Take the online color challenge to find out. –via Roslund Photography
Scientists have apparently been looking for beer’s missing link. After a five-year search, they’ve found it.
Build your own spaceship, courtesy of these NASA blueprints.
Here’s a site devoted to “the chrome logos and lettering affixed to vintage automobiles and electric appliances—those unsung metal emblems and badges that are overlooked, forgotten, damaged, lost to time or the dump.” Shown is a 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint.
In an article on how to become a faster writer, Michael Agger quotes Stony Brook professor Robert Boice:
“Binge writing—hypomanic, euphoric marathon sessions to meet unrealistic deadlines—is generally counterproductive and potentially a source of depression and blocking.”
So if I look a little down lately, it’s because the AMD suits are unrelenting in their demands of me.
Even more interesting, however, is an observation by Saint Louis University psychologist Ronald Kellogg:
“Experts approaching a serious writing assignment may spend hours, days, or weeks thinking about the task before initiating the draft.”
That’s definitely my approach. Oh, and Kellogg also has some words for those of you—you know who you are—who think that this stuff is easy:
“Writing extended texts for publication is a major cognitive challenge, even for professionals who compose for a living.”
A while back we noted a study that found that, in every nationally televised ad during the first 11 months of 2010, those featuring celebrity endorsements performed either below average or equal to it. Sort of counter-intuitive, right?
It gets stranger.
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Abercrombie & Fitch has offered to pay cast members of “Jersey Shore” not to wear its product—because “[the] association is contrary to the aspirational nature of our brand, and may be distressing to many of our fans,” according to a statement. This from a company not exactly known for its taste and decorum.
Now if someone will just pay Lady Gaga to stay home.
When I read this…
“Sometimes, when people think ‘outside the box’ the result is something interesting and revolutionary. And sometimes all they do is remind you why there was a box in the first place.” Rob Long, writer and producer
I was reminded of this:
“The most important lesson of the avant-garde was to be free of all pre-conceived ideas, particularly those of the avant-garde.” Valentin Silvestrov, pianist and composer
Looks like some do-gooders, aided and abetted by spineless bureaucrats, have banned another book. All because a character in a piece of fiction doesn’t dig Mormons. The way our public schools operate these days, it’s a wonder anyone reads anything anymore.
Reminds me of the MPAA rating descriptor for In the Shadow of the Moon: “Rated PG for mild language, brief violent images and incidental smoking.” OMG! Smoking! In the name of all that is holy, look away!!!
I know, I know—here at the last word we prefer to stay away from politics, but sometimes things are so fargin’ ridiculous that you can’t help yourself.
Excellent article on the state of restaurant website design. But the thing is, it’s not just restaurants. Some of the worst sites out there belong to universities and government agencies.
Bottom line? When you don’t have a basic understanding of what your customers actually want—and you stubbornly attempt to control every facet of the user “experience”—bad design inevitably follows.
While the continuing fascination with the “mashup” genre is a regular source of bemusement for me, I must admit that this is a particularly well-done specimen.
Took the missus up to Crawford State Park on Saturday, whence we descended into the 41º depths of Gardner Cave, the third-longest limestone cavern in the state. Well worth the two-hour drive.
Also worth a look is the 2007 film In the Shadow of the Moon, a British documentary on the manned moon missions of the late 60s and early 70s. Michael Collins, Apollo 11 command module pilot, is a hoot.
Finally, Wheaton College English professor Alan Jacobs believes that readers are born, not made—and that, for the most part, we cannot be taught to love reading. I think he’s right.
Here’s a gentleman I wish I had known.
The Atlantic has an interesting overview of slogans (around here we call them “taglines”) throughout history. They’ve selected some real gems—and some absolute stinkers.
For what it’s worth, here’s my top five: