Del.icio.us is a social bookmarking website, not unlike your browser’s very own bookmarks menu. But better. Much better. Not only can you store your favourite links (and access them from anywhere), but the site allows you to share them with others, and discover new and interesting things through others’ links. 

Click below to check out my five most recent del.icio.us links, (you can also check my sidebar for more!)

1. Tracing Shadows – New York Times 

    

   A Brooklyn artist takes street art to a whole new (and legal) level: “I think that public art is important…It expresses what people are feeling in a society at the time, and it puts it out there. It’s not like a museum, where things are hidden away for 20 years.”

   (tags: art shadows chalk outlines nytimes ny artist graffiti legal)

2. BBC NEWS | Education | Overseas students ‘buying essays’ 

    

   I wasn’t sure how to feel about this when I read it. Plagiarism is definitely a serious issue that should be addressed and dealt with. There are a lot of factors to this problem, but my fear is that people are over-generalizing and discriminating against international student, even more than they already are. Some of the comments to this article were pretty low. 

   (tags: english essays education bbc plagiarism)

3. HOW Design – Resume & Portfolio 

    

   Great (design) resume and portfolio help!

   (tags: design portfolio resume tips)

4. The Book Design Review 

    

   The best book covers of 2007. Which are your favourites?

   (tags: nytimes books design bookcovers art 2007 covers lists blog)

5. www.thedieline.com 

   An absolutely delicious product design blog.

   (tags: blog creative design packaging graphics branding reference product)

Yeah, neither have I. But I landed on their myspace page this morning and have been listening to them non-stop ever since. True story. It’s some lovely off-beat and calming stuff. Acoustic guitar, keyboards, and some glitchy beat programming – who could resist?

Clearly, not I.

You can apparently download some of his songs on the DoF site, but it’s kind of wonky right now. 

So you’re convinced – with rising gas prices, traffic jams, and limited parking, cycling can be the better alternative. Congrats. You’re one step closer to getting in better shape and being a more eco-friendly you. But wait, are you ready to hit the road? 

Here’s what you need to do before you hop on a bike this season. 

1. Get a helmet that fits properly

Helmets are essential, but having an ill-fitting one is just as good as not wearing one at all. You should be able to fit two fingers between your eyebrows and your helmet. Your straps should also be snugly buckled. This way, the front, back, and sides of your head are all protected.

See the video below for a step-by-step guide:

 

2. Have a proper lock

Bike thefts are among the highest in Toronto. Protect your bike by getting a good quality U-lock. Our local experts recommend the Kryptonite New York Series lock.

3. Know your hand signals 

 

Always use hand signals when passing intersections – it’s the best way to ensure that motorists and other cyclists know where you intend to go!  

 

 

 

 4. Obey the laws of the road

Cyclists are treated just like any other vehicle and are subject to fines up to $265 for violations such as disobeying traffic signs or failing to have proper lighting or bell, (which leads us to the next point…) 

5. Have working lights and a bell

Not only is it the law, but it’s much easier for other vehicles to see cyclists and avoid collisions when bikes have working lights. A bell is good for letting pedestrians and other vehicles know you’re near them.

6. Bring your bike in for a tune-up

Bringing your bike in once a year ensures that it’s safe to ride. Prices for a tune-up range from $30-$120, depending on the amount of work you want done. You can visit your local bike shops, Cyclemania and Cyclepath, to get this done.

 

ALL READY TO GO? Here are some places and events to check out!

• Bike Friday: cycling events on the last Friday of every month
• Princess Margaret Hospital, Ride to Conquer Cancer: June 20-22
• Bike Month: Toronto’s Festival for Cycling Culture
• Trails: City of Toronto cycling paths

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I’m not really into Chinese movies (at all) but I saw Mad Detective (directed by Johnny To and Wai Ka Fai) this weekend and it completely blew my mind.

It’s essentially about a detective who can see the true intentions and inner demons of everyone he encounters (in the form of actual people). He has a completely unorthodox way of solving cases and is perceived as crazy by many, but is able to solve seemingly hopeless cases. Enter a honest young detective who (breaking all protocol) desperately seeks his help in solving a case,  blur the line of reality and imagination, add some drama, throw in some crime, build an intense plot, and a beautiful story is made.

I don’t know if it’s the psychological undertones (which completely appeals to the psych nut in me), the beautiful cinematography, or the complex story and the way it unfolds that gets me – but it’s honestly one of the best films I have seen in a while. It even screened at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival.

