New digital audio format on the way?

A new audio standard (.MT9) being proposed offers the listener the option to control the volume of certain instruments via a 6-channel equalizer.   This would be especially useful for karaoke fans, but I would be more interested in using it as a training tool to analyze guitar parts, or just simply mute them so I can play along.  You can do this now with MIDI interpretions of existing songs, but midi tends to sound too artificiial even when played through high-end sound cards.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/05/133_24597.html

Tracey Ullman doing Hellen Mirren

… an impression, that is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQtqHwkTxWM&feature=related

and here she is as Judi Dench:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj8vfnTE1jI&feature=related

What indian lyrics sounds like in English

… I couldn’t even finish watching it the first time around, because I was in tears:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZA1NoOOoaNw

Texan protesting amnesty for illegal immigrants argues that anyone who can’t master English doesn’t deserve to live in America.

 

5 psych experiments that prove humanity is doomed

If you ever took Psych 101, you’ve heard about these.  The most notorious one is Milgram’s experiment, which showed the degree to which we are conditioned to obey authority figures. 

As a result of these experiments, psychological research involving volunteers, must go through a rigorous review by a board to evaluate how participation can affect the volunteers’ well-being and self-esteem.

http://www.cracked.com/article_16239_5-psychological-experiments-that-prove-humanity-doomed.html