This week's links. Enjoy.
The Science of Cake
Andy Connelly takes an historical, scientific and philosophical look at a basic cake recipe. As he says, "Baking a cake on a cold, drizzly, miserable day can't help but make you feel better about the world." Brilliant. Via The Browser.
A Natural Home
Have a look at the beautiful Toronto home of Nikole Herriott, featured a few days ago on Design*Sponge. Creative, inspiring and truly lovely.
World Cup Calendar
The 2010 World Cup starts tomorrow — here's a beautifully designed calendar to help you keep track. Via Design Observer.
On Distraction
Alain de Botton muses about how our ability to concentrate has become significantly weakened with the continual bombardment of information we receive daily — and how we might benefit from an occasional mental diet from it all. Via Andrew (thanks!)
Reassessing the '70s — A Brave New Wave in Fashion
Suzy Menkes reviews a new show examining 1970s fashion at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris — an exhibition, she writes, "...that brings to virtual life an era of dancing, prancing models, experimental ready-to-wear fashion and, by the time the decade had segued into the ’80s, almost every trend that marked the final part of the last century." Sounds amazing and fun.
A Killer Vacation
On the 30th anniversary of The Shining, James Parker of The Atlantic pays a visit to the hotels that inspired Stephen King's novel.
What the iPad Can't Do
From The New York Review of Books: "One of the guilty pleasures of an actual, ink-on-paper book is the possibility of marking it up — underlining salient passages, making notes in the margins, dog-earing a page. While it's true that some electronic book platforms for the iPad allow highlighting," and some e-readers "allow you to type notes, they barely take advantage of being digital." Via ArtsJournal.
DIY Mid Century Clock Magnets
Jessica over at How About Orange has a great little DIY project — mid century clock magnets made from bottle caps. So clever — and they look great, too.
(photo by Pernilla Hed for Hus & Hem)