– Video above: Thelonious Monk – Rhythm a Ning (live)
– A video portrait of videogame pioneer Ralph Baer, part of David Friedman’s inventor portrait series. Inspiring!
– I am looking forward to the Skillshare Penny Conference on April 20th.
– A TED speaker’s worst nightmare
– The best money I’ve ever spent for my office: Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500M
– A 4 Year Old On What Makes a Good Shoe
– New Curator’s Code attribution icons I will be using from now on:
ᔥ = “via”
↬ = “HT” (hat tip)
My studiomate Maria *just* launched The Curator’s Code — a movement to honor and standardize attribution of discovery across the web. (This is so dear to me, I can barely breathe as I type!)
While we have systems in place for literary citation, image attribution, and scientific reference, we don’t yet have a system that codifies the attribution of discovery in curation as a currency of the information economy, a system that treats discovery as the creative labor that it is.
This is what The Curator’s Code is – a system for honoring the creative and intellectual labor of information discovery by making attribution consistent and codified, the celebrated norm.
Read Maria’s post explaining The Curator’s Code in detail.
Or go straight to The Curator’s Code site and download the Bookmarklet.
Maria, I am so proud of you and thankful for making this happen! This is huge! And big giant props to Kelli Anderson for designing the site.
UPDATE: There was a lot of discussion happening around the launch of this over the past two days: Daniel Howells wrote an interesting blog post and I followed many heated debates over on Twitter. I just want to clarify one thing:
I don’t care if anyone adapts to Maria’s proposed symbols for attribution or if people continue using a simple via/HT or ~. All I care about is that people *do* attribute their findings. Why? Because it shows respect *and* most of all, it allows us to discover news sources. The ‘via’ is oftentimes a virtual door into a magic new world that I didn’t know existed.
I am just glad that this attribution conversation is taking place.
Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. But other things are harder. Try it: “I’m not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it’s not a priority.” “I don’t go to the doctor because my health is not a priority.” If these phrases don’t sit well, that’s the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently.
Fascinating Wall Street Journal Article on being busy.
(via Joanna Goddard)
A LEGO patent drawing form 1958, discovered by the lovely Mrs. Easton.
Gurtbett (“Strap Bed”) comes with two ratchet straps which hold the individual pieces together. No tools necessary. Beautiful and nifty. Love that combo.
This toilet paper holder, storage and magazine rack is a minimal beauty.
An idea is not a design,
but it is an invitation to a journey.
A design is not a prototype,
but it is a plan for moving forward.
A prototype is not a program,
but it is a test for your assumptions.
A program is not a product,
but it is a milestone towards progress.
A product is not a business,
but it is the first fruit of an idea.
A business is not profits,
but it is a team behind your back.
Profits is not an exit,
but it is validation of your work.
And an exit is not happiness,
but happiness is not a destination.
Happiness is a journey.
A thoughtful response to Mike Seller’s posting on quora, by Tony Chu, MFA Interaction Design student at SVA.
(via bobulate)
During the 1920s, Charlie Chaplin once went to a Charlie Chaplin-look-alike competition. Chaplin didn’t even make it to the finals.
(via fred wilson / soxiam)
Pocket Doorbell is a magical, portable doorbell (app) that knows where you are and who to ring. When you arrive at your friends house, just press the doorbell and it will text or call your friend. No need look them up and tap out ‘hey, i’m here, can you let me in?’ #b-r-i-l-l-i-a-n-t
(via soxiam)
“When Mr. Moore Junior decided to retire, around 13 years ago, he simply stopped trading. He didn’t clear the window display, but left it just as it was on the last day of business.” Peter Berthoud tells the story of a store and its contents left to rot, but in the most artistic way possible: “The Most Interesting Underpants in London.”
(via coudal)
The Rolognese Spaghetti Fork would definitely put a smile on my daughter’s face.
The GoVinci Backpack features a clear frame that lets kids display their artwork. To add drawings simply undo the two top corners of the frame and slide in your tot’s colourful creation. Love it. This is quite the conversation starter on the way to school!
These russian cookies look like clouds, don’t they? Discovered by the lovely Mrs. Easton.
“Doing less meaningless work, so that you can focus on things of greater personal importance, is NOT laziness. This is hard for most to accept, because our culture tends to reward personal sacrifice instead of personal productivity.”
– Timothy Ferriss
Taken from The 4-Hour Workweek
Fliders are like slippers for your mouse. They are supposed to make gliding across surfaces smoother, sans mouse pad. Totally going to give these a try.
(via apartmentherapy)
Knitted Cloud Cushions fueling my cloud obsession.
This check cotton twill bow-tie by Alexander Olch makes me wish it was a mandatory accessory for all Studiomates. How can you not smile when wearing one of these?
(via svpply)
I have just fallen in love with Beast Pillow no.164. I dare you not to smile while looking at this little fellow.
This Ivy Bike Lock by Sono Mocci made me smile.
How adorable is this Owl Pillow?
