interestingness :: magazines

This image from last year is my #1 popular photo on flickr as ranked by interestingness. I don't have any understanding of how interestingness works, but it doesn't seem like the most interesting photo I've ever taken! My TV is hidden under that cozy. That white wool felt is a little worse for wear after three years of use, so I'm gearing up to make a new one. I was thrilled to see a TV cozy in the new issue of Blueprint. The magazine says there will be instructions on their site, but I'm not finding them yet. If you're not ready to get rid of your TV...how about just hiding it a bit?

Another happy tidbit from my latest batch of magazines was seeing a mention of running an older Mercedes Benz on biodiesel in March's issue of Domino. We have a Benz from 1977 that we run on biodiesel and have plans to buy another. Any diesel car engine can run on biodiesel (some older cars may need new fuel lines). You can check here to see if there's a station in your area (for the US). Bonus: when you drive away it smells like french fries (biodiesel is made from cooking oil).

Thanks for all the support in regards to taking a technology break. I'm not unplugging just yet, but if others are interested, I'll let you know when I'm taking my break and we could start a snail-mail support group.

Happy Monday!

Comments

[tracy]

yeah, that interestingness thing has me baffled too. but i remember this photo. this post. i remember loving the fact that you hid your tv. and feeling a connection there.

we are still shopping for our bio-wheels... prices have soared here, with popularity.

love the idea of snailmail support. count me in.

[carol]

love snail mail and really miss getting it...count me in too, if something gets off the ground.

[Lili]

We have a silver golf that we run on bio-diesel. She's nicknamed "spud" (looks like a foiled potato) for the french fry factor!

my boyfriend and i discussed the tech break last night. we both decided it would be pretty hard, but it would be good to at least cut back a bit. do cell phones count?

did you hear about the group of people that didnt buy anything new (except food/personal items) last year? they supported themselves with craigslist, thrift stores and finding things for free. they said whatever they really needed came to them somehow. i thought that was really interesting.

[amy j]

we just bought a 1981 mercedes that runs on biodiesel. we had been looking for a while and finally found one that was affordable. their popularity has made prices go up.

[Liane]

I want to make a cozy for my sewing machine like your TV one.

[sally]

I just figured out what that little "explore" bubble on my Flickr link was all about. =) I have always loved your little TV cozy. Our TV is such an odd shape, it would just draw more attention if I put a cozy on it. My BIL got an old MB a few months ago...he loves it!

[kara]

you have a '77 benz AND a tv cozy?!
you are my hero

[tut-tut]

Snail mail sounds fun. I'm in! Did not know the old Mercerdes biodiesel ability. And Liane's (above) cosy for the sewing machine idea sounds ideal. I'll be on the lookout for the pattern.

[amisha]

i love that tv cozy.... makes it such a nice warm tactile aesthetic thing instead of the black box :) and ah, snail mail! a lovely incentive to unplug.

[meg]

hey - great inspiration! we were just thinking of moving the tv and i'd love to make a cozy for it. and john and i have been chatting about getting me a benz to run on biodiesel. i'd love to hear how it is working out for you (especially road-trip-wise) if you get a chance...

[stephanie]

this is a very interestingness picture! i love the leaves/trees on the cozy. yum!

[tiffany]

we don't have: tv, car, microwave, washing machine/dryer, or dishwasher but we do have a pretty imac that is overused. in the same spirit of needing limits on the amount of time used online we've started to make monthly postcards to send to our peeps. it's a lot of fun. postcard stamps are very pretty these days and we get to develop our block printing skills in the process. thank for the info about the biodiesel.

[Shin Young]

oooo, I'd be all in for snailmail. Already are. I'm making a journal for all three kiddlings of ours. It has a minimum of a monthly entry and I've send postcards through the mail to them, to be included in the journal. Normally I have them handstamped at the postoffice, but one time I decided to put it in our mailbox. It took me two days to realize the reason the mailman did not take the postcard was because it was already at the correct address. Sigh

[Toni]

I would be interested in taking part in a techno break--most especially, the computer. If you are keeping track of those interested, put me on the list! Thanks.

[tifanie]

I love the snail mail support group idea! Brilliant! I don't think I'm ready to put my digital camera down just yet though... Although, if I did, I might spend more time drawing. Hmmm. I need to think about this more. Count me in!

[Sarah]

I am really upset with the Blueprint website. I've had my magazine for 8 days and I can't find ANY of the articles online like they say. grrr!!! come on martha's web group, step up!!!

[Luckybeans]

It look like we will be tech free this summer, too. And visiting my mum in Oregon. So we could be game!

[connie]

cute tv cozy aside... i think flickr people sit around at night with a lot of beer and say 'oh, thats neat' and BAM... interestingness

[jude]

I'll miss reading your blog when you go on your techno break but I totally appreciate the ethos behind it. Love the TV cosy!

[Beth]

We have a 1980 Mercedes SD that runs on STRAIGHT VEGGIE OIL!! The process of conversion takes a little more work, but we hardly ever have to buy gas. We get our oil from a local restaurant, let it settle, filter it and fuel up! We're also looking for another diesel to convert too. I blogged about the conversion at http://inthekeyoflife.typepad.com/in_the_key_of_life/2006/02/waste_vegetable.html

Way to go...being part of the Vegelution!!!

[Jennifer]

This year, "Turn Off Your TV Week" (which many use as turn off all your technology, as we do at our house) runs from April 23rd to 30th. This Turn Off week is an international event -- do a search online if you'd like and you'll get their web site.

We've observed the Turn Off week for the past three years, and it's a great, great way to re-assess how you are spending your time, what's important to you, what choices you make, etc. Our 8-year-old son starts the week off with resignation and by the end is always really into it, and feeling virtuous to boot. I like participating in something that people world-wide are doing.

Anyway, my advice to anyone who's interested is to either designate a week OR participate in the international event. Going a week is, for us anyway, realistic -- you might want to try a week, be successful at that, and then think about extending it. Just so you don't mark out such a long time to start that you have a hard time being successful at it and then give up....

[Dawn]

I love the TV cozy. I'll certainly be making one for myself soon - what a great idea. (I hate looking at the TV ...when it's not on, that is - still working on trying not to want it on as much as it is!)

[Ellen]

You have a (bio)diesel vehicle! Me too! I got a 1996 VW Passat Station wagon last summer and I can't wait for the weather to get warmer so I can put more biodiesel in it. Alternative fuels rock! I love your blog and just wanted you to know that you've inspired me to create my own craft blog. :)

[bugheart]

i have never
understood
the
"interestingness"
label...
although
i would
put that
label on
many of
your photos!

let me know
about
the snail mail
support group
i am gearing up
to send
my brother
triweekly letters
while
he's in art school
in the mountains!

[maritza]

I am also kinda baffled by who or what determines "interestingness."
I love snail mail. The art of letter-writing can be so beautiful and is so under-rated these days. I would be interested in joining a snail-mail exchange/support group. :)