Current Things
The best Mario Kart character according to data science
This is the kind of analysis I love... applying hard core math to how to whoop your kids at Mario Kart (like I need any help). Also apparently there is a "Pro" Mario Kart scene?? -Brian
Everyone Got The Pulse Massacre Story Completely Wrong
If you're like me you do your best to callous yourself to the tragedy of these types of crimes writ large as a burden beyond bearing. As a result I hadn't really followed the Pulse shooting beyond the headlines. This highlights the very real danger of headline skimming and then assuming you know the truth; apparently the entire narrative and all the headlines about the motive of the shooter were 180 degrees from the truth. A tough story but there's a critical takeaway in there. -Brian
Timeless Things
The Family Tree of Bourbon Whiskey
Courtesy of Joe D. comes a great overview of the different distilleries making various bourbons, whiskeys and ryes in the Tennessee and Kentucky area. Covered for instance is the reason Jack Daniels is a Tennessee Whiskey instead of a Bourbon and how to buy pre-Papi for $32 a gallon. -Brian
Random Things
Dutch king reveals he held part-time job as airline pilot
I'm like 50% positive I had this guy as one of my KLM pilots once. I do like the idea of the leader of a country having some actual practical utility for the country's people... unlike other countries I could name. -Brian
The HondaJet Elite is the Honda we want most but can least afford - Roadshow
I'll take two please. -Brian
Bot writes Olive Garden commercial
This is my favorite thing. Thank you for sharing, Steph.
I forced a bot to watch over 1,000 hours of Olive Garden commercials and then asked it to write an Olive Garden commercial of its own.
-Calvin
Work / Productivity
Second Spanish church falls prey to well-intentioned restorer | World news | The Guardian
Priceless masterpieces "restored" by people with the art talent of a 5 year old with finger paints? And apparently this keeps happening? Wait, actually this is hilarious- you have to see these pictures... -Brian
London Review of Books
In literary circles this review of a dime-store romance novel by the literary curmudgeon of the London Review of Books is held up as the greatest book review of all time. The opening line itself is classic: To be a really lousy writer takes energy. Don't I know it...
-Brian
As He Heads Back To Prison, A Nashville Man Says 'Goodbye' To The New Life He Hoped To Build
Thanks Katie, I didn't know I was gonna cry today.... -Brian
I left my central London apartment to live and work in my car - Business Insider
In my head I have this file of backup ideas slash alternate timeline realities. In one of them I live on a cruise ship. In another I'm a time traveling agent protecting the integrity of history. And in a third I'm traveling across Europe in an SUV converted to an officebedroom. -Brian
I love technology (and science)
Transport's favourite myth: why we will never own driverless cars
I love the driverless car debate because it has these two extreme diametrically opposed positions that both seem to be supported by the facts that either like next year all of our cars will be automatic or that we will never have automatic cars. I think that antimony is driven by the gap between a system that is all computer driven cars and the system we have today. How do we get from here to there? Who wants to be in a car they can't control when there are actual human drivers still on the road? I trust a fully managed system but do not trust a hybrid system and I cannot see how we bridge the gulf between the two. -Brian
Further Reading
Dispatched By Bourdain - Roads & Kingdoms
Because we can't stop bawling over Bourdain let's continue the streak of great tidbits and eulogies for someone both of us loved. -Brian & Calvin