From The Red Special To Bang!

Look who's co-written a book on the history of the universe. Yes, that same Dr. May.

As part of his continuing Phd studies May designed and built a zodiacal light observation hut on the site of what is now the huge Observatory del Tiede in Tenerife, a facility now internationally shared amongst astronomers. From there May pursued his investigations into the motions of interplanetary dust. He remains in touch with various astronomers in The Observatory.

May is also regarded as an expert in the field of Victorian Stereoscopic Photography. He contributed some of his major collection to a Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition earlier this year, and is currently working on a book on TR Williams, a prominent stereo photographer of the 1850's.

Since I am a BIG fan of his old band and especially his guitar-playing (had "Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy" on repeat all day yesterday just for the guitar parts), I think Brian May deserves to be blogrolled :) (See his blog entries from Dec '05 where he talks about the recording of Bohemian Rhapsody.)

Oh, and do read this unbelievably prosaic entry for "Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy" in Wikipedia. That second 'graf is duller than cricket commentary delivered by a radio announcer on Valium.

Just Zerotasking

1. Read the entire dictionary.
2. Give yourself 5 points for each word or phrase that sounds familiar.
3. If you catch yourself saying "this is not jargon, this is my everyday language" give yourself 10 points.
3. Add up 2 and 3. If your score exceeds 50, go kill yourself.

I am so dead.

(Except that I think the word "assmosis" is just brilliant and deserves wider currency.)

link via lifehack

Man And Wife And A Snarky Blog

Who can resist a blog with such a tagline:

A glimpse into that haven of superficial, pretentious, pseudo-aristocratic vanity: The NY Times' Wedding & Celebration Announcements

A real shame the blog hasn't been updated since June 2006.

(After the Crime/Police Blotter section in a newspaper, matrimonial announcements and obituaries are my favorite reading material at the breakfast table on weekends. If only Hollywood would produce a "Four Weddings, a couple of funerals and a shoplifting at Target"...)

The Wong Kar-Wai Calendar

A very cool idea:

A collection of monthly calendars. Each calendar contains visual elements sourced from and inspired by the work of filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai.

The calendars (Via Yahoo Picks)

1/30/69: They Did Pass The Audition

Just in time for the 38th.

January 30, 1969 was when the concert happened. But does this look like a band on the verge of a breakup?

And how stressful was it for Billy to sit between those two guys?

(Link via Metafilter.com)

So It's Not Just Show Tunes?

Is your favorite band on this list? If it is, proceed immediately to the Degayification Station. (They even have the good Pandit on the list!)

Yes, I am aware that the astute among you will notice the inclusion of Nickelback (speaking of whom - have you seen this?) and will probably make snide remarks about how the list suddenly seems to....make sense?

Shame on you :)

(link via I'mjustsayin')

"Endless Highway"

I know, tribute albums are not my thing either, but I will give this one a spin.

You can hear tracks on the record label's website. (My favorite so far: Gomez doing a tough, energetic version of "Up On Cripple Creek")