[book] Close to Shore Michael Capuzzo Selachophobia—fear of sharks—is one of the most irrational fears one can harbor. The stats come nowhere near supporting that sense you get once you pass the shore break, the one that makes you think your fate rests within the gullet of Galeocerdo cuvier. This, apparently, is a result of sensationalistic media. Jaws author Peter Benchley … [Read more...] about Sharks!
Mind Candy
An earful
[album] SUPER TARANTA Gogol Bordello Super Taranta is an amazing introduction to the genre of gypsy punk. When I travel the world, this is the album that I want to be the soundtrack. Give it a listen; you’ll know just what I’m talking about. I’d suggest you begin with “Wonderlust King” (yes, that’s … [Read more...] about An earful
WTF?
Art Ensemble of Chicago Bap-Tizum Hippies. They seem to come up with the most nonsensical names for things. I mean, ganja goo-ball? Aoxomoxoa? The Constitution? Come on. Get a job. It may please you to know, however, that the longhairs that came up with the variety of bottled fruit smoothies branded Odwalla got the name from the title of the tune that closes out jungle-art-jazz … [Read more...] about WTF?
Get your geek on
WORLD OF WARCRAFT worldofwarcraft.com WoW is a lot like a hard drug. First, they offer you a free 10-day trial. Sure, it seems innocuous enough: a MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role-playing game) to fill in the hours when you’re not busy. You create your character, wander around the world of Azeroth on quests, meet people and consequently kill them. Suddenly, you’re … [Read more...] about Get your geek on
Songs for the single girl
Mazzy Star, “I’ve Been Let Down” This breezy, nearly bluesy acoustic tune on the 1996 release Among My Swan possesses a rare degree of vulnerability. Despite a mere three chords and simple lyrics, the tune manages to convey a universal yet highly unhealthy emotional state (“make me feel like I belong to you/make me feel it even if it ain’t true”). The narrator is well aware of … [Read more...] about Songs for the single girl