NSFW

Smoking Room (Uncredited via AfterElton)

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:01:27 -0600

Smoking Room (Uncredited via AfterElton)

"The increase in the number of people bicycling in urban areas has outstripped the increase in the..."

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 08:51:59 -0600

“The increase in the number of people bicycling in urban areas has outstripped the increase in the number of accidents, meaning that biking has become generally safer.”

- Jackson West, journalist for SF Appeal, as quoted in Urban Bicycling: Is It Becoming Safer? (N.Y. Times)

"[Multitaskers are] terrible at ignoring irrelevant information; they’re terrible at keeping..."

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 08:09:00 -0600

“[Multitaskers are] terrible at ignoring irrelevant information; they’re terrible at keeping information in their head nicely and neatly organized; and they’re terrible at switching from one task to another.”

- Clifford Nass, a professor at Stanford University and the founder and director of the Communication between Humans and Interactive Media (CHIMe) Lab, in an interview for Digital Nation . (Frontline)

In ‘No Excuse’ Campaign, Bad Drivers Offer Excuses

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:59:24 -0600

In ‘No Excuse’ Campaign, Bad Drivers Offer Excuses:

One English county is cracking down on distracted and unsafe driving. I wish they would do the same here. (N.Y. Times)

The Spotless Garden: How to grow food without using dirt—while...

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:20:00 -0600

The Spotless Garden: How to grow food without using dirt—while saving lots of water. (N.Y. Times)

Olympic Athlete Had Filed Warnings About Luge Track

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:09:08 -0600

Olympic Athlete Had Filed Warnings About Luge Track:

It’s sad that this wasn’t addressed before the death at Whistler. (N.Y.Times)

More Patriotic Than Canada at the Olympics?

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:30:37 -0600

The New York Times makes Whistler an Australian resort in this ‘Whistralia’ article and Canadians lacking in national self-esteem in this ‘Allez Canada’ post. My dear Canadian friends, I ask with love, does that make the rest of the world more patriotic at the winter Olympics?

I'm Addicted to Plants vs Zombies™

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:07:30 -0600

I'm Addicted to Plants vs Zombies™:

This is an awesome strategy/shoot ‘em up game! Check it out. The desktop version is Mac only, and it’s coming to iPhone/iPod touch today. (Pop Cap)

Happy Presidents' Day, or How LBJ Loves Freebie Pants

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:11:00 -0600

Happy Presidents' Day, or How LBJ Loves Freebie Pants:

From 1964, President Johnson uses the White House phone to order up some freebie Haggar pants from Joe Haggar. (WhiteHouseTapes via my friend, Karen)

Just a week ago, my Dad was talking about how European tailors make better pant pockets—his pet peeve. Maybe LBJ should’ve checked them out.

Sweet Child of Mine: The Sitar Version. For more, see...

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:22:00 -0600

Sweet Child of Mine: The Sitar Version. For more, see Chakra’s full-length cover. (YouTube)

10 Things That Make You Want to Say "Namaste, Bitches!"

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:11:00 -0600

10 Things That Make You Want to Say "Namaste, Bitches!":

Very funny and on-target rant about yoga. My favorite is “yoga is not a sport.” In that spirit, I filed this post under “sport.” (Namaste Bitches Blog)

Food Rules Worth Following

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:43:48 -0600

Food Rules Worth Following:

As author Michael Pollan puts it, “If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t.” (N.Y. Times)

How to Overcome Fear on the Slopes

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:41:39 -0600

How to Overcome Fear on the Slopes:

As soon as something fearful happens, you need to replay it in your mind and replace your fear with optimism for next time. (N.Y. Times)

iPad is to the Laptop What Wii is to the Video Game System

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:45:00 -0600

There are two important things that the iPad and the Wii share: a sharp focus on what the customer really needs and a deep understanding of the power of the platform.

Nintendo Wii Wins Customers by Being Clever

The most remarkable thing about the Nintendo Wii is how its cleverness counters the oneupmanship of raw processing power offered by the other video game systems.

