A list of 52 interesting things that Tom Whitwell learned in 2023, including “The US Defense Department earns $100m/year operating slot machines used by soldiers on their bases.” [kottke.org]

Something I’ve been thinking about lately: Where do you call home? And why? [kottke.org]

Now available: the Process Tee, a t-shirt that represents the squiggly, messy path of human creativity (in design, writing, cooking, science, coding) from uncertain beginnings to the clarity of a finished product. [kottke.org]

Son, You're Old Enough to Know the Truth, There is No Such Thing as the "Invisible Hand of the Market". "The fingers! They're unregulated!" [mcsweeneys.net]

Fantastic 70s letter from Lego to parents: "The urge to create is equally strong in all children. Boys and girls." [kottke.org]

Welcome, John Scalzi, to the 25 years of blogging club! His wife Krissy threw his a surprise blog birthday party. 🎉❤️ [whatever.scalzi.com]

My Saturday Self Versus My Sunday Self. "Saturday: Hopefully, I'm not getting a cold, so I can make Jamie's surprise party. Sunday: Hopefully, I'm getting Ebola, so I can miss work." [mcsweeneys.net]

Excited to read this: Applying the ‘CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance’ to ecology and biodiversity research by @1nativesoilnerd.bsky.social & colleagues https://t.co/1F2P2VQAZR

Hello everyone I am now here lol

The little known story of 368 Broadway, the NYC building that nurtured the early film careers of Greta Gerwig, Lena Dunham, the Safdie brothers, Casey Neistat, and more. [kottke.org]

RIP to web pioneer Molly Holzschlag. May her name continue to ring out as a true champion of the open web, someone who made the internet a better place for all of us. [tucsonsentinel.com]

The Evolution of Hummingbirds. "The story of hummingbird evolution is how they have reaped the advantages of drinking a natural energy drink and then have had to evolve alien features to quell the disadvantages that have now gone on to define them." [kottke.org]

Surprising Movies That Got Thumbs Down From Siskel, Ebert, or Both. The Silence of the Lambs, Apocalypse Now, Blade Runner, Die Hard (Ebert 👎?!), and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. [letterboxd.com]

Getting ready for art+science reception with NCEAS’ artists in residence and talk by @Scripps_Ocean @SchmidtOcean postdoc @jmkendallbar join us in person or virtually: ucsb.zoom.us/j/468789779?...