Month: December 2008

Monday various

Sincerely faking it

In a recent interview on the Sound of Young America, Ben Folds said:

I’m not so sure that I want it to be clear whether I’m being biographical or not. And that, in theory, would arrest people’s attentions a little bit to wonder whether it’s autobiographical — because people are interested in that, and they’re interested in reality shows….

Americans are. The English are aware that, as I always use as an example, that David Bowie didn’t go to Mars. But over here, Bruce Springsteen, if he says he’s done something, he better have that credibility.

Random 10 12/19

Last week. This week:

  1. “America” by Bree Sharp, guessed by Occupant
    Fill my holes with your goodies
  2. “Iko-Iko” by the Dixie Cups, guessed by Generik
    I’m gonna set your flag on fire
  3. “Atomic Dog” by George Clinton, guessed by Eric B.
    Why must I chase the cat
  4. “The Crying Game” by Dave Berry (also Boy George), guessed by Occupant
    First there are kisses, then there are sighs
  5. “A White Sport Coat (and a Pink Carnation)” by Marty Robbins, guessed by Occupant
    It seems someone else will hold my dreams
  6. “Runnin’ Down a Dream” by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, guessed by Eric B.
    It was always cold, no sunshine
  7. “Really Love You” by Paul McCartney, guessed by Occupant
    I need the sunshine of your smile
  8. “I Will” by Jonathan Coulton (orig. the Beatles), guessed by Generik
    For the things you do endear you to me
  9. “She’s Not There” by the Zombies, guessed by Generik
    Please don’t bother trying to find her
  10. “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” by Paul Simon, guessed by Generik
    I’m gonna stick him in the house of detention

I can only presume that, by now, you know how this works. If not, watch what the other people do and you’ll catch on. Good luck!

Thursday various

  • I just assumed we were past the whole “Harry Potter is bad for children!” But I guess Richard Dawkins didn’t get that memo:

    • The prominent atheist is stepping down from his post at Oxford University to write a book aimed at youngsters in which he will warn them against believing in “anti-scientific” fairytales.Prof Hawkins said: “The book I write next year will be a children’s book on how to think about the world, science thinking contrasted with mythical thinking.

    “I haven’t read Harry Potter, I have read Pullman who is the other leading children’s author that one might mention and I love his books. I don’t know what to think about magic and fairy tales.”

    I do like that he’s willing to think about the issue critically. He’s actually not saying the books are harmful; he’s saying the possibility of their detrimental effect on children should be examined closely. But still, the underlying assumption — that children read these fairy tales and believe in them, that they are unable to differentiate fantasy from reality — seems to me rather flawed. It’s an assumption we usually see from fundamentalist Christian groups who are afraid that witchcraft will poison the minds of our youth. If nothing else, it’s interesting to see it come from the other side of the aisle.

  • Twilight Body Glitter — now there’s something with a detrimental effect! [via]
  • “Michael Platt’s editorial on July 21, 2008 may have inadvertently left the impression that General Motors in some way supported neo-Nazis.” Regret the Error has many more. [via]
  • A helpful Guide to Understanding Flow Charts, courtesy of xkcd.
  • Job discrimination against World of Warcraft players? I don’t play — watching The Guild is about the closest I get — but even so, what worker doesn’t sometimes lose focus or have erratic sleep patterns? These recruiters might want to check out the counter-argument.