July 2008
43 posts
“infallible way to find the perfect new york apartment: agree to live in a...”
– Jesse Andrews
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After 7 years, the Doha trade round has flatlined →
The deathwatch is over. I spent many years studying and working around global trade and development, all from the perspective that trade agreements were the most useful instrument for achieving economic growth. At some point a few years ago, though, I began to realize the primacy of Doha was fading, and began seeking other innovative ways of improving economic growth and development. I suppose...
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Chris Brown just sold you some gum →
Apparently, the song “Forever” is just an extended mix of a jingle he wrote for Wrigley. That’s correct: Chris Brown (and a few other artists) was commissioned to write a jingle.
Mr. Brown is one of a trio of pop stars enlisted by ad agency Translation Advertising, a unit of Interpublic Group of Cos., to update the images of three of Wrigley’s best-known brands.
The...
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Rob Dougan has a special place in my heart
I used to play his song “Clubbed to Death”* (of Matrix soundtrack fame) on repeat for hours in college to power me through homework. (At the time he was known mysteriously as “Rob D”.) These days I still prefer dark IDM or orchestral stuff for settling into a night of coding or writing.
I mentioned earlier this morning that the Reese’s “Global Warming”...
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Open Source Food: Recipes, Food Photos &... →
This is a new food world I could get very excited about. I’m looking at you, homemade chocolate mint ice cream sandwiches.
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Gnarls Barkley - Who's Gonna Save My Soul [video]
I don’t know why it works this way, but…
[via Big Contrarian]
Verb my noun for social issue →
My latest contribution to the world’s number one daily news-based humor publication staffed by a team of volunteer writers situated around the world.
… In order to maximize your fame, please write the following statement down and recite it when asked about your motivation:
“Do not concern, this is a important protest. I have actually just saved myself to the manatees of Jerry...
R.M: initial thoughts
I didn’t fully process how much the establishment of R.M would impact my presentation to the world. In particular I find myself gravitating toward a unified (but not necessarily holistic) version of myself rather than sneaking around with all these different slices depending on where I am online. This applies not just to original commentary on my site and links, what to what I say in...
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YLNT - Boop electro
(My bizarre, if enthusiastic...
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The Taste of the Day →
I’m on a productivity kick lately and enjoying it for all it’s worth. Just in time, here’s Rands with another gem—this time on creating and maintaining a daily To-Do list.
Humans suffer from bright’n’shiny complex, where we’re titillated by the new… Take the bright’n’shiny complex and apply it to your entire group, where everyone is prioritizing their day by their...
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Inbox Zero →
It’s simple: this is how to manage your email inbox.
If your inbox stresses you out, or you have trouble keeping track of tasks, or you have emails sitting in your inbox right now that have already been read, this is for you.
If you don’t want to read, take a lunch break one day and watch the video of Merlin Mann’s presentation.
UPDATE: I shoud mention that I’m...
The Au Bon Pan / Panera Bread story
Panera’s arrival in Kettering, OH years ago was a welcome addition for the weekend crowd, but I always wondered where it had come from and how the chain had expanded so quickly. (There are now 5 in the Dayton area.) I also noticed the similarities between Panera and ABP once I began visiting Cambridge more regularly—though each has its own strengths. Turns out they’re more...
David Banner: committed entertainer, unreliable... →
[S/FJ]
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416 Random People with RoR on their resume + Reply... →
“A recruiter sends a job offer to 416 developers, mistakingly putting each developer’s name in the To field of the email, instead of BCC. Boom, instant community, complete with name and logo:
It is such a fascinating thing to watch. It’s like a flash mob, except the surprise is on us, the mob participants. It’s like we were all beamed into the same virtual room by one single person who...
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Fluid * (Gmail+ Highrise) = Awesome →
Highly recommended. It took two minutes to install Fluid (free) and add Gmail and Highrise as distinct applications separate from Firefox. Now I can use the Web browser for browsing rather than running apps. Surprisingly powerful stress relief.
Are you a Gmail, Facebook, Campfire or (Insert Your Favorite Webapp Here) fanatic? Do you have 20 or more browser tabs open at all times? Are you tired...
WatchZe Frank on The Sound of Young America. Here’s the “How to Dance Properly” virus mentioned in the interview. TSYA has also posted a video of the interview with Jay Smooth of Ill Doctrine fame (highly recommended).
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Merlin Mann on location sharing →
“It’s amazing to me that so many sedentary computer nerds are pumped to share their location. I get it: _you’re seated and typing_. *Me too!*”
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The Insound 20 →
If you like repping bands on your body, you’ll love these.
