For those inclined, I'd recommend checking out the Grateful Dead's long waited release of their historic shows performed at the Giza Pyramids in 1978.

Highlights include the "Ollin Arageed->Fire on the Mountain" the Dead performed with percussionist Hamza El Din and the Nubian Youth Choir.

There's also a cool DVD highlighting some of the performances; you'll catch Ken Kesey and Bill Walton among the guests of the Dead (with Ken Kesey leading an expedition to plant a Dead flag on one of the pyramids).

It certainly is a trippy visual: the Good Ol' Grateful Dead jamming in the shadow of the Pyramids with the Sphinx looking over their shoulder. To top it off there was a lunar eclipse on the night of the last show.

On a side note, the day after the Dead's last Giza show, Begin and Sadat signed the Camp David Peace Accords. Hey, I'm just sayin'! :) :) :)

The essay about Massachusetts from State by State was printed in last week's Boston Globe Sunday, and it is fabulous. The essay is written by John Hodgman, also known as "PC" and the "Resident Expert" on the Daily Show. This essay alone prompted me to search out the book. Interested readers should check out Hodgman's essay on www.boston.com - I can only hope that the rest of the essays are as personal and touching.

"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is one of the best! He's got all of the fantastical overwhelmingness of Lewis Carroll and Miyazaki. It makes the child inside me follow along behind them like the pied piper.

Sorry but unless you're being paid by TVOTR you shouldn't be giving them two gushing advertreviews a week.

Hey, Neil Gaiman's first book was a fanboy excursion into Adam's Hitchhikers Guide called "Don't Panic!". Plus, he co-authored with Terry Pratchett what may be the funniest book of the past 20 years, and what IS THE book on Christian (or at least fundamentalist) eschatology for skeptics, "Good Omens". Take my word for it, use those copies of the Left Behind "novels" for toilet paper and devour "Good Omens". You'll never see the anti-Christ in quite the same way again. Really GREAT stuff.

I've been revisiting TV On The Radio this week. If Ms.Havrilesky hasn't listened to "Return To Cookie Mountain," I suggest doing so.

Not trying to be "preachy," just trying to return the favor. I gave Dear Science a listen earlier this week and a Havrilesky endorsement is enough to do so again.

Best,

-m in Detroit

just got Good Omens from the library! I can't wait to read it :)