Last week I listened to a podcast in which a trends analyst cooed at what a wonderful time it is to be young. She placed special emphasis on how this upcoming generation was somehow more interesting and special than any before it. This seemed like just the sort of thing you’d hear from a trends analyst: more mysterious possibilities to keep the marketing folks at Nike paying for overpriced ‘trends’ data. Forgive me if I’m cynical, but I say it’s quite the opposite.

I think every generation is almost identical to the one that preceded it. Each one experiences a marginally different context that seems immediately significant, but in actuality is only temporarily so. As decades pass, we learn that high-tops, flannel shirts and SMS slang actually amount to very little. These little novelties are curious, but looking upon them to ‘define’ a generation hardly moves beyond the brutally superficial. Universal truths, however, bind us all, even if our vision of them isn’t exactly clear. What are these truths? I think they include the need to be loved, the desire to feel connected to others, the hope that one is relevant, and an arm-full of other similar emotions that transcend any paper-thin trends.

This is a much more eloquent version of the argument I have with myself in my head whenever I’m feeling “old”.

from stevenf.tumblr.com

Any skills that have improved are always the ones that I continually used, not just thought (fantasized) about. Steven’s post illustrates (literally) that principle in a fantastic way.

Call me crazy, but I don’t think that A. Boston College has its own operating system and B. “a black screen with white font which he uses prompt commands on” is one either.

“He had a … thingy … and I didn’t know what it was … so it must be bad!”

I hope the next computer tech that gets called out to the BC Police Station to fix a broken machine isn’t too good at their job, otherwise they’ll be arrested.

(Okay, I’m done blabberanting.)

Donate to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, help make sure our rights stay our rights.

I’ve always used H1 for the logo of the site and not the header of the specific page, although I am apparently in the minority. I’ve thought of it as declaring ownership—this page is owned by H1—which I know goes against the intent of the element.

It does look nicer when CSS is turned off for the name of the site-at-large to be, well, large. (and in charge.)

(via viget labs.)

Best definition of spec I’ve ever read.

(If you need a slightly more PC argument…)

When you’re committed to something larger than yourself, every minute counts. Hype and transient success won’t keep you going. But the simple process of finding out whether or not your vision is right will. Because people who are dedicated to the truth are more likely to fail fast, learn, and try again.

(via hal’s delicious.)