Bad and loud

My ears aren’t what they once were (well, they’re bigger, just not better), but I’m bugged by the latest audio technology going backwards in sound quality. Over a year ago I talked about overcompression, and today tastewar pointed out something on Gizmodo about Metallica’s new stuff sounding better on Guitar Hero III than it does on the CD release.

Speaking of Guitar Hero, Stephen Colbert has been digitized and is available for downloading on the video game Rock Band 2.

And coming in November will be “A Colbert Christmas“, with musical guests, including Elvis Costello. Check out the pictures at that link. Looks like the pilot for “Colbert’s Playhouse”!

Schulz’s Schulz Library

Yesterday, I pointed out the Schulz Library that’s up in Vermont. But what about the books the man himself had in his studio? A sneaky visitor to the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California offers a glimpse, at this link. I wish he had provided a link to a larger, high-resolution image, but I recognize one title there that’s on my own bookshelf — Citizen Soldiers, by Stephen Ambrose.