July 2008
19 posts
10 Commandments of Good Design →
Good design is innovative. It does not copy existing product forms, nor does it produce any kind of novelty for the sake of it.By legendary industrial designer Dieter Rams.
Also worth mentioning: Objectified, a forthcoming documentary on industrial design by Helvetica director Gary Hustwit.
The Art of Carne Asada →
The NYT’s Jennifer Steinhauer gets the recipe for El Parian’s carne asada. It’s simpler than you think.
Regarding L.A. Mag's 64 Greatest Things About L.A....
Amoeba beat out The Weather. Now, I love L.A. magazine, but if you like Amoeba and not L.A.’s weather, I have news for you: They already have that, and it’s called the Bay Area.
“The party you end up at is more important than the party you start at.”
– Kettering
Parisians Discover Le Burger →
My dad e-mails with a gem of an article featuring two of my favorite things: Paris (previously: 1, 2, 3, 4) and hamburgers (previously: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Apparently, the burger is all the rage in the City of Light. Also amusing: Parisians tend to eat them with knife and fork.
The Chap Olympics →
These Olympics are for the immaculate of trouser, the frail of form and the fearful of sport. It celebrates panache rather than athleticism. In the Bounders discipline chaps approach a lady, behave like cads and the one who is slapped hardest around the face wins.I say!
My new neighbor
Guy in the elevator: Is that the basement?
Me: Yep.
GITE: Is it safe to do laundry in there?
Me: Ha, yeah.
GITE: Oh, OK.
Me: I mean, what do you mean?
GITE: Like, you won't get mugged or anything?
Me: No.
GITE: Cool. It just kinda reminds me of New York, and in New York…
Me: Well, I've never been mugged down there. [knocks on wood]
A Bunch of Charming Pictures and Words About a... →
From The Morning News.
“Started out hustlin’, ended up ballin’.”
– Gentleman on Hollywood Blvd.
The Minimalist Kitchen
What tools do you really need to cook well? Ask Mark Bittman and Michael Ruhlman.
Bittman: A No-Frills Kitchen Still Cooks
Pull quote: “With a bit of savvy, patience and a willingness to forgo steel-handle knives, copper pots and other extravagant items, $200 can equip a basic kitchen that will be adequate for just about any task, and $300 can equip one quite well.”
Ruhlman: My...
Area Children Love Subway →
Cute story and drawings.
To Catch a 77-year-old Thief →
The LAT profiles Doris Payne, a jewel thief for 50 years. (She’s now in jail.) It’s nice to know that there are still people out there like Doris. Sometimes I wonder: Are there still art thieves? Cat burglars?
One of my favorite details in this story: When booked, Doris listed her occupation as “jewel thief.” Great picture of her too; click through.
Act Like You Know: How to Use a Corkscrew →
I imagine that most of you indie rock children know how to use a waiter’s key. For the uninitiated, though, here you go. I think I might start carrying one of these around at all times; you never know where the world takes you, right? The double-hinged ones are kinda cool too.
Whither the Semicolon? →
Slate asks if modern life has killed the semicolon. Let the record state that I am a fan of this punctuation mark; there are certain functions it performs rather elegantly.
Semicolons can link independent clauses without the need for a coordinating conjunction (as above), and they can clarify complex series. They’re also useful for winky emoticons ;-)