tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34050312010-02-11T22:54:05.084-08:00Outboard memory: random bits, innovation, design, technology, entertainment, business, economics, comics, humor, food.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-89942340790474608262008-12-14T10:20:00.001-08:002008-12-14T10:24:04.210-08:00

If this isn't a primer on what makes Apple great, I don't know what is.

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-48342980742784538212008-10-09T23:11:00.000-07:002008-10-09T23:57:26.304-07:00

My GEL 2008 photosTheme: How to create good experiences by making connections that are new, unexpectedSubtheme: HOW WE CONNECTClay ShirkyInternet enables connection of consumer experience and collective action- speed, low cost, internationalangry and organizedSocial organizing layerNewspapers "from information source to site of coordination""Thinking is for doing" - William JamesHSBC and student

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-36730708467192737672008-04-22T20:04:00.000-07:002008-04-23T04:46:18.535-07:00

Heading to the NYC tomorrow to attend Good Experience Live 2008. Check this space for notes, pics and videos.

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-68150351319003181702008-02-27T20:33:00.000-08:002008-02-27T21:19:50.884-08:00

I just got done reading Bruce Sterling's post-9/11 cyber espionage thriller, The Zenith Angle.In one key scene, while struggling with a decision to join a cyber espionage skunk works for the US government, the protagonist seeks advice from his grandfather, a former top jet designer who had worked at the infamous Lockheed Skunk Works.Grandpa says (pgs 65-67, this is good, emphases mine):... [H]ow

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-48372006719927046842008-02-27T20:15:00.000-08:002008-02-27T21:26:44.738-08:00

Nerds worldwide rejoice as Mariah's latest release rocks the iMac, WiFi, YouTube (YoooouTube...), slot car racing, frisbee, laser tag, and a unicorn, oh my!My first post of 2008. Happy 2008. May the nerdery continue.

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-24496349727488414952007-09-26T20:12:00.001-07:002007-09-26T20:18:41.034-07:00

Slapped together an Urban Dictionary search bookmarklet today. I know there was one floating around on the interwebs but it didn't work on my iPhone.This one does.You can use it as a bookmark on your browser (just drag the link into your browser bar, then click it when you need it). If you drag it into Safari, you can sync it up to your iPhone.Now, you get crunk with your funky junk and

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-17873782058977280422007-04-20T09:24:00.000-07:002007-04-20T09:27:56.602-07:00

Hi, Apple peeps.You've probably come here because of my profile in today's newletter.Just wanted to welcome you to my intermittently-updated blog and thank Steve S for writing the profile.Take a look around and you can make fun of me at work next week.Have a great weekend!

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1169771307314521162007-01-25T16:22:00.000-08:002007-01-25T16:44:01.540-08:00

While reviewing a design today, I was reminded of the concept of wabi-sabi.I'd read about it a few years ago at Signal vs Noise:The simplicity of wabi-sabi is best described as the state of grace arrived at by a sober, modest, heartfelt intelligence…Usually this implies a limited palette of materials. It also means keeping conspicuous features to a minimum. But it doesn’t mean removing the

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1164164919471423192006-11-21T18:48:00.000-08:002007-01-04T20:09:38.016-08:00

I got these off the Direct Marketing Association (DMA)'s Consumer Assistance site and a Privacy Policy mailing from my bank. I've done all of the steps described below. I'll follow with an update in a few months.How to stop direct marketing mailings (for five years)Go to Mail Preference Service.Fill in the online form. (You can also print out the form and mail it in with a $1 check but why bother

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1163793268573705382006-11-17T11:39:00.000-08:002006-11-17T12:12:26.780-08:00

21-pg paper (PDF) published in 1999 by the late Donella Meadows, former director of the Sustainability Institute. (via kottke)Applies to countries, cities, corporations, etc.Places to intervene in a system(in increasing order of effectiveness, i.e., read it like a top 10 chart; the good stuff is at the bottom)Constants, parameters, numbers (subsidies, taxes, standards)Sizes of buffers and other

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1162366506301481062006-10-30T23:33:00.000-08:002006-10-31T23:45:16.356-08:00

Started today. Happy as a clam.

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1161876940255852872006-10-26T07:41:00.001-07:002006-10-26T08:54:09.103-07:00

Yesterday was my last day at Yahoo! It's been a good run for just over two and a quarter years but it's time to move on.Special shout outs to my peeps at Yahoo! Search. I'll be rooting for you all the way.

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1159985388828676652006-10-04T11:01:00.000-07:002006-10-26T08:54:25.366-07:00

From Businessweek via 37signals' Signal vs Noise:I'll pull out the bullet points, but read the article for more fun details. Wish more people ran meetings this way. So simple, yet so rarely done, or done well.Set a firm agenda: "Agendas need to have flexibility, of course, but Mayer finds that agendas act as tools that force individuals to think about what they want to accomplish in meetings."

