Jason Kottke points us to some interesting thoughts about an object’s value cycle. For many things (photo negatives, vinyl records, old computers) there is a treacherous “trough of no value” between when they are new and when they become collectible and valuable. The article explains how, through craftsmanship and design, lasting value can be built into objects to shorten, or eliminate this low value period.
The Online Photographer explains the trough and Lunchboxes:
Who wanted to keep old lunchboxes around? They weren’t useful any more. They weren’t worth anything. And, since they were almost all used for their intended purpose, many were [...]
February 10, 2009
Old Lunchboxes, Value Cycles and the Trough
January 7, 2009
Jurors as Artists, Web as Art Gallery
The American Gallery of Juror Art is a ramshackle website that features a kind of art you’re not likely to see anywhere else. Flip through the many pages of doodles made by bored jurors while some trial lawyer was attempting to prove probable cause, and you’ll soon be fascinated not only by the beautiful art, but by the moments they capture.
What would cause one man to sketch portraits of his fellow jurors, and describe their personalities and life stories in intricate detail?
[A]s I completed my first jury experience, I wanted to document what I considered to be the most compelling [...]




