3 Ring Binder

So many tools under one dome.

It’s been a while since I've obsessed over a song; released in January 2006, this song is over seven years old and yet new to me.  From a little black-berrying by my husband regarding the singer Neil Hannon, of the Divine Comedy, to God Help the Girl , a story set to music project by Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian , a Scottish indie-pop group, Funny Little Frog is a little bit of musical magic.   Okay, I'm a sucker for its particular mix of nostalgia, romance, innocence, and sweet sensuality. First of all, it sounds like it's out of the early seventies with its string orchestration and simple, but sing-a-along-compelling arpeggio chorus. Then there are the words – clearly written for a man to sing, but the singer (in the video ) works it well.  In fact, maybe that's why it works. Honey, lovin' you is the greatest thing, I get to be myself and I get to sing, I get to play at being irresponsible, I come home late and love your sou...

Two dimensional representations of our three dimensional world have long fascinated me. This year I'm seeing a few noteworthy additions to the map world in a fashion item I've long ignored: jewelry.  I still don't care too much for jewelry, but the following finds would make awesome gifts for map geek girl (or guy) in your life. 1. Urban Gridded Earrings (or Necklace) by Aminimal Studios . 2. Subway Map Cuffs by Design Hype 3. And if you're more interested in the path you've taken, Meshu allows you to turn your tours or special places into interesting bits of abstract wearable art. I love it!  Check out how it looks in its facet and radial gallery here .

by Samuel Walter Foss (1894)     Bring me men to match my mountains;     Bring me men to match my plains, --     Men with empires in their purpose,     And new eras in their brains.     Bring me men to match my praries,     Men to match my inland seas,     Men whose thought shall pave a highway     Up to ampler destinies;     Pioneers to clear Thought's marshlands,     And to cleanse old Error's fen;     Bring me men to match my mountains --     Bring me men!     Bring me men to match my forests,     Strong to fight the storm and blast,     Branching toward the skyey future,     Rooted in the fertile past.     Bring me men to match my valleys,   ...

I saw this image on Facebook this morning. This juxtaposition of maps (top of the 2012 election results vs. bottom, the slave vs. free states prior to the Civil War) implies that the people in red states voted with the collective-vestigial mind of the ante-bellum south: the idea that a vote for “not Obama” is the equivalent of thinking that blacks should still be slaves.  Perpetuating this image as a "stop and think about it" moment is not only a bit dismissive, but further, a serious slander of near half of the population of the United States. What might have been a funny quip based on image correlation is shamelessly offered as causation; this conveniently furthers the hateful narrative that people who don’t think Barack Obama is a good President are racist. I’m not racist. I’m disgusted.

September 11, 2012 The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.  There are so many things wrong with this statement from the Embassy in Cairo that it's difficult to even dissect. I want to focus on the role of a government agency in condemning those who would hurt people's religious feelings .  Really? Did an agency of the US government condemn the efforts of Andres Serrano for his depiction of the crucifix sub...

by Rudyard Kipling It is always a temptation to an armed and agile nation To call upon a neighbour and to say: -- "We invaded you last night--we are quite prepared to fight, Unless you pay us cash to go away." And that is called asking for Dane-geld, And the people who ask it explain That you've only to pay 'em the Dane-geld And then you'll get rid of the Dane! It is always a temptation for a rich and lazy nation, To puff and look important and to say: -- "Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you. We will therefore pay you cash to go away." And that is called paying the Dane-geld; But we've proved it again and again, That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld You never get rid of the Dane. It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation, For fear they should succumb and go astray; So when you are requested to pay up or be molested, You will find it better policy to say: -- "...