Designers talk and think a lot like science fiction writers do, except in a much less melodramatic and histrionic way.   — Bruce Sterling

Apparently, friends don't let friends spend too much time on their computers. As a sort-of intervention, Meetup.com (which, if we have our facts straight, is a Web site devoted to helping people seek-out in-person groups) recently launched unplugyourfriends.com.

Now that Google's busy with other things, there's ubExact. The public beta launched yesterday.

Core77, which sadly we haven't had nearly enough time to visit lately, has an enlightening article by Alissa Walker (who, "honest to god, once attended 21 conferences in a 12-month period") titled, "Conventional Wisdom: Eight Ways to Save Design Conferences."

We caught wind of this blatant "rip-off" on AdRants; 3M you should be ashamed of yourself.

For all those car enthusiasts, for whom building a car online isn't enough, this microsite for the new Porsche 911 allows them to build a road on which to drive it. (Some really nice video work here.)

Surely, everyone's already heard this news. Just in case: Google Chrome. In beta. Enough said.

With a few mouse clicks (OK, more than a few. Who knew men's shirts were so complex), indiTailored enables the creation of tailored dress shirts. Of course, it still requires knowing your measurements. And, uh, isn't that the hard part?

A great series of spots on Creativity from Minneapolis-based Campbell Mithun about the Republican National Convention's descent on St. Paul. This is our favorite.

Check this out: Penguin (the book publisher) and Match.com (the, uh, matchmaker) have hooked-up. The result of the pairing—PenguinDating. Hmmm... could be interesting.

Patents.com, a global patent search, comprised of over twelve million patent documents in three languages. OK, we'll agree, not super sexy. But, to anyone with an idea, definitely super useful.