August 2005

FlyLittleBird: “an experiment in building collective wisdom from hundreds of undergraduate commencement speeches.” The findings are intriguing. For example, rating “components of the good life” reveals that the most common factor speakers gave was “Service: giving time to those in need.”

One thought: does the fact that this advice was given to a large group of people on a special occasion change its content? In other words, would each one of these speakers tell their own kids, say, that service is the most important part of leading a good life?

Don’t get me wrong: I’m an avid believer in the power of volunteer work and personal sacrifice. I just wonder if, in private, these commencement speakers might offer slightly less magnanimous pearls of wisdom. My own view is the good life is equal parts constructive work and loving relationships with friends and family. Service is crucial, but I wouldn’t say it’s the most important element.

(Via Kottke, who, incidentally, recently mentioned newley.com and sent my traffic through the roof.)

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Portsmouth Herald:

SEATTLE – At a time when plastic surgery has become fairly commonplace, some believe the Catman of Whidbey Island may have gone too far.

Dennis Avner, who goes by his American Indian name, Stalking Cat, is known around the world as the Catman. Over the past 25 years, Stalking Cat, 47, has received so many surgical and cosmetic procedures he’s lost count. And he says all of them – from full-face tattoos to fanged dentures to steel implants for detachable “whiskers” – have been done to achieve oneness with what he calls his totem, the tiger.

Click on the link for an even better pic.

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Those of you who’re familiar with the Capitol Lounge, a venerable DC watering hole and one of the few soccer-friendly bars in Washington, will be saddened to learn that two nights ago it burned down (a lit cigarette tossed into a trash can is the primary culprit). Photos here. (But hope spings eternal: everyone’s favorite vintage Marion Barry campaign sign survived the carnage.)

DC, Capitol+Lounge

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Steven Johnson, author of “Everything Bad is Good for You,” has written an insightful pean to Six Feet Under.

Six+Feet+Under, HBO, TV

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