Tag: Linkstorm

Britain, Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend, Work, Writing

Friday Links (Frantic Pace Edition)

“We often miss opportunity because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work”
― Thomas A. Edison

Another busy week, my possums. I’m so grateful to Ruth for getting me out of the house on Wednesday to go to a freelancing event (more on that later), but I was honestly worried I wouldn’t be able to go at first and spent the whole day at a frantic pace to carve out that evening. Ditto for pizza on Monday.

You wouldn’t think it, especially based on last week‘s theatre adventures, but January started off fast and hasn’t slowed down for me at all. I’ve been helping a client with a major rebrand project since mid-December and it’s basically eaten my life. I have tons of personal emails to catch up on that are just piling up, thank you notes still to send for Christmas gifts and letters, and even job hunting (while still very much an active project) has given way to it on the priority list. Since I’m so many hours ahead of the client I’m usually kept up quite late every night, and I’ve started obsessively checking my phone like one of those people I used to poke fun at. Because every time I step two feet away from my flat, a major and highly urgent project arrives in my inbox. Without fail.

It’s a bit stressful, but really rewarding at the same time. All of 2013 seemed to involve being thrown into situation after situation that was completely uncharted territory for me, which I loved even though it frequently intimidated the hell out of me, and 2014 looks to hold more of the same. I never thought I’d be working on some of the projects I am, or have the skills I’ve been able to acquire. I’m still figuring out how to balance competing demands and projects (and occasionally failing to find a balance at all, reduced to eating gummy candy for lunch and working until 2am), and there are still many things I can do much better than I’m currently doing. But I’m learning quick and working hard. So, even though I’m feeling pretty tuckered out from this week, I’m happy as a clam.

Here are your links, tell me what you’ve been up to lately in the comments!

Goodness knows the sports world has a long way to go in respecting and embracing social/gender/cultural inclusion across many groups of people, but I still think this is kind of a cool story.

Fascinating article on how and why people disbelieve what they do.

I’d read this in a heartbeat.

True fandom never dies, I guess. I was a Spice Girls fan myself, unabashedly, but this level of devotion is quite foreign to me. Then again, I’m currently on a Sherlock kick so perhaps I need to judge less harshly.

h/t to Jeff for this commercial about the less glamorous but wholly necessary side of paper. I have a kindle for convenience sake, and I enjoy its many uses, but you will have to pull printed books from my cold dead hands.

Medical science is really just a staggering thing. This will either make some really awful dystopian scenarios come true, or…honestly I’m not sure I can think of an alternative. And I’m the woman who’d be fine with sprinkling the various elements and chemicals into a jar, letting is sit for a few months, and popping the cork on a fully developed infant as a reproductive system.

Etsy shop find of the week. A bit odd, but frankly also a bit adorable.

h/t to my friend Annette who works with refugees in Salt Lake City, patterns of forced migrations since 1975.

How big is your vocabulary?

Kids write the darnedest things.

Photographs of a museum’s collection at night.

Loved this piece from Cup of Jo about living in small spaces. Our flat is bigger, but decorating it is a challenge and I found lots of this helpful.

Seriously. It took a fictional character being denied inheritance rather than actual people?

Speaking of fictional characters…in defense of Ron Weasley! (h/t Savvy)

Britain, Friends, Humor, Life, Linkstorm, London, Theatre, Weekend

Friday Links (Theatre Week Edition)

“All the world’s a stage.”
― William Shakespeare, As You Like It

What a week! And it’s not even over, Jeff and I are going to Jeeves and Wooster in: Perfect Nonsense tomorrow evening. With Matthew Macfadyen and Stephen Mangan – otherwise known as Mr. Darcy and Dirk Gently. Somehow in one form or another I’ve combined Shakespeare, superheros, Jane Austen, Douglas Adams, P.G. Wodehouse, and most 90s romantic comedies into this week alone. I’m pretty sure fanfic has been written about this very scenario in some dark corner of the internet.

In summation, I have not a single thing to complain about. You may find me this weekend by following the intolerable air of smug contentedness that will be wafting from my desk as I work away, happy as a clam. Here are your links, kittens, and tell me what you’re getting up to this weekend.

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Stick a fork in me, I’m done!

