The history of the Internet is, in part, a series of opportunities missed: the major record labels let Apple take over the digital-music business; Blockbuster refused to buy Netflix for a mere fifty million dollars; Excite turned down the chance to acquire Google for less than a million dollars.

Punk rock has never really had much patience with musical virtuosity. Actually, it'd be more accurate to say that for most of its history, punk has been actively hostile to virtuosity.

Of course, politicians always say they're just describing their opponents' positions, even if they are in fact offering absurd caricatures, if not outright lies.

Traditionally, tours were a means of promoting a record. Today, the record promotes the tour.

Most corporate name changes are the result of mergers and acquisitions. But these tend to be unimaginative.

A long-term crisis, after a certain point, no longer seems like a crisis. It seems like the way things are.

Sometimes even a smart crowd will make a mistake.