Oh, sorry to miss you yesterday. I'm working on a swanky new project, to be posted in due time. Until then, links!

Nick Kristof has an timely tentative look at religion today. One thing I find a little strange is his assertion that there is a growing polarization. It seems to me that religion is becoming more and more private, meaning that people no longer use it as a social guide or criteria, but prefer to separate their religious beliefs from other parts of life. Maybe things are more polarized in...Manhattan?

On the other hand, Die Puny Humans links to one of modern life's other secretive activities, porn. This is an old article, but fascinating. STRT2NL, indeed.

Google can now do a wide variety of mathematical functions. Now that is bad ass!

DO NOT MISS this cover article from Wired about making diamonds. I didn't realize what bastards DeBeers are, but that's just a side note compared to the modern technology. So much for diamonds as an investment! (which was a sham anyway)

Another hi-frickin'-larious website, Enter the Cow-Orker. Don't ever say I never helped you waste an entire afternoon!!! Thanks to Brian at Peeve Farm for that one.

Moderately interesting photos from the New York City blackout.

Mark Steyn rips Arianna Huffington a new one.

The Weekly Standard recounts the recent implosion of the BBC.

One for the nerds: The Game of Life meets Resident Evil.