A Thousand Violins Explode in My Mind

Puppies are cute, so why do they end up having names that sound like Allen Ginsberg poems? [Slate]
In honor of Valentine’s Day, overeducated Conway Twitty lookalike Jonathan Jones writes about the cupid’s mischief at different points in art history. [Guardian]
Make love to your iPad (no, really): designs for the iPad Fleshlight prototype have been released. [The Register]
Twitter is teaming up with satellite companies to expand its service into the middle of the Australian desert. [Kurzweil]
Today marks the 50th anniversary of Jacqueline Kennedy’s televised White House tour, in which she shared her broad expertise in art and design. Male AFC staff are trying to think of a way to say “Hot damn!” while still sounding classy. [Culture Monster]
Ben Davis, one of our nominees for the Art Fag City Rob Pruitt Art Awards and Auction* (*not affiliated with Rob Pruitt), wrote a piece in defense of Damien Hirst – kind of. [Artinfo]
Further indication that crime totally does pay: Walter Beltracchi, the German sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of forgery, is now making art with photographer Manfred Esser, and selling them for five figures apiece. [Journal des Arts]
30,000 bright red kimjongilia begonias filled an exhibition hall at the unveiling of an equestrian statue in honor of Kim Jong-il’s 70th birthday. By Kim Jong-il standards, the late Supreme Leader looks pretty good. [Telegraph]

Intro to The Art World: A Beginners Reading List