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1159942833592008742006-10-03T23:11:00.000-07:002006-10-03T23:28:26.363-07:00

The head of Tesla Motors spoke at Yahoo! last week and even demoed one of these beauties. I'm sorry I missed it but at least I got this video.And, oh yeah, it starts at $100K (what did you expect?).

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1159941698398083442006-10-03T22:55:00.000-07:002006-10-03T23:11:34.466-07:00

Rams in 1969 (Picture taken from Design Museum Collection)Good design is innovative.Good design makes a product useful.Good design is aesthetic.Good design helps us to understand a product.Good design is unobtrusive.Good design is honest.Good design is durable.Good design is consequent to the last detail.Good design is concerned with the environment.Good design is as little design as

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1152602535857192712006-07-11T00:09:00.000-07:002006-07-11T00:28:25.003-07:00

PingMag interviews Liisa Puolakka, Nokia's Head of Brand Visual and Sensorial Experiences.On experience design:"[R]ather than just designing an object you take a more holistic approach. That means the design language and how it relates to other products; how does it feel to use, both rationally and emotionally; how it’s packaged; what accessories are available; the kind of environment it may be

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1150355973965048682006-06-15T00:17:00.000-07:002006-06-15T00:19:33.973-07:00

While I was away on vacation, Yahoo! Search launched shortcuts for the FIFA World Cup. I worked on them (and wrote the Ysearchblog post announcing them - heh).Check'em out and go for gooooooooaaaaaal!

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1148452083762989832006-05-23T23:12:00.000-07:002006-05-25T07:09:07.813-07:00

I stopped using an RSS reader a few months ago, and haven't looked back.But I have started typing in just a letter (or two, plus a "down" keystroke and Enter) in the URL field to access the blogs I want to look at. I don't read as reflexively as when I was using the reader, but I'm still checking. (I make myself type, rather than click on bookmarks, so it's not so easy to check.)Anyway, here's my

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1148414110952968412006-05-23T12:35:00.000-07:002006-05-23T12:56:26.023-07:00

The Pixar boss and now head of Disney's Animation studios tells his story to Fortune (via CNNMoney.com, May 17, 2006)On design:My older brother Jim, who passed away six or seven years ago, was a brilliant interior designer who studied Japanese design. What he loved about their approach is that they'll design something and then they take away until they can take away no more. We have adopted that

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1146455973570292562006-05-09T20:50:00.000-07:002006-05-10T17:29:47.870-07:00

OK, let's make three things clear about Livesearch on AllTheWeb:I worked on this project (as a late addition to a team of kickass designers, researchers, prototypers, front-end developers, back-end engineers, editors, PMs, QA and marketers - it needs to be said, because not only was the product good, the team and process were excellent.)Yes, it is a Yahoo! Search product.It is the freakin'

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1146174292528892172006-04-27T14:36:00.000-07:002006-04-27T14:44:52.536-07:00

My favorite official World Cup Art Poster is this one, "A Cup for your Toy" (even the name is fittingly cute) by China's Luo Brothers. The bold colors, the cherubic giant and mini babes. The dancing lions, all that glorious garish yellow and red. The sheer unfettered fun of this beats all the other posters, I think.See all 14 official Art Posters at fifaworldcup.yahoo.com (btw, this was the

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1145390870927640712006-04-18T13:05:00.000-07:002006-04-18T13:09:56.113-07:00

I tremble at the destructive doodling that will be wreaked by this angry nation. (As seen at Newsvine.)

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1144887584501605732006-04-12T17:15:00.000-07:002006-04-13T23:20:38.446-07:00

Core77 has Janet Abrams's writeup of her experience at the recent Art Center Design Conference 2006.They used my pics for the article!Thanks to Allan Chochinov of Core77 (and the power of Flickr) for making this happen.And, btw, hello Core77 readers!

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1144090865897891632006-04-03T12:00:00.000-07:002006-04-03T12:05:24.100-07:00

Theo Jansen: Learning to Walk- engineer, painter, sculptor- made UFO and flew it over Delft- lo-tech/hi-tech work- makes life-forms from electricity tubes- uses computer to "evolve species" before building- copies "genetic codes" from winners after "walking match"- 11 tubes determine "loop" for walking (shape of a step)- wind-stomach = lemonade bottles that store wind, energy- building the

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3405031.post-1144090656350875752006-04-03T11:53:00.000-07:002006-04-03T19:37:33.416-07:00

Erin McKean, Everything, in Alphabetical Order- editor in chief of American Dictionaries for Oxford University Press- lexicographer, "dictionary evangelist"- the dictionary is not the Social Register of words- it's a toolbox, containing words that are useful- scientist (data) + reporter (annual report of the state of the language)Building a corpus- building up to a billion words- consists of

chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16750946603329537453noreply@blogger.com