Archive for October 2008
My First Tweet…
Posted on: October 28, 2008
Metblogs
Posted on: October 26, 2008
How is it that I’ve never seen this? Via someone’s Tumblr, via Ning, I stumbled upon Minneapolis Metblogs. This is just one city-focused blog that is a part of over-arching Metroblogging, “the world’s largest network of city-focused blogs, covering local issues in over 50 cities in the world”.
What is Metroblogging?
Metroblogging started off as a more locally focused alternative news source in Los Angeles and has turned into the largest and fastest growing network of city-specific blogs on the Web. We got sick of reading local news that was syndicated from the other side of the country, or was just repurposed national chit chat that had nothing to do with our city. We created our first blog as a throw back to the days when a local news paper focused on local issues, and you could walk down to the corner coffee shop and chat up the reporters whose column you read earlier that day. This idea didn’t stay in one city for long and before we knew it there were Metblogs in Chicago, Portland, Karachi, and Vienna. Today there are over 50 Metblogs in countries all over the world. Local politics, event reviews, lunch recommendations and ways to avoid that big traffic jam downtown. If it’s happening in our cities, we’re on it.
They’re featured in Forbes’ “Best of Web” Directory.
With such collectively-sourced blogs like this, it encourages us to consider the validity and power of citizen journalism. And, whether or not this form of content is becoming more of an authoritative voice in whatever its respective category may be. In what way is it becoming a more valuable source as we continue to question the media and increasingly look to peer review and word-of-mouth perspective?
Also see citizen media, user-generated content, citizen journalism sources.
- In: art | design
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Steven Woodward‘s 2008 exhibition (latest work) kicks off with a reception tomorrow night. Check it out.
When: Fri. 10/24/08 5-9 p.m.
Where: The Union Depot. 214 Fourth Street E. St.Paul, MN.
(FREE on-street parking + light refreshments)
Exhibition: 10/28 through 11/26. Tues. through Fri. 3-6 p.m. Sat. 1-4 p.m.
Past Work:
Juggler Not, 1989 @ Opus. laminated pine
Judith, 2000. hand-braided rug, various materials
Part micro-blog with a sense of Craigslist Rants & Raves, Ventibate is the place to go if you A) need to get something off your chest anonymously, B) need validation that we all deal with idiocy and unfairness and we all deal with crap together, or C) really need a good laugh on a boring day at the office. Oh yeah, but I also think it is interesting that Ventibate categorizes complaints (stories?) like Consumer, Relationships, Sex, Politics, and Work.
e-Motions by Tania Falcao
Posted on: October 23, 2008
- In: art | beauty | design
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What emotions do you think or feel are being represented here? Experience this e-Motions motion graphic by Tania Falcao. e-Motions states: Animation is an art form which brings to life our imagination, creates illusions an mimics actions. “Through this form of expression, based in motion, is possible to give form to sensations and feelings showing physical reactions and facial expressions. The goal is to present emotions and sensations through the expression of drawing and 2D digital animation technology.” via 2Modern Design Talk.
The Atlantic Project
Posted on: October 22, 2008
- In: blogs | culture | philosophy | politics | psychology | relationships | sex | social networks
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Isn’t it time we reinvigorate our thinking and start asking more questions? Yes, says The Atlantic. Their refreshing thought initiative, The Atlantic Project, challenges America to Think. Again.
Get in on the discussion starting with a range of questions such as:
Should women settle? Why do Presidents lie? Which religion will win? Is porn adultery? Is Google making us stupid? When is evil cool?
Each topic is accompanied with sources for more reference (beyond your own opinion and knowledge). Click on an image or topic at the bottom of the page and find either an article, short documentary, video, and/or blog for more information.
Ready. Set. Go.
- In: culture | graphic design | philosophy | psychology | science
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I love this image.
Spied on WIRED by Josh McHugh. By the Swiss graphic designer Martin Woodtli. The image accompanies a story on Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson’s forth-coming book, The Superorganism. Given the color and intensity of the image, my first thought was that this WIRED story was specifically about art, a new technology, or music (something visually or tangibly creative). So I was a bit intrigued to read that it was about evolution and the idea of ‘superorganisms’, which, until five minutes ago, I’d never heard of. In a previous book also by Wilson and also Bert Hölldobler, The Ants, it is explored whether “large groups of animals [could] function together as a single entity with distributed intelligence? Did evolution work through such groups, selecting at the group level rather than the individual?”
Aside from sparking controversy and conversation in the biological world, it got web geeks and thinkers talking.
“Cybervisionaries saw in the superorganism an ideal way of describing the networked global brain that they were just beginning to imagine…Wired‘s Kevin Kelly drew on Wilson’s theories for the conceptual framework of the Hive Mind, humanity’s emerging cognitive interconnectedness. Even today, Kelly is writing about the One Machine and the Technium, a neologism he defines as “a superorganism of technology.”
This brings to mind the communication ‘processes’ and power of social networking communities when working as an entity across and outside of the web. Thoughts? I need to read up more on this idea…
Oh yeah. And now maybe I see relevancy of this colorful image. It sort-of symbolizes many (different) strands merging (converging?) into a single mass.
My News: Change is Good
Posted on: October 21, 2008
For those of you who’ve been wondering what I’m now up to a year after ad school, here’s the latest:
Soon I’ll be joining Fallon as a freelance planner in an internship position.
For the past year, I’ve been freelancing at Peterson Milla Hooks, a Minneapolis agency adept at churning out the creatively slick, standout print and tv ads for Target. While my stint at PMH revolved more closely around account management and art buying, I’ve been lucky enough to have contributed to a few research initiatives. I’ve also been fortunate to have met and worked with many smart, yet down-to-earth professionals. Oh, and a few dogs. (Mel, I’m gonna miss your quirky mug staring up at me, begging for treats.)
I’m going to miss PMH no doubt, but I’m incredibly excited to truly get started in planning with Fallon. 🙂
Links 2008-10-21
Posted on: October 21, 2008
- In: art | culture | design | gadgets | innovation | technology
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- If you’re looking for some different/challenging pumpkin carving patterns, check out these politically charged designs at Campaign-O-Lanterns.
- Love this product and what it communicates: Create your own message with the DIY Screenprinted LCD Card. 4 lines of 5-character fields lets you personalize your digital greeting. Cards are printed on 100% recycled paper. 5 for $15. From San Francisco shop Yellow Owl Workshop.
- This is a great idea for giving a special someone (or just yourself, because you’re special and you know it) a unique gift. The Mechanical Musical Box Kit lets you create your own tune, even if you’ve got the musical sensibility of a fruit fly. The kit comes with blank paper and instructions on how to create any tune. Find at The Curiousity Shoppe: Crafts, Kits, Curios for the Creatively Inclined. (thanks Jessiena!)
Digestion 