Archive of September 2008

September 26

Last night's workshop, and post-workshop

<p>Last night the students finished their stories, and we recorded student readings for each of them. Man, they are smart and creative. With the student's help, I'll be posting the final drafts and audio recordings over the next week at the <a href="http://826valenciaconversationswiththeworld.blogspot.com">workshop blog</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to everyone for a successful and fun workshop. </p><p>And on another note, <a href="http://www.customizedinstruction.com">Eric</a> and I had a great meeting with Paul from <a href="http://www.mozilla.org">Mozilla</a> over a beer after the workshop. We're going to be putting together a pitch for a global open-source creative collaboration. Exciting stuff. I'll post ideas and napkin sketches as we make 'em. Starting with these over a pint of Lagunitas (please ignore the older bucketbrain chickenscratch):</p><p><a href="http://www.slambridis.com/chyrp/upload/ffnotes1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.slambridis.com/chyrp/upload/ffnotes1.jpg" border="0" width="500" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.slambridis.com/chyrp/upload/ffnotes2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.slambridis.com/chyrp/upload/ffnotes2.jpg" border="0" width="500" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.slambridis.com/chyrp/upload/ffnotes3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.slambridis.com/chyrp/upload/ffnotes3.jpg" border="0" width="500" /></a></p>
03:42 PM | 0 Comments | Tags: , , , ,
<p><a href="http://www.molleindustria.org/freeculturegame-eng"><img src="http://www.slambridis.com/chyrp/upload/freeculture.png" border="0" /></a> <br /> </p><p>The notion that open-sourcing ideas and freeing them from fear is crucial for human culture seems to be spreading. I'm seeing more and more instances popping up these days. This link is a nice bit of information backed by a fun little explanatory game. Learn how to fight the power - by making little green heads go pop.</p>
03:12 PM | 0 Comments | Tags: ,
September 25
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It's all here, in Jonathon Drori's simple talk on how we understand a lot less than we think we do. Creativity, the mind, fear, the human condition, education, the sharing of ideas, the pitfalls of technology. It's all there.
05:20 PM | 0 Comments | Tags: , ,
<p><br /> <a href="http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/008702.html"><img src="http://www.worldchanging.com/postimages/article/8702_largearticlephoto.jpg" border="0" alt="Article Photo" width="500" /></a></p><p>The article's title is "An Arctic Sea "Foaming" with Methane: What Now?"</p><p> </p><p>At this point you have to just start enjoying all these apocalyptic signs because one of things must be true: either every generation feels that it could be the last generation and thus secretely enjoys this social psychosis of end times, or we are the first and the end is truly drawing near. Either way, very interesting ramifications for the human condition. Pretty much exactly what my Molasses story is about. </p>
02:59 PM | 0 Comments | Tags: , ,
September 24
<a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2008/09/22/news-flash-mats-silk.html"><img src="http://www.boingboing.net/200809222059.jpg" border="0" alt="200809222059" width="351" height="500" /></a><p>Courtesy of <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2008/09/22/news-flash-mats-silk.html">BoingBoing</a>. This is a great depiction of why I avoid the news at all costs, and why I argue my pride in avoiding it with other creatives who rely on the news for inspiration. There is plenty of darkness within our minds and everyday lives to inspire me that I simply don't need the constant inundation of worldly destruction that the news offers, and which is depicted so wonderfully and whimsically here. Same shit, different day. We  humans love the end of the world. </p>
10:02 AM | 0 Comments | Tags: ,
September 23
<object width="440" height="247"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> <param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1747316&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /> <embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1747316&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="440" height="247"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/1747316?pg=embed&sec=1747316">Metamorphosis</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user656427?pg=embed&sec=1747316">Glenn Marshall</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com?pg=embed&sec=1747316">Vimeo</a>.
<p>Received this <a href="http://flowingdata.com/2008/09/23/beautiful-generative-computer-art-metamorphosis/">link</a>/video from Stefan Klocek, inspired by talks we've been having about how best to create a multimedia experience out of the written word. This has no words, but the generative artwork is beautiful. I can see this being powered by displayed words, or vice versa.   </p><p>From the link:</p><blockquote><p>Glenn Marshall has released his finished version of <a href="http://glennmarshall.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/metamorphosis/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/glennmarshall.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/metamorphosis/');">Metamorphosis</a>, a beautiful piece of computer generative art programmed in <a href="http://processing.org/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/processing.org');">Processing</a>. I wish I knew a bit more about what I was seeing, but I can only guess that the branches and butterflies follow certain laws of nature and rules defined by the music (I hope). Nevertheless, it's beautiful. Here's the video below, but go to Vimeo to watch the video in all it's HD glory.</p></blockquote>
05:27 PM | 0 Comments | Tags: , , ,
<p><a href="http://englishrussia.com/?p=2056"><img src="http://englishrussia.com/images/coastline_canon/23.jpg" border="0" alt="abandoned coastline canon in Russia 23" width="500" /></a></p><p>Cool shots of abandoned battlements. They look so lonely without someone to kill, don't they?  Would be an interesting setting for a story, or an angle for a war-themed story. </p>
05:22 PM | 0 Comments | Tags: ,
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<p>I would've loved to see the brainstorming ideas that this came from. Thanks <a href="http://eplay.typepad.com/eplay_online_sports_fanta/2008/09/hondas-musical.html">buzzfeed</a>.</p><blockquote>Honda of America created a unique marketing event for the drivers who travel over a specific road in Lancaster, CA. Like a phonograph record, grooves in the road, when driven over by a car intones a passage from the William Tell Overture. Created as a promotion for the Honda Civic- there are only four in the world, and the only one in the USA- But alas- neighbors near the road have complained, and the City of Lancaster says they will repave the road on Tuesday Sept. 23.</blockquote><p> </p>
05:17 PM | 0 Comments | Tags: ,

