I somehow managed to stay off the spammers’ radar for more than a year and a half, but this morning I noticed no fewer than three fake comments attached to posts here. (The note from the Spiegelworld intern I decided to leave, figuring it for a borderline case.)

Since I think it’s safe to assume that no one is coming here looking for "Eskimo porn," I’ve taken the measure this morning of requiring CAPTCHA images for post verification. I’m hoping that move won’t be a huge burden. But actually, there’s something else I’m much more concerned about: Setting up that filter required me to republish the entire site — every single page. Since I’m not the most web-savvy blogger on the block, I’m simply praying that this isn’t going to play havoc with RSS feeds, rebloggers and other amalgamators. (Apologies in advance if I’ve just carpet-bombed Jeff Harrington and Jerry Bowles…)

Playlist (pre-marathon edition):

Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles – Diamonds in the Dark (Sugar Hill)

Grateful Dead – Dick’s Picks, Vol. 3: Pembroke Pines, FL 05/22/77 (Grateful Dead)

Various Artists – White Elephants & Golden Ducks: Musical Treasures from Burma (Shanachie)

Tartar Lamb – Sixty Metonymies (Ice Level)

Various Artists – Guitars of the Golden Triangle: Folk and Pop Music of Myanmar, Vol. 2 (Sublime Frequencies)

Kyaw Kyaw Naing – Pat Waing: The Magic Drum Circle of Burma (Shanachie)

Osvaldo Golijov – Oceana*; Tenebrae**; Three Songs*** – Luciana Souza*, Kronos Quartet**, Dawn Upshaw***, Atlanta Symphony Chorus & Orchestra/Robert Spano (Deutsche Grammophon)

King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black (DGM/Virgin)

godspeed you! black emperor – F#A# Infinity and Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada (Kranky)

Amiina – Kurr (Bláskjár)

Playlist (post-marathon edition):

Various Artists – Princess Nicotine: Folk and Pop Music of Myanmar (Sublime Frequencies)

Nai Htaw Paing Ensemble – Mon Music of Burma (Fire Museum)

Inle Myint Maung and Yi Yi Thant – Mahagitá: Harp and Vocal Music of Burma (Smithsonian Folkways)

Grateful Dead – Dick’s Picks, Vol. 3: Pembroke Pines, FL 05/22/77 (Grateful Dead)

Marillion – Childhood’s End (Sanctuary)

The Books – Lost and Safe (Tomlab)

Clogs – Stick Music (Brassland)

Alexandra Gardner – Luminoso (Innova)