Year: 2008

Johnny Comet chases Al Gore

This week, Stephen Colbert talked with GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. He touted the new Chevy Volt, a car that is mostly electric, with a backup gas engine.

This is so bizarre, considering GM’s EV-1, the subject of the outstanding documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car?. Lutz still disputes the existence of global warming. Looking at this lunkhead, I can see why GM is destined for bankruptcy.

Johnny Comet asks, \"Where is Al Gore?\"

But what about Al Gore, who won an Oscar by educating everybody about the threat of global warming? He’s been conspicuously absent of late. Well, to my surprise, it seems he’s taking an entirely different approach to alternative automotive fuel. By chance I’ve found evidence that he’s involved with the development of an atomic carburetor!

Johnny Comet chases Al Gore

Johnny Comet chases Al Gore

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.