Ploafmaster General

I couldn't help but notice the serious similarity between two unrelated banks' individual logos (pardon the line at the base of the Provident graphic - it's part of the image from their site):





Besides similar shades of blue and type that in both cases seems to combine lines and curves, the most obvious similarity is the chamfered-box look of each bank's symbol. Each shape is made up of what appears to be four pieces wrapping around a central point with four void spaces around the outside. [*] I'm not a graphic designer or a branding specialist, but that's what it looks like to me, and the similarities were so obvious.

I don't know who designed which logo first, but it appears that one followed another. I'd be interested to know more.

*Edit: Originally, my blind and backwards self indicated that Provident's logo resembled a lower case "p" and "b", but Phil pointed out the error of my ways.

One of the sweet new features in GMail is the integration of AIM into GMail Chat. This means that in addition to all my GMail contacts, I can use the web interface in GMail Chat to talk to my AIM contacts as well (and likely have it all in one window in iChat - I'll see when I get home today).

This is significant to me because I've been trying to find an easy and likable solution to having one program that allows me to communicate with both sets of contacts. This is because of the large numbers of programs I have open at any given time on my desktop at work. I don't want to crowd the system tray, and I don't want to drink too much RAM when more critical processes are running.

Most of my coworkers use Trillian - it's sanctioned by our IT department, and people generally just use their AIM account to communicate intra-office. There's a problem with this, however - Trillian only supports Jabber accounts (like GMail Chat) using a plugin. This plugin only works when you pay for the premium version of Trillian.

I tried Pidgin - the nice open-sourced chat client, but I ran into two problems. 1) Likely because of my company network, one day my connection to AIM was killed. I could only connect to the Jabber server. That's useless, because I have Firefox open all the time anyway, and why open another program just for Jabber when I could just open a new tab in an already-running window? 2) Shortly after the AIM connection failed, my stupid corporate install of McAfee decided that Pidgin was a threat to my computer and quarantined a critical file.

Now I finally have a solution that doesn't require me to open any separate applications, yet still keeps me connected to my office mates and friends in the outside world. GMail pretty much rocks right now.

I found this low-key but still awesome video following the manufacturing process inside Gibson Guitar in Nashville, TN.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYN_K9dVYVQ&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

If I ever find myself in Melbourne, Australia, I know one thing I have to do:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqFZ-ax98zw&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

The stunt course costs $199 in Australian Dollars which isn't bad at all, and you get to freaking drive on two side wheels!!! Holy crap!

Ladies and gentlemen, for the not-so-low price of $220, you too can own your very own Flux Capacitor! Capable of generating 1.21 gigawatts of power when coupled with a suitable aluminum car traveling at 88 miles-per-hour, this puppy will help fulfill all of your time traveling desires!


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Well well well...the spawn of L. Ron Hubbard have invaded Carytown here in Richmond, VA with a little outpost for the "church" of Scientology. They're located right on Cary Street in the building in front of Carytown Burgers and Fries.

Daniel: A social network is like a carnival without rides.

Phil: Like a circus without...elephants.

Daniel: Dude, a circus without elephants isn't a circus, it's a suckus.

Back in October, Joshua Blankenship posted about his antipathy towards Facebook, and he elaborated in the comments:

And therein lies the unexpected aspect of social networking sites we’re starting to realize - once I find everyone I want to, and they find me, and I have all my info there and such - what the hell do I do?

I think I've decided that the question of what to do is the critical element here. It's why people add crappy extras to their MySpace and Facebook accounts. It's why people who hate the extras get bored. You see, I believe Blankenship's implied opinion is correct: there's nothing to do on social networks after you've connected with everybody.

I think there's another type of site on the 'Net, however, and I'll call those "social websites" for the sake of simplicity (and lack of creativity?). These sites, in my opinion, are communities based around a particular activity or idea, not around the vague notion of a generic network. Flickr has a thriving community based around photography - sharing, appreciating, technique, etc. Vimeo has made a name for itself because of its community that's proud to produce original content, no matter how cheesy. I believe these websites flourish because people actually have something to do, and the execution of that something-to-do sells itself.

It appears, to this mere blogger, that better presentation, functionality, or general execution hasn't necessarily affected social networks. MySpace is notoriously hideous, but they continue to grow. Facebook was trim and clean for a while, but that seemed not to be the draw - and when they started getting downright funky with the Apps, it didn't seem to drive too many folks away. As for features, what do I care if Facebook's friend-adding function suddenly changes for the worse after I already added most of my friends? And Virb? Well, it looks gorgeous, but gorgeous hasn't helped to draw users from other networks because, "All my friends use Facebook already."

Social Websites, on the other hand, seem to a greater extent to depend on the execution of that something-to-do, because that's why people signed up in the first place. I believe Flickr would lose tons of users, for example, if you could no longer make images private, or if uploading images became dramatically difficult. Sure, some folks would stick around because it's what they're used to, or their friends still use it. But let's face facts - Flickr is a photo-sharing tool first, and a community second. The plus side in this, as I see it, is that folks are more likely to continue using Flickr even if the community turned sour.

Certainly this clarifies my reasons for continued interest in Vimeo and Flickr while I've stopped using MySpace and nearly finished with Facebook. I still have use for Vimeo and Flickr (and even del.icio.us occasionally) because I take pictures and enjoy looking at them, and the same goes for video.

I think I'd rather connect with people apart from social networks because then the experience and the something-to-do are up to us, or in the case of social websites, provided for us.

