Auchentoshan 10 Yr

Picked this up at the Scotch tasting this weekend at Willow Park. For a ten year, its very mellow and smooth. Hints of citrus and heather, yet distinctively a lowland. Triple distilled.
http://www.whiskyclassified.com/auchentoshan.html

New StrongBad Email

http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail98.html

The Computer at Natures Core

Ironically, the most significant consequence of the view that the natural world is computational may be the death of the notion that technology is applied science. If both the physical universe and the biological world are best understood in terms of information and computation - concepts that arise from the artificial world of technology - it no longer makes sense to think that technology results from an application of science. Indeed, if computation is the basis of all nature, then science is just applied technology.If thats the case, then science becomes less purely contemplative and more purposeful, and as fraught with social and political goals as technology is. Scientific theories are more properly viewed not as discoveries but as human constructions. Its already happening in physics: Philosopher of science Andrew Pickering suggests that the quark, which in its unbound state has not - and some say cannot - be observed, should be regarded as a scientific invention rather than an actual particle. In the future, we may come to see the second law of thermodynamics (entropy) as a consequence of information theory and not the other way around. And if science is a subset of technology, our system of research support will definitely have to change. Maybe well get that National Engineering Foundation after all.
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.02/view.html?pg=2?tw=wn_tophead_5

Bright Eyes: Lifted

Nebraskan wunderkind Conor Oberst writes songs so naked and heartfelt they make you feel like a voyeur just listening to them. This precocious singer-songwriter croons with the astonished intensity of a homeless Robert Smith singing for his supper. And his bands fourth album is every bit as lyrical, sprawling, and pretentious as its title. The production is notably brighter and crisper than previous efforts, with some songs, notably "Nothing Gets Crossed Out," lushly swathed in sweet-sounding strings. When Lifted is great, as on the slow-churning anthem "From a Balance Beam," its superb, visionary pop music, on par with Jeff Mangum, Phil Elvrum, and Daniel Johnston--and on occasion, Dylan. Unfortunately, half the songs sprawl on too long or revisit the same themes too frequently. Still, anyone who can operate a fast-forward button will find much to enjoy on this vital, messy masterpiece.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006FRN7/qid=1075782155/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/103-0251204-3527055

The Rapture: Echoes

"Owing Much to Gang of Four, the Cure, David Bowie and P.i.l., The Rapture Are One Retro Band that Even a Jaded Postpunker Can Learn to Love. Here is the Stuff with which So Many have Waited for So Long to Hear. Though They Clearly Do Live Sampling (Could They Be Any More Blatant Than the Drum Beat on "Open Up Your Heart"?), Its Easy to Forgive Here Because There is So Much Meat on These Bones and it is Served Well Done. Give it a Listen, You Wont Regret It!"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000C83MI/qid=1075782094/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/103-0251204-3527055

Current Scotch: Balvenie Doublewood 12 Yr

An excellent gift from Jason. Very clean speyside, citrusy. Not aggressive. Great nose.
http://www.queenannewine.com/baldoubsinma.html

Big Musics Worst Move Yet

One has to admit: The RIAA sure is tenacious in pursuing its strategy. What it doesnt seem to realize, though, is that it has already lost the war. The recording industrys hardball tactics have fueled a technological shift thatll make it nearly impossible to pursue file swappers in the future.
How so? The culture of fear and loathing that the RIAA has created is starting to put encryption on the must-have list of every Joe and Jane Internet user. The results will be wide-ranging and will pose a threat to the movie industry, the software industry, and just about any other industry involved with the creation and sale of intellectual property.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2004/tc20040127_2819_tc047.htm