Polytechnic » fun

Efficiency

garrettc — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

In practical terms, this was probably the least efficient form of locomotion ever invented…

Fun though. Efficiency isn't everything.

Invisikitty

garrettc — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Charles the Terrible likes to play chase the cursor on the screen. My next cat is going to be transparent.

Raybun

(From the recent “Help me re-train my cat!” thread on ask.mefi.)

Flickr Easter Egg

garrettc — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Try adding “ho ho ho hat/beard” as a note to one of your pictures.

Too funny!

Hat tip: Matt Haughey

Penguin to publish books with “naked” covers

garrettc — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 21:40:47 +0000

Now this is a stroke of genius. Penguin are starting a new series of classic books, but with plain white covers, giving everyone the opportunity to create their own design.

According to consumer research conducted on what factors matter to people when they decide whether or not to pick up a book in a bookshop, the cover design comes out as most important. So this might be the stupidest thing we've ever done.

These “naked” covers will be made of art quality paper and shrink wrapped to stop them getting dirty before purchase, there is also an associated gallery for people to submit their creations.

The first six to be released are:

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Magic Tales by The Brothers Grimm
The Waves by Virginia Woolf
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Emma by Jane Austen

I've always had a soft spot for Penguin, I feel they've been a genuine innovator in publishing ever since their inception in 1935 (the history of the company is a fascinating read), and this latest idea is right up there with their best.

By a complete coincidence I'm right in the middle of The True History Of The Elephant Man, their presence in my book collection is that pervasive.

Hat tip: BoingBoing

One of those evenings

garrettc — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

You ever have one of those evenings that was weird, interesting, funny, captivating, heartfelt, cool and completely blew your mind… all at the same time?