The potential future of marketing alarms me. (h/t Kerry)

As a former flatmate of mine once put it after a frustrating day of shopping for underpinnings, “I’m not sure bosoms are worth the trouble.” This rundown of a 17th century guide on their maintenance – yes, you read that correctly – might lend force to her proclamation. Skip this one, Dad, even though it’s hilarious. “We find by lamentable, if I may not say fatal, Experience, that the the world too much allows nakedness in Women.” Dear me, how glad I am that the writer never lived to see the lasciviousness that is jeggings, it might have killed them!

“This anachronistic behavior has got to stop!” (I laughed for a solid five minutes, Lady Mary needs to do comedy next, I think!)

In related news, I would totally play this. Although I’m perturbed at the lack of poisoned pastry.

Science is weird. Also, headline of the week.

The other contender for headline of the week.

Buzzfeed is almost entirely ridiculous (the weekly tumblr find attests to this), but I quite liked this article on girls and issues of likability.

 The fraught conversation…or lack of one around guns in the US. (h/t Caitlin Kelly, who knows whereof she speaks. See her book, Blown Away: American Women and Guns for more info!)

Holy cow! I thought my goal of all 7 continents was cool, clearly I set the bar too low!

NPR’s Ari Shapiro is really diving into his new London assignment. Perhaps I shall make him my next celebrity sighting goal (since I’m on a freaking roll!)

More excellent maps to reshape your understanding of the globe.

Holidays, Humor, Linkstorm, Weekend

Friday Links (Kicking Off 2014 Edition)

“There will be always something old in the New Year!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

Was it a holiday but two days ago? Did I really take the majority of last week off? Judging by my work To Do List…yes. It’s back to the grindstone, kittens. Jeff has homestudy and I have a scary amount of projects. After which we need to do some food shopping because our leftovers have officially run out, clean the house for the first time since Christmas, etc. It’s time to be civilized again, alas! Here are your weekly links, first of the New Year, and tell me what you’re getting up to this weekend.

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A preview of some of our holiday adventures…

Elizabeth Taylor (an actress whom I really like, every time her name is said I get a craving for the Taylor/Burton Taming of the Shrew), and a letter she once wrote to her cat.

Beautiful nature photos.

It’s pretty well documented that pregnancy, childbirth, etc. terrifies the heck out of me and I’d be happy to avoid it all by adopting a herd of orphans, but even I found Mary Helen Bowers’ pregnancy/ballet balance pretty awesome. I remember being flexible once…

Although, once she has that thing, good luck to her because it’s a minefield!

I have no trouble admitted that I am but a freelancing child and have largely only seen the good side of the industry. So much darkness to look forward to.

I know I would not be able to do what this guy did after losing his vision.

I’m not sure Rodgers is a profession. Does Woodland imply we’re going to live remotely in the forest, because I can tell you that we are NOT.

I have to admit I love the xoVain beauty site, but I think this “Smaug” inspired beauty post is a particularly nerdy favorite. I mean, Smaug is clearly the greatest character in The Hobbit – to quote Lois Long, “I will fight anyone who says differently,” – but the combination of fun makeup artistry with the story of the author’s exceptionally cool dad is a winner. My parents read The Hobbit to me as well, a vitally important childhood memory.

A great glimpse of 1970s kitchens, for the design minded amongst you.

Interesting parenting experiment, opening this one up to the minion commentary because I’m curious as to the thoughts of the parents in the readership. We always had plenty of toys growing up, but our habit of moving frequently meant that we routinely donated and reorganized the surplus and never really accumulated too much. At one point, my parents even significantly downsized Christmas (which I happened to like and plan on replicating with any hypothetical children) and while we are attached to our treasures, we’re not very attached to “stuff.” It’s what allowed me to go to university, and eventually move to London, with just two suitcases to my name each time.

Tumblr find of the week, theses boiled down to one sentence.

Holidays, Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend

Friday Links (Wassail Edition)

“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things – not the great occasions – give off the greatest glow of happiness.”
― Bob Hope

The weekend is upon us, kittens, the last before Christmas. Though I have to admit the weather is throwing most of us for a loop! It’s been chilly but bright and clear for days now. On Wednesday, Katie and I met up at Borough Market before wandering along the Thames and past the Tower in alarming perfect sunshine for this time of year. British weather, minions, contrary to the end!

