Alasdair Watson

A quote by David Byrne from Matt's article that I thought I was worth saving in it's own right:

"A city can't be too small. Size guarantees anonymity—if you make an embarrassing mistake in a large city, and it's not on the cover of the Post, you can probably try again. The generous attitude towards failure that big cities afford is invaluable—it's how things get created. In a small town everyone knows about your failures, so you are more careful about what you might attempt."

Matt Jones on the future of cities, their place in sf, and well, a typically smart piece of joined up thinking. Just go and read it.

This is one of the funniest bits of DVD commentary I've heard in ages. I am genuinely unsure if this is a joke or not, but still, it's hysterical.

This is inspired. I recommend this map to all vistors to London. It really does contain 90% of everything tourists need, and for the other 10%, just ask a native. (Assuming you know any. If you don't, then how the hell are you reading this?)

Well, I've had one of them, and yes, it really is *that* good. So I probably ought to get on with a few of the others.

This phenomenon can be observed in so many walks of life, and is most commonly known as "selling out", but I do find this specific case particularly interesting, largely for the reasons Jason lays out here.

Yes. This. Get to it, news organisations.

Go here. Sign this. Now. It is almost certainly the most important and useful thing you will do today.

Another really cunning bit of product design, although I think I can do without actually owning this one myself.

A short film about RFID and NFC. It is very pretty.

Some lovely installations here.

There are absolutely inspired bits of design genius. I want them. Of course, I would also need a garden, so my plan falls down, but still, these are just fucking magic…

In future, I shall employ alien space bats in all things. Just because I want to be able to answer the question "how're you going to do that" by shouting "WITH ALIEN SPACE BATS" at people.

I know that this is just words. It's an easy thing to say, and it costs him nothing. Of course it was bound to happen. But still: it has taken such a very long time for it to be said, and it is absolutely right that it should be said. And as cynical as I am about politics and politicians, it still makes me happy when they do something that I agree with 100%, however easy and simple it is. And it's this simple "we’re sorry, you deserved so much better."

I may have to go and look at these, if I can find the time.

The rejected pitched by Morrison, Millar, Peyer and Waid from 2000, when they were told they'd never be allowed to writer Superman. Quite a lot of this clearly showed up in All Star Superman, but still – it's a fun read.

I have heard of this guy before, but this is a truly amazing talk.

A spreadsheet listing all the various TED talks to date, and providing a brief summary of each. Really nice way of finding talks by smart people that you may have missed.

I really do enjoy watching Mr Stross think about the near future. I have no idea if he's right or not, but he's smart, shows his working, and never fails to make me think in turn. Which is all I can ask.

I love old maps. I especially love old maps of London.