Here it is again the list of my 10 favorite readings of the week.
Let’s start.

• Most brilliant is new Zippo advertising campaign. Even if message clearly exaggerate the amount of space taken by discarded lighters, it shows an interesting point of view that probably few of us had considered before. Read a full article on StillAd ;
• Most Useful is The 13 most essential plugin for WordPress by Net-tuts. Even if I don’t agree to all of them because I think some plugin in list are not strictly necessary (don’t forget that each plugin you activate eats resources and slows a bit your wordpress!), there are some I didn’t know. I would add to list Login Lockdown: detect and record IP addresses of every failed login attempt and if more than a certain number of attempts are detected within a short period of time from the same IP range, then the login function is disabled for all requests from that range;
  
• Most stunning is Step into my Cardboard Office from CR Blog. Their article tells about Nothing, a new Amsterdam creative agency that built its internal working spaces with cardboard. Article has plenty of amazing pictures of the studio;
• Most funny is Comments you won’t have seen by DavidAirey.com. I read this clever and wit blog very often and surely there are a lot of graphic design post to point out (I especially like the “Logo of the month” series), but this one was, really, exhilarating;
• Most Interesting is Achieve your goals with Incremental Persistence. I’ve found this article on DevLounge. Very powerful explanation about how persistence conquers all. You can’t miss the linked John Reese article on Income.com too;
• Most Beautiful is a showcase of SmashingMagazine of 40 typography-related websites and blogs. Astounding creativity and a lot of knowledge here;
• Most Inspiring is a DesignM.ag Showcase about landscape photography. Incredibly, the shot of the cypresses has been taken not far away from where I live. Those trees are really famous among photographers here;
• Most Valuable is The Ups and Downs of Business by Chris Tomlison. I’ve found by chance this 5th and last article of an interesting series, so, my advice is to read them all;
• My favorite artist is Jay Horinouchi creates dreamy and intriguing worlds filled with Japanese-inspired creatures. Amazing painting technique. He is having a solo exhibition at Möbius Gallery in Los Angeles until April 7, 2009.

Do you know what IStockPhoto.com is? Noo?

Don’t be afraid, I’m here to tell you about it.
First of all it is probably the largest and growing royalty free stock photography website, secondly, it is a HUGE community of creatives where you can:

• exchange your knowledge with your peers;
• enroll in exciting “battle cage” where community judge the most talented illustrator;
• sell your photography/ illustration/ flash creation;
• download your FREE hires photo of the week;
• download your FREE (really HIGH quality) vector image of the month;
• take part in contests;
• find a lot of articles with fabulous tutorials;
• show your designs to community;
• a lot more! You only have to subscribe to check by yourself!

As I said in subject line, there are a lot of news at IStockPhoto’s.
Let’s see some:

• IStockPhoto is about to launch a new backend search engine that will result in faster searches;
• IstockPhoto is offering to subscribers a special code (all subscribers!) that will allow them to save 50% off Photoshop Live Conference or Creative Suite Live taking place August 25-27 in Melbourne, Australia. Too good!
• Rob Sylvan, site Director, is launching his first book Photoshop Lightroom 2 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (roll over link to see a preview). Being a Photographer himself he wants others photographers to have the same ease with this software, in 318 pages he will teach you everything about the program, from installing to how modules work together.
• Last but not least, IStockPhoto has a referral program that pays $10 for each new subscriber you send to the community as soon he makes his first purchase. The great news here is that from September 1-30, there will be double reward: $20!

Still here reading? Go to IStockPhoto and watch yourself, you’ll thank me!
(Yes, it was a referral link, but it will do you no harm, I promise)