Today I’m finishing up as many projects as possible so that I can take the vast majority of next week off to enjoy Christmas in London with Jeff. We’re going to try and find ourselves a pair of holiday jumpers in the thrift shops, take in some carol services at local churches, attend a Christmas Service at Westminster Abbey, and whatever else occurs to us at the time. Our last chore is figuring out what to do for Christmas Eve dinner (the culinary affair of the year) and buy the goods for our two person holiday feast. I’m sure I’ll figure something out, last minute adventures are something of a specialty. Here are you links for the weekend, tell me what you’re up to!

tree

Here’s an interesting art project. (h/t Jessica)

Buddy Caitlin Jacobs put together a short list of ideas for Christmas presents for writers that I think is pretty nifty.

I like Fair Isle sweater patterns, but they’re turning up on leggings everywhere this winter. And I…don’t hate them? What? Here are some cute, cheap ones if you are so inclined.

This exists and it pleases me immensely! (h/t Mel Thoughts)

Hm, what do we think of this? I’m genuinely curious. State your opinion from, “Fun and useful” to “That way lies Anthony Weiner.”

Would like very much.

More emphatically, WANT. Covet. Lust after.

Posh, about to spawn, and have no idea what to name your bundle of joy? Town and Country Magazine is here to help.

Um, we seem to have misplaced something…

How intriguing and gorgeous do these photography books look?

Finally, I finished my 101 in 1001 list and find it nicely ambitious! Have you read up on this idea? I think it’s a great idea…but then again, I like lists.

Britain, Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend

Friday Links (Grinch Edition)

“What fresh hill is this?”
– Dorothy Parker

This week has been alternately delightful and rough. Behold your links. As a bonus, here, have a shot of Trafalgar square all gussied up for the holiday while I make up behind work and plan my weekend escapes.

This huge fir is a gift from Norway. A heartwarming thing that I need to be in a better mood to appreciate than this week has bestowed upon me.
This huge fir is a gift from Norway. A heartwarming thing that I need to be in a better mood to appreciate than this week has bestowed upon me.

The Hairpin is starting a series called Internet Work and Invisible Labor, about the work that goes into web production. Their first interview is the Fug Girls (whom I love!), but I’m curious to see who else they get involved in this since this is the field I’ve moved into – though not yet in anything half as prestigious – and I think it’s interesting how some people don’t see what I do (content creation, content marketing, media strategy) as work. Writing is a lot of work, it’s not easy and making a successful career at it is damn hard sometimes. (Caitlin Kelly wrote about this too, lately.)

I truly believe that Benedict Cumberbatch is one of the British-est names ever devised, right up there was Alistair Fothergill. Enjoy, therefore, this thing I found. (Bumblebee Vegemite! Also I’m seriously excited for series three of Sherlock.)

This is just a commercial, but it sums up the problem succinctly

Here’s your tumblr find of the week. Nothing but London gorgeousness through and through.

I like complex mathematics boiled down (honest to goodness, the analogy that got the theory of space time and quantum mechanics into my head was a loaf of bread and a block of Swiss cheese), so it’s oddly comforting to know that we rank somewhere between a banana and potato at birth.

A ridiculously good read about the development of the retail mannequin, of all things. Miss Modesty, a seemingly drunken hostess, gender bending, history -it’s like Shakespeare up in here!

For the headline alone you should read this. But also enjoy the astronomical odds.

Get closer.

How gorgeous are these boxes?

This week’s been frantic, so this short article on busy people and their weekends was a timely reminder.

ETA: A surprise Beyonce album dropped today! Frankly, I kind of like the surprise nature of it, it’s a refreshing change to the hype and buildup you often get (though I readily admit only a mega performer could probably pull it off). Beyonce makes up a significant portion of my workout mixes, it must be said.

Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend

Friday Links

“He had been walking for a long time, ever since dark in fact, and dark falls soon in December.”
― Charlotte Riddell

I need to get out of the house or I’m going to go stir crazy! It’s been one of those work weeks where I’ve been largely glued to my chair with last minute assignments – most of them really fun and interesting, but the pace has been frantic. So today I’ll try to get a bit of Christmas shopping done and get out in the fresh air to enjoy the holiday mood before going back to work. Hopefully while there’s still daylight. Which, as it happens fades in about five hours so if you’ll excuse me, here are your links and have a good weekend, ducklings!

First and foremost, a great and important man passed away yesterday. It’s stunning what he took on, stood up to, and overcame in his lifetime. Racism is alive and well, but in many parts of the world the institutionalized power it once held is broken because of his work.

