So, I'm trying to catch up on podcasts. I'm so behind! I think there is some good stuff in this interview between Micheal Pollan and Bill Moyers.
For example, I had no idea that the United States sends Alaska salmon to China to be fileted and then it is shipped backed here... I also enjoyed greatly the uplifting piece (in the second part of the interview) where they look at a part of East Brooklyn with high diabetes, that converted an empty lot into a garden to help supply the community with fresh produce. And that a resulting farmers market distributes free food vouchers to mothers and seniors. Simple, positive, local solution.
I missed this major Micheal Pollan NYT article too. Also on my catch up list now. I think it would be a great statement if The Obama's used the White House lawn to grow food for the first family and guests!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES
I've just become aware of photographer Edward Burtynsky in the last week or so.
I watched Manufactured Landscapes tonight - a movie which I would recommend. The movie touches on his experience of photographing landscapes from mines, to oil fields, to factories in China and beyond. You can see photos on his website:
http://www.edwardburtynsky.com
In the movie, the visual representation of the changes going on in China are stunning.
After Mao, about 60 years ago, China's population was 90% agrarian 10% urban. The current idea coming from Beijing is to see China's population move to 30% agrarian and 70% urban. Which when you look at 1.3 billion people, the urbanization of China is unprecedented in the world. China is experiencing the largest country-to-city migration in history. By 2050, China urban population will be the equivalent of the combined population of the North and South American continents and the entire European Union.
Wow.
And these Chinese cites are replicating 'old thinking' rather than developing a new way of thinking about urban environments.
I watched Manufactured Landscapes tonight - a movie which I would recommend. The movie touches on his experience of photographing landscapes from mines, to oil fields, to factories in China and beyond. You can see photos on his website:
http://www.edwardburtynsky.com
In the movie, the visual representation of the changes going on in China are stunning.
After Mao, about 60 years ago, China's population was 90% agrarian 10% urban. The current idea coming from Beijing is to see China's population move to 30% agrarian and 70% urban. Which when you look at 1.3 billion people, the urbanization of China is unprecedented in the world. China is experiencing the largest country-to-city migration in history. By 2050, China urban population will be the equivalent of the combined population of the North and South American continents and the entire European Union.
Wow.
And these Chinese cites are replicating 'old thinking' rather than developing a new way of thinking about urban environments.
Friday, September 12, 2008
RE-POST: VIDEO LEARNING BITES
I had a post that I deleted by accident yesterday while doing some Gigya testing. Here's what I remember of it...
- online video
- online learning via quick facts pieced together and visuals
- paper-like or unpolished look
- concise, well simplified explanations
Good Magazine: Paper or Plastic?
Common Craft: RSS
Zaproot: Pickens Plan
- online video
- online learning via quick facts pieced together and visuals
- paper-like or unpolished look
- concise, well simplified explanations
Good Magazine: Paper or Plastic?
Common Craft: RSS
Zaproot: Pickens Plan
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
SPAM-ADE FLASH FICTION
I think this is super fun idea - a contest to create fiction out of spam. Contest ends August 4, needs to be under 500 words or less.
Friday, July 25, 2008
BIT 'O PANTS
James Pants that is. From Spokane, WA. Awww. :-)
'My Tree' (which I like better than the Cosmic Rapp below) is on David Byrne Radio playlist this month. It seems he's also on a Fabric Podcast back in April which I intend to listen to yet.
'My Tree' (which I like better than the Cosmic Rapp below) is on David Byrne Radio playlist this month. It seems he's also on a Fabric Podcast back in April which I intend to listen to yet.
Friday, July 11, 2008
A BEAUTIFUL BIT OF SUSTAINED MOTION GRAPHICS
In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon’s hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace. 38 years later, Jerry has produced a film about it.