For a double dose of amazing, here's a performance including not only Steve Martin on banjo, but the incredible Bela Fleck as well.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jn3KCZEqxc&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

That title comes from a choice comment on this video clip:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhlm232KRlQ&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

Merry Christmas indeed!

You should check out their...um...rendition...of the themes from Rocky and James Bond.

But he was shocked at the response; he stood square and leveled his accusatory gaze at Milfred, shouting, "How do I know you're not faking your amnesia if..."

You know, I really may just have to see this, lowered expectations and all...

Thinks that animation could make this week's Layer Tennis a bit more interesting than usual...

In what's ultimately a very expensive commercial for some Cava, Martin Scorcese pays fine homage to Hitchcock with this short film:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zCD1R19bJs&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

(via Coudal, by way of Gruber, but this was just too good not to post on my own site)

Oh my gentle gentrification...The first direct-to-DVD Futurama movie is out: Bender's Big Score.

Now I have to see exactly what's meant by "Very Long Wait" from Netflix...

I found this excellent photo set taken with a vintage Pentacon 6 Tl Medium Format Camera by the Flickr user Edward Olive.

This is one of my favorites...I think because of it's sense of place, as it were:

As Christmas approaches and the weather turns chilly, I'm reminded that it's Eggnog Time. And I LOVE eggnog.

Or, at least, I love the stuff you buy in the carton. I've never actually had homemade eggnog, alcoholic or otherwise. I'm hoping, however, that this changes tonight when I attempt to follow Alton Brown's recipe that I found on NPR's website (though didn't he do this on Good Eats as well?) while searching for the history of the beverage.

You can check out the interview with Alton on NPR's Weekend Edition from last year in '06, along with the reprinted recipes for both the Nog and the frozen version.

UPDATE: Holy CRAP, it's amazing. What a difference the freshness makes - and it's not even chilled yet. I think I'll break it back out of the fridge when Scrubs comes on tonight.

Two Medieval Physicians Debate Universal Health Care on McSweeney's.

Finally, something to make my day feel a little brighter.

Tonight I finished reading Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma. Let me start by reiterating that I generally have trouble reading non-fiction. Consequently I have stayed mainly in the realm of the imaginary, save for the occasional essay. If this book, then, has accomplished one thing, it has shown me that non-fiction narrative writing can hold my attention from start to finish.

Pollan spends his 400+ pages unfolding what I can only describe as an exposé of eating. Sure, the subtitle claims the book is "A Natural History of Four Meals," but I feel the balance tips more in favor of process than past leading up to the food we eat. This serves my nerdy side quite well, feeding me (ha ha) plenty of both trivial and significant tidbits about the food industry, agriculture, and harvesting. The author's story-telling style grabbed me from the first chapter, captivating me with tales of corn harvests and mycophelia - topics I'd scarce considered on my own even as a burgeoning foodie. Over the past week I've found myself reading in bed just to finish one more chapter about grass farming, wild pigs, or feed lots.

For all the enjoyable reading Omnivore provides, however, what strikes me most about this book is how it's affected me. Other than the Bible, I've never read a book that so made me want to change how I live my life as Mr. Pollan's Opus (...look, I'm entitled to a really crappy joke every now and again). Having read about the effects of industrialized agriculture on the health of our nation's people, farms, environment, and economy, and the health and taste benefits of more naturally raised livestock and produce, I earnestly plan to seek out food co-ops, pastured meat producers, and local food purveyors than I presently patronize. Sure it'll cost more in dollars, but I believe in the long run my cooking will benefit, and so will my health. This book is a potential instigator of change in my life, and that's more valuable (or at least more intriguing) than simple entertainment.

I've held back on posts related to my reading of this book - partly because it was published last year and I'm (as usual) late to the party - but also because I didn't want to give away what I was in the middle of reading. The Eatwild.com entry was a hint, and I'm likely to post more related links and such about natural food and the industrial food system we have in the US. Don't worry, this won't become some crazy soap box where I rail against the American Culinary-Industrial Complex. I will, however, whole-heartedly recommend to everybody reading my website to find this book and give it a perusal.

In the meantime, I anxiously await his follow-up, In Defense of Food, to be released in January.

Holy CRAP, Madballs are back!



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YouTube find of the day (so far):

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5H-wi8wmQA&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

While David Lebovitz is perhaps best known for his pastry, books, and work at Chez Panisse, but he also takes some fantastic photographs of food (and a few other things) - much of which he's concocted himself. The picture of Pistachio Gelato below makes my mouth water.

It's unsettling when you stop to evacuate on your way to the kitchen to grab lunch, and the office restroom smells disconcertingly like the yeasty aroma characteristic of a Dunkin' Donuts.

That is all.

Some time next week I expect to take delivery of this fine article:



Now, in addition to the shirt Valerie gave me on our anniversary, I can show my pride for the New York Giants (who miserably lost to the Vikings on Sunday) and pretend I played for them all at the same time. w00t!!!

I found this excellent picture on Flickr today from user Jake Fouts, apparently punching himself in the face:



He has a few other cool photos, too. I'm a fan of "Not Enough Time," "Big Food," and "Live Room".

I first read about the difference in taste between corn-fed and grass-fed beef in a Slate article last year, and I was interested. Now, for reasons I'll elaborate on in a week or so, I'm looking to get the meat I cook from naturally-raised sources. This means grass fed cows, so I'm trying to find places in and around Richmond where I can procure the product I seek, and Eatwild.com seems to be an excellent starting point with a thorough by-state directory of pasture-based farms for chicken, cows, pigs, et al.