Finally, after a before meal appetizer or two, here is the remainder of the link chum stew. Even though we’ve reduced the mix a little, there are still some tasty tidbits:
- Podcasts. I listen to too many podcasts, it’s that simple. I recently added one on the recommendation of Ars Technica: the Reply All podcast from Gimlet. It allowed me to find out what happened to that obsession from the 1990s, Jennicam. What else do I listen too? Funny you should ask: Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, Quirks and Quarks, Science Friday, This American Life, Startup, 99% Invisible, Invisibilia, Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour, Reply All, Planet Money, Freakanomics, The Producers Perspective, LA Observed, Opening The Curtain, The Moth, NPR Technology, Backstory, Radio Diaries, Strangers.
- Things That Go Boom. Courtesy of Justine Bateman’s blog, a collection of GIFs of things that go boom in interesting ways. Don’t try this at home.
- I’m Sorry…. Not. I’ve got a post brewing in my head about Bill Cosby and apologies. But while it brews, with a h/t to Andrew Ducker, here are 10 things you should never apologize for.
- Gluten Free Goodies. Over the last year, my wife and I have been watching the increasing availability of gluten-free stuff. It has it’s plus, and its minuses. Here’s a good article from NPR on why the gluten-free craze is both boom and bane for those with Celiac Disease. Related to this: Pizza Hut announced they are doing gluten-free pizza, and unlike Domino’s, claim to be doing it right.
- Cleaning the Shelves. If you’re like me, you have loads of books on the shelves, and are loath to get rid of any of them. But clutter is clutter. Here’s one guide on how to decide to get rid of books.
- Drama Teachers and Tony Awards. One of the formative forces in my daughter’s educations were her drama teachers at Nobel Middle School: Fanny Araña and Jean Martellaro. Someone should nominate them for a Tony award.
- Uber Competition. We’ve all seen the battle between taxis and Uber (and Lyft). Uber has easy to call vehicles and crappy tactics. Taxis were hard to call, but at least had safety and insurance standards. What if you could get the best of both words? You can. By August, Los Angeles has mandated an easy to use taxi hailing app.
- A Thrill Ride. One of the scariest thrill rides in Los Angeles isn’t the taxis, it is the Arroyo Seco Parkway nee The Pasadena Freeway. Built for the traffic style of the 1940s, it is woefully out of date today. However, there’s a plan to address the thrill ride that is the 110.
- In The Valley. Lastly, CicLAvia has finally announced its valley route. Of course, Valley == NoHo and Studio City, not the “real” valley. Where’s the route that is using all the new bicycle lanes in the North-West Valley, in Northridge and Chatsworth and Reseda and Tarzana?
