From the Phonograph podcast, a look at the early days of 99%...

From the Phonograph podcast, a look at the early days of 99% Invisible (as that podcast’s 15th anniversary approaches). 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Tractor beams exist in the real world. They use ultrasound to hover...

Tractor beams exist in the real world. They use ultrasound to hover and manipulate tiny objects. “It can be thought of as an acoustic hologram. It’s a shape that exists in space but is made of sound.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Vintage Bike Tricks, Circa 1965

Lilly Yokoi was an acrobat who specialized in performing on a bicycle. During her career, she toured around the world and appeared on the Ed Sullivan show three times. In this performance from 1965, Yokoi does some seriously before-their-time tricks on her Golden Bicycle, includ…

Why Does Nikon Refuse to Make a Rangefinder Style Camera?

If you ask camera lovers what they'd want the most from Nikon, it's pretty universally accepted that they want a Nikon SP digital of some sort. It's something that Nikon has never done -- a rangefinder-style camera body that gives us pretty much everything we want and need. Idea…

Substack’s extremist ecosystem is flourishing. “The Nazi push alert was only possible...

Substack’s extremist ecosystem is flourishing. “The Nazi push alert was only possible because of Substack’s continued commitment to not only hosting but actively promoting authoritarian, Nazi-sympathizing, and other bigoted forms of extremism.”

Emily Wilson’s current project is translating The Odyssey (again). “I am doing...

Emily Wilson’s current project is translating The Odyssey (again). “I am doing a fully revised re-retranslation, to align my Odyssey translation more closely with my Iliad.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

The Bluesky Dictionary is tracking every single word used on the social...

The Bluesky Dictionary is tracking every single word used on the social media service. As of this writing, almost 40% of the dictionary has been covered, including recent additions like “boneshakers”, “microscale”, and “striations”. 💬 Join the discu…

There’s a Bend It Like Beckham sequel in the works, says director...

There’s a Bend It Like Beckham sequel in the works, says director Gurinder Chadha. “I didn’t want to do anything because I didn’t have a story. And then I came up with a great story, really super-cool story. So now I’m inspired.” 💬 Join the discussi…

Street Photographers: You’ll Love Our Presets

Lots of presets often require tons of tweaking. But not ours! Our presets are designed to make editing a minimal task so you can get back to shooting! We're in love with Retro Digital. Luckily, that's when we founded the website closer to two decades ago. So we dove into our ima…

My Recent Media Diet, the Resistance Edition

Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve done one of these but I’m gonna skip the apologies and get right into it. Here’s a list of what I’ve been reading, watching, listening to, and experiencing over the past several months. Let us know what movies, books, art, TV, music, e…

Progressive web apps

There was a time when you needed to make a native app in order to take advantage of specific technologies. That time has passed. Now you can do all of these things on the web: push notifications, offline storage, camera access, and more. Take a look at the home screen on you…

Potatoes are tomatoes! Ok not exactly, but scientists have worked out that...

Potatoes are tomatoes! Ok not exactly, but scientists have worked out that modern potatoes evolved, in part, from an ancient tomato plant. “Dipping fries into ketchup just got a little more mind-bending.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Jamelle Bouie on the Death of the Fourth American Republic

This is a great piece from Jamelle Bouie on the likely death of the Voting Rights Act and, zooming out, the end of an era in American society that began with the Act’s signing. Americans pride ourselves, by contrast, on our undivided history under one Constitution — a singl…

Watchdog Group Downgrades U.S. From Democracy To Whatever Political System Lobsters Have....

Watchdog Group Downgrades U.S. From Democracy To Whatever Political System Lobsters Have. “There’s just too much scuttling in American politics to call it anything other than a flawed lobster republic.”

Compact Cameras Climb, DSLRs Dive: The CIPA June Report Tells All

As we step into August, we have only a few more months before the year ends. However, crossing the six-month mark before the new year often calls for a time of reflection. And we don't just mean a personal one; rather, we mean how the camera industry is performing amidst the var…

Crucial Lessons You Can Learn From Fred Herzog

When it comes to color photography, Saul Leiter is often credited with being the first photographer to dabble with the medium. However, while photographers such as William Eggleston, Joel Meyerowitz, and Martin Parr gradually made color photography more popular, there was anothe…

nikitonsky is being grumpy

nikitonsky: No wonder nobody can remember what these icons mean #Telegram #Button #Toggle #Mute #Video #Enabled #Disabled #StatusOrAction

What More Can We See From Nikon In 2025?

