Food Fight

I've only been in a couple of real food fights in my life. The best one was in Master's in our singlewide (yes, we lived in a singlewide). Something having to do with chocolate cake and... well, I won't go into it. This short film by Stefan Nadelman trumps them all though. The filmmaker presents a brief history of war, from WWII to present day, told through the foods of the countries in conflict.

Watching brought an internal conflict of my own. This incredibly creative if not disconcerting short is hilarious and yet events portrayed are anything but. As my good friend Steven pointed out... it's food so there's no one to get angry with. I must say that the Cold War buildup was my favorite.

Watch below and see how many countries and conflicts you can identify first. Then head on over to the official site and take a look at the cheat sheet. How'd you do?


Disclaimer #2 for the day: As odd as it sounds being just food and all... this film is a bit graphic so consider yourself warned.

Drop a line on NYC

Messages from all around the world will be printed on the confetti that falls on NYC and the New Year. For the first time, anyone can get a message printed on a piece of the multicolored confetti by visiting the Times Square Information Center or by using the Internet to type a message on a "Wishing Wall Online". The messages will be mixed in with more than one ton of confetti. Messages can be silly or serious. So far, they have included everything from wanting to be taller or having a smarter boss to healthy children and asking for the safe return of a child from Iraq.

Head over and leave your own message and then come back here and let us know what's going to drop tomorrow night.

The Big Shift in 2008

If you've been reading Danis Linus for very long then you've probably noticed that I'm fascinated with culture shifts. I'm by no means a "futurist" in the sense that I'm able to predict what's coming next but it doesn't take a rocket-scientist to see that the way we receive our digital content is changing... drastically. My brother-in-law, Jon, of Erwin Brother Motion Pictures have an ongoing conversation about media, culture, and especially how technology is changing and shaping the landscape of film. I agree with him that the movie-going experience won't change all that much since we love the big-screen and our Dolby surround sound. I do think that in 2008 we'll be seeing a huge shift in the way we digest content on a smaller scale.

A few indicators that jump out... The first an incredibly humorous one. A couple weeks ago, the The Royal Monarchy launched their own YouTube channel in order to reach a broader audience. ABC is now streaming full episodes in High Definition through their new media player. And, Apple and Twentieth Century Fox are poised to announce a new deal where iTunes will be carrying movie rentals for download and not just purchase. In addition, communications giant AT&T is launching their new U-Verse interactive, IP-based digital television, internet, and phones in even more markets over the next couple years. Things are changing and the consumer truly is king indeed.

GoogleTalk Translates

I haven't attempted to try Google's newest feature... language translation for Google Talk. As a matter of fact, I've never used Google Talk (I use iChat and Skype) but I may make the leap with this addition. Google has introduced translation "bots" enabling instant translation between 30 different languages. I won't go into the technical details of how this works since I don't really understand it myself but the implications of this are massive.

Think of how this breaks down the most basic hindrance to communication and connectivity... the language barrier. I would love to sit down at the keyboard and chat with someone in a different culture and "explore" the world through their eyes. We truly are becoming more and more a global village. I'd love to see a multi-language social networking site that connects people from other cultures and languages using this technology.

What is your IM client of choice? iChat, MSN, AOL, Skype, GoogleTalk? Why do you prefer it?

My screennames are...
iChat/AOL - danatchison74@mac.com
Skype - danatchison

You Won't Find Me in My Office, I'm Working

Last week the New York Times ran an interesting article exploring how employees are getting outside their normal workspaces to get more work done. The idea is that not a lot of actual work is being done at their desks. With all the distractions and interruptions, people are finding their "white space" where creativity and momentum can grow and thrive. These "white spaces" are vast and varying depending on the individual. Busy coffee shops... a quiet corner in a library. Some progressive companies are actually encouraging people to find their "white space" and are taking huge steps to create these spaces on campus. The NYT times writes...

Technology companies are eliminating assigned space for open floor plans. Cisco Systems, Google and Sun Microsystems have already knocked down partitions. This month, Intel began testing alternative floor plans at three locations — creating open work areas with clusters of armchairs, library-style tables with laptop plugs, electronic white boards where inspired doodles can be transferred to e-mail, and a variety of conerence rooms when privacy is needed. It is not just the high-tech firms that are becoming cozier.

