WaffleBox

AListApart.com has a very interesting article by Mark Boulton, a graphic designer from the UK, about the use of whitespace in design, the effects of negative or unused space has on a print advertisement. In his article, Whitespace, Mark discusses some of the direct effects whitespace has, the perception it give.

Designers use whitespace to create a feeling of sophistication and elegance for upscale brands. Coupled with a sensitive use of typography and photography, generous whitespace is seen all over luxury markets. Cosmetics, for example, use extensive whitespace in their marketing material to tell the reader that they are sophisticated, high quality, and generally expensive. - Mark Boulton

Here is a photo of two design copies that illustrate what Mark is talking about: figure3_luxury_direct.jpg

It is a very interesting side-by-side of two methods of a direct mail advert. What I find so interesting is the signals that we identify with that determine what we will let into our lives simply because of whitespace.

Mark continues the article discussing whitespace in the context of text, in terms of readability and luxury, a very interesting read for you web and product designers.

Article Link: Whitespace
Author Link/Blog: Mark Boulton

This is an old video of a sand artist, but I think is so fantastic so I am posting it here. Huh? Sand artist? Yes. This artist uses a light box, throws sand on top and makes some amazing landscapes and portraits, on the fly.

Sexual needs and desires knows no age limit, and the generation that brought us tales of the first sexual revolution are at it again. Thanks to the power of the Internet, seniors, a demographic I’ll range from 50 on up, are moving their sexual educational needs online. As the generation who thrived on it’s libido begins to lose sexual steam decides to take measures to use it and not lose it.

Wired’s article Seniors Go Online to Get it On examines the measures seniors are taking to ensure their sexual desires and needs are met, a fear that they could lose something quite precious to them.

Seniors are turning to the internet to research how medical conditions and prescription drugs affect their sex lives, and some are beginning to speak up to doctors and other caregivers when their sexuality is dismissed. (According to a 2006 Pew survey last updated in December, 33 percent of Americans 65 and older and 70 percent between 50 and 64 use the internet.) - Wired, Seniors Go Online to Get it On

Ok. Seniors may be looking at their second sexual revolution a bit differently than their first, fears of poor or lacking sexual performances. Physical conditions, the curse time puts on everyone, is hindering their wants, but by utilizing the internet they have been able to find new Love, answer tough medical questions and learning ways to re-instate their sexual drive.

It is often stated and well accepted that the stage of puberty is quite uncomfortable, and even horrific for some. What we do not hear enough about is this second coming of sexual age. It is clear that it is a difficult time in a persons life, dealing with an array of issues from the mundane to the complex. Communities such as SeniorCoffee.com are surfacing simply because there is a need for seniors to interact outside their direct group of friends. They are seeing the benefits outside of direct, physical social contact, something young adults have whole heartedly embraced.

Like all sexual encounters, the consequences are quite great, something seniors are not immune to, but may ignore or brush off because of their age.

All this sexual revelation does have a dark side. Seniors are learning the hard way that they are no more immune to the consequences of irresponsible sex than their kids and grandkids (and great-grandkids). - Wired, Seniors Go Online to Get it On

Many seniors don’t realize STDs are prevalent in their population. Yet an AIDS Community Research Initiative of America study found that 30 percent of New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS were over 50 in 2005. New cases of HIV have been diagnosed in people in their 80s. - Wired, Seniors Go Online to Get it On

As seniors are discovering that there is time for another sexual revolution, that they still can enjoy the pleasures that young people take for granted, they are also are being re-taught the responsibilities that go along side a healthy relationship. Not through fear tactics, but from support groups such as their online communities, friends and their doctors.

Thinking through all of this makes one wonder what networks will exist as the current generations reach their senior years. Who will be the Facebook of 2040? Maybe a better question would be, what will be the Facebook of 2040?

Yes. You can now get Hello Kitty costumes for your cat. This is hilarious and to be honest I could really see these things taking off. Not some much because I like them, I don’t think I would torture my cats with them, but there are some die-hard Hello Kitty fans out there who would definitely force their cat in one of these head gears.

Plus they would be pretty funny gifts for people to give their cats. I’m not sure who would look more crazy. The person who dresses their cat in Hello Kitty gear, the person who bought it for them or the cat that prefers wearing the head wear.

For more pics go to the source, which is in Japan so the site loads a little slow, or who-sucks.com which is where I first read about the Hello Kitty outfits. Who-Sucks.com looks like it is a pretty new site, but they have some really good posts so far, the Hello Kitty costumes for cats being one of them.

I really like Tom’s Of Maine toothpaste and I have never had a problem with it until I tried their Cinnamint flavor for the first time yesterday.

About 10 seconds into brushing, the toothpaste started to burn, considerably, so I washed out my mouth and grabbed an old tube of Colgate I had and finished the job. I was lucky.

About 15 minutes after I had brushed Kat ran in to the room exclaiming, “What the hell is this rash on my face”? I knew instantly it was the toothpaste. She had a bright red rash all around her mouth. Luckily some cream cleared it up within 24 hours, but it was pretty gross.

Just a warning to anyone is thinking of try their cinnamint flavor. Maybe we both have the same allergy. I doubt it considering you can feel the stuff singing away at your mouth!

Update

I stumbled upon this review on Amazon.com

We love Toms products, see my review on the spearmint, which we love, but the cinnamint flavor is way too spicy for my mouth, and even burns my face. - Amazon Review

So I know at least I am not crazy.

It is amazing how many video sharing sites there are. YouTube, Google Videos, iFilm, AtomFilms and so on. But each one has their own flair, their own “type” of video. The guys over at PandaSmash.com put together this really funny video highlighting the aspect of each of the video sharing sites. The forte if you will.

acreativedesktop.com has a pretty fun online game, slap your opponents hands, something they call HandToHandCombatFacility, CodenameOperation:Slaps.

You know, its that game where you put your hands within reach of your opponents hands and they try to slap yours. If they miss then its your turn.

ImCooked.com, a video recipe site, has a great video of Christopher Walken explaining his roast chicken with pears recipe. Watch it below.

Go to Watch actor Christopher Walken roast a chicken.

usachoff.com has a clever photo of some smiling pots.