19 October 2006

Neglect could destroy 2,500-year-old Bistoun world heritage site, whose inscriptions "mark the birth of the Persian alphabet."

Locations where people live on lead feature prominently in the planet's 10 most polluted places.

It is possible to view Lovecraft's work as an expression of the mingled fascination and revulsion he felt for his Puritan heritage. Sante on Lovecraft and Houellebecq.

Outside Grey's Anatomy, professional piercers' rep says it's "incredibly unlikely" pierced lovers could get locked together.

Gallery of old Penguin book covers.

A certain segment of the population will chuckle when learning certain Apple iPods shipped with a Windows virus.

Xkcd: A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.

In 1993, Samuel L. Jackson was eaten by a dinosaur. Celebrity biographies written by a guy who can't distinguish fiction from reality.

Taking bigger steps, Maliki meets with Iraq's most influential Shiite clerics, Sistani and Sadr.

Tuesday rated the deadliest day for U.S. forces in Iraq in 10 months.

Bush concedes Friedman may be right to compare Iraq to Vietnam.

Good headline, interesting story: Nine former Kansas Republicans are running as Democrats on the November ballot.

Moderate Muslims run into a PR problem when Al Qaeda dominates the airwaves. (E.g., have you heard of Islamica magazine?)

Catalogue of the many times Al Roker has said "man candy."

Comedy allows the imagination to be at its most revolutionary. High proportion of 18-to-36-year-olds receives political news from comedians.

Banking his TV fame, designer and Project Runway judge Michael Kors may become the next Ralph Lauren.

Contemplating Halloween, why have so many girls grown up to trade in Wonder Woman costumes for little more than Wonderbras?

Scientists determine "maximum listening time" for different headphones at certain volume ranges to avoid hearing damage.

Perhaps someday soon your home printer can be turned into a social letterbox.

Time heals all wounds and death clears all debts--if you're Ken Lay.

A short history of security coffins, or, how to establish the finality of those presumed deceased.

Your assistance needed! Elect fictional personae in your neighborhood!

In yesterday's Digest, Andrew Womack on the week in mp3s and the cover bands he's ruled.

Video: Free hugs. (Apparently this works in business as well.)

Suck.com's Christopher Bray on how he came to be stationed in Kuwait, where they serve too much ice cream.

Beatty showed Reds to Reagan and Reagan said he wished there'd been a happy ending.

England experiences its first "web-rage" attack.

Crap, scare-mongering, and sometimes funny local headlines from north London.

Ways to get the best possible price when buying or selling a car.