July 2008
43 posts
Quick Hits Before Friday
Biggest story of the day for me so far is Google’s foray into venture capital. There’s a 95% chance we’ll run this story in The Courant for Friday. That’s the kind of power I wield!
I like this. It reminds me of this.
It’s too bad the brewery I went to last weekend didn’t have a distillery, too. The West Coast is always ahead of the curve.
I’ve...
Really, nytimes.com?
If You're Reading This, I Assume You're...
Interesting breakdown of the abilities American readers by Cheryl Stephens, author of “Plain Language Legal Writing” over on the (New) Legal Writer blog.
Writing in plain English is something every writer should be doing all the time, regardless of readership or platform. There is no argument for otherwise.
She And Him: Surprisingly Good
Zooey Deshanel and M. Ward’s collaboration is refreshing in a time when most actresses think they can sing. Zooey has the pipes to pull it off, I think, although she’s going to need a while to smooth some things out. I also like songs with clapping. (See video below.)
The two played at Cat’s Cradle yesterday (good venue) and will play at the Orange Peel on Thursday (great...
I'm Back!
Another busy summer weekend included a Friday night at the best bar in Hartford you’ve never heard about, the Bushnell Park Cafe at the Pump House; a Saturday afternoon at the Thomas Hooker Brewery in Bloomfield, Conn.; a Sunday afternoon at my roommate’s family’s lake house just over the border in Massachusetts; and a boring Sunday evening at work filling in to design...
This Seems Like Magic To Me
I’ve ruined some electronics because of water spills in my day, so this new product called Golden Shellback that can waterproof anything has me dismayed.
Screech To Dish Dirt On Saved By The Bell →
Can You Lend Me $100 billion?
In Zimbabwe, it’s no big thing. Well, actually, conditions are so bad there, that’s not even the case. With inflation raging out of control, the country just issued a $100 billion bank note.
(One of the new bills is available on eBay for about $80 U.S., which is officially equal to about $1.5 trillion Zimbabwe, if you were wondering.)
When I first heard about this, my question...
Smart Marketing
I wonder why this Run London campaign hasn’t been tried in New York. Too expensive? I bet the boroughs would eat it up.
via Dapp3r
I Wish I Knew More People Like Martin
via Selectism
Maine Is Pretty, Part II
I’ve just returned from the second installment of my July adventures in Maine. This trip featured a visit to Orono, home of the University of Maine Black Bears, to see my best buddy from Wake, Kurt, above, and his new fiancee, Kristin, also above. Before last weekend, I had only met Kristin a couple of times, so it was good to spend some time with her and get to know her a bit better....
Robot Parade
Robot Parade from Jared Foster on Vimeo.
Quick Hits Before The Weekend
The Christian Science Monitor profiles one of my favorite editors, John McIntyre of the Baltimore Sun. His blog is indispensable. (Also, check out my buddy Dave’s semi-recent piece in the CSM.)
Someday I will become a great cook. Perhaps one of Gourmet’s best cooking schools will help me.
Anyone stay up to see the final out of the MLB All Star Game this week? I did. Anyone wonder...
Tracking The Major Papers' Anonymous Sources
Brilliant job by Jack Shafer of Slate. Zubin Jelveh of Portfolio’s Odd Numbers blog is eating it up.
Mechanical Pencils Were Worthless In My Eyes
Until now. Check out these graphite drawings by Dan Fischer on display at the Alison Jacques Gallery in London. His website is just as impressive. I still prefer rollerball pens, though.
via Creative Review
Top 20 Rock Band 2 Tracks I'm Excited About
The setlist has been released. Also, check out this premium drum set.
“Ramblin’ Man,” Allman Brothers Band “So Whatcha Want,” Beastie Boys “E-Pro,” Beck “Tangled Up in Blue,” Bob Dylan “Hungry Like the Wolf,” Duran Duran “Pump It Up,” Elvis Costello “Everlong,” Foo Fighters “PDA,” Interpol...
Maine Is Pretty
Last weekend I was up in Ogunquit, Maine, visiting my parents. They’re staying in a house owned by a family friend that’s about a quarter-mile from the beach. As a child, I spent three years living in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, which is just south of Portland, so it’s always good to be back up there. It’s hard to find a more beautiful place in the eastern United States in...
I've Never Experienced A Natural Disaster, But...
BLDGBLOG wonders if air turbulence would properly simulate the experience of being in an earthquake.
First he posts a video of the “earthquake van” in Japan (see below). Then he makes the jump toward the skies.
“In any case, it seemed like aerial turbulence was a very good analogy for the structural motions of earthquakes.
In fact, you could install some sort of in-flight...
I Love Reuters' Photographers Blog
I know I posted a link from these guys a couple of weeks ago, but this brief account by Reuters photographer Romeo Ranoco is what great photojournalism is all about. He hitched a ride on an air force helicopter after a ferry carrying 865 passengers capsized off Sibuyen Island in the central Philippines during Typhoon Fengshen last month.
In the climate of buyouts and layoffs, it’s...
By Far The Best Move Of The Summer, But ...
You know when you get choked up about a cartoon robot at the end of a movie, the animators have done their job. Such was the case for me after watching “Wall-E” a couple of weeks ago. That I could show so much emotion for characters who really have no dialogue is a testament to how well Pixar did with the film. It’s the most astonishing animation I’ve seen. Until the end...
Not A Good Week For Picture Editors
On Monday, I posted about the growing technology behind digital forensics in the battle to find fake photos.
