Links for March 9, 2014

Canada changed it's clocks this past weekend as part of the torturous process of daylight savings time. CGP Grey has an excellent video explaining the idiotic process, and some excellent reasons why it no longer makes sense. Video

I've read about this story in the past, but stumbled across it again this week. The story is about an Indian man's struggle to bring sanitary napkins to the poor, and remote areas of the world. Article

If you made this up, people would accuse you of guilding the lily. The man who championed the UK government to introduce porn filters to ISPs was arrested for possession of child pornography. Article

When I buy movies and TV shows, I tend to buy them from iTunes. The system is just too convenient not to. One feature I wish was available was a discount when purchasing something previously rented. I regularly see movies listed which I'm unwilling to pay $20+ for sight unseen, however, I don't want to pay $5 to rent it, and then discover I want to buy it. I've done this a number of times, and often end up waiting for them to appear on Netflix instead. Article

Significant objects is an anthropological experiment designed to explore the power of narrative. Simple, common objects were given detailed stories, and then put for sale online. The results are impressive. Article

I'm not particularly fond of Business Insider, but they have a good guide to starting a watch collection. Article

With the recent revelations that the CIA is spying on the Senate Intelligence Commitee which oversees it, perhaps now US lawmakers will do something about the intelligence community. Article

Speaking of the US and human rights violations, the Chinese have grown tired of the US claiming moral superiority in the world while trying to police it. They have released a paper outlining some of America's transgressions. Article

In the current age of world travel, and instant access to information, learning about other cultures has never been easier. Cultures and language change and grow thanks to interactions with the outside world, and attempts to keep culture "pure" lead to stagnation (just look at Quebec). A recent article in Salon attacked white women for "putting on Arab face", and appropriating Arab culture by taking up belly dancing. The Daily Banter has an amusing rebuttal. Article

Last week I posted a series of new paintings by Steven Strang. Here is a late addition.

When a group of artists see their own shadow while drinking on a patio, does that mean spring is coming?

My introduction to comic books was Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. Sadly most comics are a disappointment after that. It didn't stop me from collecting for years, but Miller was always a favourite. I was ecstatic when he and Robert Rodriguez teamed up to bring Sin City to the big screen. Miller's visual style and story telling work perfectly as a movie storyboard. The sequel to Sin City is due for release in August. It may be one of the few movies I make an effort to see in a theatre. Video

There have been a few attempts to introduce election reform in different countries recently. The Republicans tried to introduce a voter ID law to prevent low income citizens from easily voting. More recently, the Conservative government here in Canada is trying to railroad through the Fair Elections Act in an attempt to increase their funding, and make it more difficult for citizens unlikely to vote for them. This bill has very few upsides, and needs to be stopped. (As an aside, naming something The Fair Elections Act isn't going to fool anyone. Just like calling yourself the Democratic or People's Republic of somewhere isn't fooling anyone into believing you're not a dictatorship.) Article

Male modeling is one of the few industries where men are paid significantly less than women (the others are porn and prostitution). The Guardian talks with a male model about the business. Article

I have a couple of Pegs in the shop, and use them as stands for my iPhone and iPad. The Federal's scratch and dent sale is a great chance to buy the Peg at a discount. Article

Vellum was the medium of choice for book making for over a thousand years. The process of making it is no longer broadly known. This is a great article discussing the details and giving excellent sources to find out more. Article

Really, who needs freedom of the press anyway? Article

You can probably name a dozen famous male scientists with ease, but are unlikely to be able to name many women scientists. Here are a few you should know more about. Article

This two wheeled car is impressive. Using a pair of gyroscopes, the car can be kept upright, even when hit or pulled. I'd love to see these on the road in the near future. Article

For those of you who are fans of the 90s classic, Hackers, XKCD has a great comic for you. Article

Apple has recently published a white paper on iCloud security details. The paper gives me even more confidence in using iMessage as a secure communications method. Article

I can't eat sushi, but this laser engraved seaweed makes for some striking food. Article

Nuclear energy has been attacked by peace and environmental activists for decades, but the reality is, nuclear energy is our best choice as a sustainable energy source (Pandora's Promise is a good documentary which dispels the myths behind nuclear power). Fusion reactors are the long term dream, but the development process is unnecessarily slow. Article

