2011-09-04 (Sunday)

Links

1. Wild things: 16 films featuring Manic Pixie Dream Girls | Film | Inventory | The A.V. Club

   I’m one of those sensitive boys who has to remind himself when watching these films that the Manic Pixie Dream Girl does not exist. Only in the movies. (via John August)

2. The Technium: The Futurist’s Dilemma

   “Any believable prediction will be wrong. Any correct prediction will be unbelievable. … the sweet spot that science fiction authors aim for” is the point on the cusp of “plausibility and fantasy”.

3. Three different definitions of retirement and the resulting confusion Early Retirement Extreme: — when more time > more money

   I’m not sure how accurate or generalisable this is, but I like the suggested generational distinctions between what “retirement” means.

4. Scott Chacon on the Interwebs - GitHub Flow

   How GitHub manage their own git workflow. Sounds good to me. (via Tom Taylor)

5. Pret A Manger, With New Fast-Food Ideas, Gains a Foothold in United States - NYTimes.com

   That Taco Bell article reminded me of this one about Pret A Manger from a month ago, about how they motivate their staff.

6. Taco Bell and the Golden Age of Drive-Thru - BusinessWeek

   On the processes and efficiencies in fast food restaurant kitchens. I had no idea 70% of US fast-food business was drive-thrus. (via Tom Taylor)

7. Charlie’s Diary: The High Frontier, Redux

   Charles Stross on why space colonisation is a ridiculous idea. Colonising our own deserts and oceans is much, much easier but we’re in no rush to do that. (via Tom Taylor)

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