Like many people, I’ve found several of the Old Spice campaigns hilarious, and an inside look at how they make them does nothing to lessen my enthusiasm. More creative than I realized!

tumblr find of the week, this fabulous thing! Trust me, spend some time going through a few pages, it’s incredibly clever!

This thing is the eel’s hips! (h/t Jessica)

I admit I know nothing about the process, but I’m sure there must be not a few unsubtle distinctions between corks and babies! Also, childbirth altogether is such an odd and dangerous process still that it’s a bit mindblowing to me. I’m not a little baffled that, evolutionarily speaking, the method we’ve got the best we’ve managed so far, I’d like to have gone through a couple more prototypes personally.

My adoration of emeralds is sufficiently documented, so other prelude to this article is unnecessary.

Ah, that happy time of year has come again when the mavens, gurus, or just blowhards of pop culture start compiling anthologies of what happened and we might not admit it but we’re somewhat shocked to realize that a few things that seem really distant aren’t at all. Here’s the first of many, kittens, a pop music mashup. (Seriously, Harlem Shake everywhere, that was this year? I could have sworn it was last…)

Had I but cash and cash enough, this would be my holiday party dress this year. Minions wishing to make my Christmas dreams come true may post it to Keepdreamingkid Lane, Wishfulshire.

Ladies and gentlemen, the isle of my birth and the sole issue it’s famous for.

Alas the year of emerald green is almost no more. Thus hath Pantone spoken.

Holidays, Humor, Husband, Linkstorm, London, Weekend

Friday Links (High Geekery Edition)

“I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land.”
― Jon Stewart

Hope American minions had a delightful holiday! I went to an American service at St. Paul’s Cathedral headed by the US Ambassador and his family and then spent the rest of the day doing some Christmas shopping. An intensely Protestant sermon was preached which infuriated my Catholic seatmate, yet electrified the couple who walked down the cathedral steps next to me – so even the tradition of being surrounded by people disagreeing fiercely was upheld! A fortifying plum and almond tart at Liberty saw me through until I had leftover curry for dinner. Jeff meanwhile wrestled with an uncooperative rental bowtie for his tux before heading off to his office’s Christmas party in Bloomsbury. (A visual representation of our differences can be found here. Along with other general London goodness.) An unconventional but very nice holiday all around.

Alas ’tis not a holiday over here so I still have to be productive. Here are your links (actually pretty well connected to a theme this week) and enjoy the weekend!

Apparently my name is Grey Selkirk. Which sounds rather sleek and deadly to be honest. Now, which district would I belong to? Having not read the series I rely on you, gentle readers, to let me know (looking at you, Janssen).

Let’s continue with the geekery, shall we? Hello, sweetie. I got River Song!

All communication technology changes language, but the internet allows us to track it in ways we haven’t exactly used before. Meme language interests me.

tumblr find of the week – first drafts are utterly dreadful. My just finished one is unusually bad, I think. Pearl clutchers disregard the title.

In lady news – awesome.

We’re debating adding Monty’s Python’s Live (mostly) Show to our theatre schedule. Even if we don’t, I just have to say that the registration site is morbidly hilarious. (ETA: this thing sold out in 45 seconds. I’m impressed.)

People, inherently decent.

Fair warning, this is a pen commercial. It’s also downright impressive.

I have nothing but respect for this woman and the legal lengths she went to. Admittedly I have mixed feelings on a lot of hacking culture (which I admit I don’t understand all the nuances of and probably could learn a lot more of), and I take privacy issues very seriously, but  the fact that this site is no more should be cause for celebration.

Quentin Blake, illustrator of Roald Dahl fame graced Stylist (one of London’s many free and gorgeous mags) with drawings of some of his favorite authors.

Humor, Linkstorm, Weekend

Friday Links (Slightly Grumpy Edition)

“The night is the hardest time to be alive and 4am knows all my secrets.”
― Poppy Z. Brite

This week has been frantic, kittens! Some major freelance projects (websites, social media campaigns, political/economic theory research, oh my!) have meant a series of very late nights for me. Jeff and I started going back to the gym and my muscles are throwing a lactic acid temper tantrum accordingly. Also I received my annual reminder why you should never engage in the comments in most forums – occasionally I forget this essential life skill and need a refresher course. I’m really quite tired and just a teeny bit crabby. On the other hand, the links this week are pretty fun and should perk even a sourpuss like me right up while I get a couple more big projects done before the weekend starts.

Fun little insight into your Facebook postings.