Monday, June 9, 2008
CHRIS JORDAN
I keep running across mentions of about this lawyer turn photographer who lives in Seattle: Chris Jordan.
http://www.chrisjordan.com/
I especially like this video intereview: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/09212007/watch3.html
And this:
http://www.jmcolberg.com/weblog/2006/09/a_conversation_with_chris_jord.html
http://www.chrisjordan.com/
I especially like this video intereview: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/09212007/watch3.html
And this:
http://www.jmcolberg.com/weblog/2006/09/a_conversation_with_chris_jord.html
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
THE REAL COST
My first thought of reading this annoying Newsweek article is that American's need to get out of thier cars. That aside...
I've read before that in the 1950's, people used to spend more of thier income on food than we do today. Also our current food costs don't account for 'the real cost' of pesticide run-off, fossil fuel transport, health issues that processed and factory-made foods introduce to the individual, society, etc.
In my view, organic fruits and vegetables should not be presented as a luxury item but a necessity for preventitive health and a step forward to change our current systems. Organics will be more expensive until it mainstreams (which I believe will happen). I agree with the karate instructor on may levels "The cost of feeding myself processed foods is far greater than the cost of organic foods."
I feel a more productive spin on this article issue would be: buy less, drive less. A huge chunk of our groceries in Western countries end up in landfills anyway.
I've read before that in the 1950's, people used to spend more of thier income on food than we do today. Also our current food costs don't account for 'the real cost' of pesticide run-off, fossil fuel transport, health issues that processed and factory-made foods introduce to the individual, society, etc.
In my view, organic fruits and vegetables should not be presented as a luxury item but a necessity for preventitive health and a step forward to change our current systems. Organics will be more expensive until it mainstreams (which I believe will happen). I agree with the karate instructor on may levels "The cost of feeding myself processed foods is far greater than the cost of organic foods."
I feel a more productive spin on this article issue would be: buy less, drive less. A huge chunk of our groceries in Western countries end up in landfills anyway.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
FOOD, GARDENS, CITIES
Essay by Michael Pollan
'Why Bother?'
from
NYT Mag Green Issue
and interesting
alt blog response
from a Seattle food writer
plus about
garden cities
'Why Bother?'
from
NYT Mag Green Issue
and interesting
alt blog response
from a Seattle food writer
plus about
garden cities
Thursday, April 24, 2008
STUFF LIKE THIS TROUBLES ME
So, as you may know, I work on an Entertainment web site. And I happen to sit near the Movies Producer. We work in in an open work space. On occasion, fun discussions occur while we slog away on the site. HA. So, last week, one such topic happened to be food/socioeconomic issues (a favorite of mine! ;-) of which I mentioned a documentary I had seen on class in America "People Like Us" where there is a segment called "The Trouble with Tofu" .
In Burlington, low income folks are at war with upper middle-class counter-cultureites over who will build the new downtown grocery. Will it be Shaw's, a national chain of supermarkets, or the Onion River Co-op, a smaller, community-based health food store? While the Co-op promises that it will accommodate the tastes of the masses, many Burlingtonians are suspicious of a place they consider too expensive and judgmental of those who opt for Wonder Bread, cigarettes, and red meat.
The topic turned up again today, with the release of the new Tina Fey movie Baby Momma (Fey's character is an exec at a Whole Foods-type company, while the surrogate she hires is "white trash.").
It let to discussing this blog item.
Of which, I enjoyed much, said Movie Producer response:
Another aspect that interests and/or concerns me is the separation of “facts” (experience or ‘what is’) from values (not the best word for it, but I mean judgments of what’s better or what ‘should be’). I am not a moral absolutist, but I have to ask re: this blog post, are people not allowed to think about or decide what is ‘better’ – for the planet, for their health, for whatever? To fathom improving the status quo? To imagine what would be a better “American way of life”? Simply implying that coastal folks with their fancy supermarkets, higher levels of formal education, sushi bars, etc. are snootily ignoring reality seems to say no. I note: Isn’t the “middle of the country” turning a blind eye to the “facts” and experience of life for coastal populations just the same way? Not everyone who lives in the middle of country is part of a hopelessly inert “permanent underclass,” so isn’t there a whole lot more going on here, in terms of exploitation of lower income populations and the hideous capitalist machine?
