The Persistence of Television

Salvado Dali's very amusing 1952 appearance on What's My Line?.

Via VSL.

[The headline of this post is, of course, a (clumsy) play on the title of what is arguably Dalí's most recognizable work, The Persistence of Memory. – Ed.]

In-f*cking-credible

BMW's stunning GINA Light Visionary Model.
Read more here and here.

Thanx to Sang for the heads up.

"So good, so far?"

About midway through our CHI weekend our very friendly and attentive ESL waitress at Puck's in the MCA uttered the headline of this post. And indeed the weekend had been so good, so far. The Seed Conference was thought-provoking and inspirational. The Koons show we had just taken in was fantastic and extraordinary.

I'd only ramble if I started a post about Seed (the speakers provided sooo much to think about) , but I will give you this: if you're interested in wine and/or the power of self branding you need to check out Gary Vaynerchuk and his Wine Library TV. He was unexpected, impassioned and hilarious and possibly the high point of the conference.

Also of note, was the truly remarkable dinner we had at Japonais on Thursday night.

There was one clear highlight however. It was when our Puck's waitress asked us at toward the end of our lunch, "Did you make room for lunch dessert?" If you don't think that's hilarious – we did – I can't help you. [Of course, it would help if I told the story right. – Ed.]

The Chicago Two

We're headed to CHI today for a long weekend. Though I don't think we'll be inciting any riots.

I decided a month or two ago to attend the third annual Seed Conference – a "one day conference on design, entrepreneurship and inspiration" – featuring some speakers whose work I've been a fan of for quite some time – particularly Carlos Segura, founder of pioneering digital type foundry T.26 and Jim Coudal, founder of creatively inspiring Coudal Partners. I was sold when I read the following:

You should attend if you’re a designer (print, web or video) or a business-minded soul who is looking to take creative ideas and turn them into something SATISFYING & BANKABLE.

So, that's my Friday. Hol will be having a "spa day" at either exhale or the spa at our hotel, the James. She's been poring over the offerings of each for days.

Saturday, we're heading to the Jeff Koons show at the MCA. [Thx for the heads up dad!]

And, if I know us, we'll probably squeeze in a little shopping around all that. And, I may post updates during the weekend, but I can't say for sure.

Note: The image you may recognize as Bonnie and Clyde – who, as far as I can tell didn't operate much, if at all, in Chicago.

Konichiwa Bitches!

In October it will be, "Sayonara bitches."

Had to post that Hol and I will be heading to Tokyo for 8 days – a lifelong dream of mine.
So get ready for another day-by-day WTF travelogue.

And, of course, I'd be remiss not to link this.

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".