My First Conk -- Malcolm X describes how to straighten out your nappy-headed fro.

MilitaryVideos.net The AC-130 gunship video "Do not engage the mosque". .

If I am elected, they will be terrified!... I myself will be terrified. Toyama Koichi's campaign speech for Governor of Tokyo(utube from the blue). More info on the illustrious candidate here.

Jennifer Maestre pencil sculptures via more inside

And now, a moment of levity for those of us bummed out about Vonnegut. No, there's nothing funny about it. Now stop laughing.

Birds of War. An exhibition to mark the fourth anniversary of the Iraq invasion. Also, a photo essay (flash, sound) on Iraq four years on.

Kurt Vonnegut: 1922-2007 more inside

See the cat? See the cradle? Vonnegut has passed from this earth. more inside

Living in Three Centuries A short photo essay related to age... if you ever wake up feeling a bit old, you'll have a new perspective after viewing Mark Story's photography.

Nickelback Recycles Why write new songs when you can just keep re-releasing the same one? WARNING: Flash and audio (kind of the point of the post, but just sayin'...) via.

Project Linus makes security blankets for kids who are "seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need". Security blankets are a good thing. more inside

Wardrobe_Remix flickr group. Real people wearing real clothes. Mostly for the ladies.

Blogs: 'stale and claustrophic' ... sexist and insulting as well ... so say Jimmy Wales and Tim O'Reilly ... Discuss:

The Snowsuit Effort documents Detroit's homeless. A condensed flash gallery is here.

Swap Meat - Coudal Partners (excellent site) is holding a swap meat. Send em stuff you make/design and they'll send you something back of equal value. They've gotten some interesting submissions so far. Deadline is May 1st.

411, now brought to you by Google Call 'em for free directory information (USA only, currently). You can even have the listing texted to your mobile phone when you're done.

The Dry Valleys of Antarctica Amazing pictures of some places you didn't know existed.* The terrain looks like something not of this Earth; the valley floor occasionally contains a perennially frozen lake with ice several meters thick. Under the ice, in the extremely salty water live mysterious simple organisms, a subject of on-going research. Indulge in a little armchair touring and see fantastic minimalistic landscapes of rock and ice! *Offer does not apply if you knew this place existed

Whistle Tips - Get yours today (youtube)

10 Things your Restaurant won't tell you. How can you tell a good special from a bad one? Watch out for "an expensive item used in a way that's minimizing its flavor," Zagor says, such as a lamb chop that's been cut, braised and put into a dish where it's a supporting player. Pastas, stews and soups containing expensive meats are also suspect. Also don't go out on Mondays.

Still-unexplained tiles may or may not have an important message. These are nothing new but apparently are still appearing with some regularity. At any rate, Pennsylvania certainly has its share. more inside