Hot on the heels of Entertainment Weekly’s assertion in 100 pt. type that the lyrical aspect of songwriting is without merit (“DUMBER! Must make the public DUMBER!”), I’ve become obsessed with a specific lyrical technique: pop songs that artfully employ…

Todd Rundgren – ‘Cool Jerk’ From: A Wizard, A True Star (1973)

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

     After having Todd Rundgren’s ‘A Wizard, A True Star’ recommended to me twice for wildly differing reasons, I finally…

     In mid-2003 I started making an effort find the name of an animated special I remembered from my youth, via the friendster network:

     ”I’ve been searching for the title of a longform (I think) animated special that I remember from

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     Amazingly great 80-page transcription of a hybrid conversation / presentation held at the University of Minnesota by ‘This American Life‘ host Ira Glass and Acme Novelty Librarian Chris Ware. (pdf…

Toys

     It was pointed out to me in the comments for my article on parallel grooves that one of the most ingenious uses of this technology is in children’s toys, the classic example being the See & Say –…

     Every so often my ancient Barnes & Noble stories get linked somewhere and I get a burst of sympathetic email from fellow booksellers. I got some good feedback from Kara a few days ago, reaffirming the weird public…

     While looking up articles for the Acme Novelty Archive from my last post, I found the following piece from the July 9th, 1999 issue of Entertainment Weekly:

Double Takes

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     A few years ago I saw a ‘Peanuts’ tribute strip by Chris Ware somewhere. This past January, when I wanted to find it again, I couldn’t remember where it originally appeared. I figured there would be some easy way to…

     I had this conversation with a friend over AIM about a year ago, and saved it. I just found it again a few days ago.

Me: I just had a great idea for a band

Me: and i need

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Steganography:

(security) “Hiding a secret message within a larger one in such a way that others can not discern the presence or contents of the hidden message.”

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