Today, we receive word that a widely circulated photo of Iranian missile tests was a fake. (It showed up on the cover of the Tribune and the L.A. Times, as well as all the major players’ websites. Insert photo of sinking Tribune Co. ship here.)
At second glance, it’s a...
Today I Am Buying
This…
And This…
Home Run Derby Wednesday = No Blog Posts
I was blasting home runs over the wall at Camden Yards fence at a Little League field yesterday morning, which seriously cut into my blogging time. My apologies. Today will be much better, I promise.
Before the derby, a few friends and I had breakfast at The Cosmic Omelet in Manchester, Conn., which has now become my favorite omelet spot. (I had the Philly Omelet, no mayo, with jalapenos.)...
I Think “This American Life” Is A Little Overrated,
But Ira Glass (And His Advice) Is Not
via Lifehacker, etc.
http://www.capitolwords.org →
My Next International Destination: Malaysia?
Ever feel like the world is conspiring against you? Everywhere you turn, someone is sending you a signal that you’re being watched? Well, I believe I am currently under surveillance … by the Malaysian Board of Tourism.
It can’t be a coincidence that yesterday I read/watched about half a dozen things online or on television that made me want to visit Malaysia, a combination...
Not Sure I'd Be Able To Control Myself
A calendar made out of bubble wrap? Genius. But maybe hang it at home, not at work. I’d be shocked if random people walking by in the office could contain their excitement. It’s like putting a button on your desk that says “push me” and expecting nobody to push it.
A great thing about working in the business news department is that we’re right next to the...
The Ax
Question: How many U.S. newsroom jobs have been cut so far in 2008?
Answer: Nearly 6,000, according to this grim yet brilliant Google map mashup by graphicdesignr.net.
Also in the world of technology and journalism, check out this video from NOVA about Hany Farid, a Dartmouth computer science professor who’s pioneering the field of digital forensics. His research builds software to...
So Excited For This
I’m fairly certain that “Generation Kill,” HBO’s new miniseries from the creators of “The Wire” about Marines in Iraq, won’t live up to my expectations, which couldn’t be higher. The channel’s miniseries about John Adams was phenomenal (and highly quotable between me and my roommate this Independence Day weekend), and “The Wire”...
Hope Your Weekend's Going Well
Best part of the Fourth of July? Hot dogs. I love ‘em. Last month, my buddies and I ate nine of them during a baseball game, one for each inning.
Here’s a list of regional hot dog varieties from around the country compiled by Serious Eats, one of my favorite food blogs. I’m a big fan of the slaw dog from North Carolina (yeah, I’m biased), and the best around can be...
One Member Of Team USA Doesn't Wear Nike
Can you guess which one?
Interesting conspiracy theory stuff from CNBC’s Sports Biz blog. Nike sponsors Team USA.
via TrueHoop
Glad To Live In A Yellow State
How many people will be crossing the border sometime this weekend to buy fireworks? I’m pretty sure I’ve never been through South Carolina and not bought some. The National Council on Fireworks Safety estimates there are about 9,000 to 10,000 injuries a year from fireworks.
That sounds pretty low to me for something considered so freakishly dangerous.
After a little digging...
"We're Going To Be Arrested"
Love fried egg on burgers. Love Krispy Kreme. Together? Gross.
Haha, Wow... →
I've Got Space Outside My House
A dream of mine is to start my own taco truck, so I was impressed with the Cookout Trailer by In-N-Out Burger, which the company rents out for corporate events and parties. All my friends from out west rave about this place, so I’ll be sure to try it the next time I’m in California.
Now if only we could get Cook-Out to build a similar machine… It’s July, and I’m...
New Style & Substance Is Out
The Wall Street Journal’s monthly style bulletin is fascinating. Sometimes I nail the quiz at the end and it makes me really happy.
I'm Going To Try This Someday
“Notice the page architecture of inside pages, where the column of briefs, which usually hangs on the outside of the page, in this case serves to create vertical energy by crossing the page top to bottom, but in the midst of other news. Good idea.”
via Mario Garcia’s new blog
Don't Want To Be Poor? Marry Before You're Old
That’s the advice of the Social Security Administration.
via Portfolio’s Odd Numbers
"101 Picnic Dishes To Make In 20 Minutes"
link.
Last year, Bittman did 10-minute summer meals. My goal was to try to make all 101. Now I guess it’s 202…
Update: I guess this is his third 101 column. Make it an even 303.
Today's Random Food Craving: Poutine
Ridiculous Way To Spend $5 Billion To $8 Billion
According to the New York Times, late real estate magnate Leona Helmsley left “instructions, specified in a two-page ‘mission statement,’ [that her] entire trust, valued at $5 billion to $8 billion and amounting to virtually all her estate, be used for the care and welfare of dogs.”
As I was reading yesterday, Disney bought Pixar for $7.4 billion. The current market value...
Color Theory
Something about the whole red state/blue state phenomenon has always rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it’s because it makes sweeping statements about big groups of people without much context. Or because it only became set during the 2000 election. Most people think it’s been that way for a long time.
So I was interested to see Sudhir Venkatesh’s post today on the Freakonomics...
I'm Buying A Can Today
As of last night, the most e-mailed story on nytimes.com was a post on the Well blog, “The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating.”
No. 8 on the list? Sardines. Delicious.
No, seriously. That’s lunch today. Now if only I could convince myself to eat more beets…