The creative industries — such as advertising and design — are embracing the approach, too. At ?What If! (yes, that is really the name, punctuation and all) an “innovations company” (that seems to mean marketing) with a Manhattan outpost, employees never sit in the same place two days in a row. This is known as “hot desking,” said Nina Powell, the managing director of the United States office, and the purpose is to give workers a perspective that changes with the task.

When the work requires collaboration and interaction, she said, the communal tables are the place to be. When the work is more introspective, there are cafe-style booths providing quiet and privacy.

What is your favorite and most productive "white space?"

Japan Leads the World in Mobile Blogging

I watched Lost In Translation and didn't get it. The title was helpful in explaining the movie... Bill Murray was great... Sophie Coppola did a fine job directing, but I don't get Japanese culture. I'm intrigued by it... I just don't get it. Maybe that's because I'm not Japanese. Anyway, according to the Technorati 2007 “State of the Blogsphere” report, Japanese is the #1 blogging language in the world, accounting for 37% of all blog posts, narrowly edging out English at 36%." The article specifically focuses on the method of blogging by the Japanese... mobile phones.

According to a recent survey, the mobile phone was found to be the blogging device of choice, being used by over two-thirds of bloggers in Japan. In fact, over a third of the sample stated that they only blog by mobile phone, while another 20% used both mobile phone and PC, while favoring the phone. The levels for favoring using a PC for blogging were lower.

This naturally leads to the question, what exactly is being written by these mobile bloggers? Well according to the aforementioned survey, nearly 70% of content involves diary entries/columns, followed by movies/television/music at 31%.

Iceland Goes Green(er)

To label me an environmentalist is laughable but I did think this piece was quite interesting. Don't get me wrong, I believe it's an issue to grapple with (although not the most important issue in the upcoming election according to Al Gore). Anyway, back to the interesting bit.

202Collaborative, a Philadelphia based design firm has put out a proposal that helps assemble and conceptualize about hydrogen-powered urban design in Iceland. "The project, originally intended for a design competition, imagines carefully engineered algae ponds and balloons of hydrogen gas fueling the Icelandic city of the future."

As the designers note:

It has long been known that algae produce small amounts of hydrogen as a byproduct of photosynthesis. In 1999, researchers in Berkeley observed that algae alternate between hydrogen production and normal photosynthesis depending on the chemical environment. Depriving algae of oxygen and sulfur, the researchers greatly increased the hydrogen production and triggered the algae to produce hydrogen for an extended period of time. Another research group also discovered that algae will sustain simultaneous production of hydrogen and oxygen from water by illuminating the algae and depriving it of carbon dioxide and oxygen. Researchers estimate that a small pond (1.5 acre or 10 meter diameter) will produce enough hydrogen on a weekly basis to fuel 12 cars.

With fuel prices where they are, I could handle an algae powered car. Check out the whole concept and process over at BLDGBLOG.

Banksy in NYC

Never heard of Banksy? "Whilst others spray their names, Banksy paints pictures, pictures that have made Banksy a household name. He is the most controversial and downright interesting graffiti artist at large in the UK today. He has never let the world know his real name - and he has never even posed for a photograph. And yet everybody is talking about him...he is unknown but his work is unmistakable. He’s the maniac who got on the news for managing to smuggle one of his pieces of art into Tate Britain and embarrassed everyone because nobody seemed to notice..." (Check out the YouTube video below of Banksy sneaking one of his pieces into a museum...)

His pieces have sold on eBay and through Sotheby's for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Well, opening this Sunday at the Vanina Holasek Gallery in New York is Banksy Does New York. The show runs through December 29th.

Where Megachurches Are Concentrated

The New York Times published a fascinating map (click the image for larger viewing) that shows the concentration of Mega-churches across the United States.

There are just over 1,300 megachurches in the United States, according to the most recent survey by Prof. Scott Thumma at the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. These are churches that average at least 2,000 in weekly attendance. The shaded areas reflect the density of megachurches in counties across the United States, based on the most recent census figures.

