In the year 2017

Have you entered the Change Contest yet?

An update on eMusic: I have been trying it out. The trial period is 30 days, and you get 50 free downloads. So far I've downloaded Paul McCartney's new album and a few other random tracks. The sound quality is pretty decent, although I'd prefer if they ditched MP3 in favor of Ogg Vorbis, for ideological reasons, y'understand. (Not only that, but the sound quality could be better, and they wouldn't have to pay licensing fees, so they could pass the savings on to their users.) I've also created an account at Last.fm; I figure it'll be a good way to discover new artists. I listen to too much dumb stuff. Hopefully these sites will fix that.

You should try Asking Jordon once in a while. It's fun! See, my friend Justin likes it.

Justin: Is the answer to this question "no"?

Mu.

Justin: Should I be up this late at night?

This question was sent at... 4:09 A.M.? No, you should not be up that late, young man. Go to bed this instant.

Justin: I have one more. If you could describe the modern age in one word, what would it be and why?

Wow. This is an interesting one. Throughout the 20th century, we've developed such a capacity to do good by advancing technology and changing our attitudes toward one another. We have the capacity, but we haven't put it into place. People are succumbing to horrible diseases and being massacred, and we haven't done nearly enough to stop it. I would say: unfulfilled.

I've previously noted that the contiguous 48 states will not see a total solar eclipse until Monday, August 21, 2017. According to predictions, the eclipse will be greatest at 37°N, 87.7°W, near Bainbridge, Christian County, Kentucky. I'm all for booking a room in a hotel close to this point to ensure that I'll see the eclipse at its fullest. I'm also all for booking it 10 years in advance. Who's with me?

Find out how to memorize anything. I'll have to see if it works.

Over the past few centuries, it was common to make a mask of someone's face when they died. Other people had masks made while they were still alive. In either case, these are often the best likenesses we have of historical figures. Here's a collection of life and death masks.