Damn it, science!

How posh are you? “Science” has a way to quantify anything.

An unbelievably good story from an unbelievably hellish place.

This week’s I Want To Go To There is…

If you can get past the sometimes hilarious amounts of body oil, I found this post on a book about the bodies of Olympic Athletes to be pretty interesting. I’m very much from the “fit looks different on every body differently” perspective, but it was interesting to see how different trainings for different events and athletic careers mold bodies in totally different ways.

Job hunting mantras!

Leonardo da Vinci invented what I believed is scientifically classified as A Freaking Lot of Stuff. I’ve been really lucky to see many of his artistic works and I’m tangentially familiar with many of his experimental inventions and inquiries. But I am downright mad that it took us 500 years to follow up with this particular idea because it’s gorgeous.

I knew about the lighthouse beacons, but I didn’t know anything about these.

Winter is coming, pumpkins. I’ve bought and lit the spice and citrus smelling candles, and it’s actually near freezing some mornings. As an ode, here’s some beautiful close ups of snowflakes – h/t to Jessica!

I profiled one of his videos a while back, but Thug Notes has become one of my favorite YouTube channels. Jeff found an interview with the creator and it’s worth a read.

Love this design upgrade at Cup of Jo – it should inspire me to do something with our flat, but mostly it convinces me I don’t have a designer’s flair at all!

Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend

Friday Links
“I do like escapism. I like going to the movies on a Friday night and seeing something fun.”
– Charlie Kaufman

Yesterday was Jeff’s birthday, he’s solidly late 20s now! Yesterday we did dinner at Scoff and Banter to celebrate, tomorrow we’re going to see this to continue celebrating, which we’ve been looking forward to for month (and had to book months in advance to avoid paying a kidney each). We tend to stretch birthdays out a bit, sans shame. That’s our weekend, what are yours looking like, ducklings? Here are your links!

I have, as you know a deep and abiding interest in all things cheese related.

The Lady sums it up. Lady Edith, who, by the way American minions who have not already pirated it, is killing it on the style front this series in Downtown Abbey would approve. More I cannot on the DA front, but that I have opinions on this season.

Book teas!

This book sounds fascinating, I’m adding it to the To Read list at once!

Ralph Lauren has released images for the Winter 2014 Olympic uniforms. I’m not loving the trousers but I think the coats are great.

Modern dandy portraits. Very nice indeed.

A couple of week ago, Mozart. This week, Beethoven.

This photo is making the social media rounds and I thought it worth sharing again. Caption: “A little break from our crying child. Once I took this picture I teared up with the realization of what my wife was going through.

Someday it will swallow the solar system and engulf it in blazing fury…but until then it is stunning, isn’t it?

This group concept (though sounding, as one commenter rather hilariously put it, a bit like The Hunger Games), actually makes a lot of sense to me. As an American citizen who grew up both internationally and all over the country, I’ve often found the best way to explain the US to some outsiders is to portray the states and the broader areas they are grouped in as something like different countries. Complete with dialects, cultural priorities, and in some places racial and ethnic majorities and minorities. Apart from anything else, it’s a good way to explain why our government is as dysfunctional as it can be. When you stop thinking of the US as one country but several trying (or sometimes refusing) to work together, a lot of things about it make more sense.

These photos – I want to go to there!

Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend

Friday Links (A Blustery Day Edition)

“Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.”
― Roger Miller

Just a few this week because it’s a very blustery and rainy day and I’m behind on projects that must get done before the weekend. Jeff and I will take but a quick evening break tonight to wander down Regent Street, now positively awash in yuletide goodness. Since we’re past bonfire night and Thanksgiving is rather up in the air, it’s seasonally appropriate. Next up, Christmas carols! …Also, I should probably get shopping…

A while back we brought you Star Wars as done by Shakespeare, I’ll now just leave this right there.

Columns – written and otherwise.

Thoughts on writing and rewriting from The Lady. Helpful in trying to produce a first draft.

Twitter feed find, if the Tudors tweeted. (Woof, say that five times fast.)

This headline. Guys, this headline! (#AndMyAxe)

To say that words fail me would be inadequate. On the other hand, a guy from the state I just moved is achieving a degree of internet notoriety for offering $5,000 to anyone who introduces him to the woman he eventually marries. Love is not dead!

Far overdue, but good!

My retail temptation store has followed me across the Atlantic. Is nowhere safe?!