Martha’s out. And you can tell life is much different on the other side of her sentence as she is finally able to post about it on her official company website instead of using her sideline personal website.

Jorn and Robot Wisdom are back! (thanks waxy!)

BOWIE GOLDEN YEARS is a fabulously slick site that chronicles David Bowie’s 1974-1980 renaissance years month-by-month. A collection of news articles, album, TV, movie & stage listings round out the overflowing cornucopia of information. The only problem with the site is figuring out how I can possibly add it to my little David Bowie shrine. Maybe the shrine needs a computer…one that can play a circa 1994 CD-ROM game (Jump) and display websites. (via Yahoo! Picks)

The best news article I found while doing Oscar basket research was this lovely account of the goody bag that the town of Sudbury put together for Sir Ian McKellen when he visited the Sudbury Rotary Club. The “bag of the finest treats the town has to offer” included silk ties, golf balls, meals at local restaurants, books about local culture, a selection of beers from Mauldon’s Brewery, and a vegetarian quiche and a granary loaf. (NOTE: updated to fix Sudbury as town, Suffolk is the county. Thanks V!)

There’s always some diamond accessories that try to grab Oscar attention. Last year it was a pair of shoes. This year the “conflict free” diamond producers are getting in the act with a necklace that features both cultured (aka manmade) gems and Canadian mined ones. 35 karats of those diamonds make up the Diamonds for Humanity necklace. The claim is that several actresses are “vying for the opportunity” to wear it which probably means they haven’t found a celeb who can decide what dress they are wearing yet, let alone if the necklace goes with it.

Rules of thumb for color design, nicely done. (via xBlog)

Hockey season is finally over, before it had a chance to begin. Some don’t believe negotiations will be resolved even before the start of the next season. Hal Bock, veteran sports writer for AP, points out that the last time the Stanley Cup was not awarded was also the last time the Red Sox won the World Series in the preceding baseball season.

Shown at DEMO 2005, In the Chair is a software system that gives feedback to musicians as they practice orchestral music. Content is provided by a symphony orchestra in the form of video and music files. Using the system, a musician follows the conductor onscreen, playing along with the orchestra. A microphone picks up what is being played and the software responds with text, audio, and visual critiques.

Although I’m not particularly interested in the nuptials of Prince Charles and longtime love Camilla, I was, of course, curious about her engagement ring. Rather than buying something new, Charles presented his fiancee with a ring owned by his grandmother. The central bauble is a square-cut diamond with three baguettes on either side. The ring was given to the late Queen Mother by her husband, King George VI, reportedly when she became pregnant with Queen Elizabeth. The symbolism of a royal heirloom to seal a relationship that caused no small amount of scandal is not lost on royal observers. The royal family often resets jewels and updates old pieces as fashions and owners change. That the couple apparently chose not to redesign the ring but wear it as is may speak more about Camilla’s taste than royal symbolism.

Yes, that was “the real” Lawrence Lessig as portrayed by Christopher Lloyd on West Wing this past week. But y’know they really should’ve had Aishwarya Rai portray Miss World. (via Matt)