Neil Gaiman on why reading fiction is so important

Great article by Neil Gaiman on the role of libraries in developing a love of reading and why that is even more important today. He talks about how reading fiction - even stuff that some might consider trashy - is important, especially as a child. 

How it creates a desire to read more, why that is important, and what role libraries have played and will continue to play.

Google will open its own stores by the end of the year | 9to5Google

Cool

How to use Lego sets you have to create more

Cool app that allows you to enter the Lego sets you have and then tells you what you can make with the sets that you have or what you need to make a particular set. Rebrickable - Find a Set to Build:

Incredible images of a leopard attacking forest wardens in India

This took place in West Bengal where forest officials were called in because a leopard had escaped from a wild life sanctuary into a village.

The photographs were taken by Salil Bera who happened to be in the area. He learned from an official that "a leopard always lunges in the direction of the person who attacks him,” Bera says. “I kept that in mind.”

The leopard didn't do anything for 3 hours after the first attack and was thought to be dead, when he suddenly attacked again with a deafening roar. The forest official lived, but the leopard died.

 http://www.onasia.com/content/story.aspx?storyID=817&page=1

Seinfeld's Productivity Technique

"Don't break the chain!"

The Root Bridges of Cherrapunji

In this part of northeastern India, bridges aren't built—they're grown by Ficus Elastica (rubber tree). It's roots are so strong that they have been used to create bridges that are over a 100 feet long and hundreds of years old.


The only downside? They take about 10 or 15 years to "build".

On Hannibal, and (re)defining success and failure

Andreas Kluth on how Hannibal's life helped him get out of a stifling job.

PS: this is not about Dr. Lecter.