Culture and Society

England is trying out a system of satellite monitoring of repeat offenders and pedophiles, tracking their dead asses as they go about their felonious affairs; well actually hoping to prevent further felonious affairs. While the civil libertarian in us may feel the impulse to leap up and cry “invasion of …

The Secret Service is VERY touchy these days about things like political protests, potentially possibly implied threats, and the like. Have you seen this flapdoodle about Indymedia publishing the “Phone numbers, addresses, and e-mails of over 1600 RNC delegates“? Apparently the Secret Service perceives some kind of threat in this …

This one way to sidestep the FCC: Internet-only talk radio. Red Bar Radio – Realistic Talk for the Stable Minded. Man, I hope they don’t talk about horses, I don’t like horses or their stables. After five months off the “air,” Red Bar is back today with a hour-long daily …

Hip-O Select features out-of print and hard-to-find treasures that are available to you directly via the Internet. These releases are NOT available at your local store, or even your unlocal store. Check out the variety of cool-guy rarities and collectable reissues by clicking on the banners below and enter an …

Is this a hotel, or a hip-hop brothel?

Hmm, it seems to me that the people who would be interested in something like this: She needs to be coddled with sweet talk and pampered with gifts, but you’ll never see her in the flesh. A Hong Kong company has developed a “virtual girlfriend” for new cell phones with …

U.S. News’s annual college rankings are out and available on the web – methodology and FAQ are here. All kinds of breakdowns and tabulations are available, as well as a Get Into College guide and the all-important Financial Aid section – it’s a very valuable resource. My alma mater Wittenberg …

We told you about the legal wrestling over the use of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” in JibJab’s presidential election animated film parody. JibJab wins: On Tuesday, Ludlow Music agreed to allow JibJab to distribute its film, which is based on the tune, without interference. Also Tuesday, JibJab …

Watching a large block of the Olympics last night yielded a few semi-random thoughts: The men’s and women’s gymnastics apparatus finals: I can understand why these incredibly strong, flexible, tough, determined, fearless, crazed little freaks of nature (in the best possible sense) dedicate their (mostly) young lives to their sport: …

The legendary Berklee College of Music has been really making use of the Internet with its Berkleemusic online program. Now they are REALLY going crazy-go-nuts offering college credit courses in music online for the first time: Berkleemusic.com, the online extension school of Berklee College of Music, today announced that it …