It's been a steady climb for Nikon in the mirrorless photography segment over the last 4 years. The last two especially, have seen various new cameras aimed at amateurs and prosumers, and a plethora of lenses released across all skill levels. With a handful of releases this year…

The Tamron 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Gets New Mount Options

Four years after the launch of the Sony and Fujifilm versions, Tamron has released the 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III‑A VC VXD for Canon RF and Nikon Z mirrorless shooters. If you prefer packing light but having the flexibility to photograph everything from wide street scenes to di…

Snake-in-the-Box Problem

The official online copy of the US Constitution is missing some critical...

The official online copy of the US Constitution is missing some critical parts. “Article I, Section 9 contains some of the most important safeguards in the Constitution, including the Writ of Habeas Corpus…” Nothing to worry about I’m sure!!

Classical Statues Dressed Up As Hipsters

Photographer Léo Caillard makes images of classical statues dressed up as hipsters. [This is a vintage post originally from Jun 2013.] Tags: art · fashion · Leo Caillard · photography · timeless posts

“At a Wisconsin pond, a pair of cranes is raising an abandoned...

“At a Wisconsin pond, a pair of cranes is raising an abandoned goose as their own.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Get Rid of Our Banner Ads for $25/Year

In 2025, we’re trying to get to a minimum of 2,000 subscribers! Capture One is discounted for members! The New Phoblographer membership is now based on our website. Yes, we moved away from the app. It was a bittersweet move — but what we’re offering you now is even better.…

I analyzed more than 100 extremist manifestos: Misogyny was the common thread....

I analyzed more than 100 extremist manifestos: Misogyny was the common thread. “Misogyny now acts as a ‘gateway drug’ to broader extremist ideologies. This is particularly true in digital spaces where hate and grievance are cultivated algorithmically.”

The case for memes as a new form of comics. “Memes —...

The case for memes as a new form of comics. “Memes — specifically, image macros — represent a new type of digital comic, right down to the cognitive and creative ways in which they operate.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

From restitution to confronting authoritarian regimes, here are five ways museums can...

From restitution to confronting authoritarian regimes, here are five ways museums can be more ethical. This list is from Gareth Harris, author of the book Towards the Ethical Art Museum. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

These 5 Rare Cameras Are Now Available — But Not for Long

Rare cameras are a piece of history. They showcase not only how the manufacturers began their journey but also the time they were made. For some, these cameras were created over half a century ago, while others, while recent, showcase the innovative side of the company. Either w…

“As a clinical psychologist, I was curious: Could ChatGPT function like a...

“As a clinical psychologist, I was curious: Could ChatGPT function like a thinking partner? A therapist in miniature? I gave it three months to test the idea. A year later, I’m still using ChatGPT like an interactive journal.”

Matt Webb on copyrighting your faults. “I think part of growing up...

Matt Webb on copyrighting your faults. “I think part of growing up is taking what it is that people tease you about at school, and figuring out how to make it a superpower.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

The 4 Best Canon Compact Cameras from Yesteryears

Compact cameras are the best solution for many who wish to upgrade from their smartphones. They are cost-effective, easy to use, and stylish to look at. Some of the compact devices from yesteryear also offer some exciting image quality, which can't be easily replicated by phone…

mRNA vaccines for HIV trigger strong immune response in people. “Two vaccine...

mRNA vaccines for HIV trigger strong immune response in people. “Two vaccine candidates using mRNA technology elicit a potent immune response against HIV, according to an early-stage clinical trial.” The good news lately re: HIV is incredible. Fund this! 💬…

“Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has canceled nearly $500 million of...

“Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has canceled nearly $500 million of grants and contracts for developing mRNA vaccines.” This, like many other Trump regime actions, will result in easily avoided deaths.