I'm not suggesting that only "mega-churches" can make a significant impact in a city. But, I do like Brian Houston's perspective in his The Church the I See. "The Church that I see is a Church of influence. A Church so large in size that the city and nation cannot ignore it. A Church growing so quickly that buildings struggle to contain the increase."

Agree with this perspective or not, you cannot argue with the fact that there is much work to be done. 85% of the population in the Tampa area are unchurched. Probably not much different where you live as well.

Big... small... in between... whatever. There are all kinds of ways of "doing church" but to be honest, I'm tired of "doing church". We have to get after it and start "being the Church". BTW, the Church is still God's plan for reaching the planet.

Lego | Building Asia Brick by Brick

For the record, I love Lego bricks. You probably do as well. And, I know I've mentioned before about child-like creativity's effect on adults but that's why I couldn't pass this one up. Building Asia Brick by Brick is an exhibition of pieces constructed by architects around the world.

"Architects from China, Japan and Thailand amongst others were given kits of white LEGO building blocks and told to have just fun. The results, from Asiatic temples to futuristic towers to sustainable old-and-new city plans are currently touring Asia."

Andrew Maerkle of Art AsiaPacific says, "we felt the need to engage architects in a unique way, seeing how the architects respond to an unconventional but fun challenge. LEGO created the custom kits for us, choosing the white colour and providing each participant approximately 8,000 bricks of 2×2, 2×4 and 2×8 dimensions to work with. The idea behind Building Asia Brick By Brick was to get architects to engage spontaneously with the materials; we gave them no instructions other than to have fun!"

The Millennials Are Coming!

Steven sent me this link and in keeping with my exhortation below concerning the Responsibility to Share, I thought I'd pass this along. It's a piece 60 Minutes did on the Millennial Generation entering the workforce and what that looks like. It gives some great insights into the minds and values of the demographic as well as what companies must do to attract and keep this age group. To use Steven's word, it is a bit "scary" some of the findings but it's very interesting and will be even more so how these concepts play out in the next decade or so.

If you are a Millennial yourself, a parent, a youth worker, a teacher, or a pastor... check out the entire 13 minute video here. It's worth the watch.

Survey: Teens Use Instant-Messaging to Avoid Awkward Moments

An AP-AOL poll released today revealed that...

For many teenagers, it's also a great way to avoid those OMG moments — that's "omigod" — of mortifying face-to-face confrontations.

More than four in 10, or 43 percent, of teens who instant message use it for things they wouldn't say in person, according to an Associated Press-AOL poll released Thursday.

Twenty-two percent use IMs to ask people out on dates or accept them, and 13 percent use them to break up.

To me, this brings up the question of true connectivity. I say this after having just posted about using Twitter to help stay "connected" to those I love but it certainly is something to consider. Technology can sometimes become this buffer zone that allows us to keep a distance that doesn't require true vulnerability.

Anyway... if you're on Skype or AOL/iChat hit up my usernames below and add me... but please don't ask me out on a date... I'm doing ok in that area.

AOL/iChat: danatchison74@mac.com (do not use as email)
Skype: danatchison

via FoxNews.com

Ambient Digital Noise - Filling in the gaps...

I posted up about Twitter a couple of weeks ago and I've decided that I like it... a lot. I wish more people were using it but here's why I like it.

It's kind of like the ambient noise when you leave the TV on in the background and it's just there. All these little pointless pithy little microblogs fill in the gaps of what people are doing that I care about or am interested in... I love getting a text through Twitter that over in Ireland, tyes has just finished his essay or that kelimalone just got done watching Nikki eat a salad and it was awkward or that mariadelpilar just got back from the park with Ben. No response is needed or required on my part because they didn't text me directly. But it fills in the gaps and helps me stay connected to good friends and family.

Sign up and then hit me up on Twitter here...

No mo' Benjamins...

I love how music and art not only shape culture but also reflect it. You want a sign that that dollar is indeed weakening, check out the new Jay-Z and Pharrell video, "Blue Magic." Instead of flashing "Benajamins," they're rolling in Euros. I think that's the funniest thing but the statement it makes is pretty strong.

