Welcome to this week's edition of our Friday Quality Linkage column. Please enjoy this week’s collection of interesting and entertaining links. Brew a fresh cup of coffee, find a comfortable place, and relax.
Illustration: Mark Garrison (based on the Arctic Slope Consulting Group’s Newtok Erosion Shoreline Map)
Evicted by Climate Change »
Madeline Ostrander of Hakai Magazine tells the story of a village in southwest Alaska that happens to be among the world's first victims of climate change:
Even in the early days at Newtok, its residents could see that the tundra was warming and thawing, and that the river was eating the land around them. In the past few years, they have become famous, heralded by the international press as “America’s first climate refugees” (along with residents of two other Alaskan villages and a tiny Louisianan island community). Newtok is one of the first places in the United States that could be erased by the impacts of climate change. The US Army Corps of Engineers has estimated that erosion will ravage much of the village within the next decade.
Again, this is a reminder that climate change isn't some vague thing that might happen in the far future. This is happening right now.
Photo: Federico Viticci
I Made You a Mixtape »
Federico Viticci of MacStories shares a personal story about his love of mixtapes and how it relates to music discovery today:
Discovery takes the stage. What matters is what you feel in that moment when a song that is just right comes on and punches you in the stomach. Excitement. The beautiful ache of not knowing. You turn the volume up. A single connection that branches in different directions. You hit repeat. It stays with you forever.
Comic: Gavin Aung Than, Zen Pencils
Epictetus: “A Worthy Crisis” »
Gavin Aung Than's latest Zen Pencils comic features a quote from the Stoic philosopher Epictetus on the importance of challenge and struggle in one's life (as related to Hercules but of course applicable to anyone). An excellent comic, as always.
Photo: Casey Neistat
How to Travel the World and Get Companies t o Pay for It »
Filmmaker Casey Neistat is best known these days for his daily vlogs on YouTube. A couple years ago though, his career was kicked up a notch after the release of his “Make It Count” video for Nike. When people started asking how he got a big company like Nike to sponsor a trip like the one he filmed, he wanted to explain that it doesn't work like that:
It took more than 10 years to create an opportunity then required taking a huge risk to take advantage of that opportunity. [...]
Do the work first. Create the following and the audience first. Prove your value first. Demonstrate your understanding of an industry first. Do all that then and only then maybe will a company have the confidence in you to provide the freedom and creative latitude for you to do what you want that will ultimately benefit them and their bottom line. It took me 14 years to understand this.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZmLkVtqjf1A
Overwatch and Video Game Pose Design 101 »
In the wake of some controversy over a victory pose for the Tracer character in Blizzard's new game, Overwatch, professional game animator Daniel Floyd made the video above to review the principles of pose design and character presentation, and why it matters. Whether or not you agree with Blizzard's decision to change the pose, or even with the resulting pose, you'll come away from this video with some interesting insights into character design.
How to Make an Omelette »
It's often said that the true test of a great chef is how well they can make an omelette. It seems simple on the surface but can actually prove quite tricky to get right. In this video, renowned celebrity chef Jacques Pepin shows you two techniques: a "country" American-style omelette, and a classic French omelette.
Now I Get It: Snapchat »
Sigh. I feel like such an old man linking to this article, but hey, if you've ever wondered to yourself, “Why is Snapchat such a big deal? I don't even know how it works”, then David Pogue has the primer for you:
As you now know, the first Snapchat mystery — How do you use it? — is easily solved, once you have a cheat sheet.
As for the second mystery — Why do you use it? — it helps to be a teenager. But Snapchat also rocketed up the ranks because of its convenience, silliness and fun, immediacy — and above all, because whatever you do with it, you won’t someday regret it.
Got any suggestions for articles, videos, stories, photographs, and any other links you think we should be posting in our weekly Quality Linkage? Please do let us know on Twitter.