The Week: January 11, 2013

It is so bright in my office (what is this thing that’s happening right now? Sun … shine? I think that’s what it’s called) that I’m actually squinting. SQUINTING. In Seattle. In January.

I need to get outside immediately and soak up some Vitamin D. But before I run off, I wanted to share this week’s links with you. Enjoy.

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I have the biggest girl crush on artist Kate Beaton. Her comics are delightful (and I’m pretty sure I’ve given them a shout-out on the blog before). Where else can you find mermaids brushing up on their Michael Jackson?

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A former TSA screener answers the question on the mind of many frequent fliers: how do TSA agents feel working for an agency that is so despised?

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Have you ever tried to park in New York? (I’ve only driven in Manhattan once, but I still have the residual nervous twitch to show for it.) Even if you manage to find a spot, you’ll need a Rosetta Stone to decipher the parking signs. But one design firm is making them much, much easier to figure out.

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This is amazing: a photograph (taken in 1852) of a man who knew and fought alongside George Washington. Talk about being a human wormhole …

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A great read on Quora about the most surreal places you can visit on this great earth.

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What happens when you cast Lindsay Lohan in your movie – a sad and fascinating read from The New York Times.

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This drive-thru prank (where the driver disguises himself as a car seat, and makes it seem as though his vehicle is driving itself) is a little bit genius.

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Good news for those of us who like to write scathing reviews online (don’t tell me I’m the only one, folks): a judge cannot force you to edit your Yelp reviews. Phew.

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I’m positively smitten with the resin animal heads from White Faux Taxidermy. Don’t we all need a neon shark bust in our living room? I know I do.

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Belgian artist Frieke Janssen creates stylized photos of children smoking. Don’t worry – it’s all fake (smoke and mirrors, if you will) – but that doesn’t make it any less shocking.

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Oh, sweet heavenly father. This is one of the more alarming weight-loss trends I’ve ever heard of: a personal stomach pump that helps you lose weight. Fear not: it hasn’t been approved by the FDA. But still, it’s enough to make even jogging sound appealing by comparison.

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Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to hunt down my sunglasses.