Asides

Leonardo da Vinci, applying for a job with the ruler of Milan: My Most Illustrious Lord, … 1. I have plans for very light, strong and easily portable bridges with which to pursue and, on some occasions, flee the enemy, and others, sturdy and indestructible either by fire or in battle, easy and convenient to lift and place in position. Also means of burning and destroying those of the enemy. … 5. Also, I have means of arriving at a designated spot through mines and secret winding passages constructed completely without noise, even if it should be necessary to pass underneath moats or any river. ...

Beyonce and Solange, after the elevator ride with Jay: “Look,” Beyoncé said, gently. “I love you and I appreciate you. I know what you were trying to do. I appreciate that you were trying to defend me. I’m not mad at you for tearing into him.” “Oh you’re not mad?” “—Let me finish, Solange. I’m not mad at you for tearing into him. I am mad at you for not sticking to the plan.” ...

This article on the Samsung-Apple patent battle shows some breathtaking audacity on Samsung’s part, and not just in the Apple case: It was the same old pattern: when caught red-handed, countersue, claiming Samsung actually owned the patent or another one that the plaintiff company had used. Then, as the litigation dragged on, snap up a greater share of the market and settle when Samsung imports were about to be barred. Sharp had filed its lawsuit in 2007; as the lawsuit played out, Samsung built up its flat-screen business until, by the end of 2009, it held 23.6 percent of the global market in TV sets, while Sharp had only 5.4 percent. All in all, not a bad outcome for Samsung. ...

I wanna learn trampolining purely so I can set this up and do it one day:

“Emoji Nation” by Nastya Nudnik: Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5 are also amusing.