Mr. T's Be Somebody, or Be Somebody's Fool Part of the Mr. T Webring Made in 1984, this "educational" video teaches kids such great things as "use anger, don't lose it!"; if you're walking down the street and you fall down, just start break dancing so no one will know you fell; one great way to get in shape is to run into the Pacific ocean while fully dressed. more inside

War of the Worlds Retrospective
War of the Worlds Book Covers
Book Illustrations
Orson Welles Radio Play, Script (& its sale).

The Huns & the Fall of the Roman Empire 'In 1984 a German scholar worked out that 210 reasons had been advocated for the fall of the Roman empire. Peter Jones enjoys a "fine narrative history" that concentrates on just one.' The Huns. Reviews of The Fall of the Roman Empire by Peter Heather and The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization by Bryan Ward-Perkins, from the Telegraph.

Animal Wierdness du jour starts with an ancient mystery about Pygmy Elephants now solved (they're their own subspecies). On a smaller scale, Sri Lankan eggheads found dozens of new tree frog species, but realise many known species are either extinct or on the verge. Even smaller: male and female fire ants have independent gene pools, almost as if each gender is its own species. more inside

They weren't all peaceful easy feelings. Her biography is hard to piece together (details such as where exactly she was when she died of a heroin overdose are unclear), but while she was alive, 70's era singer-songwriter Judee Sill made some amazing music. NPR reviewed a recent release of her music and I was reminded of just how great it sounds. more inside