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  • 1 min read

The universe is probably littered with the

> “The universe is probably littered with the one-planet graves of cultures which made the sensible economic decision that there’s no good reason to go into space–each discovered, studied, and remembered by the ones who made the irrational decision.”
— [XKCD](http://xkcd.com/893/)
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The Times Announces Digital Subscription Plan

Beginning March 28, visitors to NYTimes.com will be able to read 20 articles a month without paying, a limit that company executives said was intended to draw in subscription revenue from the most loyal readers while not driving away the casual visitors who make up the vast majority of the site’s traffic.

I’m pretty sure they have this backwards. Punishing loyal customers doesn’t sound like the path to success. And the ridiculous distinction between “web” and “tablet” subscriptions shows that the Times still can’t break out of the old media mindset.

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Skunk Works

As much as this book is about the incredible objects of military might produced by Lockheed’s Skunk Works, the core story is about the power of engineering and innovation. It’s the story of how a thermodynamicist can change the course of history with engine intakes that work efficiently at mach 3. It is the story of ideas from a single engineer becoming the spark that produces a plane invisible to radar and it is the story of a company that gave engineers and innovators free reign to develop the next great thing.

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The Travels of a T-Shirt In The Global Economy

A great book to make you feel good about globalization and bad about most everything that inhibits free trade. In particular, the author’s explanation of how sweatshops have been key to improving the lives of the impoverished is truly eye-opening. And her descriptions of the incredible bureaucracy that governs the trade of apparel makes me wonder how stores have clothes to sell at all.

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Kinecting

Kinecting.

Kinecting.
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The kinects astonishing technology creates a

> “The Kinect’s astonishing technology creates a completely new activity that’s social, age-spanning and even athletic. Microsoft owes a huge debt to the Nintendo Wii, yes, but it also deserves huge credit for catapulting the motion-tracking concept into a mind-boggling new dimension. Just this once, the gods have lifted the Curse of the Microsoft Hardware.”
— [Kinect for Xbox Helps Users Feel the Rush, and Maybe Sweat - NYTimes.com](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/technology/personaltech/04pogue.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1288930360-2dURjz%20H1MYnd%20aB3vwF5w)
  • 1 min read

Twitter, Facebook, and social activism : The New Yorker

Because networks don’t have a centralized leadership structure and clear lines of authority, they have real difficulty reaching consensus and setting goals. They can’t think strategically; they are chronically prone to conflict and error. How do you make difficult choices about tactics or strategy or philosophical direction when everyone has an equal say?

(via Instapaper)