The Dice — 006

Airbag merch. Over the years many of you have asked for it, and some of you have demanded it. So, here you go! I know the product descriptions show “on demand”, but just pretend there is a warehouse stocked to the roof and I need to move this stuff now! Buy everyone gifts for American Independence Day or host your first Midyear Christmas. I don’t care, just buy something. Anything. The pint glasses are nice.

Moving on. Let’s blow a little luck on the dice and roll.

My first real trip to Vegas with the Casenhiser boys culminated each night with a visit to a real steakhouse. Not that cowboy, miner, red-checkered tablecloth bullshit, a proper, dark-lit venue with a five-pound wine list. Since that trip, I have cataloged every dead cow restaurant that I have visited in the United States. So, it may come as a shock to some that I am taking steps to move on from consuming Bovinae in favor of an alternative. I defy you to watch this cooking video and tell me you’re not tempted to do the same.

It’s well known that working with geniuses can be extremely difficult. Stories of Steve Job being an asshat are abundant, but this is the first I’ve read about Prince: “Keyboardist and MD Morris Hayes on Prince's revolving door of sound engineers and the time his guitar tech tried to sabotage him onstage.”

Related: Seventeen stories from employees who got petty revenge on their awful boss.

Shameful reminder: Discover what working for yourself could look like.

Here are fifty of the most common passwords of 2024. Makes me wonder if these are new entries or if they were left over from the last twenty-five years by people who keep ignoring the need to change. How are people still using “admin” or “1234”? Y’all should be adding commas in your passwords to mess with hackers who steal them.

In addition—from Kottke—the most common PIN numbers. Come on sheeple, do better.

Though I had it already bookmarked, I received several submissions for an article we can all appreciate on the subject of artificial intelligence and a sweet move from the WWE. The ongoing battle against generative slop continues with good news from the front that brands are beginning to turn against AI.

Meanwhile, we have our own role to play in this fight.

Issue number 7 of Plastikcomb magazine, the current bible of “experimental editorial design”, is out in stores now. Grab a copy while you can. Sadly, the easiest way for most of us to find an issue here in the States is to visit your local Barnes & Noble. No further comment. It’s not Raygun, but it’s the closest thing we’ve got at the moment that I know about.

Speaking of Raygun, it might be too late to get in on the fundraiser for the upcoming book, Disorder, but there will likely be a limited retail edition. This is not a book to pass up. If you can’t wait check out Ray Gun: The Bible of Music and Style.

Ending this week on a short note is this delightful analysis: Ali Wong: The Structure of Stand-Up Comedy. First, if you’ve never seen Ali perform then, honestly, take a minute to question your life decisions. Second, go watch her specials or clips or whatever. She is funny—Like capital F, u, n, capital E, capital E, capital E! She’s a master of storytelling and The Pudding does a great job of breaking down how Ali orchestrates her narrative to build to a crescendo.

Not related at all, except for the masterful breakdown, Clea Abram entertains with her brief, but thorough, breakdown of a Formula 1 team and their outcomes. If you want to see what peak cross-functional collaboration looks like here it is.

Hey, don't forget we have a drinking game scheduled later this week.

Published in Tacoma, Washington while watching a different clip of Ali Wong because she's so damn hilarious.