Monthly Archives: January 2011

50 Digital Wood Joints

“As computer-controlled wood processing machines move into the cabinet-makers’ workshops, the way two pieces of wood are joined together in a construction needs to be reconsidered. The digital wood joints were developed in the course of several years of reserch at the C…Lab of the Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach, a project headed by Prof. Jochen [...]
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Roundtable discussion on APL, beards, proto-nerds & awesome 70s fashion

Catherine | Myspace Video If you’re at all interested in the history of programming languages, give this video a watch. You’ve got the father of APL, Ken Iverson himself, being interviewed along with a panel of experts. If APL isn’t your cup of tea, then you can also watch for the crazy 70s flute music, the hardware, [...]
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Your 2011 Calendar

“Mash Creative have released a 2011 version of their beautiful limited edition ‘minutes’ calendar, a successor to last years successful 2010 ‘seconds’ calendar. This one has been printed with glow in the dark ink so you can enjoy it at any time of day.” Thanks to AisleOne for the pointer. I award many more points than [...]
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So whatever happened to the Automats?

“A coin-operated glass-and-chrome wonder, Horn & Hardart’s Automats revolutionized the way Americans ate when they opened up in Philadelphia and New York in the early twentieth century. [...] The Automat served freshly made food for the price of a few coins, and no one made a better cup of coffee. By the peak of its [...]
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Give Twin Shadow a listen

I was giving Twin Shadow’s “Forget” a listen over the holidays and felt a faint stir of “hmmm, this reminds me of something….” And then it dawned on me, The Aluminum Group. There’s a bit of an influence, or at least it sounds like there should be. If you’re craving some of that obscure lounge-y [...]
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Even Richard Simmons has letterhead

Current new favorite site du jour: Letterheady. Muhammad Ali has a few, but I think this one is my favorite of his. Surely there’s a story behind Steve McQueen’s? Paul Rand’s and Saul Bass’ makes sense. Really digging Stephen King’s retro feeling letterhead. If you’re a fan of typography, design or history, you can spend a [...]
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Gerry Rafferty dies at age of 63

I lived a secret life back in my college radio days. Nights were spent listening & playing industrial music very loudly. If it was Skinny Puppy all the better. But the days were reserved for the sappiest ’70s ballads I could get my hands on. Rupert Holmes and his Piña Colada song (actually titled “Escape”) [...]
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The Ham Belt

Do you know about cookingissues.com, “The French Culinary Institute’s Tech’N Stuff blog”? Great reading, plus a regular podcast. The above image is from the “Country Ham Fantastica: Our Hams’ Place in the World” article, chock full of info and pics. (Thanks, Chris)
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Chef Jacques Pepin & his New Year Resolutions

Wonderful piece from the WSJ where they ask a bunch of folks for resolutions. Here are a few from Jacque Pepin, one of my favorites. I really want to finish a stone wall that I have around the boule court [Mr. Pepin is an avid player of petanque, similar to bocce ball]. I have done a [...]
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Bill Bryson At Home

One of the things I really like about Bill Bryson’s writing is his ability to connect you to his theme. Doesn’t matter what it is, he pulls you right in. I’m barely into chapter 1 of his latest, At Home and he’s already dragging in Joseph Paxton, the guy that designed the Crystal Palace, and [...]
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