Diversion 10.0

1. Kottke.org

Jason Kottke is, to me, the ur-blogger. His links are unfailing. His design is so good and clean that I actually noticed it. And, today he took some old photographs of American life from the early ’40s and ran them through Photoshop. Not only do the pictures look better, but they are more relatable, which is, when you think about it, very odd. Old photos always look fake to me – the people have faces you don’t see around anymore, it’s blurry, it’s dark, and so on. But his processing made the people and places seem real. It’s hard to describe, you should check it out.

2. Dice Wars

Have I ever been wrong about a dice-based Risk-like online game? Never. (via kottke).

3. Animals Have Problems Too

You’ll be surprised how self-explanatory the title is. A darling comic, combining appealing animal drawings and irony. A delicious combination.

4. Cooking Cute

I don’t know why the background is so ugly, it’s a brand new site. But check out the lunches, and weep with helpless envy.

5. Understand

A short story (or long? It’s so hard to tell on the internet). It’s sort of like Flowers for Algernon, except the guy gets much, much smarter. Creepy, and properly categorized as sci-fi. (via Plastic Bag ).

6. See Eunny Knit

One of my two favorite knitting blogs. Also, the picture at the top right now makes me long for the beach. Given that I hate nature, that’s some nice photography. I am currently knitting one of her patterns, which is cleverly written and designed. I stare lustfully at everything she makes, and curse my slow hands.

7. Outblush

Just like Mighty Goods. I love to look at pretty things I will never buy. Don’t you?

8. XKCD

Another comic, but quite different (I rationalize). Math jokes and stick figures. Start with this one, which is representative: Back to the Future. Ooh, or Gravitational Mass .

9. Stockholm metro stations

Jaw-dropping. (also via Plastic Bag , which I clearly should have just linked to).

10. Idle Words

You know how when you read a blog you kind of skim for pictures and links? Like it’s urgent that you leave whatever site you are on RIGHT NOW, so you can leave the next one immediately, too? Well, this is one of maybe two sites that I can’t skim. Partly it’s that his stories (like this one, about his adventure with the Chinese police) are compelling, but his writing is wonderful – good tone, quick but not too quick, smart, funny. I read him like I read a book, and I can’t put my finger on why.

Diversion 10.0

1. Kottke.org

Jason Kottke is, to me, the ur-blogger. His links are unfailing. His design is so good and clean that I actually noticed it. And, today he took some old photographs of American life from the early ’40s and ran them through Photoshop. Not only do the pictures look better, but they are more relatable, which is, when you think about it, very odd. Old photos always look fake to me – the people have faces you don’t see around anymore, it’s blurry, it’s dark, and so on. But his processing made the people and places seem real. It’s hard to describe, you should check it out.

2. Dice Wars

Have I ever been wrong about a dice-based Risk-like online game? Never. (via kottke).

3. Animals Have Problems Too

You’ll be surprised how self-explanatory the title is. A darling comic, combining appealing animal drawings and irony. A delicious combination.

4. Cooking Cute

I don’t know why the background is so ugly, it’s a brand new site. But check out the lunches, and weep with helpless envy.

5. Understand

A short story (or long? It’s so hard to tell on the internet). It’s sort of like Flowers for Algernon, except the guy gets much, much smarter. Creepy, and properly categorized as sci-fi. (via Plastic Bag ).

6. See Eunny Knit

One of my two favorite knitting blogs. Also, the picture at the top right now makes me long for the beach. Given that I hate nature, that’s some nice photography. I am currently knitting one of her patterns, which is cleverly written and designed. I stare lustfully at everything she makes, and curse my slow hands.

7. Outblush

Just like Mighty Goods. I love to look at pretty things I will never buy. Don’t you?

8. XKCD

Another comic, but quite different (I rationalize). Math jokes and stick figures. Start with this one, which is representative: Back to the Future. Ooh, or Gravitational Mass .

9. Stockholm metro stations

Jaw-dropping. (also via Plastic Bag , which I clearly should have just linked to).

10. Idle Words

You know how when you read a blog you kind of skim for pictures and links? Like it’s urgent that you leave whatever site you are on RIGHT NOW, so you can leave the next one immediately, too? Well, this is one of maybe two sites that I can’t skim. Partly it’s that his stories (like this one, about his adventure with the Chinese police) are compelling, but his writing is wonderful – good tone, quick but not too quick, smart, funny. I read him like I read a book, and I can’t put my finger on why.

Counter-Point: They Are Meant To Be…Adorable!

