The Ruminator is a new groupblog that launched about a week ago and is just figuring out its voice as its many writers make their first posts. I’m a contributor, and my first post is up. It’s about how, when music shops and bookshops close down, there’s some additional consequences:
One by one, these stores are closing up for good. As they close I wonder if there is something at work here beyond the normal swell and fade of commerce and retail, something with an impact that reaches beyond “retail therapy” and the ding of a cash register. I can’t shake the feeling that this is a change that matters, and that what we are losing here will reduce us, irrevocably. [Read the rest]
There’s plenty of other Ruminating writers there, too. Go check ’em out.
25 fictional detectives & their #1 moves (mash, you’ll wanna see this…)
David Simon brings the ruckus on the US senate’s failure to pass even massively-watered-down gun regulations.
Do not touch, a crowd-sourced music video. Fun! (via Sammyh)
Not much money at all can buy you a fake Facebook girlfriend
The dangers of thinking like an economist
Alison Brie does memes:
Conan O’Brien hosts an 80-minute chat with writers from the golden age of The Simpsons. Marvellous! Had this on while cooking dinner over two nights, enjoyed every minute.
This image should NOT be seen by the whole world (via Hugh Dingwall)
The myth of Margaret Thatcher
and What we talk about when we talk about Thatcher
Riverbend, the Iraqi blogger who was posting regularly in the buildup to the invasion, and after, has made a new post after years of silence, marking the 10th anniversary of the war’s beginning.
Star Wars characters modelling fur for Vogue in 1977
There’s a GREAT clip circulating of Patton Oswalt improvising the plot of a new Star Wars movie (part of a Parks & Recreation story apparently) – I watched it, it was awesome, but the one I watched is no longer there and I can’t find another with permission to view from NZ. Google “Star Wars Filibuster” and try your luck, it’s well worth a look.
Oh my god! They killed Sean Bean!
Perhaps the definitive analysis of those bloody eagles not flying to Mordor
My buddy Dan’s story “Waking The Taniwha” has been published at Wily Writers (guest editor: Richard Dansky) and I still haven’t listened to it but it’s been up a while now so I’m linking to it anyway.
And finally, via my sister Beth… absolute worst pictures of men and cats
Man, I’ve been trying to find PO’s filibuster speech to no avail for a day now. It’ll turn up in time I guess.
I did find this, though – The Atlantic Wire on Iraq and Afghanistan veterans experiencing the Boston bombs of this week: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/04/when-ieds-come-home-what-boston-looked-veterans/64299/
Thanks Morgue! A good read as always!
Re: 25 fictional detectives – Grace Nakimura!
I love David Simon’s blog, especially the comments, It’s great to see how he sees every post as the start of a discussion and engages with all logical (and some less logical) responses.
Basically, I have a crush.
Darn it, where was that Sean Bean infographic last week when I used five of his deaths as the Conpulsion quiz picture round?
Damn that Pearce, everything he does makes no sense, or brings no sense. Grace Nakimura makes no sense to me now. I wouldn’t care but it was Friday linked, so I feel as if I should.
You’d think that 25 fictional detectives would pose less unravelling…
In response to you ruminator article, commerce in the real world adds to your story.
I’m not a better human being cause I can guilt free try before I buy (or loan!) in the online world, but that very nature of me is exposed in an actual world shop.
So in the real world I try to act and do in accordance with who I am and who I’m with and where I’m with, and when that provides feedback, my story grows.
There is no feedback in the online commerce world apart from the internalised gratification we give ourselves when we get the stuff we want.
There is less memory too.
Beth is a bad person. I looked at that, and can never unlook.