Thursday, October 31, 2013

Three Interesting Things

1. One person did some quick and dirty math and figured out it is, likely, cheaper to rent in Barcelona, Spain and commute to London, than to rent in London.  Don't mind me, I'm just checking some flight prices...
2. Keeping the European theme going, bikes are outselling (new) cars in most European countries. 
3. I found this article about instant ramen and it's use in fighting hunger, well, interesting. 

Monday, October 28, 2013

Lied to by a Fictional Character

I once read a very interesting murder mystery in which a profiler started spouting the typical characteristics of a serial killer and another character pointed out that given the number of crimes that go unsolved that these characteristics really represented the profile of people who were caught, not serial killers as a whole. 
But we do tend to look for ways to narrow our searches (in fiction and in real life, with crime and with other things) and so statistics and probabilities often come into play.  And many times, in my fictional crime reading have I come across the so-called statistic that women are more likely to use poison.  Except, it turns out its not true. 
As this article points out, numbers wise males are a bit higher, but given that males are (you know, according to statistics) more likely to kill people, its split somewhat evenly. 

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Three Interesting Things

1. One of the reasons I enjoyed "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" and it's spinoff "Tabatha Takes Over" is that often people didn't really know what was wrong, and assumed it must be all the other people.  So, this story from a guy who included himself in the 360 reviews for his company was interesting. 
2. I don't want to suggest that books can't be enjoyable as just books, but this idea of an interactive developing story intrigues me.
3. And if the lip sync off from "The Jimmy Fallon Show" has not made it to you yet, here you go.  (Link does contain video, will not automatically start playing.)

Monday, October 21, 2013

Dear Project Runway

Oh such happiness.  Not just with the final result - although that too! - but with the final shows.  I have whined for years that so many of the final shows, even from designers whose work I liked all through the season lack oomph.  There were some standouts, and certainly I recognize that a great designer cannot always be measured by what they put together in six weeks.  But this, oh I would have been happy with almost any winner and that I have pretty much never been able to say. 
And so, all I really have to say to the designers is go forth and keep doing great stuff.  Really.  Please continue on.  Whether you won the giant prize pack of candles and ice cream* or not. Please keep making things. 
Thanks for what ended up being a really great season, in spite of the stupid outbursts of some of the designers. 

*Not the actual prizes

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Three Interesting Things

1. As an again cat owner, I found this article about cat behavior interesting.
2. I am a fan of the Nerdist Writers Podcast which features, as the theme states, talking to writers about writing.  They talk to comics writers a lot (though certainly there's TV, book, and other writers too) and although I am comics adjacent, I often find them interesting.  This one where they talked with two non-comics fans was also fascinating especially as they delved into the barriers to entry, and the similarities of fandoms be they TV, comics, or sports. 
3. A picture of this flitted across my twitter feed, and I hunted up more info.  Two parents got matching tattoos of an insulin pump in solidarity after their son, who wears one to control his diabetes, asked if other people had them too. 

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Dear Project Runway

Have I mentioned that the Tim visits are my favoritest bit.  Pretty much always.  So, Tim had five visits.  Dom was a little behind, Braden seemed to, well, be channeling what a lot of people did for the Belk challenge, Helen was so cocky it led Tim to ask her family if she was always this mix of cocky and giant ball of doubt, Justin's family was lovely, and Alexandria took Tim to the camp and showed the dolls based on the show which were all awesome.  Seriously. 
And then the not guaranteed three got to show three looks.  Alexandria amusingly when asked what color she had in the collection referenced white, gray, taupe, and well, so all neutrals.  Justin pretty much secured a spot with his test tube dress.  (I have seen some rumblings across the web that the dress made of, well, test tubes, was not really wearable.  I will argue that I took the judges to mean that by wearable they meant from across the room it would look like a dress, not that wandering about the city in an outfit made of glass was practical.)  And Helen went nutso with the cape idea and the judges were even less pleased when they got a close up look. 
I'm hoping Justin has time to address the apparent construction issues he had in some of his looks, and I hope that Dom's collection is as awesome as I suspect, and, well, I'm hoping Braden's looks better than I suspect.  Looking forward to the final finale.



Thursday, October 10, 2013

Three Interesting Things

1. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to attend Lady Jane's Salon, and it was a lot of fun.  Romance authors read aloud from their work which is a lot of fun, as is gathering in a room full of people who like reading romance.  Well, the DC area is finally getting an outpost - meeting info is here.  Excited to see what the lineup will be.
2. I found this article about how people perceive recyclability interesting especially as it made me realize I keep tossing the ring from the milk in the trash even though I recycle the container.  (I will work on this.)
3. And January One posted this lovely letter to her grandmother, thank her for all the things learning to knit has brought to her. 

Monday, October 07, 2013

Dear Project Runway


Dear Judges,
I was in perfect alignment with you that Dom and Braden created fabulous outfits and the rest...eh. 
Dear Dom and Braden,
Don't crack when you get home.  Take this and keep being awesome. 
Dear Alexandria,
Had we not learned previously that you ran a fashion camp?  Because, I like you so much better now.  It also explains your clear experience with people who create drama. 
Dear Helen,
More and more I can't decide if you don't really know your aesthetic or are so locked into it you are unable to work with these challenges.  I guess, that was mostly it, so you can go home and freak out all by yourself. 
Dear Justin,
Please figure out a way to go crazy in a good way. 
Looking forward to seeing these collections. 

Thursday, October 03, 2013

Three Interesting Things

1. Apparently that Atlantis stuff about islands popping out is not so fantastical since a recent earthquake in Pakistan led to, well, just that
2. And in case you missed all my other proclamations of such, I am pleased and honored to know the teens featured here.
3. And one safari park has asked visitors to leave their animal print at home, because, well, it confuses the animals