Love this image from The Canary Islands showing a waterfall of clouds. Article

When you assert, you make an ass out of an emergency response team. Article

Bitcoin has been in the news lately, and is coming onto the radar of non-tech people. The latest episode of The Talk Show with John Gruber discusses Bitcoin and its underlying technology with Glenn Fleishman. The whole episode is 2.5hrs long, but is worth listening to if you want to understand the technology better Podcast

What to watch this week:
I've mentioned HBO's True a Detective already in my link list. The first season ended last night, and if you haven't seen it, the whole season is worth your time and attention. I've also been watching S2 of Line of Duty. It's a Brit police drama, worth a watch. I can also recommend the documentary The City Dark on Netflix. It discusses the issues with light pollution in our modern world.

Previous link posts can be found here

Links for March 2, 2014

A talented Japanese contact juggler. Video

Some behind the scenes details about House of Cards. Article

The latest video from Veritasium talks about how to test what is true. Video

I'm a big fan of Steven Strang's paintings. He has a wonderful, twisted sense of humour. His a recent series explores what lurks beneath your bed…

Stephen Wolfram's new language is impressive. Video

The Verge looks at why the Internet is fucked up, and a few ways on how to fix it. Article

If you use Dropbox, you'll know they recently updated their ToS. You probably didn't read the changes, so instead read this to find out why you need to opt out of part of the new ToS. Article

Some excellent tips on what to avoid while you give a presentation. Article

A disturbing look at the rape culture at Ottawa University. Article

Husband threatens to draw a penis on his wife's new whiteboard. So she challenges him to draw one every day for a year… Video

Great shot of Obama while he was speaking to Putin about Ukraine. Article

Another great series of photos from Tokyo. Article

The Washington Post's primer on Ukraine. Article

The desperation of the second page of a Google search… Article

Great information from Darrell about Viking age smithing hammers. Article

America's Temple of Pseudoscience. Article

Another great interactive comic from XKCD. Article

Medieval souvenirs. Article

The lead up to Baselworld means all kinds of great looking new watches. Article

I love the up/down indicator on this watch. Article

More news about the spying GCHQ has been doing on the British public. Article

Fascinating open work movement by Christian Kling. Article

Most people don't think about the real time beyond what they are told it is by the timezone they live in. The reality is local solar time can vary significantly from what you think the time is. Here's a map showing the offset in your local. Article

Previous link posts can be found here

Links for February 23, 2014

CGP Grey is perhaps my favourite Youtuber. His videos are highly entertaining, and always bring clarity to confusing subjects. He has recently started a short run podcast called Hello Internet. Article

I found a few great remakes of classic 80s rock songs this week. First up is 2Cellos performing AC/DC's Thunderstruck. Video

Next up is a spectacular version of Sweet Child O' Mine redone by Postmodern Jukebox, in a New Orleans, 20s jazz style. I might actually listen to GnR if it all sounded this good. Video

Criticism is difficult to give and receive effectively. As someone who makes things and puts them out in the world, it get a lot of people criticizing what I do. This article doesn't entirely explain how I feel about it, but it is well written. Article

If you're looking for a unique destination for your next holiday, check out these exotic hotels. Article

Last week I linked to Barry Eisler'e latest novel, Graveyard of Memories. This week I've got a link to a series of photos inspired by the locations in the novel. I love the look and feel of Japan. These photos remind me why I need to return one day. Article

Vertitasium's latest video on ultra quiet rooms. It's worth watching this with headphones on. Video

The Stafordshire Hoard is one of the most impressive finds in the past hundred years. Some of the pieces are absolutely stunning. The conservation team has a great blog which includes useful information on the Hoard, as well as some great photos. This entry talks about how they are replicating some of the pieces. Article

If you're looking for something to keep you amused for a while, check out this virtual Lego building site. Article

"I can teach a man to sail, but never why." Article

A good overview on Tested explaining some of the options for 3D modeling software. 3D printers have become popular enough that we're seeing a flood of lower cost modeling tools hit the market as well. They fail to mention my favourite, Rhino3D. Article

Ukraine Burning is a short documentary by Vice looking at the current issues in that country. Video

Some pre-Baselworld watch porn from Arnold & Son. Article

A wonderful piece by Roger Angell in the New Yorker on getting on. His story is remarkable. At 93 he has worked for every editor in the New Yorker's history. Article

While digging to add an elevator to a new addition to the Uffizi, a medieval mass grave was discovered. Article

