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Granny Spam and a Stradivarius

Kathleen Peine: The violin itself is part of the story. Handcrafted in 1713 by Antonio Stradivari, it is reported to be of almost supernatural acoustic beauty.

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How Our Internet Heroes Lost Their Cool

Steven Mikulan: The true Apple ethos — far from the progressive stereotype rendered by its ranks of official hagiographers — is one of exploit, avoid, and hide.

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The Daily Show: Over the Hill?

Ted Vaill: Fresh material is always there for the taking, but watching The Daily Show night after night, as I usually do (but may not do much longer), gets a little boring at times.

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The False Choice of Arts Funding

Peter Zerzan: What funding arts does is the same as funding research and development -- it allows people to develop their creative talents without having to worry about next quarterʼs profits.

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Shock and Awe

Gary Corseri: They told us it would be over soon; They told us it would save our lives. But our children’s eyes hardened like peach pits. More years passed than our youth.

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Timeless Absurdity: Revisiting “A Confederacy of Dunces”

Kathleen Peine: The only thing more bizarre than the protagonist of this book is the way that it ended up being published, but I'll get back to that story later. It's a crazy tale.

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When I’m 63

Michael Sigman: Today, my 63rd birthday looms and the cultural messages are mixed. It feels uncool -- bordering on shameful -- to acknowledge my age.

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What Really Is Middle Age?

Jim Cullen: In Our Prime has an even tone and intellectual depth that talks frankly about some of the most dismaying aspects of the aging process.

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Russia’s Post-Stalinist Master of Film Comedy: Eldar Ryazanov

Walter Moss: A great admirer of the Charlie Chaplin’s films, Eldar Ryazanov is primarily known for his comedies, which are often referred to as “sad comedies” or tragicomedies.

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Worlds of Fun, My Ass

Kathleen Peine: Oh my god, I can feel the bags under my eyes growing and those bags have bags and those bags are full of drugs and a .357. This is what old ladies do. They let pink faced cats and neurotics lead them into the abyss.

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