I find it difficult to get into jazz because, well, there’s so much of it. So thanks to Justin for turning me on to this groovy piece of plastic. It’s slow, funky and really interesting to listen to and absorb. And completely different from my other Hancock albums, Head Hunters and Future Shock.
Monthly Archives: January 2002
A Closed Book — Gilbert Adair
The air of menace isn’t as, well, menacing as I would have liked, and there are a few implausible plot points. But the different voices in the book work well together, even if things get a bit banal towards the end. Or do they?
I’m Waking Up to Us — Belle & Sebastian
Another melodic pop gem from Belle & Sebastian. Not much more to say about it other than that it’s not as good as the previous one, Jonathan David, but it’s still stellar.
The Fellowship of the Ring
Breathtakingly exciting, and breathtakingly beautiful. And it took my breath away too.
Inside the Dub Plates — Salmonella Dub
Great for dusting out those speakers. A really nice album, with soul, a bit of melody and a boatload o’ bass. I’ve never even heard the earlier album Killervision, but I think I should.
New Zealand
Such a nice place. Wellington was strange though — I’d never been there over new year before, when the university and the parliament are both empty. It was like a ghost town (albeit a very pleasant, if windy, ghost town).
Harry Potter
Well, it was exactly like the book, so not really worth watching. Still, nicely put together – the casting was pretty good, the special effects were good (Lord of the Rings comparisons are probably unfair), and the overacting performances were just right.
meatsicle!
“meatsicle! is an all natural, frozen meat snack! We use only the freshest slaughtered and deboned cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens in our secret formula. No preservatives, no artificial colors. meatsicle! is the only frozen snack that contains the protein children need!”
Word Perhect
This is a word processing program as designed by a Turner Prize-nominated artist. It is magnificent. If all computer programs were like this, the world would be a better place.
Pointless Waste of Time
(No, not thunderguy.com.) This site is indeed entirely pointless, and quite silly, but you won’t find it a waste of time as long as you enjoy pointless silliness.
Stardrive
This is way past the cutting edge, as far as I can tell. Is it science, or art, or mumbo-jumbo? Maybe this will be hailed as visionary stuff a hundred years from now. You never know.
War of Words
“What is going on when some other person is so misguided as to disagree with us?”
Some interesting ideas on this site, a taster for a book:
War of Words: Women and Men Arguing.
“All you need to know about arguments to win”, as it says. Good book too!
Karmavore
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Film at karmavore.com is a bunch of capsule reviews of films that dare to portray women not as damsels in distress, love interests or other plot devices, but as characters in their own right. There are some excellent recommendations on this very nicely designed site. And they deserve a medal for coming up with that name.
Gwen
Gwen is cute. Gwen is funky. Gwen has no arms and legs, but Gwen is fun to play with. (In real life, Gwen does have arms and legs, as well as a slightly less squeaky voice.)
Babynamer
A nice idea. I’ve listed it here not because I have need of their services (yet), but because I contributed in my own small way to the site. (See if you can guess how.) Lots of information about thousands of names, including yours!
Too Much Coffee Man
Linguistics, depression, Shakespeare, and German white chocolate with almonds. The comic strip that has it all.
They Might Be Giants
Purveyors of clever, catchy, eclectic and thoughtful pop music. Listen, laugh and learn. (Disclaimer: I liked their old stuff better than their new stuff, etc.)
UK Singles Chart
I used to buy a lot of CD singles when I lived in the UK. Now, at least I have this website. The commentary along with each single can yield valuable insights into UK popular culture, for all you sociologists out there.
Internet Underground Music Archive
Before MP3, before Napster, there was IUMA, fighting the good fight for independent music. It was a cool site, back when “cool site” meant something new. And it’s still going strong.
Psyche
Some pretty big names contribute to this journal of cognitive science and related disciplines. You think, but does that really mean you are? Find out here.
ada in flux, an evolving journey
Art for the MTV generation. Good.
MIT Media Lab: Sample Research Projects
The thinking person’s toymakers. Research was never so much fun.
Annals of Improbable Research
Keeping the playful spirit of science alive. Varies from good to brilliant.