Bits and Pieces
The Secret and the Onion
My favorite newspaper has taken a look at The Secret and finds it not so secretive.

The Secret—the new self-help book and DVD that purports to channel ancient wisdom and claims that if you ask the universe for something, it will be delivered—has become a nationwide phenomenon. Here are some of the book's tips:

* You deserve whatever you want no matter how awful you are
* Try not to use any critical-thinking skills or logic when pondering concept of The Secret
* Capitalizing on basic human feelings such as greed can bring you vast wealth
* Eat a hearty breakfast every day

--Read it all at The Onion (w/a HT to Bill Kinnon)

A Farewell
Last week Andrew closed down shop over at Bloggedy Blog. He started up a year before I did and was one of the first I came across as a blog to read. He has given us a great time and I for one will miss the getting-older punk rocker.

The Real RIAA Truth
Cory Doctorow had an intriguing post at BoingBoing about the RIAA and it's current actions of suing college students. The following was written by Mitch Bainwol is chairman and CEO and Cary Sherman is president of the Recording Industry Association of America.

Yet this is about far more than the size of a particular slice of the pie. This is about a generation of music fans. College students used to be the music industry’s best customers. Now, finding a record store still in business anywhere near a campus is a difficult assignment at best. It’s not just the loss of current sales that concerns us, but the habits formed in college that will stay with these students for a lifetime. This is a teachable moment — an opportunity to educate these particular students about the importance of music in their lives and the importance of respecting and valuing music as intellectual property.
--Link

Cory had to add a note that brings home the incredible irony of all this:

Hilarious: the people who created sex, drugs and rock and roll, who glorified thug life and guns, are suddenly all concerned with the moral character of America's teens. That's about as credible as the idea that they're really worried about musicians' fortunes.

Another Eclipse
Also thanks to BoingBoing is a truly amazing movie of a solar eclipse not visible from earth.


Link to a hi-res movie of the transit of the moon across the face of the sun during the recent "total" solar eclipse.

And Finally


--from Indexed