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Explaining the world one sketch at a time
Sketchplanations makes complex ideas simple with clear, insightful sketches. Explore topics from science, creativity, psychology, and beyond explained in pictures.
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Learn something new in a sketch each Sunday
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Back sleepers, side sleepers
This may have been obvious from day one, but despite the basic geometry of our necks it took me many years to figure out that back sleepers generally need just the one pillow and side sleepers are better off with two. Still think the pillow industry could do with a shake up though to solve basic problems like not falling into the gap between pillows, pillows made for two or pillows that more flexibly adjust as you turn over.…This may have been obvious from day one, but despite the basic geometry of our necks it took me many years to figure out that back sleepers generally need just the one pillow and side sleepers are better off with two. Still think the pillow industry could do with a shake up though to solve basic problems like not falling into the gap between pillows, pillows made for two or pillows that more flexibly adjust as you turn over.WWW…
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Quotiquette: The etiquette of quoting
The best reference I found on quotations was the quotation section in Larry Trask’s Guide to Punctuation. Alongside clarifications [ ] and suspensions … it contains rules on fun things like quotes in quotes, when to capitalise, dealing with mistakes [sic], adding emphasis [emphasis added], and punctuation inside or outside. On this last point he suggests: "You may follow your own preference in this matter, so long as you are consistent. If you opt for logical punctuation [putting the punctuation outside the quote], you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are on the side of the angels, but you should also expect some grim opposition from the other side [that prefers punctuation on the inside]."
— Larry Trask…The best reference I found on quotations was the quotation section in Larry Trask’s Guide to Punctuation. Alongside clarifications [ ] and suspensions … it contains rules on fun things like quotes in quotes, when to capitalise, dealing with mistakes [sic], adding emphasis [emphasis added], and punctuation inside or outside. On this last point he suggests: "You may follow your own preference in this matter, so long as you are consistent. If you opt for logical punctuation [putting the punctuation outside the quote], you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are on the side of the angels, but you should also expect some grim opposition from the other side [that prefers punctuation on the inside]."
— Larry TraskWWW…
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Counter-shading
Nifty water camouflage practised by dolphins, porpoises, some fish and other neat sea creatures. The simple strategy: look light like the sky for anyone below, and look dark like the sea for anyone above. …Nifty water camouflage practised by dolphins, porpoises, some fish and other neat sea creatures. The simple strategy: look light like the sky for anyone below, and look dark like the sea for anyone above. WWW…
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Asteroids, meteors and meteorites
Asteroid: Big rock flying through space Meteor: A rock burning up as it enters the atmosphere. Also known as a shooting star. Meteorite: Parts of a meteor that made it all the way to the ground. Look out! It was a long time before I really knew the difference between these things.…Asteroid: Big rock flying through space Meteor: A rock burning up as it enters the atmosphere. Also known as a shooting star. Meteorite: Parts of a meteor that made it all the way to the ground. Look out! It was a long time before I really knew the difference between these things.WWW…
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Rebalancing your portfolio
I work at Nutmeg and it’s one of the benefits we offer as standard whose importance is least understood. Perhaps this goes a little way to explaining it. It’s essentially about maintaining your risk exposure at the level you originally chose even as markets move and your different assets perform either well or badly.…I work at Nutmeg and it’s one of the benefits we offer as standard whose importance is least understood. Perhaps this goes a little way to explaining it. It’s essentially about maintaining your risk exposure at the level you originally chose even as markets move and your different assets perform either well or badly.WWW…
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