So I’m browsing the Ballard Designs catalog the other day and I stumbled upon these “French Bistro Comfort Mats,” which are described thusly: The fun design is based on a chalkboard menu we saw outside a Paris bistro Since I can’t resist an excuse to try out my French reading comprehension (which was never great and is fading fast), I [...]

From the always masterful Ze Frank, a TED talk highlighting a number of his recent projects, starting with Ray (I’m about to whip somebody’s ass) and culminating in the Chillout Song. Somewhere between “I’m about to whip somebody’s ass” and “Hey, You’re Ok” is my new personal theme song. If I were a multi-millionaire I’d be Ze Frank’s patron, and [...]

(via Stereogum and other places) comes this French Sign Language reading of Cee Lo Green’s recent hit. Love the enthusiasm and attitude throughout.

in a symbolic move today, House members from both parties read the Constitution aloud on the House floor (NPR) Otto West: Apes don’t read philosophy. Wanda: Yes they do, Otto. They just don’t understand it. Further: NewSouth Books’ upcoming edition of Mark Twain’s seminal novel “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” will remove all instances of the N-word — I’ll give you [...]

(via NPR Music) Stephin Merritt of the Magentic Fields is the subject and star of a new documentary: Strange Powers. Apparently it was released on 10/27/10 and screened in Boston last April – but it won’t be available for the Netflix queue for a while.