posted November 9, 2017 #

I can't stop laughing https://t.co/6d5zddFpAj

Presstube 2017

posted November 9, 2017 #

It's been quite awhile since I peeked in on the work of James Paterson, aka Presstube. I've been a fan of his combination of art and code since he started posting projects online back in 1999. Turns out, not much has changed in the following 18 years. He continues to combine fine art, animation and technology into fascinating projects with his own unique style.

Norman is a WebVR animation tool, featuring his animated line work. Kitbash is a collection of "demented 3D clip-art" mean for whatever 3D project you want to use them in. And his Illustratrated Orbs are stunning objects in an of themselves.

tldr: revisit Presstube.

MacDrifter -Twitter

posted November 9, 2017 #

I recently stumbled into a rather lengthy, personal and poignant missive from MacDrifter (aka Gabe Weatherhead) on verifying Nazis, it's hard to disagree.

My anger is partly about my own bad choices. When I read plenty of first hand accounts about Twitter as a platform for rape threats, I chose to remain as one of the counted AMUs. When I saw that Twitter had a Nazi problem, I accepted my role as being a Twitter product to sell ads against. When I saw Twitter trolls pile on innocent people because they had the nerve to be a woman with a career, I kept scrolling my timeline and churning away those engagement numbers.

That paragraph in particular struck me, as anyone that participates on Twitter is contributing to that. Could the argument be made that keeping good people around empowers Twitter to do good things? Yes, absolutely but, thus far, we are complicit in the Culture of Twitter.

I find ponderances on social networks and our changing times to be fascinating topics of discussion. I've no hard answers for the questions surrounding them but I do think, like MacDrifter, we need to be questioning our participation.

posted November 8, 2017 #

Kinda blows my mind that people who work on software and know it’s basically all duct taped together are willing to have software currency.

posted November 8, 2017 #

Not sure about Hollywood's plan to remove Kevin Spacey from everything and replace him with Mel Gibson.

posted November 8, 2017 #

“Hi Mom? Yeah get Dad, I’ve got some great news: I booked my first print ad.” https://t.co/GAMJ18RQdl

posted November 8, 2017 #

I think they should make it 1 character

posted November 8, 2017 #

As a European, USA seems like a lost cause. I only hope a generation or two from now, a new mentality will have for… https://t.co/1vSufik1oc

posted November 8, 2017 #

#280characters? Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee… https://t.co/VBZVd2Qdkp

posted November 8, 2017 #

of course the fanny pack i want costs $800

posted November 8, 2017 #

U guys. VANISHING POINT, out autumn ep, releases into the wild tomorrow. It's mad cinematic

1939 New York World's Fair

posted November 8, 2017 #

This photo essay from The Atlantic on the 1939 New York World's Fair is filled with gorgeous color photos from the massive event. It's hard to imagine attending a showcase involving a Man-Made Waterfall Tunnel, Statues of Perisphere and Trylon and an Enormous Cash Register all in one location. Oh, and there's a Transparent Car too.

I'd also like to say that, personally, color film hit its peak during this era. I know it's not perfectly realistic and truly representative of what things looked like but nothing looks better than that slightly muted palette.

Kevin Shields Dissects His New Loveless Vinyl Remaster

posted November 8, 2017 #

another remaster, all analog, on the way. lengthy, worthwhile, interview.

Ram Han

posted November 8, 2017 #

The work of Ram Han feels as inspired by traditional Japanese prints as it does surreal dream visions. This interview does a good job of unearthing where some of the inspiration and influence comes from:

My work is about nostalgia: lost memories and brief reminiscence of feelings and sensations. I enjoy thinking about how I would rebuild the old memories of old pop culture I grew up with. It may not show directly in my work, but finding that 'just about enough' point is important to me.

Several pieces within the body of work have nude bodies and sexual imagery, which takes on a new context when you view it through the lens of nostalgia and childhood experiences. Maybe the surreal vibe stems from the haziness of remembering, a feeling we all have.

posted November 7, 2017 #

I value brevity

Everything Is Broken

posted November 7, 2017 #

While reading this thread on Product Development I came upon this excellent Quinn Norton piece on the dangerous world of software, Everything Is Broken. In it, she explains how fragile our entire ecosystem is and how exploitable every bit of it is. It may be a bit doom and gloom on the surface but it's an absolutely fascinating read.

The piece discusses how every piece of software has some 0day sploit waiting to be unwrapped and that The Intelligence Community (the IC) is well aware of many of them and uses them to their advantage. The exploitation of software and the exploitation of privacy are intrinsically tied together. That's probably the most oppressive piece of the article but it takes an uplifting, rallying, turn that I will share in part below:

The problem with the normals and tech is the same as the problem with the normals and politics, or society in general. People believe they are powerless and alone, but the only thing that keeps people powerless and alone is that same belief. People, working together, are immensely and terrifyingly powerful.

There is certainly a limit to what an organized movement of people who share a mutual dream can do, but we haven't found it yet.

Highly suggest reading it top to bottom, whenever you have time. It's a nice reminder of the potential power we all have if we're willing to use, despite the zero day dangers around us.

Lasik@home

posted November 7, 2017 #

In just four easy steps you can administer Lasik at Home with the Lasik@Home Kit! Just find a quiet place with no distractions, unpack your kit and perform the painless procedure.

I won't even discuss the notion of this being a hoax, parody or farce because the possibility of it being real is far too entertaining.

Flexbox and Grids Learnings

posted November 7, 2017 #

Very thankful for this Aerolab piece on Flexbox and Grids (your layout's best friends). It provides an easy-to-understand readthrough on the new CSS offerings, their benefits and their differences. Obviously if you don't work much with CSS this isn't going to be much of a compelling read but if you do, I think you'll understand how great it is that CSS is finally handling this stuff natively.

Additively, it introduced me to Flexbox Froggy and Grid Garden, which are a real treat.

posted November 6, 2017 #

I'm going to open a comedy club next door to Rudy's Jazz Room and call it Judy's Razz Tomb please RT

posted November 6, 2017 #

"My dog became a shark when I bought new carpet." https://t.co/r3HYT2k4yv