"I envision a future in which programmers are the conscious repositories of a body of knowledge. A future in which they regain their craft, instead of tweaking frameworks they don't understand. A future, eventually, in which programmers say "no" to demands at odds with their ethics.

It is crucial to create ways, spaces and formats for programmers to share their knowledge with other programmers. It is vital we keep this knowledge (especially verbalized knowledge) among programmers and out of salespeople's hands. And it is urgent the IT crowd recognize software making as a craft, instead of a commodity."

"In gift wrap emergencies when you've got the present but need some wrapping, here's an idea for turning a magazine page into a bow. (There may be better ways to stick this thing together, but I used what I had on hand: staples and adhesive glue dots)"

"My eyes were assaulted by this in a shop in Rochester in Kent. The shop sells "customised" vintage stuff (ie terrible knick-knacks sewn onto things by someone with no design sense) and new stuff by small designers (also equally hideous). The shop was shut when me and my friend were passing, but this beaut was the centrepiece of the window display. I have no idea whether it's new or mutilated 2nd hand, but either way it's terrifying. What do you think, fairy hunting trophy of the ball-sack of some fearsome pastel beastie? The world's campest sporran? Other ingenious theories welcome"

"The thing that finally condemns the entire "baseball" idea, however is this: even with all these improvements, the game is no fun at all.

We tried baseball, and it didn't work."

If you want to buy me a present, buy me this. The whole set.

"Fortunately, we are not yet “perfected” consumers but if we are not vigilant, our attention span will continue to shrink, and those available conveniences that help us force more and more material through our tiny pinhole of focus will proliferate. (Just as road-building worsens traffic problems, media-management and organization tools tend to exacerbate our attention problems. Hence, I spend as much time editing metadata as I do concentrating on music I’m listening to.)"

Almost certainly useful in dire circumstances.

Probably not one for our little informal tasting. But I particularly like the presence of the chicken.

I love the interface for the website, frankly. The application and utility of the zoom in an online exhibit is great.

Ann Arborites (and those abroad): Go buy some Jolly Pumpkin beer, from Dexter MI. Me, I have to have at least one bottle of Maracaibo Especial each week.

via pesyapostrophe