==pla|\|ing lakes==

Saturday, August 02, 2003

Like Mom used to make

Suzuki allegedly broke into the home of a 23-year-old Tokyo office worker late one night, stole 16,000 yen in cash and then handed her a packet of instant noodles before thrusting his knife at her and ordering her to cook him a meal.

While the terrified young woman cowered over the stove and obeyed Suzuki's instructions, he engaged in small talk punctuated by orders about how his noodles should be prepared.

Once they were cooked, he poured the concoction back into the instant noodles packet and fled.

Similar cases have been reported where a Tokyo burglar has forced female victims to make him meals, with 33-year-old Suzuki regarded as the prime suspect.

9:21 PM - [Link] - Comments ()

Just noticed this comment about Leida Finlayson below, republished here so anyone interested doesn't miss it.

Just a note to let people know that Leida passed away Saturday afternoon, July 19, 2003 in St. John's. She was 31 years old. In memory of her life, her spirit, and her contribution to the Newfoundland Historic Trust, the Trust and the Finlayson family are proud to establish the Leida Finlayson Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship, which will be directed to a student of history or political studies, will be presented annually as part of the Trust's Southcott Awards and St. John's Day Celebrations. For more information, or to make a donation in her memory, please visit:

http://www.historictrust.com/scholarship.shtml

Dale Jarvis

Again, here's the link to the CBC interview page she's on (May 20).

6:54 PM - [Link] - Comments ()

New aerial art in Australia, a la Nazca [Chapel Perilous]

6:37 PM - [Link] - Comments ()

"A Short History of Girl"

Aerialitis appears exclusive to land-locked, flat areas in the Midwestern United States; specifically, small towns where the tallest building stretches no higher than five stories. Particularly, it affects those living near highways. The age of infection is primarily between twelve to sixteen years, although infected adults have been identified. The illness is presumed to be hereditary or highly contagious within families -- originating with the oldest child, then spreading to all siblings. Four years after Girl's diagnosis, her brother, age eleven, was last seen sitting in his bedroom window. Because many of the afflicted seem to have disappeared, leading to the discreditation of this illness, it is not known if Aerialitis is fatal.

10:40 AM - [Link] - Comments ()

Review of new 60gb Creative Nomad Zen juke

12:08 AM - [Link] - Comments ()

Friday, August 01, 2003

Pop feminist protest, Chicago-style

Pink Bloque: WaPo article

1:13 AM - [Link] - Comments ()

Short summary of different attitudes/customs about death [Undernews]

In tribal societies, to belong to the tribe is to adhere to the tribal religion. In many societies one particular world religion is the religion of that society, and it is expected that members of the society adhere to the religion. Religion is in part what glues such societies together. The death of any one member undermines the family, the community, and even (for individuals of a high social status) the entire society, so it is important that death is managed according to the required religious rites, for it is these rites that glue the group together at precisely the time that it is most threatened. One sees dying according to the book today in those societies that are dominated by Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Catholicism.

But many modern Western societies are not like that. Firstly, many have been influenced by Protestantism, which is founded on the belief that there is nothing the living can do to help the soul's passage after death. Secondly, most European societies are now highly secular, with only around 40f Europeans believing in an afterlife, although this goes up to 75or the Irish (north and south) and for Americans. For many people today there is thus no afterlife to prepare for, on one's deathbed or at any other time. More importantly, whatever individuals believe, modern social institutions (and this is as true of the United States as of Europe) presume that this is the only life.

12:28 AM - [Link] - Comments ()

Thursday, July 31, 2003

R.I.P. Sam Phillips (the discoverer of Elvis, not the songstress)

After seeing the special on A & E, I think it was, on how Elvis got his start, I understood that Sam Phillips created the environment in which Elvis could happen.

12:32 AM - [Link] - Comments ()

Wednesday, July 30, 2003

Surgery employing sunlight pioneered in Israel, possible cheap replacement for laser surgery in poor areas

Also for the BBC, software that cuts download time by stripping graphics and re-formatting pages, for those with glitchy or expensive connections.

6:19 PM - [Link] - Comments ()

Tuesday, July 29, 2003

EFF has a search engine which checks for usernames or IPs subpoenaed by RIAA [BBC article]

1:18 AM - [Link] - Comments ()

Sunday, July 27, 2003

David Thomson on Henri-Georges Clouzot, as a series of his films opens in London

Coincidentally, I just watched Le Corbeau (The Raven) tonight, and it's a tight little knot of noir, let me tell ya. The print was fine (on TCM) but the subtitles were white (though not old and tattered like some) and hard to follow because the pace is quick (part of this is my eyesight/being too far from the TV -- but you have to pay close attention to the plot and dialogue). It's not an easy movie to follow if you know French, never mind if you don't. But it's quite good.

I think Les Diaboliques didn't work for me back in the eighties because the print was poor; I'll have to track it and at least The Wages of Fear (Le Salaire de la Peur), which I've heard rumors of ever since I saw the film Friedkin based on it, Sorcerer.

Anyway, the Thomson piece is a nice intro to the director, who sounds like he was a perfect shit to work with, but is essential for film fans to delve into.

Here's an article on Diaboliques from the TCM site (watch for spoilers, though you're warned in the article).

12:40 AM - [Link] - Comments ()