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 We people are pretty visual creatures, even when talking about abstract concepts we "visualize them" to gain insights. I was thinking back to the idea of visualizing algorithms, and reflecting on how much it helps with insight and communication. All the more reason to have great visual search :)
The picture at right has been "kernelized" by eyesFinder's Vector Quantization algorithms, breaking the image into little circular regions. I've found this visualization is a great way to share how the algorithm works, even if the underlying math is hidden. Oh, and please click to enbiggen for the full effect.
 After giving IOS 8 betas the old college try, I've fallen back to IOS 7.1.2. IOS 8 is simply too buggy, there are too many things that don't work. And sadly it isn't any better; I was hoping Apple would retrench on some of their UI stupidity and go back to buttons that look pushable, sliders that look slidable, etc. I totally wish there was a supported way to fall back to IOS 6. I fear this "flat look" is going to be with us for some time to come, despite being both uglier and harder to use. I've mentioned before, I have an original iPad running IOS 5 which I use from time to time, and every time I pick it up I wish we could have that look and feel back. 
Apropos: the best way to get ideas is to suffer with something that doesn't really work. Amen. IOS 8 has given me a lot of good ideas :)
 Wow, the first trailer for Star Wars, in 1976. I remember exactly where I was when I first saw it - my room at college - and I remember exactly my reaction - I must see this! Never mind the crappy non-CGI spaceships... they had me at hello. Excellent.
Microsoft's CEO needs a new editor. "Tortured statements from CEOs mean one thing: I have something to hide." Um, yeah. This is one of the things we liked about Steve Jobs, when he had something to say he just said it. Oh, here is a translation.
 Awesome: 3D-printable version of Marcel Duchamp's art deco chess set. I love that we can do this sort of thing now, and so easily.
 Ah, but is it cooler than my 3D-printable Voronoi chess set? I don't know...
Dave Winer: comparing APIs. "I just spend 3 months wrangling with the current Twitter API, and got more or less the same functionality from Facebook in four days." I feel like Twitter never really wanted third-party adoption, while Facebook early-on realized it was a huge key to growth.
Also from Dave: Why doesn't Google have a Share This Search button? Great question. eyesFinder will have one :)
 Elon Musk donates $1M for new Tesla museum. Excellent. The Oatmeal strikes again!
I hope they get Arc Attack to play at the museum's opening :)
 Scientists claim creation of blackest black yet. Hmmm... this is tough to visualize :)
Does anyone outside of silicon valley want a smartwatch? Good question. I've been wearing my Pebble Steel off-and-on for the past week, and I kind of like it. I wish it looked cooler, but the functionality is pretty nice and occasionally even rises to "useful".
 One of my favorite ZooBorns ever: a Scops Owl chick. He looks like trouble :)
I have to say that of all the blogs to which I subscribe, ZooBorns most consistently puts a smile on my face :)
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We've [finally!] reached Le Tour 2014's first rest day, and what's left of the Peloton must be quite grateful. In sheer numbers this tour hasn't necessarily been more brutal than others, but seeing so many top riders like Mark Cavendish, Andy Schleck, Chris Froome, and Alberto Contador crash out has been amazing. It leaves the field clear for Vincenzo Nibali to win - doesn't look like anyone is going to challenge him (assuming he makes it!) - but it also clears the field for a bunch of contenders to finish on the podium. And most of the big climbs still lie ahead. Should be great.
Other interesting subplots include Peter Sagan - he's got the green points jersey pretty well locked up, but will he win a stage? And Roman Bardet and Thibaut Pinot compete for the white best young rider jersey, as well as top Frenchman and possibly first Frenchman to be on the podium for many years. And Joaquim Rodriquez' pursuit of the polka dot climbers jersey.
Mark Cavendish crashes out in stage 1 ... did not win any stages this year, leaving the sprints for Marcel Kittel and Andre Greipel.
Chris Froome crashes out in stage 5 ... didn't even make it to the cobbles.
Lars Boom wins stage 5, an iconic Paris-Roubaix stage in the rain over cobbles.
Alberto Contador crashes out in stage 10 ... didn't even make it to the high mountains.
Thibaut Pinot and Roman Bardet battle for the white best young rider jersey, and best Frenchman, and the podium!
Joaquim Rodriquez looking good for the polka dot climbers' jersey.