While our current mobile data speeds are impressive, there is still a huge issue when a significant number of devices are trying to use the same cell tower. A new pCell technology has a solution. Sadly I don't see the carriers adopting this anytime soon. Article

A short film looking at home Criterion restores a film. Video

I love the XKCD comic strip, and this is one of his best to date. Article

Previous link posts can be found here

Links for February 16th, 2014

Alcohol related myths. Video

One of the best TED talks I've seen. What are the problems with TED talks? Video

This kinetic door is an interesting design. I'm not sure how practical it would be in the real world, but it certainly takes less space than a traditional swing door. Article

My friend Darrel Markewitz shows off a set of groomsmen knives he recently made. Beautiful pattern welded blades, and I agree with him that the handles are mediocre. My suggestion to anyone commissioning a piece of art, take the artist's advice on what looks good. Article

I don't get as much time to read non-work related books as I'd like. So when I pick up a novel, I'm looking for interesting as well as entertaining. I've been reading Barry Eisler's work for years now. He writes thriller novels with a bit of a twist. His primary character, John Rain, is a half Japanese, half American assassin. Unlike the usual thriller schlock, Eisler's novels are intelligently written, exceptionally well researched, and insightful. Eisler is a former lawyer, and worked in a covert position for the CIA's Directorate of Operations. His time stationed in Japan while with the CIA has given him better insight into Japanese culture and politics than most westerners gain. His latest novel, Graveyard of Memories, is a prequel to his earlier work, and covers some of the origin of the assassin John Rain. Reading the earlier novels isn't a pre-requisite to enjoying this one. Eisler is one of the few authors whose work I pre-order sight unseen. Even if thrillers are not your usual cup of tea, I highly recommend giving this a try. Article

Modern Formula1 pit stops are an incredible testament to what a well trained team of people can do when given nearly unlimited resources. The two videos in the link are not the fastest stops on record, but they do a wonderful job of illustrating how they work. Article

If you've ever wondered what's involved in becoming a watchmaker, the Micromechanics and Watchmaking blog is documenting one man's progress through school. Article

Yellow gold seems to be out of fashion these days, particularly for watches. This chronograph from Leroy is a nice exception to the rule. Article

19th century lithographs of the alphabet, rendered as beautiful scenery. Article

The next generation of cochlear implants are being tested, and they no longer require external hardware to work. With features like Bluetooth connectivity to phones, these implants may well become tempting for those us without hearing loss one day. Article

I've linked to Derek Muller's Veritasium channel over on YouTube before. He is probably the best educational presenter I've come across. His latest video has recieved a lot of attention as he tackles the issues with Facebook's advertising model. If you spend money advertising with Facebook, you need to watch it. Video

I love the raised work Kevin Grey is doing. I've done some raising, and would love to have the time to work on it more. Grey's skill is impressive, and his designs are incredible.

I'm always on the lookout for new and better headphones for listening to music. I'm often looking for in ear buds which provide good sound, and block out enough background noise to make them useful while riding a motorcycle. This new kickstarter project looks promising, and is getting a lot of support. Article

I can't wait until being gay is no longer a news story. Until then, there are few people better than Stewart for calling out bigots.

And another reaction to the Michael Sam situation Stewart was referencing above. Video

I linked to the first single off of Lakefield's new album a few weeks ago. They've now released the album, and sadly it will be their last. You can pick it up directly from their site. Article

Speaking of music I'm looking forward to, Matt Schofield is releasing a new album this week. He walks through the different tracks on the upcoming album. Video

I'm envious of the opportunity the people of Houston have for the next six months. The Magna Carta will be on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Article

What to watch this week? If you aren't watching House of Cards, stop reading this and go. This show is a perfect example of why episodic shows are the best place for our great story tellers to work their craft.

