Skeptical Of Online Dating

Tracy Kennedy: “I hate meeting people in bars (I just don't go anymore), and have tried some online personals. But there is still much physicality attached to virtual courting. When I post a picture, I get many responses; no pics, no hits. Of course, I am guilty of the same thing. Not that looks are everything, but there should be some attraction or interest, no? Yet, I am still skeptical of online dating (concerns for crazy people).

The Writing Of Automatons

Shelley: “I look at other webloggers who have acheived a reputation for thoughtful writing [...] as well as other folks both liked and, perhaps more importantly, respected. It is true that for the most part, they do think carefully before they write, and this is reflected in their writing. But I've seen all four write angrily, become cranky, and even get a bit snippy (and I say this with respect, so please, all of you don't get angry with me).

A Review of Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power by Niall Ferguson

For those interested in the debates surrounding whether the United States of America should project itself as an empire à la the British empire of old can find in Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power by Niall Ferguson the argument for the pro side.

The Love

Adrianna: “There is only the love of men, the love of women, the love of both men and women; and being a man, a woman, or both, at the same time - just too bad that anybody should have to think this defies conventions of any sort, when it isn't really their business at all.”

Play What I Want To Hear!

Andy Baio notes that a Clear Channel radio station has changed over to alternative rock in response to alternative rock's originator KROQ's general suckitude. The station evidently calls itself "Your Independent Radio Station", but I have a hard time believing a station belonging to a nationwide chain is "Independent".

May I See Your Boobies?

idlyadam: I'm working on a new post now: "Welcome to 2004, may I see your feed?"
sillygwailo: I'm working on a new post now: "Welcome to 2004, may I see your boobies?"
idlyadam: lol
idlyadam: sounds like a much better post. :-)

The best case scenario, of course, is if you periodically show your boobies on your weblog, and it has a syndicated feed.

The Disparity Between Common Experience And Scientific Knowledge

Brian Greene: “modern physics' notion of time is clearly at odds with the one most of us have internalized. Einstein greeted the failure of science to confirm the familiar experience of time with "painful but inevitable resignation." The developments since his era have only widened the disparity between common experience and scientific knowledge.

Best of 2003

An inexhaustive list of the good and the overrated.

Best Blogger: if you have a weblog, and you kept it updated throughout 2003, you are the blogger of the year. Seriously. This is still early days for blogging, and even if you started in 2003, you were doing what most people never heard of. It takes a lot of time and effort and, yes, courage, to do it consistently. Even if all you did was link to those stupid online quizzes, at least you put something out there.

Best Weblog: Yours. See above.

Dismal By Comparison

Damian Thompson: “The American Right used to dismiss Moore's material as unfunny agitprop, unworthy of attention. That is not quite fair. Bowling for Columbine is a brilliantly constructed documentary; it's hard not to cheer when Moore embarrasses the K-Mart chain into banning the sale of live ammunition to teenagers. The books are dismal by comparison, but even they evince the odd chuckle.”

Reinforcing Whatever Was Distinctive In The First Place

David Brooks: “in the information age [...] every place becomes more like itself. People are less often tied down to factories and mills, and they can search for places to live on the basis of cultural affinity. Once they find a town in which people share their values, they flock there, and reinforce whatever was distinctive about the town in the first place.”

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