sunday short stack

"You yourself are your own obstacle - rise above yourself." - Hafiz (via whiskey river)

• A book will never let you down (via boing boing).
• Idolator has mp3s from Partyline, the new project from Bratmobile's Alison Wolfe.
• The New York Times provides a Reader's Guide to War.
• "Capra's group of socially conscious films of the '30s reflected a reasonably coherent fear of the intensifying class conflict, fascism and militarism that seemed then to be overtaking the world. It's a Wonderful Life reveals near panic over the catastrophes and depersonalization that actually did" (via Metafilter).
• Via LAist: Theron Parlin's Top 10 Best Designed Websites of 2006 and the Top 10 Most Profound Deaths from Chris Schlarb, executive producer of 40 Bands 80 Minutes
• Do you like your rock dark, energique, calme, or positif? Tell my favorite new music player (via GOOD).
• Via 3qd: What happens to your body if you stop smoking right now?
• Don't miss this excellent photo essay on the Old Los Angeles Zoo (via blogging.la).
• I often ask myself what's going on with my first americana pusher Kelly Willis (besides shooting Claritin commercials). It turns out she's pleading, "Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk."
• Neatorama gives us the Ten Most Dangerous Playthings of All Time.
• Notable media corrections: A film review on Wednesday about “Little Miss Sunshine” referred incorrectly to contestants in the fictional children’s beauty pageant of the title. The critic intended to compare the contestants to underage prostitutes, not to “underage fleshpots.” There's more where this came from (via Ed).