaking News 24/7 – NEWS.com.au
Those who like to criticize the Romish Church would do well to remember that, whatever its faults, it at least has the integrity to admit that evolution is true and that the bible does not contradict it. And they’ve been saying this for quite a while, though of course they excommunicated de Chardin for formulating the synthesis of evolution and theology that, it seems, is now in vogue among learned Catholics. As Dave at Epiphany in C suggests, this really does say something (good) about the Church, and also suggests they’re getting annoyed at America’s Unintelligent Design culture war.
The Critters I Loved
A comment from Mer on this post got me thinking about the cartoon characters I loved when I was a kid. Aside from the regular ones — the Disney characters, as I always hated the Warner Bros. characters — there were three that stand out: Asterix, The Moomintrolls, and the Barbapapas.