The Cove released in Japanese for free online
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Startup Claims It Can Sell Your Used MP3s Legally
(((I doubt it, but it might be fun to watch ’em try…)))
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Lost at sea: On the trail of Moby-Duck
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Photographs from Google Street View: art, journalism or something else altogether?
Related: The Nine Eyes of Google Street View
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LetterMPress Kickstarter Project
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Melting Smiley
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Cotton prices at an alltime high:

Why Are Cotton Prices Increasing And Affecting Prices Of Denim Jeans And Other Apparel ?
This week, cotton futures prices topped $2.00 per pound. A year or so ago, the big debate in the cotton world was whether cotton could reach the history-setting level of a $1.00 per pound.

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Communication:

swissmiss | Communication Crisis
I have reached a personal communication crisis. Too many channels. Too many messages. Too much noise. Too much guilt.

Guilt? Not me, I simply delete most email I receive. Sometimes I leave email in my inbox for a few weeks… and then delete it.
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Note from a friend:

I like to encourage my students to have a practice of some type. Many of them will say, “I meditate in the bath” or “I meditate while I clean the house.” It’s not that I don’t feel one can make these activities meditative; I’m just not sure that they’re appropriate substitutions for sitting meditation. I asked a Buddhist about this & the reply was that sitting meditation teaches you to be meditative in other activities. Just curious what your take is.

My reply:

Meditation is not thinking, it is also not not-thinking. Meditation is not sleeping, is not drowsing, is not relaxing. Meditation is not a passive state, it is active.

In my opinion one might increase one’s awareness while doing things such as cleaning the house, doing the dishes, taking a walk and so on, but it is categorically NOT meditation. Meditation is a single activity, not an overlay one can add to other activities.

Of course it is great when people increase their awareness – especially while handling sharp objects, cars or powertools! – but increasing awareness is not meditation. One does not make activities meditative… but one can bring more awareness to these activities. Sitting meditation teaches a person to be more aware in other activities, but one does not become more meditative in other activities.