I admit it, I like stuff. I especially like really well-designed stuff. And I especially like really well-designed stuff that eschews modern over-complexity in favored simple, tried, and true interfaces. Knobby analog synths, utilitarian racing cars, and manuals cameras. But at the same time, I like to be very logical. I like stuff, but it's just stuff. I'll take the more suitable tool over the mystical fetish object every time. And so this extensive new yorker article about leica cameras was both sort of pleasing and annoying. I love the leica and would own one if I had the spare $$$ to toss around; but at the same time, I kind of sneer at all the mysticism around them (or for that matter, that whole "lomography" thing). Yes, it's a great tool. But it's not magic. It's not going to make you (or me) into cartier-bresson. But damn I want one.

Taking a break from the Japan stuff (yes, there is plenty more to come, but a visit from J happily distracted me from editing photos)... Slate has an article today on GooglePrint , which discusses the tradeoff between authorial exposure and authorial control. It's a pretty clear explanation of what GooglePrint is (there's been a lot of confusion) and argument for why it is good.