Links

Review of Sukiyaki, a Japanese restaurant in St Albans.

“There was a time – perhaps there still is – when a bride’s way with pickles defined her negotiating strength in the marriage contract in certain countries in the Far East. On the basis of the pickles we had, the pickler in the kitchen at Sukiyaki could command her or his own price. They were delicate, poised, lightly acid little coils of vivid green cucumber and deep purple radish.”

Commercial Breaks and Beats, a well-organised UK television advert music database.

Fanboy MP3 reconstruction of the unreleased Beach Boys album, SMiLE.

Large collection of Modest Mouse bootleg MP3s.

Which Powerpuff Girls Character Are You?

The Cook Book CD: Libro de Cocina y Musica.

“An indie-pop Japan-o-phile compilation of songs accompanied by vegetarian recipes contributed by the artists. Surprise! It doesn’t suck.”

Exceptionally tiny, customizable radio-controlled cars now available in the UK from Bit Char-G.

“Introducing the world’s Playstation 2 Memory Card Sized radio-controlled micro car from Japan – Bit Char-G (pronounced as ‘bit charge’) … so small that you can maneuver it on your desk around coffee mugs, keyboard & other objects.”

Excerpt from Helen Cooper’s A Chaucerian Year.

“Odd things happen to the hormones in May; and although people did not know about hormones, they were entirely familiar with their symptoms… but May was not entirely good. Some days in the medieval calendar were believed to bring bad luck, and early May is recurrently dangerous.”

The Keo satellite launches at the end of 2003, carrying messages from everyone who has the urge to submit. It’s scheduled for return 50,000 years later.

The Guardian’s Charlie Porter on obsession-inducing 24.

“Most of us never expected to get caught up in a series that covers essentially the same ground as an average Tom Clancy novel … but in 24, where a clock at the bottom of the screen proves that in each episode we see an hour’s worth of real-time action, the subject matter is almost irrelevant – we’d watch golf if it was done with the same suspense.”

“combining the dangers of ‘adrenaline’ sports with the satisfaction of pressed linen“.

Jim O’Rourke, Kim Gordon, Amon Tobin, Jeff Mills, Si Begg, Evolution Control Committee, Cornelius (and many, many more) feature in various gigs as part of the RFH’s (slightly pricey) Ether 2002 festival.

The covers project (“building a database of cover songs… with the intention of creating cover ‘chains'”).

The weblogging world is abuzz with speculation – what is BlogRoots? Oh silly, isn’t it obvious? It’s hair dye – for webloggers!

The Complete Tapehead Columns.

Like cows, or something! The official HR Giger website.

London Air Quality Network’s live air pollution levels.

Bill Birdwood, Dartmoor prison’s chaplain.

Addictive TV’s ITV1 music series of audio-visual DJ / VJ mixes repeated Friday nights from April 19th at 2.45am, featuring exclusive mixes from labels including Pork, Full Cycle, Pussyfoot, Rephlex, Law & Auder, Ninja Tune and Hydrogen Dukebox.

The I Dig Scrawny Pale Guys webring. Thankfully no “I Am A Scrawny Pale Guy” companion webring.

The UK’s first all-girl skateboarding event, April 5th at Sheffield’s The House skatepark.

The Hustler, available on DVD from June.

“You’ve the best excuse in the world for losing; no trouble losing when you got a good excuse. Winning. That can be heavy on your back too, like a monkey. You’ll drop that load too when you got an excuse. All you gotta do is learn to feel sorry for yourself. One of the best indoor sports, feeling sorry for yourself. A sport enjoyed by all, especially the born losers.”

The Warp Magic Bus Tour travels through Europe during May and June. Artists going on a summer holiday include Plaid, Prefuse 73, Ovuca, Luke Vibert and Mira Calix.

An Illustrated History.

“Discover the fascinating history of computers, interfaces, and computer design in this illustrated guide that includes pictures of nearly every computer ever made, an informative text describing the computer’s evolution up to the present day, and an A-Z index of the most influential computer firms.”

History of the Final Fantasy series.

The Invisible Web Directory, for when Google just ain’t enough.

iPod Hacks. Now all I need is an iPod. And a Mac.

Wonderland Society’s Canterbury Tales. I’m looking forward to the inevitable “Which Pilgrim Are You?” online personality test.

A romance of many dimensions.

Power Xtreme! File under “dimly-remembered childrens cartoon that seemed wonderful at the time (perhaps brain only half-grown?)”.

Amusing client quotes. Salvaged from a dreamless.org thread.

Vic and Bob perform a cover of the Dr Who theme tune (requires RealPlayer). My memory may be playing tricks; I’m sure the broadcast sketch was much longer (and more amusing).