 A review from CBC British Columbia has this to say about it:

A quirky movie that is very unlikely to ever show again in this city “Mad Detective” is a highly original piece of film making. The film navigates a delicate line between comedy and police drama, always dark and always entertaining. What is so refreshing is that in the age of digital effects, this film uses the old standard devices of choreography, editing and art direction to represent the mind of someone who is delusional or clairvoyant or both.  

Definitely recommended! (Don’t worry, there are English subtitles!) 

Have any great movies to recommend? Let me know!  

If you haven’t heard of Adele yet, you need to check her out. Now. She’s playing at the Rivoli in Toronto on March 26.  

That voice, it simply kills me. 

This morning I discovered an amazing wealth of music and awesomeness in the form of The Take-Away Shows by the French blog La Blogothèque. Basically, every week they shoot a live session with a band/artist in an unusual urban setting and post it — completely unedited, fully improvised, and utterly wonderful.

Yes. I realize that I’ve been posting a lot of videos, but it’s Valentines day, and it’s live music (which is always amazing), and it’s the Guillemots, so I’m allowed. Everyone should randomly rock out on the streets with full out musical ensembles like this — it’s such a lovely concept. (I especially love how the random guy walks through them all completely unfazed, and how the drummer keeps the beat with the metal railing.)

You can find the studio version of Made Up Love Song No.43 here.

Happy Valentine’s Day and all that nice stuff!

Vice has a well-established Web 2.0 presence. The site is complete with a regularly updated blog and a conveniently placed pull-down bookmark menu (at the top of the blog) that allows for easy access RSS feed subscriptions using Favorites, Digg, Facebook, Live, Furl, Ask, Delicious, Google, Reddit, Yahoo, StumbleUpon and more! There is a “bookmarks” icon and each RSS feed has its own logo beside it. The blog enables comments and its articles are clearly archived on the left sidebar.

The home page features an embedded link from vbs.tv, (Vice Magazine’s very own online broadcast network that streams original content, free of charge, 24 hours a day). Unfortunately, the videos automatically play when the site is opened. The departments of the magazine are clearly organized and readers are able to email, comment and bookmark each article, (all of which are at the bottom of the page in each department). Readers are also able to stream videos directly from the site (that are separate from vbs.tv). Finally, featured at the bottom of the home page are links that allow the reader to view the site in various languages, ranging from Canadian English/French, Chinese, Spanish and Itallian, (15 countries are listed in total).

New Scientist

The RSS feeds on the New Scientist website are clearly indicated several times throughout the site: at the top of the home page (no icons), at the top, left column on its many blogs (with icons beside them), as well as links to Delicious and Digg at the bottom of the blog page (no icons). Although the options are not as extensive as the ones featured in Vice, quite a few are listed and are easy to get to. Six regularly updated blogs are featured on the home page, and readers are able to comment and bookmark these pages. Readers are also able to print, comment, email, bookmark, and syndicate online articles, (the links are easily accessible from buttons at the top and bottom of the page). The site features videos that can be streamed, as well as a photo gallery. Unfortunately, readers cannot comment, email, or bookmark these pages.

Wired

The RSS feeds on the Wired site are also easily accessible from a link at the top of the home page. What’s nice about this site, though, is that there is actually a description of what an RSS feed is, and they it works, (which is especially nice and helpful for people like me!) Wired offers RSS feeds through Yahoo, Newsgator, Rojo, SubBloglines, and Google, (all with easy access links and icons) and encourages readers to add them, saying: “…link away! And let us know where your site is and how we can make these feeds even more user-friendly. Because it’s about you. Very Web 2.0 Thinking!

What’s also unique to the Wired site is the option to get updates sent to your mobile device either through mobile web, text messaging, or PDAs. This site features 12 regularly updated blogs that do not allow for comments, but have a link beside the byline that allows readers to email the author via Outlook. The actual articles, however, allow for easy access to RSS feeds, (with a linked icon below the headline, as well as links to server RSS feeds at the bottom of the page) as well as options to email, print, view full page, or comment on the article. Readers can also stream videos, (that users can email, bookmark and view in high/low resolution) and photo galleries, (that users can email, bookmark and comment on).

Apparently, when it comes to successful online publications, it’s all about options.

My insomnia made me wander onto the Dwell site tonight and much joy was subsequently brought into my life: it’s Chip Kidd in all of his design-genius glory. Need I say more?

Really, now.

NOTE: I couldn’t post the actual clip from the Dwell site because WordPress doesn’t let you embed flash and other media.  

I’m not much of a writer, not in the traditional sense, but it’s 1:30am and I’m still awake. My head’s exploding with thoughts of portfolios, and typefaces, and internships, and…where I’ll be this time next year. But, I’m having fun exploring this site and others in the meantime. 

I don’t know. Maybe I can get used to this blogging business, (again).