An Astonishing Graph

For most of human history, around 50% of children used to die before they reached the end of puberty. In 2020, that number is 4.3%. It’s 0.3% in countries like Japan & Norway. This dramatic decline has resulted from better nutrition, clean water, sanitation, neonatal health…

Very Good Music Fun Facts from Go Jeff Go including: “Hall and...

Very Good Music Fun Facts from Go Jeff Go including: “Hall and Oates never referred to themselves as “Hall and Oates.” All their records say Daryl Hall and John Oates. Also, there is a 9-inch height difference between Hall & Oates.” 💬 Join the discussio…

Level Devil. This game is hilarious and diabolical....

Level Devil. This game is hilarious and diabolical. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Retrospekt refurbs and sells retro technology (VHS tapes, cassette players, instant cameras,...

Retrospekt refurbs and sells retro technology (VHS tapes, cassette players, instant cameras, typewriters, iPods). 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

A Line in a Tom Stoppard Play Inspired a New Breast Cancer Treatment

In a letter to the Times of London, Dr. Michael Baum tells how a line in Arcadia by Tom Stoppard sparked an idea which resulted in adjuvant systemic chemotherapy, a therapy Baum helped pioneer which greatly increased the survivability of breast cancer. Sir, In 1993 my wife and…

I’m in Charge at This Hertz Location, and Buddy, You’re Not Getting...

I’m in Charge at This Hertz Location, and Buddy, You’re Not Getting a Car Today. “Tell me, honestly, when you reserved a rental car through Hertz, you thought… what? That we were going to set aside a special little car just for you? Seriously?”

The 3 Best Full-Frame Cameras from 3 Years Ago

Full-frame cameras are in demand. They offer a lot of detail, good colors, lightweight, and excellent ergonomics. While there are plenty of cameras to choose from, we examine a few options from three years ago that can still stand on their own today. If you are looking to buy a…

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair

In just a few days (Dec 5), the entirety of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill duology will be released in theaters as one four-hour-long film. Here’s the trailer: Quentin Tarantino’s KILL BILL: THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR unites Volume 1 and Volume 2 into a single, unrated epic…

A list of 25 Things to Say to Your Children, including “You...

A list of 25 Things to Say to Your Children, including “You can do hard things. I’ve seen you do them before and you can do them again.”; “I’m proud of you.”; and “It’s so brave to feel your feelings.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

The Sony a7V is Your Snappier Entry-Level Full-Frame Camera

For the past few months, the rumor mill has been churning out teasers and drips of the purported next-generation Sony a7 camera. Now, Sony has officially announced the new jack-of-all-trades camera, the Sony a7V. For Sony photographers seeking an upgrade to their now four-year-o…

Paul Ford on normalized AI & what happens when bubbles burst. “When...

Paul Ford on normalized AI & what happens when bubbles burst. “When the bubble is big, every idea feels like a billion-dollar idea. I yearn for cheap ideas from strangers.”

David Byrne’s Tiny Desk Concert

There are a few artists where you hear their name and “Tiny Desk” together and you think, well, that’s going to be great. David Byrne is one of those and his performance does not disappoint. Though Byrne and his band do normally spread out across large stages, the set d…

Nikon Has a Problem

Yes, I know that's a vague title. But it's one that we've discussed many times here on the Phoblographer. We're talking about Nikon cameras and how they work with flashes and strobes. In several of our tests, we've found there to be lots of problems involving the use of flash --…

nikitonsky is being grumpy

nikitonsky: Dude. Why are you even showing me this? I’m the only person here. Always has been #Steam #Popup #Login #Account

The Best of the Best Fujifilm Cameras. There are Only Two

Fujifilm is one of the few companies that has truly revolutionized the way we view cameras. The company is popular for its X series devices, but with the introduction of medium format, Fujifilm proved it is in for a longer haul. Now competing with brands such as Phase One and Ha…

This Predatory Practice Can Rob Photographers of Lots of Money

In my office and in my living room are the photo books of several of my friends and heroes. And I'm well aware of the sacrifices that they've made to create these photo books. Many pay several thousands of dollars to make their books. And let me put it this way: I think that pho…

100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025. The big end-of-year lists mostly...

