“Marie Provost” Written by Nick Lowe (1978) Performed by Nick Lowe The... READ ON

For your daily dose of geekiness, I bring you The Unipiper (yes, a unicycling bagpiper), practicing his unique brand of performance art in anticipation of the upcoming movie adaptation of The Hobbit. Behold: I have actually met the mysterious Unipiper (Portland is like the Shire, in that we're all friendly weirdos, and of course we live in mossy underground burrows). So I asked him to clarify exactly which tunes he's piping here. "The first part is from 'Concerning Hobbits' followed by the... READ ON

In this live story from The Moth, Malcolm Gladwell explains how he ruined his friendship with his college friend Craig. Craig was a charismatic leader among nerds -- he had a knack for nicknames and songs, and he made a huge impression on Gladwell when they were in school. But when Craig's wedding rolled around, Gladwell ruined everything, just by singing a song. If you have even the slightest interest in Malcolm Gladwell, check out this story -- it's funny, but it's also a lesson about trusting your... READ ON

Can you play Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" on piano? If you're a random bus commuter in Newcastle, UK, the answer apparently is "yes" -- with a little help from your friends. In this video, Andy Jackson of the Cobweb Orchestra plays the majority of the piece, leaving the high melodic lines for passersby. He coaches them through it one or two notes at a time. It's adorable seeing kids and various others (most of whom have never played piano) give it a shot and, for the most part, succeed. My... READ ON