Mid-Century Digital

A wonderful example of someone who goes deeply down the rabbit hole of popular geekdom and invites us all along for the ride is on display at the Hal Project.

Joe Mackenzie created a simple Hal screensaver back in 1999, and has since grown his obsession in a very clean little site that has various fun downloads, including - my introduction to the concept - a great new screensaver that replicates the screen design of the computer screens seen through out the film, mostly in the background.

Sadly, I dont think the screen saver has an audio component, which seems like it would a naural progression from it's current state.

The screens themselves are decidedly modern - as in contemporary - design, which shows how well basic design principals hold up in the face of the current aesthetic of digital conversion.

h/t Coyote!

annual web design survey

well, a list apart is having their annual web design survey - a great way to spend 10 minutes and hopefully further our understanding of the industry.

tip o' the hat to david shaw.

grandfathered brands

Slate has a great little slideshow on racist brands that have been "grandfathered" into the popular culture, spurred on by the "promotion" of Uncle Ben to, uh, CEO?

update: more on the New Uncle Ben here.