KernelTrap has interesting Stallman interview. [via slashdot]
recent flickr stuff
-
alt.energy: kites!
LadderMill is an innovative concept to utilize the wind energy at high altitudes to produce electricity via kites! [via BoingBoing]
Posted in General, blog
Leave a comment
Moyers to Retire
PBS’s Now host Bill Moyer has announced he will retire from television following the Dec. 17 show. This article has the details. A sober and intelligent voice that will be missed.
“We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country,” he warns in reply, “or we’ll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we’ll not save democracy from its own inertia.”
Posted in General, blog
Leave a comment
Today in History: November 21
Today in History (for any day, btw) [ The Library of Congress ].
Also, Wikipedia’s today. And for tomorrow.
What Next?
Fast Company magazine has it’s Fast Forward list of 100 ideas, people and trends that will influence 2005. It is an interesting browse.
At the heart of each of the 101 items on the list lies an idea. It may be convenience or transparency or a new way to think about strategy. We think you’ll see ideas that will help you change the way you work or how your company does business. In some cases, you may just be able to adopt the concept itself. In others, you may be inspired by the soul of it.
Zoom! [Flash warning]
William Shatner is back singing!
Be very afraid. William Shatner’s last effort from 1968 (Tranformed Man) became a collectors item and was re-released in 1995. His performance of Lucy in the Sky set vocal music back years. His new album is produced by Ben Folds and includes guest appearances by Ben Folds, Joe Jackson, Lemon Jelly, Aimee Mann, Henry Rollins and Brad Paisley.
Microsoft server crash nearly causes 800-plane pile-up
A major breakdown in Southern California’s air traffic control system last week was partly due to a “design anomaly” in the way Microsoft Windows servers were integrated into the system, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. Story at TechWorld.
Posted in General, blog
Leave a comment
Arial is everywhere
This article by noted graphic artist Mark Simonson, who specializes in lettering, typography and identity design, explains why Arial font-face is everywhere and why that’s not a good thing. The history of the use of fonts in digital media is important study for all, not just designers. (We even get an early view into Microsoft’s character).
The few cases that I have heard of where a designer has intentionally used Arial were because the client insisted on it. Why? The client wanted to be able to produce materials in-house that matched their corporate look and they already had Arial, because it’s included with Windows. True to its heritage, Arial gets chosen because it’s cheap, not because it’s a great typeface.