Part two of the big link catch-up project.
First, a profile of Lego. I had no idea the company nearly went under just over a decade ago. Jonathan Ringen explores the history of the company and how it first dig a hole, then made a series of tremendous decisions that have left it one of the strongest brands in the world.
How Lego Became The Apple Of Toys
Speaking of Apple, you may have read that the company had the most profitable quarter in the history of business to close out 2014. Ben Thompson writes about the odd collection of analysts who have been predicting imminent doom for Apple for years, and continue to do so.
It’s difficult to overstate just how absurd this is, but here’s my best attempt: last quarter Apple’s revenue was downright decimated by the strengthening U.S. dollar; currency fluctuations reduced Apple’s revenue by 5% – a cool $3.73 billion dollars. That, though, is more than Google made in profit last quarter ($2.83 billion). Apple lost more money to currency fluctuations than Google makes in a quarter. And yet it’s Google that is feared, and Apple that is feared for.
As a part-time sports writer, I understand how hard it is to ask questions of coaches and athletes who are coming off an emotional, physically draining performance when you are working on deadline. Still, it drives me crazy how many people you see on TV who can not ask a freaking question.
Worst offense, requesting that an interviewee “talk about…” something. Lazy and rude. It shows you are not prepared and, perhaps, don’t understand the game you are watching.
Bryan Curtis at Grantland goes on a nice rant.
The Worst Question in Sports: What We Talk About When We Say ‘Talk About’
After porn and pirated music/movies/games/software, I think there is more food writing than anything else on the Web. I’m pretty sure you could spend an entire week reading just about how to cook a steak.
So here’s one more post on the subject. The argument: it is better to constantly flip your steak than to only turn it two/four times. I’m a four-turn cook. But I may have to reconsider after reading this.
The Food Lab: Flip Your Steaks Multiple Times For Better Results
I’ve never been a big flosser. After reading this, though, I admit I’ve stepped up my game a bit. All kinds of good dental tips in here.
And the most important link last.
A former co-worker had a running list of silly arguments he liked to, well, argue about. Not long after you met him you would get added to an email thread with one of these important questions, and a demand for your response.
One was about the odds of a coin being flipped landing on heads or tails. Are the odds always 50–50, or are they affected by the previous flip? Another was who would win a fight, a Siberian Tiger or a Kodiak Bear.
Yes, several of us who worked for a handful of Fortune 500 companies spent valuable company time fighting about stupid shit like this.
But I love that the guys over at Deadspin’s The Concourse are of similar minds.
So, for your enjoyment,
Who Would Win If A Hippo Fought A Rhino? A Question For The Ages.