Telefonica innovates
TELEFONICA, LIKE MOST CELLPHONE PROVIDERS, isn’t known for its innovation in design. But look at the way these two simple words have been set, each letter casting a shadow on…
Author: Steve Caplin
Kindle formatting
WHEN YOU BUY A PRINTED BOOK, you can reasonably expect it to be professionally laid out, with due care and attention to avoid unsightly widows and orphans. With digital publishing, it…
In-car messaging
HERE’S A HELPFUL MESSAGE from the car I rented recently. I have absolutely no idea what to do with this information, or lack of it. Is this similar to describing…
Chicken or egg?
WHICH CAME FIRST, the chicken or the egg? It’s an old problem. The chicken had to come from an egg; but the egg had to come from a chicken. Or did…
Giant spiders
WHY CAN’T PEOPLE BE TWICE THE SIZE? Why don’t we see giant spiders, like we do in the movies, in real life? It’s staple of science fiction movies, after all….
Conspicuous lack of aliens
IF THERE IS INTELLIGENT LIFE out there, why haven’t we been visited by aliens yet? It’s a question that every child, and most adults, will ask at some point or…
I don’t know much about art…
…BUT I KNOW WHAT I LIKE. You’ll have heard this time-worn phrase repeated time and again. But do you really know what you like? How can you tell? Some works…
See what you like
VISITING ART GALLERIES can be a rewarding experience. It can also be exhausting, as you trudge around room after room taking everything in until you’re overwhelmed by visual stimulation. My…
Lying to kids
WE SHOULDN’T LIE TO OUR CHILDREN. Obviously. It goes without saying. And yet we do lie to them, with the full approval of society. Father Christmas. The Easter Bunny. The Tooth Fairy*….
Winning at Hangman
HANGMAN IS A GREAT GAME, and can be played anywhere. All you need is a piece of paper and a pen. But the winning strategy is counterintuitive. Most players will…