BBC Online
March 29, 2010
The Web-based service of the BBC–BBC Online, is one of the world’s largest and most visited websites with over 2 million pages in 2007. The websites include news from the BBC News Online, a sports section, music, science, technology and entertainment pages, parenting, weather and travel information…and a whole lot else.
Crazy About Pets?
March 5, 2010
Petplace.com IS crazy about pets! With a library of over 10,000 veterinarian approved articles they offer the largest and most complete source of pet information available anywhere. They not only offer the most comprehensive resource for pet health and wellness, but they also have over 4,000 heartwarming “Pet Stories” that will make you, laugh, cry and feel good inside.
The Unhappy Hipsters
January 31, 2010
Another architecture/design website but this one’s for laughs. The Unhappy Hipsters takes photos from leading design magazines like Dwell and adds a wry comment pointing out the unfriendliness in the bankrupt design–in human terms. We don’t know who posts on this blog but he/she has an amusing avatar. If you, too, believe there is something missing from the minimal design themes so rampant in magazine spreads these days, take a glance at this website and have a laugh or two. And wait with the rest of us for the pendulum to swing back to human friendly.
Thanks to Curt Cox from the Davis Partnership in Denver for sending us the link.
Centerbrook Architects’ Blog
January 29, 2010
The Essex Library has been very fortunate to have Centerbrook Architects generously sponsor and provide a second series of architecture lectures with a third in the planning stages for next year. A recent addition to their award-winning website is a blog–The Millrace– where members of the firm have posted about what inspires and interests them. If you have any interest in architecture, design or getting to know architects a little better, take a look at their blog-it will be rewarding.
Don’t miss out on Yale School of Architecture Professor Kent Bloomer’s lecture, “Why Not Ornament?”, Friday, February 12th at 7 p.m. at the Essex Town Hall.
For Bike Riders Everywhere…
January 11, 2010
Systematically and mercilessly disassembling, flushing, greasing, and re-packing the cycling culture. That’s the BikeSnobNYC’s mantra. If you’re serious about riding, you’re probably already familiar with the blog. But wait–there’s a BikeSnob book coming out in May from Chronicle Books:
“Cycling is exploding in a good way. Urbanites everywhere, from ironic hipsters to earth-conscious commuters, are taking to the bike like aquatic mammals to water. BikeSnobNYC cycling’s most prolific, well-known, hilarious, and anonymous blogger brings a fresh and humorous perspective to the most important vehicle to hit personal transportation since the horse. Bike Snob treats readers to a laugh-out-loud rant and rave about the world of bikes and their riders, and offers a unique look at the ins and outs of cycling, from its history and hallmarks to its wide range of bizarre practitioners. Throughout, the author lampoons the missteps, pretensions, and absurdities of bike culture while maintaining a contagious enthusiasm for cycling itself. Bike Snob is an essential volume for anyone who knows, is, or wants to become a cyclist.”
Between The Folds With Origami
January 10, 2010
Who knew origami had gotten so complicated and fascinating since we folded our last crane? Independent Lens–the PBS series which showcases terrific independent films–presented Between The Folds recently.
“Origami may seem an unlikely medium for understanding and explaining the world. But around the globe, several fine artists and theoretical scientists are abandoning more conventional career paths to forge lives as modern-day paper folders. Through origami, these offbeat and provocative minds are reshaping ideas of creativity and revealing the relationship between art and science.”
These artists and scientists have gone way beyond the old “kootie-catcher” to create pieces of exquisitely folded paper that sometimes don’t even resemble paper in the end. Take a look at the film’s site and be sure to follow the links to the individual artist’s sites where you can see what they’re up to and interested in.
Thanks to Centerbrook Architect’s Ken MacLeod for bringing this wonderful film to our attention.
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/between-the-folds/film.html
Performing Arts Encyclopedia
January 5, 2010
Explore music, theater and dance at the Library of Congress with the Performing Arts Encyclopedia. The PAE provides information about the Library’s unsurpassed collections of scores, sheet music, audio recordings, films, photographs, and other materials. Users can find digitized items from the collections; special Web presentations on topics and collections; articles and biographical essays; finding aids to collections; databases for performing arts resources; information on concerts at the Library; and a special Performing Arts Resource Guide which contains entries for hundreds of Library collections, Web sites, databases and exhibits.
How Not To Act Old In 2010
January 2, 2010
Happy New Year all! Pamela Redmond Satran published a book in 2009 that you may have seen if you’re of a certain age. It’s called, How Not To Act Old and, as you can imagine, was a New York Times bestseller. Pamela keeps up her tips for us about not acting our ages on her blog–How Not To Act Old. You will enjoy it.
Improve Your Vocabulary And Spelling With The Daily Jumble
December 31, 2009
You’ve seen the Daily Jumble game in the newspaper, now you can play online for free.