This year’s bands are: Beirut, Black Heart Procession, Built to Spill, Calexico, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Death Cab for Cutie, Department of Eagles, Grizzly Bear, Jose Gonzalez, Magnolia Electric Co., New Pornographers, Okkervil River, Peter Bjorn & John, She & Him, Spoon, The Constantines, The Decemberists, The...
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DJ Fox - Low Dog (Flo Rida vs. Stooges). GET ON...
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Get Satisfaction: People-Powered Customer Service →
Get Satisfaction handles the FAQ/Help/Customer Service arena of an organization beautifully. You can either send people to your page on their site or use the API to build it right into your own domain. I will be building it into the new RRR Wordpress website.
To see it in action, check out the thread concerning the Loopt debacle.
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The greatest artists are the greatest thieves
That phrase has become a talking point at the HKR Studio—and we mean that in the best way possible. Art evolves; good artists inspire others. Why reinvent the wheel?*
The King of Pop—or Quincy Jones, or whoever made some key decisions—was no exception. Let’s take a walk.
Origins of the Moonwalk [via GRANDGOOD]:
Here’s an interesting video mashup of Fred...
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ScreenFlow - Professional Screencasting Studio →
If you want to record anything on your screen—presentations, movies, instructions, whatever—check this out. It can record the screen, iSight camera, and all audio simultaneously. Comes with its own video editor for adding effects and exporting, particularly useful for “How To” videos.
UPDATE: Here’s a review at MacSparky.
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Bit.ly: TinyURL of the Future →
A newer, more sophisticated (but just as easy) URL-shortening tool. I’m sold.
[ReadWriteWeb via Daring Fireball]
“I’m a tomboy. Already today I’ve changed two light bulbs and hung a...”
– Shannon Elizabeth, who apparently thinks doing some light maintenance work around the house makes you a tomboy.
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Lil Wayne - A Milli →
It’s gotten to the point where people are so entertained by Lil Wayne that all he has to do is videotape himself walking around and people are entertained. And that’s exactly what he did for the video to Tha Carter III’s “A Milli.”
Pretty clever faux-reality video—the bathroom effect is a nice touch.
It’s too bad more artists don’t understand how badly fans want to...
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xkcd: A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and... →
Just stumbled upon this.
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Nick Swardson
The first in a series titled “I have incredibly discriminating pop taste!”
Nick Swardson is funny.
I first encountered his Comedy Central Presents special (aired 2000) in 2002.
I had almost forgotten that he’s the reason I have talked to so many people about how we will still listen to rap when we’re older.
Fast-forward: I saw Nick the other day randomly on...
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Employers Fight Tough Measures on Immigration →
I have always wondered why immigration policy debates focus on border patrol rather than the employment that creates incentives for illegal immigration. Finally the issue is becoming less about platitudes and more about reality.
[The New York Times]
Spill.com
I just discovered Spill movie reviews and cannot stop cracking up. Fun concept and great execution. As usual with online video, it’s all in the editing.
Wall-E
Hancock
Juno
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Will Rap for Food (on Facebook)
Someday I will visit Cupcake Royale and Grand Central Bakery (both in Seattle). These Flickr photos, and the reviews below them, have won me over.
On that note, why is there no useful food application for Facebook? You know, one where people can recommend or rank restaurants and specific items around town. Useful as they are, why must we rely on publications* and their websites? I want to...
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Mixed In Key →
Harmonic mixing software and potentially a gigantic time saver. Would love to see the workflow in person.
The Sara Simms video is unfortunately awkward. (Sara, I know it’s not your fault, but “10B” is not a key.)
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The Delfonics gold mine
The Delfonics - Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide from Love)
Listen to at least the first 20 seconds of the streaming version here.
Sound familiar? I have apparently just caught up with what has been noted around the Web: The Delfonics (specifically William Hart) knew what was up. This track alone is covered/sampled in at least these four hip-hop tracks:
Fugees - Ready or Not...
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Rihanna
I’ve long wondered how Rihanna—and, more generally, pop stars—became famous. I’m not sour about it, but I assume there’s something besides a good demo helping the process. Relatives in the industry? Winning small-town contests? Sex? Sending demos in? Wikipedia reveals:
In 2003, at the age of 15, Rihanna received her big break when one of her friends...
WatchNew and improved for 2008: Where the Hell is Matt?
“Look, one can never be totally sure about something as subjective and open-ended as this, but I feel fairly comfortable saying that this is the greatest guy in history…” -Davenetics*
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Jesus Christ had dreads, so shake 'em
The trouble with getting E-40’s lyrics stuck in your head is that when you rap them aloud with his delivery it’s hard impossible not to sound like an idiot.
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Last.fm’s Playground →
Lots of potential there for interesting data analysis.