Stuff like above troubles me *all the time*. I’m often trying to figure out what I believe in terms of these questions.
I used to try to listen and try to consider all POVs and I was accused often of being “journalistic’ and perhaps at times deceptive but this allowed me to ‘float’ between different kinds of people and different groups but I felt I might be ‘seeding ideas’ that way... However, my friend Steve was inflexible – holding people accountable and voicing his view (on what I *too* believed to be ‘fact’) – he had a stance (fact + values).
In order to change the status quo, I currently believe I need to become more like Steve. This is a change in view that I’ve had in the last six months or so… That means to me:
I need to decide what is better - have a stance (fact + values)– voice and live this – and finally challenge blind eyes.
I’m just typing this out for some reason – it seems to relate in some way.
In Burlington, low income folks are at war with upper middle-class counter-cultureites over who will build the new downtown grocery. Will it be Shaw's, a national chain of supermarkets, or the Onion River Co-op, a smaller, community-based health food store? While the Co-op promises that it will accommodate the tastes of the masses, many Burlingtonians are suspicious of a place they consider too expensive and judgmental of those who opt for Wonder Bread, cigarettes, and red meat.
The topic turned up again today, with the release of the new Tina Fey movie Baby Momma (Fey's character is an exec at a Whole Foods-type company, while the surrogate she hires is "white trash.").
It let to discussing this blog item.
Of which, I enjoyed much, said Movie Producer response:
Another aspect that interests and/or concerns me is the separation of “facts” (experience or ‘what is’) from values (not the best word for it, but I mean judgments of what’s better or what ‘should be’). I am not a moral absolutist, but I have to ask re: this blog post, are people not allowed to think about or decide what is ‘better’ – for the planet, for their health, for whatever? To fathom improving the status quo? To imagine what would be a better “American way of life”? Simply implying that coastal folks with their fancy supermarkets, higher levels of formal education, sushi bars, etc. are snootily ignoring reality seems to say no. I note: Isn’t the “middle of the country” turning a blind eye to the “facts” and experience of life for coastal populations just the same way? Not everyone who lives in the middle of country is part of a hopelessly inert “permanent underclass,” so isn’t there a whole lot more going on here, in terms of exploitation of lower income populations and the hideous capitalist machine?
Stuff like above troubles me *all the time*. I’m often trying to figure out what I believe in terms of these questions.
I used to try to listen and try to consider all POVs and I was accused often of being “journalistic’ and perhaps at times deceptive but this allowed me to ‘float’ between different kinds of people and different groups but I felt I might be ‘seeding ideas’ that way... However, my friend Steve was inflexible – holding people accountable and voicing his view (on what I *too* believed to be ‘fact’) – he had a stance (fact + values).
In order to change the status quo, I currently believe I need to become more like Steve. This is a change in view that I’ve had in the last six months or so… That means to me:
I need to decide what is better - have a stance (fact + values)– voice and live this – and finally challenge blind eyes.
I’m just typing this out for some reason – it seems to relate in some way.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
China Factory --> U.S.A --> Mexican Landfill
Help me? Some time ago, I heard a story on NPR that I tend to *eventually tell everyone* about - I mean heck - it's even come up two times in the last month alone! It was such a great, well-crafted, well researched story! As I *remember* it...
The NPR reporter follows Mardi Gras beads from the factory that they are made in China (by exploited child workers in cinderblock dorms) to actual Mardi Gras in New Orleans (where they are happilessly tossed around by drunk Americans) to the landfill they end up in Mexico (where the poor towns folk feel a lack of options but to accept the trash originating the United States). I recall the stats being over one ton of beads that were shipped via barge to the landfill.
However, searching today. I cannot find the story anywhere...
I did find online that it seems these Mardi Gras beads may be toxic!
And there was a film "Mardi Gras: Made in China" that was at Sundance a few years ago... I wonder if the NPR story was based off that movie in some way?
I told the story to my co-worker and she pointed me to this interesting Flash movie and blog that was at SXSW this year called "The Story of Stuff" and while this has very good qualities and talks through some similar issues... I still wish I could find that original NPR story!
