George Orwell's essay with 11 rules on making the perfect cup of tea.

Quoted: Celebrating the mediocre since 2002.

The Guardian takes a look at blogs through the lens of Orwell's "Politics and the English Language."

Quoted: From the Orwellian point of view, it is the violence the internet does to the English language as much as its challenge to the journalistic infrastructure that is the biggest anxiety.

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Behind the scenes on the famous "1984" commercial by Apple. It's a 3 minute behind the scenes look followed by the final cut of the commercial. I think this still must be one of the most effective commercials ever, still garnering viewers and describing the positioning of Apple.

You should watch this just for the silly '80s music.

Quoted: This is a rare video clip I restored, which shows 'behind the scenes' of Apple's famous 1984 commercial. Enjoy this trip back in time -- ...

Henry Porter at the Guardian pining for a writer or two to step up and serve as opposition to a Labour Party he feels has dulled the community into silence.

Quoted: This may seem harsh, but where are the novelists with their indictments of government and society? Where are exposés of some unregarded part of the termite heap? Where are the dramatists who can barely speak for their anger?

Free George Orwell library.

A wonderful and very clear essay on the degradation of the English langauge and some tips on how to reverse the trend.

Quoted: Politics and the English Language, the essay of George Orwell. First published: April 1946 by/in Horizon, GB, London

They should put these near the sinks in the mens' public restrooms.

Quoted: In weeks with eyes on the list, staff paid 2.76 times as much for their drinks as in weeks with flowers. “Frankly we were staggered by the size of the effect,” Gilbert Roberts, one of the researchers, told New Scientist.

The IRS proposed a change under the following title:

"IRS Issues Proposed Regulations to Safeguard Taxpayer Information."

In a wonderful tip of the hat to Orwell, the IRS really should have said that the proposal is to allow tax preparers to "sell" taxpayer information to interested parties. How's that one for honesty?

Quoted: The IRS's proposed rule change will allow tax preparers to sell -- uh, 'safeguard' -- your data.