Thursday, February 10, 2011
Walking versus running
via bobulate
“It was 9AM and too early to be walking there on a Sunday. Walking down Central Park West in a satisfied way, the way you do when you’ve finished something, when much of a city is still asleep, when it’s too early for blocking the box or street cleaners, and pigeons are still meandering, and sound and light rise like hot symphonies from the grates.
But that didn’t stop the looking. People, out to get a part of that morning — catching the best of it before the rest of us use it up. Looking. Some who passed gave an odd once-over. Unusual.
What makes one suddenly noticeable? What makes something suddenly stand out?
Grabbing the pole on the train home, regarding the stares of now others who joined, I looked down. Bronze medal and ribbon around my neck and still holding token wilty carnation, I was in running gear. Covered in awards that every runner gets decked out with when she finishes a mini race around the park.
The difference between other runners and me: I forgot to remove these before leaving.”
Read the rest of Liz Danzico’s post here. As Miles contently slept on my lap this morning, I really enjoyed reading this post which reminded me so much of my wonderful wife.
Bizarro: The Gift
via BizarroBlog“. . . Here’s a cartoon about that person (or people) in your family that give you gifts that they think are perfect for you but could not be further off base. I once mentioned to my Aunt Sharon that I liked ‘kitsch art’ and for my next birthday she sent me some ceramic tiles with food printed on them, the sort you're supposed to hang in your kitchen. True story. I wouldn’t tell this story if there was any chance of hurting Aunt Sharon's feelings, but she's in solitary confinement now with no access to the Internet, so it’s safe. Hope you're warm and well-gifted today.”
Read Dan Piraro’s entire post here. This cartoon, and the story behind it, rings so true with the relationship I have with my mother.
Flying Wish Paper
via santa“Think of a special wish. . . your fondest dream, your deepest desire, your ambitions, concerns or burdens—and write it down on the Flying Wish Paper®. Shape your paper into a tube and place it on the Wish Platform®. Light the top edge of the tube and watch it burn down in a small, beautiful flame. At the last moment your wish magically lifts off the platform and rises to the heavens!”
Santa discovered this present at The Nittany Quill, a fun little shop nestled in the heart of State College. Learn more about Flying Wish Paper on their site.
Toynbee Tiles: A Mysterious Puzzle that Spans the Globe
“Though these modern days of the 21st century are filled with many puzzles, there seem to be few true mysteries anymore. As a professional puzzle designer and follower of puzzle hunts, I have personally witnessed how drastically the connectivity and community of the internet, the power of Google, and the sheer volume of information readily available to all makes the solving of many brainteasers almost trivial. Throw in the fact that most puzzle memes, alternate reality games, and online mysteries invariably end up just being marketing campaigns for soon to be released (and too often forgotten) films or television series, and one begins to wonder if any modern day, genuine mysteries truly are left.
The existence of the “Toynbee Tiles” might be just such a mystery. This world-spanning puzzle does not involve a musty old map from a remote archeological find. It is not written in an ancient language that few can read. It is not trying to get you to by a ticket to an upcoming summer blockbuster. And it is not giving up its answers easily.
Rather, these linoleum plaques which have been embedded in the asphalt roadways of major cities throughout the world for over two decades are a true conundrum of the present day. They are written in English (though proper grammar and syntax is often lacking), they are fairly easy to access (if you know where to look), and they have attracted the attention of many puzzle enthusiasts in the age of the all-knowing World Wide Web. However, despite all of this, no one really knows what the hell is going on.”
Read the rest here. More on Toynbee Tiles can be found here, a NPR story here, and a trailer for the film “Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles” can be watched here.
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