Christmas mixes from the Cowart family (’03-’06! All of Jeremy’s mixes are fantastic) and the Luke Worley. And don’t forget the PureVolume Holiday Sampler if you didn’t download it yet.

Slow/boring day at the office = busy day at Prom Night Fist Fight.

“The onslaught of porn is responsible for deadening male libido in relation to real women, and leading men to see fewer and fewer women as “porn-worthy.” Far from having to fend off porn-crazed young men, young women are worrying that as mere flesh and blood, they can scarcely get, let alone hold, their attention…

For most of human history, erotic images have been reflections of, or celebrations of, or substitutes for, real naked women. For the first time in human history, the images’ power and allure have supplanted that of real naked women. Today, real naked women are just bad porn…”

Naomi Wolf, excerpted from her New York Magazine article The Porn Myth (NSFW language)

Quote, “We count ourselves among those who would regret to see [Southern Methodist University] enshrine attitudes and actions widely deemed as ethically egregious…[T]hese violations are antithetical to the teaching, scholarship, and ethical thinking that best represents [SMU].” SMU’s own Perkins School of Theology faculty asks the trustees to reconsider pursuing the $500mil George W. Bush presidential library on the Dallas campus.

Digg has rolled out some snazzy new features including customizable navigation, sections for videos and podcasts, and a flexible layout. You can read/watch all about it at Digg the Blog.

Dave Barnes (coal in your stocking for re-sizing my browser) would like to wish you a Merry Christmas Extravagan-za on the YouTubes.

Quote, “[David Icke says] the world was ruled by a secret group called “The Elite”: a race of reptilian humanoids, known in ancient times as the Babylonian Brotherhood, and that many prominent people are descended from them, including George W. Bush, Queen Elizabeth II, and Kris Kristofferson.” (Kris Kristofferson? What the?) Just one of the 10 Most Bizarre People on Earth.

“He was the best of the candidates available, we’d be crazy not to pick him up, no? Apparently there are still plenty of “crazy” companies and hiring managers out there. People unwilling to pick the better candidate because of geography… Why are you not hiring remote workers?”

37Signals programmer and Ruby on Rails developer David Heinemeier

Is the iTunes Music Store in German for anyone else right now? It is ubër difficult to read. (I’m in iTunes 6. I have thus far avoided upgrading to 7′s hideousness.)

TED, a sort of Technology Entertainment Design consortium, continuously posts TEDTalks from noteworthy speakers (from Al Gore to Ze Frank, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales to Arctic explorer Ben Saunders) who have insightful/intelligent, and thought-provoking things to say. It’s a definite time suck, but a worthwhile one.

Developing Tank is the new photography portfolio of Joey Ciccoline. (Also, Flickr.)

“Unless all ages and races of men have been deluded by the same mass hypnotist (who?), there seems to be such a thing as beauty, a grace wholly gratuitous.”

Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

Goodbye, 2006.

Occasionally, I am tempted to keep a link for myself and not share it because such a wealth of inspiration lies therein. Lucky for you, scarcity mentality doesn’t jive with my worldview. Circus Museum has over 8000 circus memorabilia posters, prints, and photos from 1880 to the present. They are amazing, amazing, amazing. (Michael, I think you’ll love this.) P.S. Mother-loud music plays, I’d turn down your volume.

In the spirit of the Holidays, the fine people at PureVolume Holiday Sampler mix for your downloading pleasure. Tunes from Jamie Randolph, Paper Route, and others.

John McCain hates your blog.

Quote, “[Then] it hit me: there will always be more to do. Working more won’t change that. In fact, working more is actually counter-productive.” Ryan Carson (who is a very, very, very, very busy man) tries to implement a four-day work week. Interesting article/theory/attempt.

Bookslut has their list of best book covers of 2006. I adore the illustration style on Abandon the Old in Tokyo.

I’ve had ~3000 or so extra referrals from Stumble Upon in the past 24 hours to .com/portfolio. If you managed to get here from there, welcome.

A few things:

1. I had no idea SU was throwing around that much traffic. Do any of you use it on a regular basis? Do you find it useful?

2. The phrase “temporary portfolio” will inevitably come back to haunt you.

3. That being said, new layouts by the first of the year is the plan. A few changes, better access to work, better global navigation. Post-that, hopefully a decent content management system for me to run this whole .com beast from (which would, of course, mean more frequent updating of subpages and new work.)

So many ideas, so little time.

Flight of the Conchords, New Zealand’s fourth most popular digi-folk paradists, performing their song Business Time. Any band that uses an animated gif like this on their homepage is alright with me.

“Those who are best at [reaching out to others] don’t network – they make friends. They gain admirers and win trust precisely because their amicable overtures extend to everyone. A widening circle of influence is an unintended result, not a calculated aim.”

Keith Ferrazzi, excerpted from Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time

To which I’d add it’s typically not INITIALLY a calculated aim. I’m a natural networker because I generally like people, reach out to them, and make friends easily. In the past 4 years, I’ve realized that those traits are beneficial to my work life as well as my personal life. That tends to make me slightly more calculated in getting to know people, though not so much that it ever ceases being about making friends.