1. They are so in love. They are kind of dumb, yes, but they seem like good people, and they fit kind of well together. That’s exactly who she should be with, no? Yes, he’s a drama queen, and clearly torn, as all 20 year old boys are, between a sure thing and that hot brunette across the room. And yes, she’s pretty awesome, but her life goal involves the words "teen" and "vogue." They bought each other very thoughtful Christmas presents, and seem to have fun together. Plus, to the extent they create relationship drama, they both seem to enjoy that, too.

2. If you disagree that they are totally in love and MEANT TO BE, then I still think she should shack up. She’s been yo-yo-ing to Jason and away for literally years. He’s that high school guy that you never really break up from because you don’t remember not having him around, and if you really really break up you won’t know who you are. Maybe it’s time for her to break free! But if so, I think living with him could be a great test of that. Are they just a high school couple, or are they MEANT TO BE? One way to find out is to smell his feet every day, and see just how long it takes her to get ready.

3. The internship isn’t that big a deal. First of all, Lauren is rich. I’m sure she will spend some time in Paris eventually. Second, I’m not too worried about her career advancement.

4. Jason is, admittedly, a jealous, lazy asshat. However, I don’t think you give him enough credit. He was the hot rich guy at his hot rich high school, and then MTV came and made a reality show that sort of focused a lot on how they were all hot and rich. I amazed he has any normal traits at all, that can mess a kid up. Plus, he’s young yet, he can grow out of those things. And, Lauren does a pretty good job calling him on it, which is great, and a sign that they are MEANT TO BE.

In conclusion, I love that show and I love their love, and I love how shiny and pretty it all is. Lauren + Jason 4-eva! WOO!!!!!

Point: Lauren Should Ship Out

[ETA: I forgot to ENUMERATE my points, so consumed was I by the need to get this out into the world.]

Tonight is the season finale of the incredibly addictive guilty-pleasure MTV show "The Hills."

I didn’t watch Laguna Beach, though I have heard excellent things about it. And I’ve been watching The Hills now and again, because it’s summer, and shut up it’s awesome.  On Saturday, too exhausted from a 50 mile bike ride to do much else, I watched the entire season in one sitting.

The Hills is a show that makes me talk out loud, the better to comment to Heidi that she really shouldn’t quit her job after one day, or to mock the male models during the swim suit casting call. Someone who constantly draws my vocal ire? Jordan. And thus we reach the Point. Tonight, Lauren must decide whether to move in with Jason or take a summer Teen Vogue internship in Paris.

Point: Jason just isn’t a very good boyfriend, and Lauren should go to Paris.

1. He cheated on her. Jason and Lauren apparently dated while on Laguna Beach (living in Laguna Beach?) then broke up when he kissed his ex. Strike one, right there. But when he moved to LA right after Lauren did and started sending her really nice flowers, I was willing to give him a chance. I knew Ro thought highly of their love, and he was doing a really good job, and seemed to really like her.

2. He treats her poorly, or at best, too casually.  Hhe may very well love her to bits, but he’s not good at it. One his birthday, Lauren arranged a whole huge nice dinner, and rushed to get out of work to be on time, skipping a photo shoot that seemed fairly important. Jason spent most of dinner talking to other girls and then left afterward to go out with his friends. Not only did he not spend any time with Lauren, he was pissy to her.

On her birthday, he initially seemed to do a great job: He got a limo to take her to the Standard, and had roses and a romantic dinner all laid out. He almost immediately started asking her what she wanted to do after dinner; it was clear she wanted to just hang out in the room with him, but he kept asking her if she wanted to go to so-and-so’s party, or meet up with other people after. NO, asshat, she doesn’t.

Mostly, it seems like he has no follow-through. He sets up these nice things and then kind of ruins them. She seems like a fairly calm and responsible young lady, whereas he seems a little lazy, jealous, and is not very perceptive. He picked a fight with her on New Year’s Eve because a boy she had dated for a week called her and she answered the phone.

3. Also, shave your facial hair, Jason.

In conclusion, I am sorry, Ro, I just don’t see it. Heidi and Jordan seem to have it more together, and Heidi is not a poster-girl for anything resembling togetherness. Lauren and Jason seem to fight all the time, at Jason’s instigation.

Lauren seems to be doing well at her internship, and it’s just one summer in Paris. Jason is a big pouter, so I am sure their relationship won’t make it through even three months (I hear there are boys in Paris), but she can do better anyway, so she should just go.