This is a pointer to an excellent article appearing in The Age which examines the current/continuing fascination for princesses in popular culture and neatly equates it to rampant consumerism.
Today young people take their identity much less from what they do than from what they are able to buy, an "I consume, therefore I am" mindset. Part of becoming a princess is getting a lot of good stuff: jewellery, clothes, and even houses.
This shit terrifies me, especially since I have recently witnessed mothers of young girls vocalising these aspirations to their daughters.

This is, wow, I'm dangerously short on words. Go. Listen. Learn. Admire use of Flash.
I can now definitively say that I do not like Trip Hop. Rather than I like some kinds of electronic music but not others.

Five hundred and thirty-six so far. Many, many more to go. The most recent entry is The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff.

Three corners has my hat! Too cute baby hat pattern.

I think there will be something at Linucon for everyone I know. It's open source plus science fiction. Panels range from Linux vs Microsoft to Knitting Chain Mail, Steve Jackson Games to Boutique Publishing and more. Much, much more. October 8, Austin.