A good marriage...

By now you've heard of the passing of Stephen Covey, the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (named the most influential business book of the 20th century).  7 Habits was perhaps the first of that genre that I ever read when someone (thanks Rick) loaned me the cassette tapes to listen to on my daily commute. The habit that sticks with me most clearly is "sharpening the saw." Covey tells the story of a fellow coming upon another fellow furiously sawing logs with a dull saw and making little progress. He advises the wood chopper to stop and sharpen the saw to make things easier and more productive. Without stopping the chopper replies, "Can't. Don't you see all this wood I have to chop?" In other words, sharpening the saw means having a plan for self renewal in the physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of your life. (Note that although this has stuck with me in theory, it doesn't mean I'm necessarily a good practitioner.)

A simple but effective way to visualize the 2011-2012 NFL playoffs from The Champions Ring.

Science. Doing the important things. Like making transparent animals.

Do this now. If you're a fan of good music go to Pledge Music and help Stick Men (Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, Markus Reuter) produce their next album, Deep. The site has a video from Tony Levin explaining what they're trying to do, a few tunes you can listen to, and a list of the pledge levels (from $10 for being able to download the album to $100 for a deluxe CD/DVD edition with a t-shirt and signed card to $3,000 for the executive producer bundle.) They're at 64% of their target with 53 days left. Spread the word.

Aviation pr0n from 1942: GE's "Hush-Hush Boys" gather around their project - the 1-A jet engine, America's first and based on the UK's Whittle Engine.

I thought something titled 10 Crazy Things People Say to Entrepreneurs would be interesting. (Note: the list does not include "You didn't build that.") The craziest thing said to me was "I think you're crazy." (Yes, it's all kinda circular.) But the list itself is lame. And it's from a publication called YFS Magazine where the YFS stands for young, fabulous, and self-employed. That's downright embarrassing.

Are there good Pilsners? As it turns out, yes. Start with Heavy Seas' Small Craft Warning.

I can't remember where I saw it but there are only three factors in a job interview: can you do the work, will you enjoy the work, will we enjoy working with you. Another way to look at the interview is there are technical skills (including theoretical, practical and experience) and non-technical skills (passion, communication, culture). In part 1 of How to Ace a Startup Engineering Interview (a bit misleading cuz it's less about engineering than programming and is true for any company and not just startups) the technical skills are covered. Must read if you're job hunting.

Next time you want to know whether your computer/network is screwed up or whether Google Talk and Google Mail (or Facebook or LinkedIn or...) are really down (like earlier this week) check out downrightnow.com.

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Science. Observing the disgusting. The science of decay. (Hour and a half video. Worth watching, especially the bit about slime mold and trains. Really.)

This news story both supports and dispels conventional wisdom about college football players. First, it supports the notion that they're not that bright. Second, it dispels the notion that they entertain a non-stop parade of college coeds. You see, an SMU linebacker didn't pay a hooker, left her in his apartment when he went out, and she robbed him blind. Kids, the lesson here is always pay your bills.

From the Things I Didn't Think You Could See department, a short film of Claude Monet painting in 1915.

While on the topic of artists, back in 1964 Miles Davis gave a few albums a blind listen and doled out some comments. "That's some old shit, man. Sounds like Steve Allen's TV band."

Terry Gilliam's daughter is sorting through her father's archives and finding some real gems. Original script from The Meaning of Life, hand-drawn cutouts for the opening titles of Flying Circus.

From the Things You Wish You Could Say at Work department, "I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth."

David Lynch's answers to these 20 odd questions are very down-to-earth. Most delicious food? Eggs, bacon, hashbrowns.

Take a Fomula 1 lap via a camera at driver's eye level. It's more impressive because the track is wet and the driver is driving with only one eye because the camera was blocking his other eye.

Yep, I'm going to hell. source

Must have this: a shotgun that shoots a pinch of salt at bugs. The BugASalt Shotgun.

I don't know about you, but I need this now. the quiet place

...resembles friendship more than love. ~Michel de Montaigne (paraphrased)