Nintendo got out of the race to put the most powerful microchip into their machine and into the race of giving the customer the easiest-to-learn, most immersive, and fun experience.

In this way, they open up the market to whole new demographics—people who had never played video games before. The company recognizes that there a limited number of people who have the coordination and skill needed to play traditional video games. Instead, Nintendo set out to make the games simple enough that they did not require high skill levels but sophisticated enough to make them fun.

They revolutionized gaming not by doing more of the same but by doing the same thing but better and bringing new customers to the plate.

Apple iPad Does More by Offering Less

Apple, with yesterday’s announcement of the iPad, has a similar strategy. It is not aimed at nerds like me who have three computers at home: a desktop, a laptop, and an iPod touch.

Instead, Apple has created the experience that should have been the general public’s introduction to personal computing thirty years ago.

It puts laser-sharp focus on getting your tasks done without any distraction from computer nerd minutiae. You just turn it on and get your stuff done. Well, not quite: The truth is that people spend much more time on their computers consuming information than creating it. Apple recognizes this so it prioritizes consumption over creation. Like Nintendo did with the Wii, Apple has pruned the iPad’s feature set appropriately.

The iPad isn’t for me, but it is for people like my parents in their seventies who have never owned a computer before and don’t have Internet access. The iPad with 3G wireless access would be perfect for them because it’s so intuitive. It hides the nerdier aspects of computer culture and is simple yet powerful. (My only concern would be if the iPad requires that it be paired with a desktop or laptop—especially for backing-up data, but I think you may be able to get around that by using online backup.)

Apple’s Deep Platforms Make A Solid Foundation

The other remarkable thing about the iPad is not just the product itself (though its technology is pretty amazing) but the interlocking platforms that Apple has created around this and other of its products:

hardware accessory ecosystems,
iTunes Store,
App Store (including the whole category of apps written by media companies to publish their content),
iBookstore,
Apple Retail Stores, and
the pre-paid 3G wireless store that will launch with the iPad.

The iPad enjoys instant support from all these platforms right from day one; it will not be born into a vacuum. Apple has created a fantastic and unmatchable set of supporting platforms. There are even platforms within these platforms (such as iTunes U within the iTunes Store). You can buy the iPad without worry that this support will disappear. Even if the iPad is so terribly unsuccessful that Apple stops making it, you can bet that it will have the support of these platforms for a long time.

Apple knows the power of platforms. It’s been the victim of it at least once before. It learned its lesson and is now using multiple platforms to fight its way to the top.

What to Do If Your Car Accelerates Uncontrollably

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:28:57 -0600

What to Do If Your Car Accelerates Uncontrollably:

If your car accelerates uncontrollably (we’re looking at you Toyota), here’s what Consumer Reports recommends:

Brake firmly.
Put the car into neutral.
Turn off the ignition.

(Consumer Reports via N.Y. Times)

Exercise Keeps Your Cells Young

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:50:32 -0600

Exercise Keeps Your Cells Young:

Regular exercise can keep your DNA strands in much better shape than those with a sedentary lifestyle. (N.Y. Times)

Yoga: Where Chocolate and Chakras Collide

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:45:02 -0600

Yoga: Where Chocolate and Chakras Collide:

In the yoga world, nothing is more controversial than what you eat. (This article’s reader comments are pretty interesting too.) (N.Y. Times)

I [heart] John Dore and all his Canadian, beary goodness. NSFW!...

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:09:08 -0600

I [heart] John Dore and all his Canadian, beary goodness. NSFW! (YouTube’s The Jon Dore Television Show - STD Clinic Interview)

Doonesbury is now the official comic strip of Apple’s new...

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:16:09 -0600

Doonesbury is now the official comic strip of Apple’s new product launches. (Slate via Daring Fireball)

An American Absinthe, Borne on Vodka’s Back

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:16:32 -0600

An American Absinthe, Borne on Vodka’s Back:

All of these small batch liquors sound amazing. I would love a taste-test! (N.Y. Times)