The networks we use to communicate across fields and distances, to find our friends and learn from people unlike ourselves—and to organize ourselves to respond to acute crises and long, grinding institutional failures—are the same networks that are making so many of us miserable and/or deranged.
2024
Career Hacks of the Ancients
10/9/24
“There has never been a shortage of people willing to make other people suffer so they can build a monument to themselves.”
Paper Apps
10/8/24
“Paper Apps are a fun, smart alternative to screen time. Check out our solo games like DUNGEON and GOLF, as well as gamified tools like TO•DO and NUTRI•TRACK. For the full experience, we recommend grabbing a couple of Pencil Dice as well!”
Websites, Done Cheap “More convenient than a new hobby!”
Clarity hacks
10/7/24
“If you want readers to do something, tell them what it is.”
A History of Link Blogs
10/7/24
Bullshit Numbers
10/7/24
“vexing equations with missing variables and euphemistic names. There are numbers everywhere, and they mean nothing”
five.sentenc.es
10/7/24
“all email responses regardless of recipient or subject will be five sentences or less.”
"Octopuses would also punch fish to keep the group moving. If the group is very still and everyone is..."
9/24/24
“Octopuses would also punch fish to keep the group moving. If the group is very still and everyone is around the octopus, it starts punching, but if the group is moving along the habitat, this means that they’re looking for prey, so the octopus is happy. It doesn’t punch anyone,” Sampaio said.”
- Octopuses seen hunting with fish and punching fish that don’t cooperate
Khoi Vinh on remakes and sequels
9/20/24
Remakes and sequels are “… enterprises very purposefully stood up for the specific intent of reminding us how great those previous experiences were. “Remember this?” each movies asks. “Wasn’t it great? Here it is again.” It’s as if, instead of sending us on a new holiday abroad, they’re showing us a carousel of vacation slides from great trips we took many years ago. The only “new” thing here is the sale of another movie ticket.”
How positive is good?
9/20/24
“A new YouGov study reveals exactly how positively and negatively the population perceives various descriptions to be.”
The Supernatural Detective's Field Guide
9/19/24
Commonplace.day!
9/18/24
A public group journal. Pretty neat concept!
“Most fields have a problem with ‘ghost knowledge’, hard-won practical understanding that is mostly passed on verbally between practitioners and not written down anywhere public.”
Live Lightning Map
9/6/24
“See lightning strikes in realtime nearby your area. Get free online access to maps of former and current thunderstorms. A contribution by Blitzortung.org and contributors.”
An Illustrated History of Urban Legends
9/6/24
“A sceptical enquiry into urban legends, from Atlantis to the hollow Earth conspiracy, and everything in between.”
Not Built For This is a 6-part series from 99% Invisible. It explores how climate change is laying bare the vulnerabilities in the American built environment and how communities across the country have been left to bootstrap their own survival.
Flip through (YouTube) channels like the old days. /via bencrowder.net
Photo by Asako Narahashi from her collection half awake and half asleep in the water. /via notes.husk.org
“I like to describe my job in terms of “The Door Problem”. Are there doors in your game? Can the player open them? Can the player open every door in the game? Or are some doors for decoration? How does the player know the difference?”
A new edition of Things to Click! This edition covers an 8-bit lens, community connection, research as fun, suburbs' as horror movies, and more - all jam-packed!
American suburbs are full of ugly, empty, liminal spaces: spaces you are not meant to linger in or enjoy. They’re the creepy hallways of the built environment, and you can’t feel comfortable traversing them unless you’re zooming past them in a car.
American Suburbs Are a Horror Movie and We’re the Protagonists
This Crystal Fragment turns everything you see into 8-bit Pixel Art. /via bencrowder.net
America’s 7-Elevens to become ‘Japanese style’: “Japan’s 7-Eleven locations – referred to as konbini – have a different vibe. There, they put a focus on “tantalizing food,” according to TODAY. Items found at Japanese 7-Eleven stores include onigiri (rice balls), fried chicken, sushi, egg sandwiches, fresh pastries, mochi and hot bar items”
fireworks
The internet isn’t for humans anymore. Bots use the internet more than we do; use shapes design.
Another Friday, another lump of links for your clicking pleasure. In this issue: saving things, minor league baseball team names, and more.
Across town:
Summer starts
