I tried hard to find supporting links . . . but they were all awful. So I'm posting a single youtube link of a very young Aretha Franklin singing the hell out of "Natural woman." more inside

DrawerGeeks

It being Auden's Centenary, here's an article about him. Here's a link to some of his poetry. Here, and here, and here are links to Auden reading his own poetry. Here is contemporary pastiche. The Auden Society, if you're interested, is here.

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Pat, I'd Like To Buy A Sandwich Can't decide where to go for lunch? Just enter your Zip Code (yes, sorry, US only) and the query "Lunch" and let the Wheel Of Food pick which local restaurant you'll grace with your patronage!

Scallops are harvested by ‘dredging’ - dragging a set of steel spikes over the sea-bed. This dislodges the shellfish, produces $5 million per annum for the fishing-boats and reduces the sea-bed – sponges, corals, sea-fans and all – to barren rubble. more inside

But isn't TV supposed to turn you into a zombie..?

Curious George goes down the pub It's time for a London meetup again, oh yes. more inside

HowTo: Make DVDs out of YouTube videos How can you watch those visually stunning YouTube videos away from the pesky Intertubes? Just follow the instructions, and it's a snap!* * Is not a snap. Involves downloading and installing two or more separate (but free) programs and reading some or all of the instructions. And the video quality on your television isn't all that great anyway but hey there you go. Do not take thread comments internally. Not for sale to minors. Free drinks until 5 p.m. for the Ladies. via Lifesmacker more inside

Rich and famous sign name of poor and unknown What's an autograph by Yoko Ono, David Sedaris, the late Spalding Gray, or architect Frank Gehry worth? Better yet, what's it worth if said celebrities sign not their names but that of the autograph seeker? Paul Schmelzer got more than 70 people--including Jesse Ventura, Wim Wenders, Noam Chomsky, and the voice of Homer Simpson--to sign his Germanic, unfamous name. Funnier still is those who didn't sign but took time to mail back a reply: Mikhail Baryhshnikov, Tom Clancy, etc.

It's the 21st Century, damnit - where's my jetpack? - Here's a look at the progress of the hydrogen peroxide rocket belt. Dan Schlund seems to be the current world master of hydrogen peroxide hovering (yootoob), but it's still only a 30-second flight. more inside

Mummy, the food is looking at me! more inside

"Don't kiss her till she has carried out her duties," writes the cad of the kitchen, in his manual of cookery and seduction.

Licit and illicit drug use is part of our world, so here's to harm reduction. Some stated principles are here. The "Hotties of Harm Reduction" are here.

How depressed is your country? "Picture the countries battling the highest rates of depression, and you probably think of those that are developing or poor. Think again."

1.618: a music video for BT's song of the same name. Exploring the golden ratio in electronic music and computer animation. Free but large download (186MB) [via deviantART.com] Another link here for DivX Web Player. more inside

"John is our god," declares village chief Isaac Wan, who beats his fists into the ground to emphasise his words.

Children's monster drawings redone by artists.

Elephant self-recognition Considered an indicator of self-awareness, mirror self-recognition has long seemed limited to humans and apes. more inside

Four legged duck makes Sunday lunch arguments about who has a leg obsolete.