When the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, the last river poisoned, only then will we realize that one cannot eat money.
— Cree Prophecy
Wealth Distribution: ideal, estimated, and actual.
October 3, 2013 – 10:54 am
DFW: This Is Water
May 10, 2013 – 11:55 am
Learning how to think means learning how to have some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enought to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience. If you cannot do this as an adult, you will be totally hosed.
…
And the so-called real world will not discourage you from operating on your default settings, because the so-called real world of men and money and power hums merrily along in a pool of fear and anger and frustration and craving and worship of self. Our own present culture has harnessed these forces in ways that have yielded extraordinary wealth and comfort and personal freedom. The freedom all to be lords of our tiny skull-sized kingdoms, alone at the centre of all creation. This kind of freedom has much to recommend it. But of course there are all different kinds of freedom, and the kind that is most precious you will not hear much talk about much in the great outside world of wanting and achieving…. The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day.
That is real freedom. That is being educated, and understanding how to think. The alternative is unconsciousness, the default setting, the rat race, the constant gnawing sense of having had, and lost, some infinite thing.
David Foster Wallace, Kenyan College Commencement Speech, 2005.
UPDATE: The DFW trust has taken down the excellent video from The Glossary, so I’ve updated it with just a straight recording of the speech from youtube. Thanks Trustees!
Bike Lanes Boost Local Business
May 9, 2013 – 4:21 pm
NYC study finds that bikes lanes boost local retail sales by almost 50%, at a time when average retail sales increased by 8%. Additionally, dedicated bike lanes reduced all injuries for all street users by over 30%.
Also relevant:
Aquaduct Mini Planters
May 9, 2013 – 10:37 am
3d printed hangable mini planters that funnel excess water down to the planters below. Buy a 10 pack at Shapeways.
oscillate
May 8, 2013 – 5:41 pm
My goal with “Oscillate” was to visualize waveform patterns that evolve from the fundamental sine wave to more complex patterns, creating a mesmerizing audio-visual experience in which sight and sound work in unison to capture the viewer’s attention.
A Rogues Gallery
May 8, 2013 – 1:36 pm
Purported Picture Of Billy the Kid, Doc Holliday, Jesse James and Charlie Bowdre.
Jesse James, Billy the Kid and Doc Holliday were all in Las Vegas, New Mexico in 1879 which is when I believe this tintype photo was taken. The tintype depicts four deputised men, one wearing a badge and the other three wearing white bandanas hanging from their pockets representing that they are Peace Officers as the white flag is a symbol of truce.
Trifor Griphoist
April 26, 2013 – 10:41 am
I don’t know anything else non-explosive, that you can pick up with one hand, and that can move five tons one hundred feet — with safety, precision, and astonishingly little work. Like many good tools the Tirfor is a thing of beauty, superbly designed and engineered.
via Kevin Kelly’s Cool Tools.
Luminair Tree Tent
April 25, 2013 – 12:07 pm
Perched in the canopy, the Luminair Tree Tent would be a perfect wilderness getaway. Wonderfully round, with optional desk, wood stove, and kitchenette, I think I’m in love.
Propellerheads Balance
April 25, 2013 – 12:03 pm
With all of what you need, and none of what you don’t the Propellerheads Balance is a sleek, cool little recording console.
DFW: On Perfectionism
April 24, 2013 – 12:34 pm
Perfectionism is very dangerous, because, of course, if your fidelity to perfectionism is too high, you never do anything, because doing anything results in … it’s actually kind of tragic, because it means you sacrifice how gorgeous and perfect it is in your head for what it really is.
–David Foster Wallace
via PBS Blank on Blank
Symbolset
April 23, 2013 – 2:33 pm
Staircase / Book case / Slide!
April 23, 2013 – 12:57 pm
Designed by achitect Moon Hoon, the Panorama House includes a staircase that is also a book case, and features a slide to boot!
From the architect:
The basic request of upper and lower spatial organization and the shape of the site promted a long and tin house with fluctuating facade which would allow for more differentiated view. The key was coming up with a multi-functional space which is a large staircase, bookshelves, casual reading space, home cinema, slide and many more…
The client was very pleased with the design, and the initial design was accepted and finalized almost instantly, only with minor adjustments. The kitchen and dining space is another important space where family gathers to bond. The TV was pushed away to a smaller living room. The attic is where the best view is possible, it is used as a play room for younger kids. The multi-use stair and slice space brings much active energy to the house, not only children, but also grown ups love the slide staircase…An action filled playful house for all ages…
The rest of the house is pretty cool as well.
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