100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025. The big end-of-year lists mostly feature books from big publishers; this list aims to spread the attention to smaller publishers. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Keene, NH has been replacing their stop-lighted intersections with roundabouts, resulting in...

Keene, NH has been replacing their stop-lighted intersections with roundabouts, resulting in big reductions in pollution, accidents & injuries, and costs. “Slowly moving is better than waiting at a light any day.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Canon Might Be Building a Budget f2.8 STM Holy Trinity

A wide-aperture lens can be crucial for photographers. Not only will it give you better bokeh, but work wonders if you happen to make images in low light. Canon is one company that offers multiple such lenses in the range, but it appears that they wish to push boundaries as much…

Why Is Everyone Running In Rom-Coms?

I am not generally a fan of rom-coms so I didn’t think I was going to post Evan Puschak’s newest video, but he’s so good at them. Puschak argues that rom-coms are compelling because they reflect the modern challenge of finding meaning as individuals. In the modern day,…

I Was Stabbed in the Back With a Real Knife While Performing...

I Was Stabbed in the Back With a Real Knife While Performing Julius Caesar. “I realised what had happened while acting out my character’s death, and thinking: I have to lie here until the lights go down.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

On next-gen GLP-1 drugs. “A mere decade ago, obesity drugs powerful enough...

On next-gen GLP-1 drugs. “A mere decade ago, obesity drugs powerful enough for people to routinely drop double-digit percentages of their body weight were unheard-of. Today, there are two, and they feel ubiquitous.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Website Task Flowchart

A short video that explains *a lot* about the modern world &...

A short video that explains *a lot* about the modern world & conservatism. “They also want to feel normal. They want to walk around and see that most other people have made the same choice they made.” And that last line!

This Is Always Interesting: “52 Things I Learned In 2025”

One of my favorite end-of-year lists is Tom Whitwell’s annual record of 52 things he’s learned in the past year. Some favorites of mine from the 2025 installment: 4. You can unlock the wheels on a shopping cart by playing sounds on your phone. [Joseph Gabay] 5. In the UK…

PolarPro x Shortstache SHIFT Diopter Might Be an Alternative to a Macro Lens

PolarPro has been on a roll lately, releasing various lens filters aimed squarely at creative photographers. The new Shift Diopter lens filter is a collaboration with content creator and commercial photographer, Garrett “Shortstache” King. While a Diopter filter might not fu…

Photographing the Microscopic: Winners of Nikon Small World 2025. “Overall Winner: A...

Photographing the Microscopic: Winners of Nikon Small World 2025. “Overall Winner: A rice weevil perched on a grain of rice.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Adding to an “overwhelming body of evidence”, a recent study showed that...

Adding to an “overwhelming body of evidence”, a recent study showed that “suicidality scores dropped significantly an average of two years and up to five years after [trans youth] received gender-affirming treatment”.

The Atlantic hurricane season has come to a close and Google’s DeepMind...

The Atlantic hurricane season has come to a close and Google’s DeepMind AI-based hurricane model performed really well in predicting track and intensity of storms. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

The Best Sony Full-Frame Cameras. There are Only Two

Sony cameras have been the first to pivot to mirrorless. The company saw the potential long before anyone else, and they decided to turn the lesser-known format into a profitable business. Over the past decade or so, the company has continued to push boundaries, introducing new…

Bulls-eyes

Tom Fishburne nails marketing bullshit across the ages.

Q: “Want to Feel Old?” A: “Yes.”

In 2010, Randall Munroe’s fiancée (now wife) was diagnosed with cancer. Every once in awhile, he updates his audience at XKCD on how that’s going. The most recent missive: Fifteen Years. If you’re not up on XKCD lore, here’s an explanation. 💞 Tags: canc…