For once, we are seeing a positive trend in modern music. No, I'm not talking about the Bee Gee's, uh, threatening to reunite. (Really guys, no thanks, we're good.) More and more artists are making new albums available on vinyl. In addition, older works are being re-mastered and re-released on good old scratchy sounding vinyl records. This is a rare victory for good music.

I think that the modern vinyl revival may have started with the Pearl Jam record "Vitalogy." It was released on vinyl a few weeks before the CD. So I had already heard it 7,333 times before some of my friends had it in their car stereos. Since then, it has been a novelty for bands to put out a vinyl record. It was pretty spotty. But in the last couple years, more and more artists are making their work available to play on the ol' victrola. Ben Harper, Radiohead, Jack Johnson, White Stripes (the most devoted to the format), Oasis, U2, Arctic Monkeys and many more have had vinyl releases recently. Just a few months back, one of my favorite new bands, Vampire Weekend, put out a 12 vinyl. I got a copy.

I know most won't care, but here's the thing; I hate MP3's.

This is the third of a series (click here and here) in which we ask loyal YesButNoButYes reader and commenter "Dave" to discuss how he'd handle himself in an awkward situation. Last time, he tackled smoking zones outside office buildings. This time, we ask him to weigh in on ATM kiosks.

Sorry, I'm gonna make you click through for the complete photo since many of you look at our site from work.

Just in case you're looking for something new and fresh to contribute.

(via Metafiilter)

Bill Gates is officially stepping down and retiring from Microsoft this week. And his friends and employees must be flummoxed.

What the heck do you get a guy worth 58 billion for a retirement gift? Carnegie-Melon gave him an old chair. Microsoft gave him a lifetime subscription to Xbox live. Yawn. Yawn. So here's a few gift ideas, you probably have better...

This ad for Heinz Mayo is causing a stir across the pond. It's offended uptight UK citizens and angered gay rights groups now that's it's been banned. Now I can understand why this advert has got peoples knickers in a bunch, but personally I think it's for the wrong reasons.

The kiss is not offensive, it's the casting, wardrobe and accident of the Mum character that's inexcusable. Put Mum on a Bay Ridge or Little Italy street corner with that NY accent and he won't make it home at night to make any crappy sandwiches.

The folks who brought you 25 peeps a couple of years ago are at it again. 25 peeps invited you to upload your picture and link it to your site. Then they were ranked according to how many clicks each picture got. I did OK, and made it into the Hall of Fame. But over time, the biggest successes were pictures of body parts. Mostly boobs, but the big story was a guy's butt that people thought was boobs. This time, you aren't restricted to self-portraits. The new version is called Peepalot, and I'd appreciate it if you clicked my picture when you get there. Thanks!

Oh, yeah, feel free to hit your back button and click on someone else afterward.

Creative minds are searching for alternative energy sources in all possible places. Slate take a look at harnessing the untapped power of breast motion. Could the power of the jiggle recharge an iPod? Scientists think it might be possible. LaJean Lawson, a former professor of exercise science at Oregon State University has been studying breast physics since 1985.

Lawson explained that breasts move on three different axes: from side to side, front to back, and up and down. The most motion is generated on the vertical axis. Naturally, the bigger the breast, the more momentum it generates. "Let's face it--if you're a double-A marathoner, you're probably not going to get that iPod up and running," Lawson said. Measurements compiled by Lawson and her colleagues show that a D-cup in a low-support bra can travel as much as 35 inches up and down (35 inches!) during exercise, while a B-cup in a high-support bra barely moves an inch.

Other researchers who study kinetic energy are intrigued with the idea and how to make it happen. Nanowires? A linear generator? Who knows, but someday soon, those things might be good for something.

Monkey News!

This video was sent to me yesterday. Thank you.

Not a clue what is going on here, but how come we don't have monkey talk shows in America? Besides Carson Daly. Actual monkeys.



There is just something about a chimp in a suit. Cheeky bugger.

In the past few weeks, there has been a flurry of UFO activity in the United Kingdom. There has been mass sightings in Wales and Shropshire.

One report has been that police gave chase to an "flying saucer shaped" object in Cardiff.

The U.K. is abuzz with the possibility that E.T. is going to land in London, enjoy some fish and chips then visit Buckingham Palace and Abbey Road Studios.

The picture above was taken by 19-year-old Corporal Mark Proctor. He, and two other soldiers, witnessed a "fleet of rotating cubes" above military barracks. Additional footage can be seen here.

Yes, this is just entertaining fun, but considering that a fair percentage of the planet believes in extra terrestrial life -- polls say anywhere from 30% to 80% -- it's worth taking a look at.

If you ever watched Joe Cocker's performance at Woodstock in 1969, you may have wondered what he was singing. Wonder no more, since he now has subtitles to make it all very clear.

(Thanks, Gary!)