Japanese don’t like the iPhone

Wired explains why Apple’s iPhone hasn’t taken off.

Videos: Charlie Murphy’s Top 5 Chappelle’s Show skits

The Comedy Central site has a page with Charlie Murphy’s top skits. “I think Prince is still mad at me.”

Arenas practicing

A couple links to cheer us Wizards fans up. Gilbert Arenas has been practicing full out for a week.

This video reminds us of what he can do at the top of his game:

Video: Sly Stallone for Ito Ham

Via Cracked and Japundit collections of Japanese commercials with Oscar-nominated stars, here’s a classic Sylvester Stallone ad for Ito Ham.

The growth of the middle class and the global economy

The Economist explores the growth of two global middle classes. The “global middle class,” with income equivalent to that of the middle class in the developed  world, is still only a tenth of the world’s population. The “developing middle class”  is middle-class by the standards of the developing world. This group has grown from a third to over half the world population since 1990, and might be the best hope for pulling the world economy out of the current doldrums. Via ALDaily.

Japan’s World Heritage Sites

Here is a site with info on and pictures of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites (cultural and natural). Via Nihon Sun, which is a great site for those interested in Japan or traveling there.

Poe at 200

The 200th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe was January 19, 2009, but I only just got around to reading this nice essay by Nick Mamatas.

Dennis Elsas WNEW-FM archival clips

DJ Dennis Elsas, formerly of WNEW-FM, New York, and now with Sirius and WFUV-FM, New York, has some great archival clips up on his home page.  Check out the John Lennon clip from September 1974.

Google and access to knowledge

Just got around to reading Robert Darnton’s recent article in the New York Review of Books, “Google & the Future of Books.”  The piece explores the recent settlement between Google and publishers with regard to Google Book Search, and whether the settlement will ultimately serve the public interest in expanding access to the world’s knowledge.

Giant rat caught in China

UK Telegraph (via Boing Boing) reports on a six pound rat caught in the city of Fuzhou.