Archive for January 5th, 2009

Kottke’s best links of 2008

I read somewhere (that I cannot find now so maybe I just made it up) that today is one of the most stressful Mondays of the year. It’s the first day back at work after two weeks of holiday craziness, and the economy still sucks.

But there’s no need to let that bring you down, instead take a small break and peruse Kottke’s Best Links of 2008. The list is filled with the beautiful, the fascinating, the hilarious, and the frightening. It is, ahem, the best! Some of my favorites include:

• The New Yorker piece on elevators and the guy who was stuck in one for 41 hours. Includes security tape footage. It’s kind of heart-breaking and anxiety-inducing
• US election logos from 1960 – 2008
• The 10-minute documentary on how to build an igloo

Rethinking non-profit Web strategy

Advergirl asks non-profits to rethink Web strategy to make giving easier. She says that in these economic conditions organizations should look at people who give small donations as impulse buyers and remove as many barriers to donation as possible.

It’s a timely piece for use at The Nerdery considering that the Overnight Web Challenge is right around the corner. In fact this is the last week for MN Non-profits to sign up, the deadline is Friday, January 9th.

On profanity, expletives, and obscenities

William Safire had a hilarious and informative column on swearing in the NY Times last week. The column is a joy to read, Safire plays with alliteration and assonance. It feels like the reading equivalent of riding on a tilt-a-whirl.

But there is more than just word play, Safire writes about the difference between profanities, expletives, vulgarities, and obscenities in wake of Rod Blagojevich and his bleeping bleeps while trying to sell the Chicago Senate seat that’s up for grabs.

It’s a must-read for any word nerd or anyone who likes to swear. Knowledge is power and all that. [article found via Daring Fireball]