The thing I hate about it is that the ones who are getting hammered by the exchange rates are the missionaries over in Europe and elsewhere. They are losing money left and right and are having to work twice as hard at raising funds. And to be honest, a lot of them aren't very good fundraisers. That's not their calling or gifting, yet they are forced to do what they must. That's a whole other post about what's broken in that system so I won't go there here. But, if a missionary comes to your mind, pray for them and also consider what you might be able to do to ease the pressure from the weak dollar.

Josh Spear on IABUK

Check out the keynote presentation of Josh Spear last week at the Internet Advertising Bureau's Engage conference last week in London. His talk, "Born Digital - they're not listening" gives us a pretty good feel for where things are and where they are headed as it relates to this new digital world we live in.

Hit the jump here to watch the video.  After you're redirected,  you'll have to click the link... it's the second one down on the page.

5 Kinds of Christians

via Pastor Don James' blog, I came across an article in the Leadership Journal. The article deals with the issue of a changing culture and "Christianity's" place in this new world. I'm not usually big on stats and that sort of thing but it's worth the read.

Three critical issues emerged...

• The local church is no longer considered the only outlet for spiritual growth.
• Churches must develop relational- and community-oriented outreach.
• Lay people have to be better equipped to be God's ambassadors.

---

Below is an overview of what the writer considers to be the 5 Kinds of Christians in our culture today.

Active Christians 19%

• Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
• Committed churchgoers
• Bible readers
• Accept leadership positions
• Invest in personal faith development through the church
• Feel obligated to share faith; 79% do so.

Professing Christians 20%

• Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
• Focus on personal relationship with God and Jesus
• Similar beliefs to Active Christians, different actions
• Less involved in church, both attending and serving
• Less commitment to Bible reading or sharing faith

Liturgical Christians 16%

• Predominantly Catholic and Lutheran
• Regular churchgoers
• High level of spiritual activity, mostly expressed by serving in church and/or community
• Recognize authority of the church

Private Christians 24%

• Largest and youngest segment
• Believe in God and doing good things
• Own a Bible, but don't read it
• Spiritual interest, but not within church context
• Only about a third attend church at all
• Almost none are church leaders

Cultural Christians 21%

• Little outward religious behavior or attitudes
• God aware, but little personal involvement with God
• Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation
• Affirm many ways to God
• Favor universality theology

Photowalking...

I've really been wanting a really good Digital SLR camera and when I came across this today, it didn't make it any better. There's a trend out there called Photowalking. It's where bloggers and facebook friends meet up (often for the first time face to face) to walk a city or location, taking photos that will be uploaded back to Flickr or Facebook and then discussed on their blogs and social networks. For a recent example - check out David Sifry’s report from a San Francisco Photowalk here.

Chuck Anderson @ Threadless Gallery

If you're not familiar with Threadless, I have one question... where are you hiding? For those actually in hiding, Threadless is an online teeshirt company that prints consumer generated designs. It was started in 2000 and in recent years has really taken off... to the tune of moving from web only retail to an ubersweet store and gallery in downtown Chicago and a distribution warehouse just North of London to handle all their European customers.

That's not really what I wanted to write about. Chuck Anderson aka No Pattern will be featured at the Threadless Gallery’s first show, opening this Friday, November 9th, from 7-9 pm. He's showing off some new work and this will be his very first solo show.

Why am I mentioning this? Well... if you happen to be in the Chicago area, stop by the show and take some pics for me. Also, be looking for the interview with Chuck Anderson over at Danis Linus presents Digital Conversations due out in the next couple weeks.

Rolling Stone Interview with Bono

The U2 frontman sits down for Rolling Stone's 40th anniversary to talk about the future, activism, and idealism. You have to hit the jump to hear Bono grapple with the question, "If you could only pursue U2 or activism, which would it be?"

Lightpainting Photos and Video

Steven shot me this earlier today from Behance.net. It's a new photoset and video from LICHTFAKTOR - a three-man lightpainting graffiti team. I've seen this sort of thing before but had no idea how it was accomplished. So of course, I relied on the trusty ol' Wikipedia. It's really some amazingly creative work. Hit the jump for more photos and the video. You can also hit up their Flickr or take a look at another video and interview over at Creative Review.