Finally... ice spikes explained!

Before I got a fridge with an icemaker, these ice spikes were very common in our ice cube trays and very interesting to me. I developed a theory that they were little ice volcanoes. Kenneth G. Libbrecht, chair of the physics dept. at Caltech explains how ice spikes are really created. I wasn't sooo far off.

I found this link on Caterina Fake's blog

One diversion down - finished Blink

I finished "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking". Like most of Malcolm Gladwell's work, it is a fun read. Gladwell really has a gift for simplifying the complex simple and making the science both personal and general at the same time.

I've always felt pretty cognizant of using what Gladwell terms "rapid cognition" (aka intuition, snap judgments) as a starting point, so this book didn't seem groundbreaking as much as reinforcing. I was an easy sell for this book. However, I work in an environment where it seems the appetite for data can never be satiated...I'll be looking to see what those folks think about this book.

As much as I like to work with hunches as a starting point, I also need to see supporting data and research. So, I was happy that this book featured more supporting evidence than "The Tipping Point". It still feels a little anecdotal to me. I would like to see more research and data, but that would probably undercut the readability for the mass audience that this book was clearly written for.

It's been a few years since I read"The Tipping Point", so I can't recall the precise points in the book which annoyed me. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but there were areas where the supporting/scientific evidence was very thin. That left me unconvinced of certain points. My copy is out on loan.When I'm done I'll have to re-read it and pinpoint the issues.

Malcolm Gladwell was speaking at work today, unfortunately the auditorium was overflowing out the door and into the hallways. It was impossible to see or hear him, so I bailed. Listened to him on KUOW's show Weekday. If I could have seen him in person I would have liked to ask about how he decides how much data to put in the book and what kinds of data he left out.

Diversions, diversions, diversions

I have the attention span of a tick in a goatherd these days. Here are some of the random things fighting for my brain cells.

Some good lines that I need to write songs for: Yesterday's was "The warmest thing about you is your television." I suppose television is too old school...it would need to be updated to home theater.


These Masters of Origami mystify me. Check out their Gallery


Admiring these Happy Owl nightlights

Wishing Seattle had a crafter collective.

Wondering why my home ec classes (now called family & consumer science) never taught me that modern ketchup was borne of the great ketchup debate of the early 1900's.

And reading "Blink" even though I wasn't a complete fan of "The Tipping Point"

A decent picture is worth so much more than words

This is a very poor shot of my Dad's present which he'll be unwrapping tomorrow, so I won't have time to take a better shot.

It's hard to tell in this photo, but this is wrapped with layers of paper. The layers shift at the crease and move up slightly to add a little interest. Stars are some leatherette (hah) "Do-Jiggies".

I'll do over and post with instructions later...with a better picture.

More Professional Gift Wrappers

This team,Platinum Touch Design Studio, does some amazing, luxurious, and beautiful work.

World's Smallest Gift Wrapped Present

This present was wrapped by Radka Krivankova, a professional gift wrapper in Prague.

It took her three hours to wrap the gift - using tweezers and a magnifying glass. The gift was a three mm Australian opal, in a box 3x4 millimetres in size. It was wrapped in gift paper, tied with a string and decorated with a miniature fan and feather.

Bubbly Wrap

Martha Stewart's team has this quick and fun idea for regifting...er...wrapping a bottle of bubbly . Even if you don't go as far as matching the gift wrap to your coat, this would still make a pleasing presentation.

If Champagne is not your style, you could always bottle your own Hillbilly Wine .