This is a little outside the scope or normal WeAreSharks post, but you should enjoy it anyway. Those of you that know me, know that I read quite a bit. I live and die by Raymond Chandler, I spend far too much money on art books, and I go through a couple hundred lame spy novels every year. What you may not know is I’ve started reading about… gasp… business. I’ve always been interested in economics (thanks for the minor U of M) but I’ve never had much patience for the practicalities of actual business writing. Business = lame.

Oh how times have changed. It started with IttyBiz, a fantastic little blog by my favorite Naomi Dunford. That led to Shane And Peter, who conduct some of the liveliest small biz discussion on the web. They’ve rounded up the powerhouses of small biz writing to comb the depths of the interweb for the best of the best when it comes to business. Sproutwire is their new baby. Where on the same 800 pixels can you see reviews of articles about the business of christian sex toys, culture of accountability, and whether or not testimonials do a damned thing for your business? It’s topical, funny, and relevant. Not only that, but it’s a beautiful site as well. It scans well and is easy on the eyes. Kudos to Brandon and Eric for the design and buildout.

The truth is out. I’m a single-owner-llc-corporate sellout. Read Sproutwire.

I’m all about these retro-styled prints from Tavis Coburn. Don’t know anything else about him, but I’m sure they’d make great Christmas presents.

Found via Drawn.

Alberto Seveso’s site is loaded with beautiful illustrations, experimental flash interfaces and he even gives away posters in his shop.

If I had any kind of cash, I’d have Dave Ellis paint my house. Really fresh, free of ’spray art’ wall cliches, Ellis’ paintings are full of movement and energy. Click through his portfolio to see his industrial truck paintings.

There’s plenty of rhetoric about design equality, and it generally surrounds issues of class. We don’t often see design issues address identity politics, and for that matter the disabled in particular. Check out Dutch industrial designer Jan Gunneweg.

Unfortunately not a lot of information on this site, but the art heartbreaking. Rich, warm portraits. I’m buying one of these (as soon as a little cash comes in the door). I’m really curious about how they’re made. They have a real organic feel to them, but the backgrounds look like they might be from photographs. Enjoy, I clicked on every single thumbnail. You should too. byroglyphics

Found via Milky Plastique. New find, nice blog. Seems to have covered a bunch of stuff that we’ve covered at WeAreSharks, but loaded with other goodies too.

HydroSeventyFour is the work of Joshua M. Smith, and it’s incredibly good. He’s somehow connected to the always hip and rightfully so, YouWorkForThem. He’s work is delightfully intricate. If you know me, you know I’m kookoo for swirlys. And this guy swirls better than most. Found via Milky Plastique

Interesting post at the Nau blog about the effects of copyright, as spurred by this documentary about a specific drum break. The video, though interesting, is pretty mind numbing. I’d read Nau’s critique and then spend the rest of the day listening to your itunes trying to find the ‘Amen’ break.

I don’t know anything about this short movie. But it’s really beautiful. Kinda Creepy.

From hybworks out of u.k. Check it out.

Check out this kooky Gondry ‘film’ for Motorola. I’m a fan, but… what makes this a film vs. a commercial? Anybody? Raises questions about vocabulary. Because he’s Michel Gondry are his commercials less ‘commercial?’ The opening copy says, “We commisioned a film… about the experience of using the mtrla razr.” Isn’t that a fancy way of saying we bought a commercial?

The site is totally cool though. Check it out.