Aubrey and Kathleen McClendon were shocked to see their own likenesses peering out as gargoyles on the Duke University dorm they had donated the building funds for. The artistic surprise was a gesture to honor the couple and they were appreciative, but they have asked that the gargoyles be taken down. I wonder if they would have been happier if the likenesses didn’t look so much like bobble-head dolls?

What’s surreal? Finding out they are making a movie starring Julia Roberts as a professor at your alma mater. What’s really surreal? Finding out that they are actually filming scenes on campus with Wellesley students as extras. What’s not so surreal? Finding out that because the movie is set in the 1950’s they had to use mainly white students for extras (almost a quarter of the student body is now Asian and almost half of the students are “ethnically diverse”).

Another spiritual child of the Internet Movie Database, here’s The Big Cartoon Database. (via memepool)

It’s the first rain we’ve experienced in our house, and it’s bordering on torrential. With our spanking new roof, you’d think I’d be feeling comfortably covered. Instead, I’m remembering what the roofer said when I asked him how long the cedar would remain that beautiful orange-red hue, “after the first rain, it’ll never be the same.” And I’m also remembering that we were supposed to put extenders on the new gutter downspouts. Ah well, at least I won’t need to wash my dusty car. Hello California winter.

Will the critical legal documents of our lives ever go completely digital? A few banks are ready to push along this possibility. In October of 2000, FleetBoston, the big bank in New England, started offering online safe-deposit “boxes”. I haven’t found any verification, but physical safe-deposit boxes have probably been offered by banks ever since banks have existed. Bank buildings are already fortified to store valuables, and customers trust them to hold their money, why not their important papers as well (and long ago those important papers were their only “money”)? People are becoming more comfortable with the security of online banking. Will people be comfortable with their legal documents in virtual form only? Of course, a digital safe deposit box is not entirely about the elimination of paper; it’s valuable for any documents you may want to lock up and back up.

I’ve finally taken the time to carefully digest Peter Gabriel’s UP album. My friend Ned (who, incidentally, has cleverly programmed his cellphone with the Wallace & Gromit theme song so I have to appreciate his musical taste) lamented the lack of originality in this body of work, and I have to agree. I do like the album. But Gabriel put us in the unfortunate circumstance of having to wait ten years for a new solo album. What I’ve got in my CD player is something that he could have released a year or two after “Us.” Back then I’d be more excited about it. I’m not the best judge of Peter Gabriel, having arrived late to an appreciation for the depths of his music, and I’m spoiled by my #1 rock hero, David Bowie, chameleoning through his entire career. So perhaps I shouldn’t expect more than another usual Peter Gabriel album. This one is more than decent. He knows the sounds he likes, and he layers them on with vigor. The only problem is, as Ned says, “haven’t I heard this entire album before?” It’s variations on familiar themes, propelled along by a few good bass grooves. (read the BBC review; it’s better informed and more forgiving plus, it mentions John Cusack)

I have to thank reader Stewart for writing in and challenging yesterday’s statement that most people in the world can’t vote. Out of the people of average voting age, it is probably not true. The CIA World Factbook page on Suffrage only lists five countries with no voting rights. But Stewart and I agreed that even if there were a tally of the voting population, the end number would still be open to the questions of how many truly have free will when voting and how many votes are thrown away for convenience. Maybe democracy still comes out ahead. Maybe what works best for most of the population (democracy or not) comes out ahead, which would be OK too. One interesting concept I noticed from the Factbook is that there are countries where voting is compulsory. I’d hate to think that some of these laws have roots in evil enforcements (vote for us or else!), but it’s an interesting idea. It probably isn’t a good idea for the U.S. however. That Devo song said it well: “Freedom of choice is what you got. Freedom from choice is what you want.”

Written by Val Henson for The Linux Documentation Project, but useful for anyone working in the computer industry, HOWTO Encourage Women in Linux explains the difficulties faced by the female members of the Linux community and details do’s and don’ts for encouraging their involvement. Come to think of it, you could apply most of the content to any business and male-dominated hobbyist community. (thanks Pavel)

U.S. citizens: Vote today. Most people in the world can’t. Voting Facts: Only Maine and Vermont have no voting rights restrictions for convicted felons. Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Wyoming allow election day registration. North Dakota is the only state without any form of voter registration. (source National Conference of State Legislatures)

The NY Times Food Diary entry that you’ve all been waiting for has arrived at last. Well, maybe it was just me waiting for it. Amanda Hesser finally writes about her wedding to Tad Friend. The food, by Dan Barber of Blue Hill, included tomatoes filled with eggplant and anchovies, hamachi, lobster, and plum coupe. She doesn’t mention a cake, but she does describe her dress: “little cap sleeves”, “pink silk chiffon”. Sounds as yummy as the food. (Saute Wednesday has a list of links to all the Food Diary entries.)