Kinetic Loop

For Laura Albert, life without JT LeRoy
“Milch was stern. Shut your mouth, he told Albert. Quit this sick behavior. Disengage. Forget the press. Go home. Be still. Get healthy. Raise your child. And pray that you can write. He then reached in his pocket and gave Albert five crisp hundred-dollar bills.” Just when you thought you couldn’t love Milch any more than you already do…

Japanese Packaging Design #3: Gifted With Beauty
These examples (including business trip souvenirs) of Japanese packaging make you wonder (yet again) why Western packaging still sucks so much in comparison. Consider the opening process: “The transition from one mood into another – from attraction to anticipation to surprise to delight – is handled with attentive care.” And the writer throws in a relevant Barthes quote.

Dunkin’ plans aggressive expansion
To spur their plan, the donut chain will exercise eminent domain, as delegated by various states, to run so-called “donut lines, integral to the security and infrastructure of the country,” throughout the western U.S.

Adverbs are on the retreat in Modern English. The band has been swearing off adverbs for almost two months now, and intend to use gerunds as frequently as possible until they can get another gig.

A hotel alarm clock that works? What a concept
Wherein the article writer and her husband are flummoxed by the alarm clock in their room at the Palmer House Hilton.

Minks freed from cages, farmers give chase
“Farmers and other locals were chasing thousands of minks let out of their cages at a fur farm in western Finland early on Friday by suspected animal rights activists.”

Shaolin monks deny online tale of ninja that bested them, demand apology
“China’s Shaolin Temple has demanded a public apology from an Internet user who claimed a Japanese ninja beat its kung fu-practicing monks in a showdown, a lawyer said Friday.”