Previous link posts can be found here

Links for February 9th, 2014

For a bit of nostalgia, and a lot of geekiness, I present Tainted Love performed on floppy disk drives. Video

Last week I posted about the Apple ad which was filmed by 15 crews around the world on the same day. They have posted a short behind the scenes video as a follow up. Video

I'm a big fan of Mark Knopfler and his guitar work. This is a recording which has isolated just his guitar work and vocals on Sultans of Swing. If I had a tenth of his guitar playing ability, I'd quit my day job. Video

I've commented in the past on my issues with the current media. I don't believe they are doing an effective job at holding our governments accountable for what they do, yet they still present themselves as being the fourth estate (this is why I believe people like Snowden are so important to safeguarding our way of life). The Guardian casts a critical eye on the worst culprit of journalistic mediocrity, the 24 hour news channel. Article

I've spent my share of time travelling for jobs, and I became skilled at packing a week's worth of clothes in a carry on bag. This guy however, makes me look like a rank amateur. Video

Now that the Olympics have begun, the news channels need to create some sensational stories to get headlines. Of course the ones most people have been sharing this week have involved the various ways Sochi hasn't been ready to handle it's visitors (my favourite of those is the toilet which has been bisected by a wall). NBC decided that double toilets weren't going to cut it for their broadcast. They decided to tell a tale of how visitors to Sochi would have their computers and phones quickly hacked once they landed. Video. Of course the story is complete bullshit. The reporter and security expert in the story did everything they could to get hacked. In fact, everything which happened to them could happen by visiting the same sites while you sit at home. This Reddit comment goes into the details of what is wrong in the story. Article

I love these illuminated dragons.

I've been hearing Leave This Island by Maxïmo Park on XFM lately, and it's been stuck in my head. The video is a little odd, but the song has a great Depeche Mode, moodiness to it. Video

McDonalds Canada has done a few good educational videos about how their food is made. This one tests some of the myths about their chicken nuggets. Video

The Harper government here in Canada has decided to sponsor a bill designed to limit the powers of Elections Canada. We have significant issues with voter turnout, and this will only serve to have a chilling effect on future turnout. Article

The US is finally making a push to move to chip and pin credit cards. They are the last significant holdout, and their lack of support has meant limited development in readers. It's meant those us in the rest of the world using services like Square are stuck with insecure card readers. Can't wait for updated readers to hit the market. Article

Minute Earth's latest video talks about the origin of the Earth's water. I hadn't given much thought to where it came from, and the answer is surprising. Video

Along with being a talented artist, Andrew King is also keen and vocal about local Ottawa history. His latest research looks at seventieth century explorer Henry Hudson's disappearance. Article

This is a fun little story about the painting used by Columbia Pictures during the opening of their films. Article

Speaking of questionable practices at NBC, did they really think nobody would notice them editing the speech by the IOC president during the opening ceremonies? Article

Chris Breen from MacWorld is vocal about some of the horrible PR attempts directed at him as a reporter. He offers some excellent suggestions on how to go about it without pissing off the reports you're contacting. Article

I love watching skilled craftsmen working, regardless of the medium. This video shows a Japanese craftsman making veneer for boxes. Video

How do you create fresh designs for something as old as chopsticks? Article

3D printers have been a regular resident on my link lists. The latest one I've come across is for printing moulds for sand casting. Video

This is a stunning restoration and retrofit of an antique safe. Article

It's easy to dismiss simple designs as being uninteresting compared with their flashier siblings. This Blancpain watch is an exquisite example of how perfect a simple, elegant design can be. This is much harder to accomplish than most people realize. Article

In a previous list I linked to a story about the issues with contaminated olive oil. Here are tips on how to buy genuine oil. Article

I'm happy to live in a world where people spend time decrypting ancient Norse ciphers. Article

My recommendation this week for something to watch is Shakespeare Uncovered. Actors dive into the characters and history behind some great plays. Video

If you haven't watched season one of House Of Cards, you have a few days to catch up before season two is released on Friday. I know Friday will be a write off for me… Video

Previous link posts can be found here

Links for February 2nd, 2014

A round table discussion af SIHH, from leading watch journalists. Discussions include current favourites, and future trends. Article

Adam Savage is best known for Mythbusters, but he was an accomplished model and prop before he started blowing thigs up on TV. In this video Adam shows off a recent birthday present he built for a friend. Video

I haven't had a chance to experiment with Archipad yet, but it looks intriguing. It allows both sketching and accurate architectural drawing, to scale, in the same document. I can see it being very useful for planning future expansions around the property. Article

I'm intrigued by these Cartier Mystery Clocks. Video

Have you ever tried working with melted chocolate and been frustrated by how it performed? King Arthur flower has a good overview of working with chocolate. Article

Brent Simmons, The Point of View of a Mouse. Article

With plenty of attention on American football this past weekend, here are some pictures of the oldest football (real football), and tennis ball. They're probably older than you expect. Article

I first saw Jason Freeny's toy anatomies as a Gelaskins for mobile devices. He's also been working on sculptures of them. Video

If you're a fan of magic, or you've seen one of countless movies with magic and sleight of hand card work, you've probably seen Ricky Jay before. Deceptive Practice is an entertaining new documentary about his history and magic. Video

A depressing look inside the insane wealth on Wall St. Article

A look at the subversive practices of a popular photo sharing twitter account. Article

The story of adulterated olive oil. Article

If you want to be cruel to your party guests.

