Monthly Archives: September 2007

September 15, 2007

Etcetera
Personal
Technology
Words

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Brainstorming with memo/bubble/word maps

[This is an actual email sent to my Transportation Design classmates and teachers]

Bubbl.us

I may have found the ultimate tool for creating the “bubble” or “memo” maps Shook introduced us to in Trans 4 this week; and what’s best, sharing them for active feedback: Bubbl.us That is, hands-on editing by those you choose. The obvious advantages of making the bubble map on this website/program are several:

Z. Automatic arranging and coloring of bubbles by levels.
Y. Manual rearranging of bubbles at any time, both in placement and hierarchy.
X. Shows primary and secondary connections between bubbles distinctively.
W. Shows direction of connections.
V. Option for exporting to high resolution JPEG, perfect for printing any size.

The less obvious but with most potential feature is the ability to share bubble maps with coleagues, and give either read-only or full edit access. The latter, in my opinion, can be especially useful throughout the semester in Trans 4 and I encourage all of you to try it out. Registration is easy through the invitation email I am sending you right after this one. (And no, I don’t get commission or anything from this :) )

[Via Download Squad]

September 15, 2007

Entertainment
Music
Technology
Videos

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Monome

I’m tempted to start a new category, Technohuman, for innovative devices that augment our senses or skills in order to produce Superhuman results (really, the Hang Drum should be one of them). Monome, a year-old open source interface system with a grid of highly customizable button-LEDs, is one of them, and the most beautiful application is music.

Two more videos, including interview and demos by one of its creators: Continue reading

September 14, 2007

Music
Videos

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Fedde Le Grande: Let me think about it

To me developments in the dance music industry are almost as interesting to follow as as climate change or cars. Fedde Le Grande’s latest tune isn’t a breakthrough, but it does sound like a bit of fresh air. The singing girl with the friendly face, some “Ida Corr“.

[Via BBC Radio 1 Chart Blog]

September 10, 2007

Civilization
Climate
Documentaries
En español
Science
Videos

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Ración doble de calentamiento: el oscurecimiento global

Antes de “An Inconvenient Truth” y su oposición The Great Global Warming Swindle (tampoco cierto del todo), estaba el oscurecimiento global [wiki], un fenómeno relativamente desconocido que cambiará la perspectiva sobre las causas del cambio climático. Aquí está EL documental:

Global Dimming documentary on Google Video

Hay decenas de teorías sobre el cambio climático basadas en modelos que, por definición, se crean en la búsqueda de un patrón en particular, desde un interés en particular. Éste documental de BBC Horizon de 2005, sin embargo, parece más realista, honesto y neutral sobre un problema â€â€la reducción de la cantidad de luz solar que llega a la superficie de la Tierra que es tan verdad como es sentido común, y cuya solución (la reducción de la contaminación que ya se está llevando a cabo globalmente), paradójicamente contribuye al calentamiento global. Sí, el oscurecimiento global enfría la Tierra y contrarresta el calentamiento global, de ahí la creciente inestabilidad del clima causada por ambas fuerzas luchando entre sí. Aunque está brillantemente presentado, narrado y respaldado, cuidado con a quién se lo pasáis, que puede dar cierto miedo.

ACTUALIZADO: A continuación, y a la espera de su disponibilidad íntegra, los primeros 12 minutos del documental, en español: Continue reading

September 6, 2007

Music
Videos

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Feist: 1 2 3 4 tell me that you watch me live

Starting with a really uplifting, almost new-era, indefinitely playable song, it’s stunning that the official video lives up to it and even improves it, mainly thanks to some amazing but simple choreography. Meanwhile, the live version (below, reason for this post)… Ok I was supposed to go to bed 2 hours ago, as my ability to write at the moment shows :) Just watch at least one, I promise you won’t regret it.

September 2, 2007

Civilization
Music
Videos

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Young at heart

From the upcoming documentary about The Young @ Heat Chorus. “At an age when most people are either dead or living out their last days in retirement homes, these men and women are up on stage singing their hearts out about the big taboos surrounding old age: about love and sex, loss of youth, loneliness and death. In their mouths, familiar lyrics take on whole new meanings.”

[Via The Documentary Blog]