Article on neighborly crazies at the Berkeley Bowl

This article provides the details for a humorous story setting for the interaction amongst neighborhood peoples. Even through the article you can feel the tension of the shoppers, and specifically their anxiety over everything else going on in their lives and in the world coming out while doing their grocery shopping. Great metaphor/microcosm.
10:22 AM | 0 Comments | Tags: ,
September 22
mondino.jpg
Man, I love this broken harlequin shot of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842770/">Tilda Swinton</a>. A face that could launch 10,000 stories. Unfortunately I don't remember where I found this so I can't credit the photographer. Sorry.
02:32 PM | 0 Comments | Tags: ,
<p style="margin-bottom: 0pt"> <img src="http://s.buzzfeed.com/static/imagebuzz/2008/9/19/14/cf2db67bedc85e77b102c6561d5f02a5.jpg" border="0" alt="Last House Standing" width="448" height="333" /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0pt">Love this post-Hurricane-Ike shot, photoshop accusations or not. Kinda reminds me of the house in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Gilliam">Terry Gilliam</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tideland_(film)">Tideland</a> (a movie which I sadly didn't love despite really wanting to). Courtesy of <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/last-house-standing">Buzzfeed</a>.  </p>
02:25 PM | 0 Comments | Tags:
September 19
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<p>Screen-printers <a href="http://deadbeatsister.com/" target="_blank">Deadbeatsister</a>, will be selling their sweet custom-printed wares at this weekend's <a href="http://www.treasureislandfestival.com">Treasure Island Music Festival</a> in San Francisco. They make these in the shack in my backyard. Not joking. And artist friend <a href="www.hiredmeat.com">Dave Crosland</a> helps with the designs.  </p><p>For more information, here's her email blast:</p><blockquote><p>Hey Deadbeaties!<br /><br />This weekend marks the return of that magical music festival in the Bay, <a href="http://treasureislandfestival.com/index" target="_blank">Treasure Island</a>. Deadbeatsister will be set up in the Treasure Chest area with the Indie Mart crew, sharing our pirate's booty with the masses. <br /> <br />We've been scampering like scallywags to get ready for this show. So many new designs to check out...all hand printed with love on soft tees, scarves, dresses, and anything else we could find. <strong style="color: #000066">Hall & Oates '08</strong> tees are back in stock just in time for the upcoming election. And this weekend we're debuting our newest gear for fall--the <font size="1" style="color: #000066"><strong>Meta Hoodie</strong></font><font size="1"><span style="color: #000066">,</span></font> printed on super-soft and comfy zip-up hoodies.<br /> <br />As a special appreciation to all you loyal Deadbeatsister supporters (and with love to CSS),<font size="2"><strong style="color: #000066"> come by our table and say "Music is my Hot Hot Sex!" </strong><span style="color: #000000"><font size="1">for 5 bux off any t-shirt, hoodie, dress, or whatever strikes your fancy. <br /> <br /></font></span></font>We can't think of a better way to spend the weekend than hanging out on a man-made island with some of the best damn indie acts around.</p></blockquote>
10:29 AM | 0 Comments | Tags: , ,
September 18
<p><img src="http://craphound.com/images/flamingarrowoil.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Courtesy of <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2008/09/16/flaming-arrows-integ.html">BoingBoing</a>. Yet another inspiring character, event, or detail. The caption read "Amateur flaming-arrow archers kept the fires burning in Alberta's gas towers in 1960. There are too many interesting characters in the world than time to write about them all. Would also make a great singular event to center a short story around - a tower going out, or getting re-lit. </p>
03:59 PM | 0 Comments | Tags:
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