Sentences, etc.

➯ A Typical Incendiary Blog Post

The first paragraph:

This sentence contains a provocative statement that attracts the readers’ attention, but really only has very little to do with the topic of the blog post. This sentence claims to follow logically from the first sentence, though the connection is actually rather tenuous. This sentence claims that very few people are willing to admit the obvious inference of the last two sentences, with an implication that the reader is not one of those very few people. This sentence expresses the unwillingness of the writer to be silenced despite going against the popular wisdom. This sentence is a sort of drum roll, preparing the reader for the shocking truth to be contained in the next sentence.

And so it goes. Don’t skip the comments on this one!

Via Kottke

Link ➯ Sunday, February 7, 2010, 9:44 PM

➯ A Story Culture

[…] I think what you’re saying is, “I don’t think that anyone will find anything of value in my thought,” and you’re wrong. You’ve got two things going for you. You’ve got the inexplicable moment of inspiration that created your idea, and it’s the closest thing to magic you’ll experience in your life. Second, you’ve got the entire planet listening and there’s just no telling what any of those folks are looking for.

The value of the idea is one part that it is yours and one part that you gave it to someone else. It’s you and something new.

Seriously, are you subscribed to Rands’ feed yet?

Link ➯ Sunday, February 7, 2010, 9:39 PM

➯ Who Will Save Us?

If by save you mean, “who will keep the jobs of the pressmen and the delivery guys and the squadrons of accountants and box makers and transshippers and bookstore buyers and assistant editors and coffee boys,” then the answer is still nothing will. Not the Kindle, not the iPad, not an act of Congress.

We need to get past this idea of saving, because the status quo is leaving the building, and quickly. Not just in print of course, but in your industry too.

So many people are concerned with preserving what they have now that they never stop to question the value of what it is they’re trying to preserve.

Via Fraser Speirs

Link ➯ Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 11:28 AM

➯ OmniGraffle on iPad

We started working on iPad adaptations of OmniGraffle and OmniFocus as soon as the SDK was made available Wednesday afternoon, and we’re hoping to get started with OmniGraphSketcher for iPad within the next few weeks.

Squee!

Link ➯ Saturday, January 30, 2010, 6:14 PM

➯ Fraser Speirs on the iPad

If you only read two blog posts or articles about the iPad, make this the second one.

Link ➯ Friday, January 29, 2010, 1:49 PM

➯ Stephen Frank on the iPad

If you read only one blog entry or article about the iPad, make it this one.

Link ➯ Friday, January 29, 2010, 12:32 PM

➯ Ashley Linnenbank's Take on Milk Packaging

I wish there was more whimsy like this surrounding me when I walk down the isle of a grocery store.

Link ➯ Friday, January 29, 2010, 12:20 PM

➯ NASA's Budget

In a just-completed study, we asked respondents what percentage of the national budget is allocated to NASA and to the Department of Defense, the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Health and Human Services, among other agencies. NASA’s allocation, on average, was estimated [by participants] to be approximately 24% of the national budget (the NASA allocation in 2007 was approximately 0.58% of the budget.)

Few topics are able to stir such rage and despair in me as the ridiculously tiny amount of resources we, as a species, contribute to space exploration, but the sheer amount of ignorance surrounding this issue is one of them.

Via Neven Mrgan

Link ➯ Thursday, January 28, 2010, 11:50 PM

➯ Kiwi!

Dony Permedi’s Master’s Thesis animation almost made me cry.

Almost.

…

*Wipes a tear away.*

If you want to know more ISFAT interviewed Dony about the piece.

Link ➯ Thursday, January 28, 2010, 3:20 PM