Noisebridge, a hacker space in San Francisco
Wired Magazine reports on the emergence of hacker spaces and notion of hacker collectives. With international locationsapproaching three digits, the collectives already have a network replete with weekly telephone conferences and exchange programs.
Without being morbid, another NYT report about an oldster gone to his just rewards. Milton Parker, age 90 passed away February 4. He was one of the partners at New York’s Carnegie Deli. Longevity secret? Yogurt? Fish oil? Capsacin and Coenzyme Q10?
Read on:
Mr. Parker retired in 2002 and, with some health problems, would come in almost daily in a wheelchair to eat. He always insisted upon having a hot dog before his sandwich.
“I knew exactly what he ate,” said Ms. Ruenanukool, of Jackson Heights, Queens. “I served him every lunch, every dinner.” In his last few years, his doctors made him lay off rich foods, including many desserts, she said, but he often found a way to eat it secretly anyway.
“He’d say just put it in a bag and don’t tell anyone, and then he’d hide it in his wheelchair,” she said.
Thanks to ASR, one of my favorite trenchermen.
Marilyn by Elliott Erwitt, via Femme Femme Femme.
Archie Green, receiving the Living Legend award
NYT Obit for Archie Green, who died this week at the age of 91.
Archie was a laborer, war veteran, union activist, folklorist and academic historian. A major figure, especially for students of cowboy songs and stories, rural life, communism in the United States, and every cause and concern of the working class.
Rare, early example of an US car designed to take advantage of the post-War fascination for British runabouts. Built on a Healey Silverstone chassis, the body was custom made in England with powertrain and driveline built in Kenosha (modified Nash 6-cylinder engine). Previewed at the 1951 Chicago Auto Show, only 104 were made.
Originally listed on ebay the car (which is located in Brookfield, Illinois) failed to meet the $65K minimum. From Bring a Trailer
I had meant to post this essay from Art Blog by Bob on American artist William Glackens and his link to the Impressionists (as opposed to his usual classification among the Ashcan School painters).
Makes a trip to Philly to see the Barnes Foundation collection downright appealing.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TyzAAwJnIw&feature=related]In 1970 and 1971 I sat and listened to “Mississippi” Fred McDowell after concerts at Joe’s Place in Cambridge, a combination of hero-worship and a desperate attempt to learn some licks.
Fred would sit as long as the group continued to provide a passed bottle of apricot brandy. He was patient, I was clueless. This video reminds me of a lesson that focused on this song, Going Down to the River .
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTF9p45IMSE]This great piece is an excerpt from a 1969 documentary called “Blues Maker.” Originally, Fred played slide guitar using a beef bone; here he’s using his trademark bottleneck. The driving bass line is characteristically Fred, something he passed on to Bonnie Raitt.
Sofia Sanchez and Mauro Mongiello on Femme Femme Femme.
Nate Silver at 538.com gets an advance copy of the Republican recovery plan.
Thanks to reader ASR.
Luigi Zingales, co-author of Saving Capitalism from the Capitalists (well worth reading), gives a thumbs down to the Geithner plan in today’s NY Daily News.
