Inappropriate
A list of some things that have been appropriated by some cultures from others Writing. Roman letters. Arabic numerals. The number zero. The horse (by… Read More »Inappropriate
innovation
Hinterland (2): The Beatles Live at the BBC
I’ve been listening through the early Beatles albums, admiring – as ever – the complete mastery of classic rock and roll that they demonstrate over… Read More »Hinterland (2): The Beatles Live at the BBC
Design matters (20): Ford Focus cup holder(s)
With apologies for the hastily taken snap, and the fluff. There are two cup holders, both wide enough for a large mug or bottle and… Read More »Design matters (20): Ford Focus cup holder(s)
John Collison: Things don’t just happen; or, The Museum of Passion Projects
See also:On making stuff: that Steve Jobs quoteDouglas Crockford on making a standard (JSON) (2): minimal solutions and decision making“Do the things we plan actually… Read More »John Collison: Things don’t just happen; or, The Museum of Passion Projects
DriverlessCrocodile on theknowledge with David Elikwu
I had a great time chatting with David Elikwu for his podcast (and newsletter(s), and website) theknowledge.io. He was a great host who had done… Read More »DriverlessCrocodile on theknowledge with David Elikwu
Technology (25): Vaclav Smil on prime movers and extrasomatic energy
Extrasomatic: outside of the body About 10 millennia ago… the first patches of deliberately cultivated plants as a small share of the Earth’s total photosynthesis… Read More »Technology (25): Vaclav Smil on prime movers and extrasomatic energy
Technology (24): Keynes on The Permanent Problem; or, The Dread of Abundance
Hattip: Brink Lindsey Let us, for the sake of argument, suppose that a hundred years hence we are all of us, on the average, eight… Read More »Technology (24): Keynes on The Permanent Problem; or, The Dread of Abundance
The machine that makes the machine: Simon Winchester on machine tools and the democratisation of precision
John Harrison’s timekeepers… were both precise and accurate, but given that they took years to make and perfect, and were the result of hugely costly… Read More »The machine that makes the machine: Simon Winchester on machine tools and the democratisation of precision
The Specialist; or, Dr Snip
Don’t become a wandering generality. Be a meaningful specific. Zig Ziglar Returns to specialisation Dangers of specialisation See also: Dr SnipTechnology (22): Francis Bacon on… Read More »The Specialist; or, Dr Snip
Amazing Japanese motorcycle production figures
Motorcycle production figures [for Japan] before 1930 are not available, but in that year a total of 1,350 were made in Japan. The 2,000 mark… Read More »Amazing Japanese motorcycle production figures