Notes by Farouk Rojas

Through BoingBoing, this article in the BBC website:

"The factory in Guangdong had been completing overseas orders for the flag of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Workers said they thought they were just making colourful flags and did not realise their meaning."

Well, if you're the factory of the world, you are the factory of the world.

For a more sophisticated, if less energetic, approach, try XTC Radio.  Aside from a very fancy tag line, they also have great sound and great selection.

Not much to say about this radio station.  It sounds great and the music is good.  I find it very helpful for working, as their selection of music is not very distracting and helps me keep my energy up.  You can tune in using a variety of software programs.  (iTunes, WinAmp, etc.)

"A new library allows readers to borrow people for a 30-minute chat. Here's the experience of one man who offered himself as a human book"

This interesting article in the Times Online came to me through Jessica Duchen's classical music blog, a most excellent electronic publication, albeit sometimes way above my head. 

"The idea, which comes from Scandinavia, is simple: instead of books, readers can come to the library and borrow a person for a 30-minute chat. The human “books” on offer vary from event to event but always include a healthy cross-section of stereotypes. Last weekend, the small but richly diverse list included Police Officer, Vegan, Male Nanny and Lifelong Activist as well as Person with Mental Health Difficulties and Young Person Excluded from School. I was there as Gay Man."

“We work on the principle that extreme violence and aggression happens between people who don't know each other. So the Living Library can bring together people who are otherwise unlikely to meet. We want to show that not every Muslim wants to blow you up, not every policeman is a bully.”