So they convicted Scott Dyleski just as everyone expected, but neither the explanations given by the defense or the prosection seem adequate for such a brutal and seemingly premeditated murder.

high-voltage ceramics... or the devil??

Maybe I'll wait on that hybrid after all... for a ceramic power source for electric cars!

Comparable in cleverness to the French-Dutch comeback (link to come): The Rev. Jerry Falwell quips, "I hope she's the candidate, because nothing will energize my [constituency] like Hillary Clinton. If Lucifer ran, he wouldn't." The Rev. Barry Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, retorts, "Maybe the devil made him do it." Another line of worth from the article: "Attendees also were assured during the prayer breakfast that God would preserve a Republican majority in Congress."

Another curious news line: "Gibson's appearance at the [Fantastic Fest] was reminiscent of a similar appearance he made at Knowles' Butt-Numb-a-Thon, which offered one of the first public previews of 'The Passion of the Christ.'"

Like record labels, publishers are scared silly of opportunities to reach new audiences in the information era.

the roundup

It's pretty exciting to be part of the annual count for Belgium. I'm glad I made my lasting contribution!

Maybe something good can come out of the absurdity of everyone suing everyone in America: California sues car firms on fumes.

double entendre

Doctor gives stripper a hand

haunted by bordieu

Somehow I ended up writing in my Fulbright CV about stuff I read in the equivalent of Sociology 101 Yale-style, taught by Joseph Soares, a professor with a powerful personality and unconcealed agenda for his students. Heaven knows my understanding of sociology is in no way advanced, but as I turn every corner and find more spectacular opportunities waiting to be seized, I can't help but wonder when I derailed off the track I should have been in with my Little Vis peers and instead ended up on the path of the privileged. Where I stand in Pierre Bordieu's fields I cannot say, but I know Yale put me pretty high up without my even realizing it. Just the other day, I finally figured out that I can talk to politicians and officials without feeling uncomfortable because Yale invited me to free fancy dinners with famous people and let me do business directly with university deans and secretaries. I took advantage of these opportunities for fun and ambition, but at no point did I realize the incredible level of social training I was inadvertently receiving.

Where am I in the field? An article about Harvard's bizarre move to end Early Action until it sees that other Ivies don't follow suit gives an idea: "At the most selective schools, a 2003 study found, 3 percent of students came from the poorest socio-economic quarter of families, while 74 percent came from the richest."

Nor was I aware that Soares is an exemplary follower of Bordieu's belief that "sociology is a combat sport"--presumably because he never metnioned that Bordieusque idea to us. It always seemed fitting to me that he would be the odd one out in an elitist institution like Yale. I just want to see him get tenure at Wake Forest or wherever he decides he can fight his fight.

litterbugs in space

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, "The number of fatalities [amongst motorcyclists] is outpacing the increase in ridership." Industry, what are you going to do about that?? (Recruit younger riders, I guess.)

Usually Apple redesigns things to look more futuristic and sleek. And then only they can top the design with a new one that makes old models look dated. But the new iTunes looks like some app from a couple years back. Maybe they spilled ice cream from Google It's-Its on their good sketches.

I never thought about it, but even the smallest piece of space junk orbiting the earth at high speed could potentially kill an astronaut. And there are 100,000 pieces space junk orbiting the Earth, including lots of copper needles launched by some idiot American plan.

more wisdom from loveline

Lovely Dr. Drew from Loveline brings us more wise but "doh" news: All members of western culture considered, celebrities love themselves the most. It's puzzling to me that they're low on empathy, though. How can you have a magnetic personality if you can't feel for others?

Sometimes I suspect that I have more celebrity syndrome than my share, and I can't decide whether that would be good or bad.

internet-happy

Unlike television, the internet now makes us happier. Good news for us internet-addicts. It can also inspire wanderlust. But television still makes us dumber, unless new studies have been done contradicting this (which I doubt, since television programing seems to have gotten dumber in general). Does the internet also make us idiots? Or does it make us more well-informed? Or do we just have a maximum comfortable capacity for knowledge, the focus of which has shifted?

To quote Tom's excellent news commentary: "This struck me as beyond hilarious--a Belgian researcher looking at effects of sunlight."

Also entertaining: The Canadians beat the French in fleeing and surrendering... at the threat of two Californians headed their way.