Marley & Me

From Kottke's Best Link's Of 2008: Big Dog developed by Boston Dynamics. A robotic dog that cannot be stopped. Seriously. Amazing stuff.

In Memoriam: 2008

Studs Terkel, William F. Buckley Jr.

Bobby Fischer, Arthur C. Clarke

Harold Pinter, Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Paul Newman

photos: Magnum via Slate

J.D Salinger Turns 90

Happy birthday Mr. Salinger. Wherever you are.

A Christmas Miracle Of Science

An incredible breakthrough in science has just been announced: Gay scientists have isolated the "Christian" gene.

Holiday Shopping Bonanza

Your holiday shopping woes end here: The Pessimist's Mug.

The Year In Review

The end of the year ranking we've all been waiting for is finally in: Wired's Top Ten New Organisms of 2008.

Photo: coming in at #2 - Leptotyphlops carlae (aka a really, really small snake)

Sharon Van Etten

Remember the name: Sharon Van Etten. Via MBV.

Taking Design Just A Little Too Far

The Electroman Surge Protector.

Time Crimes

Found over at Designboom: Bobby Neal Adams is an American photographer whose works looks at the transformation of the human body as it ages.

Losing Track Of Time

Faceless LED watch designed by Hironao Tsuboi for 100%.

Mercury Rising

Getting in just under the wire, the best line of 2008 goes to David Mamet.

Mamet's play "Speed-The-Plow" has been running on Broadway with Entourage star Jeremy Piven in the leading role. Piven just announced he will be dropping out completely after missing a few performances. The actor said he hasn't been feeling well and attributed his condition to a high mercury count. When asked to comment, Mamet had this to say:

“I talked to Jeremy on the phone, and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury. So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.”

(Photos: On the left, the star of HBO's Entourage; On the right, a transparent instrument for measuring temperature by insertion into the rectum)

The Spirit Of Giving

A thief who robbed the home of a UK couple, returned to the scene of his crime to give back a diary that was among their safe's contents. The diary was one of the few remaining mementos the grieving parents had of their only daughter who died while traveling on holiday.

Attention Holiday Shoppers

One Story is a literary magazine that contains, simply one story. Every three weeks subscribers are sent One Story in the mail.

"Our mission is to save the short story by publishing in a friendly format that allows readers to experience each story as a stand-alone work of art and a simple form of entertainment. One Story is designed to fit into your purse or pocket, and into your life."

"We believe that short stories are best read alone. They should not be sandwiched in between a review and an exposé on liposuction, or placed after another work of fiction that is so sad or funny or long that the reader is worn out by the time they turn to it."

One Story publishes each writer only once. Many of them have gone on to win various literary awards. The perfect Christmas gift. Visit their site here.

Bedtime Stories

Patricia Piccinini is an artist. A creator. Get familiar with her work here.

Getting Things Done

Daily Routines is a blog dedicated to examining how writers, artists and other interesting people organize their days. It gives insight into the difficult process of self-discipline required of all artists. A valuable resource of procrastination justification.