How do trees survive the winter? Video

The death of expertise. Article

I love how far 3d printing has advanced over the past few years. This new printer can use carbon fibre to strengthen models. Article

I can't imagine how difficult it is for Dylan Farrow to go public with her story of abuse. Article

So many of the arts I practice are dying, and a large reason for that is the secrecy of companies who have practicing artists. I don't have a lot of sympathy now they are having a difficult time finding artists. Sharing knowledge and skills will increase the number of skilled artists in the world. Article

I love the panache of these guys. Video

An overdone meme, but worth it.

Thirty years ago Ridley Scott directed the famous 1984 commercial which launched the Macintosh computer. To help commemorate the anniversary, Ridley's son Jake remotely directed 15 crews to create a new commercial. The crews were sent to locations worldwide with 70 iPhones, and all footage was shot in one day. Article

Previous link posts can be found here

Links for January 26, 2014

iMore talks about how to find out what is new on Netflix. Article

Speaking of Netflix, my favourite film of 2011, Page Eight, is now available. The cast is unbelievable. Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon, Rachel Wiesz, even the "minor" characters are filled with incredible actors. On its surface it's a spy thriller, but it goes well beyond. Video

A study showing how poor children benefit from a stipend. Article

The 85 richest people in the world have as much wealth as half the workd's population. Article

"Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanly or think sanely under the influence of great fear". The use of fear to control the public. Article

10 lessons every maker should learn. Article

The Freakonomics podcast is on my regular playlist for the shop. The episode, Fear Thy Nature has some interesting discussions about humans. Article

Don't take this the wrong way, but your verbal ticks are exposing your insincerity. Article

I have no need for colour matched nail polish, but I'm sure there are plenty of other uses for this. Article

I've started using some of the apps in this article to shoot video in my shop. I can now shoot, edit, and post videos from my iPad. So much freedom. Article

I love this story of a math genius turning OK Cupid's data mining to his own search for love. Article

An 800 year old bridge was recently uncovered and still passes modern structural tests. Perhaps Quebec should study its construction and get some tips. Article

Watch The Stig race the Google street car around the Top Gear track. Video

Mark Hamill did a good AMA on Reddit this week. The whole thing is worth a read, but this question and answer were my favourite. Article

The Mac turned 30 this week. Video

Stephen Fry's essay on how the Mac changed everything for him. Article

A robotic lamp which tracks your focus and ensures the area is lit. Article

How does a Renaissance man apply for a job in 15th century Italy? Leonardo da Vinci's resume. Article

Beautiful new Toubillon from A Lange & Söhne. I've added this to my birthday wish list for those interested in getting me a little something. Article

I'm a sucker for retrograde watch hands. Love the simplicity of this Van Cleef & Arpels watch. Article

I'm fortunate to have sugar maples on my property. I make a small amount of maple syrup each year for friends and personal use (honestly officer, it's just for personal use). It looks like syrup production is about to take a huge step forward. Article

A scientific look at the best way to season your cast iron cookware. Article

It only took two decades to replace 13 tech gadgets worth $5000 with a single device you can carry in your pocket. Article

I've been baking a lot of bread over the past six months. Nothing is better than great, fresh bread. I'm also a big fan of pretzels, and found this good recipe. Article

I've linked to Kirby's Everything is a Remix in a previous list. His current project is This is not a Conspiracy Theory. Article

Propane shortages have led to the cost of fuel doubling in the past year. I'm glad we rely primarily on a pellet stove to heat the house. Without the recent increases our house is $4000/year to heat on propane. We'd be unable to afford these new increases. Article

Previous link posts can be found here

Links for January 19, 2014

I've been thinking of making a set of fire tools for the house, and I really like this design. Article

Beautiful video of bags of spice exploding. If you have compulsions to clean things, don't watch this. Video

