“Dear David— It has been far too long since our last encounter, and today I found out why. Imagine my horror to find your public proclamation of love for that floozy, the Canon S95, for the whole world to see. You called that little camera “something special?” Well, I remember when I was your one special camera, the one you could come to for anything. Photographing a soccer game? Done. Days at the beach? Easy squeezy. Amazing landscape shots on vacation? You betcha. Is it because I’m so much bigger than the S95? After our years together, I would think you would accept me for what I am: a highly capable, semi-pro SLR that empowered you to take great pictures. Depth of field, fast burst rate, sharp focus, accurate colors—these are all things only a camera like me can give you. Let’s not forget all the fun times we had with my friend NIKKOR, who was always willing to go to great telephoto focal lengths to please you. And sometimes our friend Speedlight joined the party to brighten the mood. You talk about physics? I’ll talk about chemistry. You, me, and your 18-200mm VR lens are a perfect match. But I don’t want to be spiteful. I only want what’s best for you, and I think you are a great match for my cousin, the P7000. She is smaller and more powerful than most cameras, and leads the way for a segment of cameras that is quickly gaining in popularity, the high-end compact. She’s got a cute retro style that everyone loves, and full manual analog controls. From Your First photographic Love, Your Loyal Nikon D80”
—BEST OF 2011: Perfect PR pitches: NYT tech columnist picks his favorites | Articles
December 2011
13 posts
“Combine naps and caffeine for ultimate midday refreshers
Got 15 minutes and a cup of coffee or tea handy? You’ll be glad you do, and that you’re keeping yourself from developing that daily tolerance. Because then you’ll have access to the “caffeine nap” discovered by U.K. researchers. Drink some coffee fairly quickly (assuming you aren’t already buzzing on the stuff), then take a 15-minute nap. That gives your body just enough sleep to feel slightly refreshed, and the caffeine enough time to start taking effect the minute you wake up.” —
Got 15 minutes and a cup of coffee or tea handy? You’ll be glad you do, and that you’re keeping yourself from developing that daily tolerance. Because then you’ll have access to the “caffeine nap” discovered by U.K. researchers. Drink some coffee fairly quickly (assuming you aren’t already buzzing on the stuff), then take a 15-minute nap. That gives your body just enough sleep to feel slightly refreshed, and the caffeine enough time to start taking effect the minute you wake up.” —
New work habit in 2012.
How To Break Your Daily Caffeine Habit And Use Coffee Strategically | Fast Company
“Obviously, it’s not that only a lumberjack can wear a plaid shirt, but personally, I hope that whenever I meet people, their clothes aren’t mere costume. You want to know people who dress like they live - that’s authentic, honest, confident, and inspiring. There are different motivations behind people dressing the way they do - they dress like the person they dream of being, they dress to fit in, etc - but whatever it is, I think the ones we admire are those who have more than just the right props.”
—
Well said.
“This is hardly something that we’re just waking up to. But it is accelerating by the week. As we look around the media landscape in recent months, over and over we’re seeing the same thing. AP wins when news breaks, but after an hour or two we’re often replaced by a piece of content from someone else who has executed something more thoughtful or more innovative. Often it’s someone who has taken what we do (sometimes our reporting itself) and pushed it to the next level of content: journalism that’s more analytical, maybe a fresh and immediate entry point, a move away from text, a multimedia mashup or a different story form that speaks more directly to users.”
—
Interesting discussion in these comments about the role of the AP and breaking news. As one of the commenters wrote, “As a reader, there’s no reason for me to seek out AP specifically after the story is broken. ”
Exactly. So is the AP trying to become a destination on it’s own?
no wonder people have a hard time living in the moment.
It’s December 13. I just got an email about Foster the People at Summer Stage on May 29th and 30th. Tickets go on sale this Friday. That’s 5.5 months away.
The other day, a friend (who shall remain unnamed) was concerned about leaving a holiday party we were at to head to a different holiday party because “It didn’t look that like many people were checked-in there.”
Target is selling bathing suits already (ok, to be fair, people do go on vacation during the winter).
No wonder we have a hard time living in the moment and appreciating the now. It’s one of my biggest pet peeves. I don’t know if this is a New York thing (I don’t notice this in Chicago, or on recent trips to Atlanta, New Orleans and DC — though it’s totally that way in LA) or just a “people today” thing.
Either way, the seemingly growing inability to be satisfied by the present is really worrisome to me. I see it communication. I see it in dating. I see it in the “maybe” RSVPs. I see it in job satisfaction. I see it when trying to plan a trip or book a flight or pick a brunch location. The conundrum of choice. It’s a first world problem to have, but it doesn’t mean it’s not disheartening.
“
This is the thing: When you hit 28 or 30, everything begins to divide. You can see very clearly two kinds of people. On one side, people who have used their 20s to learn and grow, to find … themselves and their dreams, people who know what works and what doesn’t, who have pushed through to become real live adults. Then there’s the other kind, who are hanging onto college, or high school even, with all their might. They’ve stayed in jobs they hate, because they’re too scared to get another one. They’ve stayed with men or women who are good but not great, because they don’t want to be lonely. … they mean to develop intimate friendships, they mean to stop drinking like life is one big frat party. But they don’t do those things, so they live in an extended adolescence, no closer to adulthood than when they graduated.
Don’t be like that. Don’t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk. There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. This season is about becoming. Don’t lose yourself at happy hour, but don’t lose yourself on the corporate ladder either. Stop every once in a while and go out to coffee or climb in bed with your journal.
Ask yourself some good questions like: “Am I proud of the life I’m living? What have I tried this month? … Do the people I’m spending time with give me life, or make me feel small? Is there any brokenness in my life that’s keeping me from moving forward?”
Now is your time. Walk closely with people you love, and with people who believe … life is a grand adventure. Don’t get stuck in the past, and don’t try to fast-forward yourself into a future you haven’t yet earned. Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep traveling honestly along life’s path.
” —(via Diana)
This is great.
(via megburns)
I don’t often get inspirational on y’all, but this really nails it.
(via haygirlhay)
agreed.
(via muchtoyourchagrin)
For some Monday inspiration.
(via shapinup)
“Ms. Cutrone said she supports the entrepreneurial spirit of the start-up stuntmen, as, she suspects, does most of her industry peers. “But the question for these companies is now: ‘What’s next?’ And, ‘How do we make this sustainable?’”
—
Exactly. And one possible way to do that? Get hooked in with LC and the rest of her crew.
“The New Jersey Nets won’t have new jerseys for their final season in New Jersey, but they will have a new logo to go on their old jerseys, one that celebrates the 35 years the team spent in New Jersey following time in New York, before they develop new jerseys for their move next year to New York.”
—The Nets unveil the final ‘New Jersey Nets’ logo - Ball Don’t Lie - NBA Blog - Yahoo! Sports
“Just when you thought no one was celebrating or remembering the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, there’s this: a Navy veteran spray-painting “12-7 USN” on a Japanese car, like a racist jerk, and then two young men beating the crap out of him on camera, like roid-raging jerks. America!”
—Vet gets face broken on Pearl Harbor Day for vandalizing Japanese car
“I am not sad that I will die today. I am angry that because of the cowardice of our politicians I can’t die in the country I was born in, in my own home, but I am not sad.”
—Letter: I am not sad that I will die today, but angry that I can’t die at home | Society | The Guardian
“
The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, “like what’s going on here?” Diaz says. “He asked me, ‘Why are you doing this?’”
Diaz replied: “If you’re willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me … hey, you’re more than welcome.
” —A Victim Treats His Mugger Right : NPR