Image: Making Happy by Chris Glass. This is Chris' recreation of a graphic by New York street artist True related by Stefan Sagmeister . Thank yous to True, Chris, and Stefan.

"Hierarchical and sequential structures, especially popular since Gutenberg, are usually forced and artificial. Intertwingularity is not generally acknowledged–people keep pretending they can make things hierarchical, categorizable and sequential when they can't." Ted Nelson

"We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run." Amara's law

Joe Andrieu writes VRM: The user as point of integration. Good post on the ongoing discussion of VRM (Vendor Relationship Management)...

"When we put the user at the center, and make them the point of integration, the entire system becomes simpler, more robust, more scalable, and more useful.

This is a profound shift that has some interesting parallels with a concept in AI called “stigmergy” and with a bit of classic Einstein becomes a totally new way to think about next generation systems design. In other words VRM changes the landscape in a way that not only makes life better for individuals, it profoundly improves the information architecture that modern society depends on." Bravo Joe, well done. Read the entire post here. Thanks to Doc for the tip.

From the journal of Stefan Sagmeister...

"Complaining is silly. Either act or forget.
Thinking life will be better in the future is stupid. I have to live now.
Being not truthful works against me.
Helping other people helps me.
Organizing a charity group is surprisingly easy.
Everything I do always comes back to me.
Drugs feel great in the beginning and become a drag later on.
Over time I get used to everything and start taking if for granted.
Money does not make me happy.
Traveling alone is helpful for a new perspective on life.
Assuming is stifling.
Keeping a diary supports my personal development.
Trying to look good limits my life.
Worrying solves nothing.
Material luxuries are best enjoyed in small doses.
Having guts always works out for me."

The TED Talk by Stefan: Yes, design can make you happy.

Bonus: Photosynth demo by Blaise Aguera y Arcas. YouTube vid here. Amazing. Thanks to David Weinberger for the tip.

Waste of bandwidth: Cool site of the week.

She's gotta crush on Obama, the video, the weblog. The humanity.

Best blogs on leadership? Leadership is a favorite subject of study. A good measure of the day job being focused on issues related to leadership in the creative organization. What's the best blog on leadership? Tom Peters would certainly get my vote but here's an interesting list with links by Kevin Eikenberry. Bravo Kevin! Thanks for sharing.




CEO Blog - Time Leadership by Jim Estill
Dispatches from the New World of Work by Tom Peters
Extreme Leadership by Steve Farber
Leading Blog - Building Community Leaders by Michael McKinney

Leadership Turn by Jonathan Farrington
Management Craft by Lisa Haneberg
Mick's Leadership Blog by Mick Yates

Slow Leadership by Carmine Coyote
Talking Story by Rosa Say
Three Star Leadership Blog by Wally Bock

Grapes: Taking a break from my Spanish wines. Two more good reds for under $10. Pillar Box Red 2006. From winemaker Chris Ringland of Padthaway, Australia. 50% Shiraz, 42% Cab, 8% Merlot. Very nice. Cycles Gladiator, Syrah, Central Coast 2005. Good jammy California red.