I'm always trying to find new ways to organize and display design materials. Curator on the iPad looks like it might be promising. Article

Anyone who makes physical things for a living is always concerned about someone coming along and ripping off your design. David Munson, CEO of Saddleback Leather, made a great video to teach people how to rip off his bags for less money. Video

A side by side comparison of photos of London from 1927 and 2013. Article

Vacheron Constantine are doing some truly inovative things with guilloché with their Métier d'Art series of watches. Quill and Pad has a good write up on the series so far. Article

One of the few things I miss by no longer having satellite tv is watching the Dakar rally. In Focus has a photo essay of this year's rally. Article

Love these portraits done using vintage maps. Article

The Washington Post has two articles showing the world using 40 maps. It would be fascinating to see how some of this data has changed over the past 50 years. Article

This story about $4 toast was doing the rounds this week. It's a good story, but so many were in disbelief that people would pay that much for toast. If you've never had great bread, I can understand the disbelief. The only thing as good as fresh bread with butter on it, is that bread toasted with butter on it. Article

Speaking of inovative guilloché, Roger Smith has made a unique watch for the GREAT Britain campaign. This multi-level dial looks great, and is one of the most technicaly challenging pieces of guilloché I've seen. Article

Continuing with the great watches this week, Grieb & Benzinger's tribute to St George. Article

This is one of the most depressing maps I've ever seen. Article

An amusing list of signs that Rome may be your home. Article

I've been following Le Garde Temps watch project over the past year, and their first movement just came to life. Article

Beautiful photos of bioluminescent phytoplankton in the Maldives. Article

Jeremy Cowart's tale of connecting with a client during a busy photo shoot. Article

Common myths and misconceptions about medieval knights and armour. Article

A short interview with James Earl Jones in which he reveals he once used the handle Darth, along with the Vader voice, on CB networks while driving across the country. Article

I hope this is the start of a trend towards not photoshopping models for ads. Article

Numberphile has a good video about The Knight's tour and magic squares. Video

What do ultra marathons do to the human body? Article

Psychology Today takes a look at why boys and girls with the same levels of intelligence approach challenging problems differently. Article

This project has so many hurdles to overcome, but could lead to an interesting alternative to living in the US. Article

Are you in PR? Do you follow up sending material to a journalist with a phone call? You might want to stop doing that… Article

I still use Standard Written English everywhere, but its stricter cousin is quickly becoming obsolete online. Article

Online dating sounds like absolute hell as a man. I can't even imagine how much worse it is for women. Article

Veritasium looks at the problems with Facebook. Video

Everyone knows that water expands as it turns to ice. What happens if you freeze water in a container which prevents it from expanding? Article

Previous link posts can be found here

Links for Jan 12, 2014

Lots of good reasons to exercise. Turns out it's good for the brain as well as the body. Video

Eating and weight loss is one of those subjects surrounded by a lot of BS. With respect to weight loss, how much you put in and how much you burn is what's important (the quality of food and nutritional value is a totally different conversation…). If you eat more than you burn, you gain weight. A science teacher decided to test out the theory eating McDonalds every day for three months. Article

It's disgusting what people are willing to say and do when they think they are anonymous. In particular, the attacks online against women is just unbelievable to me. Current police services are incapable, and disinterested in dealing with these threats. Perhaps we should stop spending so much money on the failed war on drugs, and start spending resources on hunting these assholes down. Article

I'm sure like me, you've often had friends tell you to check out their [brother/sister/friend/grandmother/cat]'s band. I'm all for supporting friends in their creative endeavours, but often times they're not very good. And I'm not suggesting people shouldn't make music (I'm a below average guitarist who still enjoys playing because it's fun. I just don't subject anyone to it…). But every once in a while someone/ says, hey, my sister's band has a new video on YouTube, and you find out, damn, she has a great voice. Video

Bonnie Raines was part of the group who broke into FBI offices back in the 70s and uncovered documents showing FBI wrong doing. She wrote a great op-ed piece this week about the importance of whistleblowers in a democracy. Article

A short list of some of the memerable anniversaries in history this year. Article

An introduction to the British Museum's online catalogue of medieval manuscripts. Article

The destruction of the Death Star was an inside job. Article

The Limbourg Brothers are some of the most famous master calligrapher and illuminators in history. Recently a new manuscript surfaced from them, and sold at auction for €2.5million. Article

