The Examined Life

"Yesterday I came across a slightly mysterious website — a collection of Polaroids, one per day, from March 31, 1979 through October 25, 1997. There’s no author listed, no contact info, and no other indication as to where these came from. So, naturally, I started looking through the photos. I was stunned by what I found."

Sound interesting? It is. One Polaroid a day every day for eighteen years.

If you want a synopsis of what the above poster discovered in looking through those eighteen years' worth of photos you can read the rest of the above post from mental_floss.

Or just head straight to the site and discover for yourself. But I highly recommend you go through the whole collection in chronological order – though not necessarily in one sitting.

BTW: Almost forgot. Polaroid announced on February 8, 2008 that they are ceasing production of Polaroid film. So, if you want future generations to know what all the fuss [You'll have to click the preceding link – it won't allow embeding. – Ed.] was about – stock up or join the effort to save the format.

It's Not Rocket Surgery

It's brain science.

Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions — motion, speech, self-awareness — shut down one by one. An astonishing story.

Watch her extraordinary and moving talk at TED, "inspired talks by the world's greatest thinkers and doers".

Casting Call of the Wild

Featuring an orangutan and his Levi's 501s.

Watch it.

Story Time

We Tell Stories from the UK division of publisher Penguin consists of six explorations of how to tell a (short) story online with varying degrees of interaction.

One of my favorites – though probably one of the least interactive and the least "story" like – is Hard Times – a sort of "State of the Union" told through facts and figures compiled by Matt Mason and impeccably designed by dataphiliac, Nicholas Feltron. I'm not sure that Feltron needed Mason – his "annual reports" are nothing short of mesmerizing in his quantifying and documenting his past year. Check out the 2007 Feltron Annual Report.

However, for a genuinely innovative use of Web tech to tell a story Charles Cumming's may be the best. The 21 Steps' clever use of Google Maps makes for an engaging read.

"Designer" Drugs

Creative direct your own pharma ad for your drug here.
From Philly agency Holton Sentivan + Gury.

Ghost In The Piscine

Cartoon Network's Adult Swim and indie label Ghostly International have teamed up to offer a great 19-track sampler, Ghostly Swim, of downtempo indie electronic stuff. Preview below.

[I removed the embedded player because I hate when I go to a site and music immediately starts blasting. But, do go check it out at their site (where the music does indeed start playing) – I just won't do that to you here. – Ed.]