I also remember a few "This American Life" shows about trash from NYC being relocated to North Carolina - also of which I cannot find! But, I can find a TAL story about people who live in dumps in Mexico.
I'm wondering now if it was *really* was an NPR story! Or if I've over the course of time, have I manufactured the story by blending several things together? I'm worried by this (on many levels). Very worried.
The NPR reporter follows Mardi Gras beads from the factory that they are made in China (by exploited child workers in cinderblock dorms) to actual Mardi Gras in New Orleans (where they are happilessly tossed around by drunk Americans) to the landfill they end up in Mexico (where the poor towns folk feel a lack of options but to accept the trash originating the United States). I recall the stats being over one ton of beads that were shipped via barge to the landfill.
However, searching today. I cannot find the story anywhere...
I did find online that it seems these Mardi Gras beads may be toxic!
And there was a film "Mardi Gras: Made in China" that was at Sundance a few years ago... I wonder if the NPR story was based off that movie in some way?
I told the story to my co-worker and she pointed me to this interesting Flash movie and blog that was at SXSW this year called "The Story of Stuff" and while this has very good qualities and talks through some similar issues... I still wish I could find that original NPR story!
I also remember a few "This American Life" shows about trash from NYC being relocated to North Carolina - also of which I cannot find! But, I can find a TAL story about people who live in dumps in Mexico.
I'm wondering now if it was *really* was an NPR story! Or if I've over the course of time, have I manufactured the story by blending several things together? I'm worried by this (on many levels). Very worried.
Monday, February 4, 2008
BIKES AND MASKS
Okay, Jason has me sold... I now agree we in the early stages of a "Bikes and Masks" trend. A few samples reference:
Bat For Lashes - What's a Girl To Do
Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire
Speculation: Could this have some sort of relationship to Donnie Darko? I recall bikes and masks there too... Perhaps, 20-something artists who come of age with that movie are now sending a wink back to it?
Bat For Lashes - What's a Girl To Do
Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire
Speculation: Could this have some sort of relationship to Donnie Darko? I recall bikes and masks there too... Perhaps, 20-something artists who come of age with that movie are now sending a wink back to it?
Friday, January 11, 2008
OTHER THAN INTENDED
Using something for other than it was intended (in this case bottle tops):
Barney's Display Windows
Printing on old maps or pages from old books:
William Kentridge
Lisa Congdon
More later:
To do: Use letters from photos of signage to spell something
Question: Are turtles be the hot new graphic animal? (as were birds, deer, owls, and octopus)
Look into: Explosion of modern pre-fab housing
Barney's Display Windows
Printing on old maps or pages from old books:
William Kentridge
Lisa Congdon
More later:
To do: Use letters from photos of signage to spell something
Question: Are turtles be the hot new graphic animal? (as were birds, deer, owls, and octopus)
Look into: Explosion of modern pre-fab housing
Thursday, January 10, 2008
MAKE MY DAY
My dear friend Molly just sent me this photo of her desk at work:
It has a little tiny print I made with good luck chat (cat). It totally made my day. Thanks, Molly. :-)
It has a little tiny print I made with good luck chat (cat). It totally made my day. Thanks, Molly. :-)
Monday, January 7, 2008
ON WISDOM OF THE CROWD
Many people that I know agree that Cantina Zaccagnini - Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a GREAT (and inexpensive) Italian wine. A dry, red wine with a crisp finish. Ahhh.
A collective agreement - the wisdom of the crowd - consensus of something good across age, belief and location.
In high school literature, we are taught again and again to look upon the crowd with suspect eyes.
"The Lottery" or "An Enemy of the People"
But in recent times, with a new wave of web sites that rely on 'aggregated self-expression' - the wisdom and advice of a virtual collection of people - can actually bring forth some good direction or (at least suggestions) to the otherwise unknowing.
Yelp and TripAdvisor
God forbid, these sites be combined with "rich media".