Minute Physics explains why the solar system is flat. Video

Wonder Pens is a new pen and stationary store in Toronto. I've had great dealings with them so far, as have a number of clients and friends. They recently got some great press. Article

Many tools these days make use of tags to help organize information. Here's a good article on one way to make better use of tags. Article

How do porcupines mate? The old joke says, very carefully, but the truth is a bit stranger than that. Article

There are few truly important life skills that everyone should know, regardless of who they are. How to remove the cork from a bottle without using a corkscrew is one of those skills. Article

We've known for decades that open concept offices don't work, so why do we continue to use them them? Article

I can't imagine who thought it would be a good idea to allow Senators to file expenses on the honour system. It should be interesting to see what kinds of abuses the Auditor General finds. Article

Log out of the Internet right now. Article

I have a whole other post I'm writing about the poor state of movies, and this look at movie posters is a great companion to it. Video

We need this in Ottawa for the winter months.

Copyright was designed to help protect artists and convince them to make more art. The system is now so broken that the Vatican is copyrighting 1000 year old manuscripts. Do they know something we don't about the original artists? Perhaps this will convince them to rise from the dead and make more art… Article

This is a funny story about an author showing up at a book club meeting while they discussed his novel. Article

Regex occasionally haunts my dreams, even five years after leaving IT. Article

The story of a thirty year old woman who had a stroke on Christmas Eve. Article

What is the difference between a kid who is vaccinated, and one who isn't. Article

I've not been a big fan of the logos and branding of recent Olympic Games. The new logos for Rio look good though. Article

If you're like me and you enjoy making things, especially out of wood, eventually you'll want to make a folding stool. Here's how to make the tri-bolt you need for the legs. Article

Will over at Tested voices many of my feelings about the BS of CES. Article

I love he look of this book stand. I may have to make something similar for my iPad. Article

Marco Arment has done some good testing and research on the various LED bulbs out on the market. This post was timely as I'm currently considering lighting options for my show reno. Article

Previous link posts can be found here

First link list for 2014

Happy New Year everyone (and happy Twelfth Night to those who are so inclined).

This is an amazing story of survival. I've read a few of these stories over the years. I do wonder why these guys don't use the GPS survival locators which are out on the market. Article

The mechanical watch industry suffered a real blow with the introduction of quartz movements. Quartz movements were cheap to make, and very accurate. There has been a revival of the accuracy trials within the mechanical watch industry. The new Quill and Pad site has a good post on why those trials are important. Article

These clay sculptures are rather clever, and extremely well executed. Article

Anyone who has a cat know how much of a menace they can be while you're working. Looks like it was an issue for this medieval scribe as well… Article

If you've ever had any interest in blacksmithing, you should seriously consider taking one of Darrel Markewitz's classes. He's experienced as a blacksmith and instructor, and his classes are an excellent way to learn the basics of the craft. His 2014 schedule is now online. Article

This accoustic manipulation is amazing. I'm not sure if it'll allow for the invention of the suggested hover boards, but I'm sure someone will do something interesting with it. Article

Frederico's best of app lists are worth looking at if you're a Mac or iOS user. Article

The current state of news is a sad thing. Esquire looks at how broken the breaking news cycle is once mixed with the Internet. Article

Men's fashion, and how to dress in the year ahead. Article

The more the US becomes a police state, the less inclined I am to travel there. Borders are weird places legally, and warrantless searches make them scarey. Article

Running a small business is difficult. Here's an all too common story that is rarely told. Article

Great post from Sam Sykes on bullying. Article

I'm always amazed at the amount of meta data Netflix has managed to acquire about movies. The Atlantic explores the story behind some of the weird sub-genres you find there. Article

Today we think of metals like platinum and gold as being valuable, but not that long ago, aluminum was the most expensive metal around. Article

This makes me sad.

It looks like there will be a Toronto Pen show this year, and unlike past years, it's in a great location. I'm planning on attending as an exhibitor. Article

Gun control is a difficult topic to debate. Mostly because the issue is poorly understood by most people, and the debate has devolved into factions digging their heels in. There is little room in the middle for reasonable conversation. This story about a moderate being forced out of journalism is very unfortunate to hear. Article

King Arthur Flour has a good cooking blog. This article takes a look at the various muffin options from England. Article

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