August 2009
20 posts
Bottled-Water Price War Heats Up →
What concerns me about this bottled war situation is that cheap prices do not factor in the cost of disposal and other externalities. What about all the bottles littered on the streets? How about the bottles waiting to be processed at a recycling facility? These are concerns that, under extended producer responsibility (EPR), should be held accountable for.
Perhaps the lesson here is just to...
Art & Copy →
Creative people, rise up! See Art & Copy, a film by Doug Pray, about advertising and inspiration. The documentary features the work of influential advertising creatives of our time — people who’ve profoundly impacted our culture, yet are virtually unknown outside their industry.
View the promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLfvmiB4edI&feature=player_embedded
WatchDirected by Chris Cairns, this video features turntablists Scratch Perverts and hip-hop group Foreign Beggars.
The Voice Behind Jack Whites Other Other Band →
Going to see the Dead Weather tonight at the Paramount Theatre!
Zombie attacks and epidemics →
For stat junkies with strategy.
Remember, when the Zombie Attack strikes: Hit hard, hit often.
Referendum 1 Rejection! →
Seattle voters are funny. When not camping, biking, boating, relaxing, or what have you in the summer months, they diligently go to the polls or check mail, read the Voter Pamphlet, make decisions, secure the ballot within the designated safety envelope*, sign it*, secure the flap and mail off a fragment of freedom after weighing the envelope and ensuring the proper postage was applied. (*=~50% of...
Making Music Hacks Your Hearing →
Protect your hearing!
Hot-Dog Vendor Economics →
The Freakonomics folk discuss the wieners and losers of New York hot dog stands.
Just finished the book today and found it to be a simple, yet thoughtful approach to economics. I especially enjoyed the last chapter on the socioeconomic patterns of naming children. Word on the street is that a follow-up, Super Freakonomics is set to hit shelves on October 20th, 2009.
Michael Jackson Etch A Sketch artwork →
Worth checking out … it allegedly took 150 hours to complete this MJ etch-a-sketch. Suddenly, all those hours playing video games seems insignificant…
In other news, word on the street is that MJ is set to be buried on his 51st birthday (August 29th). After judicious debate, however, it seems that either hiring a taxidermist or shooting him off to the moon would have been a more...
Tourism Dependence Hurts Hawaii →
My last trip to the islands this May clearly showed signs of the recession’s toll on the economy. This was especially true in Maui, where massive housing developments replaced fields once fueling the sugar cane and pineapple industry. Over the last several years, these goods were outsourced to other (cheaper) countries and the housing market plummeted (especially given unforeseen plumping...
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Tiny Loans Spur Credit Bubble in a Slum →
“Microfinance” is a relatively new concept developed within the last decade or so. Muhammad Yunus was the brain behind the concept of microcredit and he explains it eloquently in his book, Banker to the Poor. The general idea is that small loans (usually less than $100) can be made to support individual entrepreneurs in developing countries. Once a queue for these loans form, it...
Struck tower →
Sam Javanrouh has done it again … hands down the best photographer in Toronto!
Guitar legend-inventor Les Paul dies at age 94 →
R.I.P., Les Paul !
A President as Micromanager →
It’s not easy being president. Give the guy a break!
On another note, the WSJ has been coming out with stellar interactive graphics. Anyone know how to make these? I think they use Flash …
World’s Fair Candids Pt. 1 →
Do you remember the Seattle World’s Fair? Probably not, but here are a few pictures to jolt your memory.
Feral Houses →
Been to Detroit lately? Probably not, by the looks of the place …