YouTube
Forced content from an authority expert (or advertiser) old, tired, dead. Marketing wants it to appear that it's grown up from or "of the people".
But any grouping of things are always get interesting.
One Thousand Cranes
I don't even know what this entry is about.
Obama in Iowa
I guess I'm just feeling more hopeful lately. So get started.
A collective agreement - the wisdom of the crowd - consensus of something good across age, belief and location.
In high school literature, we are taught again and again to look upon the crowd with suspect eyes.
"The Lottery" or "An Enemy of the People"
But in recent times, with a new wave of web sites that rely on 'aggregated self-expression' - the wisdom and advice of a virtual collection of people - can actually bring forth some good direction or (at least suggestions) to the otherwise unknowing.
Yelp and TripAdvisor
God forbid, these sites be combined with "rich media".
YouTube
Forced content from an authority expert (or advertiser) old, tired, dead. Marketing wants it to appear that it's grown up from or "of the people".
But any grouping of things are always get interesting.
One Thousand Cranes
I don't even know what this entry is about.
Obama in Iowa
I guess I'm just feeling more hopeful lately. So get started.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Fresh Slate for 2008
Well, I've been meaning for several months now to write how the F5 (Refresh) key literally detached from my computer -- clearly from over use -- and how this is a metaphor for my life or some such thing -- but I have been too scattered all over the place for the last few months take the photo and start the entry.
I realize I need a fresh slate in this blog space for 2008.
To begin, a quick historical summary, I worked through some "place" and "drive across the USA" issues on the trip outlined in the blog entries below. Afterwards, I spent several months oscillating (July-Sept) between Mom and Dad, Redding and Chappaquiddick (all sorts of combos). I returned to Seattle in mid-September after reducing everything from my 10x10 east coast storage unit into a 5x7 crate which I had shipped to my new apartment in the Fremont area of Seattle. Items had been in the storage unit for THREE years. At this point, I've worked through all of the 'stuff' and it's been like opening a time capsule of my life from three years ago in Boston. As cheesy as it sounds, I used the criteria outlined in a book titled "Clearing Clutter with Feng Shui" which was given to me by Megan Riley and that I would highly recommend to everyone. Essentially, the author's point is one's physical space often reflects one's mental place. Ideally, one should only allow objects that you absolutely love into your physical space unless the object has some sort of tactile usefulness needed for survival.
In addition in late September, I started a new contract at Microsoft in the MSN Entertainment group. And most happily, my good friend from college, Jennifer Nelson, relocated to Seattle to start a new job in December.
It is my goal for 2008 to use this blog space to capture and record things of interest that are floating in my head, in email with friends and web links out there.
A new year. A fresh start. Ya gotta love it. Hope.
I realize I need a fresh slate in this blog space for 2008.
To begin, a quick historical summary, I worked through some "place" and "drive across the USA" issues on the trip outlined in the blog entries below. Afterwards, I spent several months oscillating (July-Sept) between Mom and Dad, Redding and Chappaquiddick (all sorts of combos). I returned to Seattle in mid-September after reducing everything from my 10x10 east coast storage unit into a 5x7 crate which I had shipped to my new apartment in the Fremont area of Seattle. Items had been in the storage unit for THREE years. At this point, I've worked through all of the 'stuff' and it's been like opening a time capsule of my life from three years ago in Boston. As cheesy as it sounds, I used the criteria outlined in a book titled "Clearing Clutter with Feng Shui" which was given to me by Megan Riley and that I would highly recommend to everyone. Essentially, the author's point is one's physical space often reflects one's mental place. Ideally, one should only allow objects that you absolutely love into your physical space unless the object has some sort of tactile usefulness needed for survival.
In addition in late September, I started a new contract at Microsoft in the MSN Entertainment group. And most happily, my good friend from college, Jennifer Nelson, relocated to Seattle to start a new job in December.
It is my goal for 2008 to use this blog space to capture and record things of interest that are floating in my head, in email with friends and web links out there.
A new year. A fresh start. Ya gotta love it. Hope.
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