Made in the Land of Wheat and Maize

Philip Seymour Hoffman's inimitable talent, architecture in ice, bionic hands and more in our weekly look at the web

In an insightful mini documentary intended to reflect the spirit of their storied brand, Minnesota’s Red Wing shoes has cast a lens on fellow Midwesterner and beautifully crooning Bon Iver frontman, Justin Vernon, who’s been wearing their classic boots for years. From an inside look at the singer’s Wisconsin studio (dubbed April Base) to a wide range of personal biographical stories, the down-to-earth video offers …

Link About It: This Week’s Picks

Philip Seymour Hoffman's inimitable talent, architecture in ice, bionic hands and more in our weekly look at the web

1. Farewell, Philip Seymour Hoffman The number of thoughtful tributes and articles about the tragic passing of Philip Seymour Hoffman is a veritable testament to the huge loss the public feels—let alone that of his colleagues, friends and family. Tom Junod of Esquire explains the character actor’s impact and the reason we all—as complete strangers—felt connected to him. One of Hoffman’s many talents was bringing …

You Snooze, You Lose

Philip Seymour Hoffman's inimitable talent, architecture in ice, bionic hands and more in our weekly look at the web

Research has proven that snoozers are, in fact, losers. Evidently the few extra minutes of sleep that many think are easing them awake are actually making getting up even more difficult, as it means plunging back into the first part of the sleep cycle, which is the worst moment to then be woken up again. This doesn’t just make getting out of bed trickier, it …