Diversion 10.0

1. Kottke.org

Jason Kottke is, to me, the ur-blogger. His links are unfailing. His design is so good and clean that I actually noticed it. And, today he took some old photographs of American life from the early '40s and ran them through Photoshop. Not only do the pictures look better, but they are more relatable, which is, when you think about it, very odd. Old photos always look fake to me - the people have faces you don't see around anymore, it's blurry, it's dark, and so on. But his processing made the people and places seem real. It's hard to describe, you should check it out.

2. Dice Wars

Have I ever been wrong about a dice-based Risk-like online game? Never. (via kottke).

3. Animals Have Problems Too

You'll be surprised how self-explanatory the title is. A darling comic, combining appealing animal drawings and irony. A delicious combination.

4. Cooking Cute

I don't know why the background is so ugly, it's a brand new site. But check out the lunches, and weep with helpless envy.

5. Understand

A short story (or long? It's so hard to tell on the internet). It's sort of like Flowers for Algernon, except the guy gets much, much smarter. Creepy, and properly categorized as sci-fi. (via Plastic Bag ).

6. See Eunny Knit

One of my two favorite knitting blogs. Also, the picture at the top right now makes me long for the beach. Given that I hate nature, that's some nice photography. I am currently knitting one of her patterns, which is cleverly written and designed. I stare lustfully at everything she makes, and curse my slow hands.

7. Outblush

Just like Mighty Goods. I love to look at pretty things I will never buy. Don't you?

8. XKCD

Another comic, but quite different (I rationalize). Math jokes and stick figures. Start with this one, which is representative: Back to the Future. Ooh, or Gravitational Mass .

9. Stockholm metro stations

Jaw-dropping. (also via Plastic Bag , which I clearly should have just linked to).

10. Idle Words

You know how when you read a blog you kind of skim for pictures and links? Like it's urgent that you leave whatever site you are on RIGHT NOW, so you can leave the next one immediately, too? Well, this is one of maybe two sites that I can't skim. Partly it's that his stories (like this one, about his adventure with the Chinese police) are compelling, but his writing is wonderful - good tone, quick but not too quick, smart, funny. I read him like I read a book, and I can't put my finger on why.