entertainment

poptech2006

Pop!Tech 2006 was an amazing brain safari filled with big ideas, great conversations, and a gathering of curious open minded people from all disciplines and places. I’d usually post tons of pics and detailed descriptions, but other guru bloggers have done this timing favor, a very detailed textual blog by Ethan Zukerman, or a more visual dose by core77. Hopefully they’ll post all of the webcast lecture online much like TEDtalks soon. Pictured above is Rodrigo and Gabriela rockin out the house!!!

Read those blogs for the full details, and hit up Flickr for some images, otherwise, I’m going to post my experience outside of all the great lectures after the jump with a bunch of pics:
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rodgab Rodrigo y Gabriela

Simply amazing and breahtaking!!! Incredibly unique vibrant sound with a pop! A Latin percussive acoustic guitar duo with a thrash metal Influence!

I heard them live at Poptech2006. Hit up their website here or here, their myspace page, listen to them on YouTube here, or select videos here, then buy their CD here!

update: Another amazing performance of the duo on the Letterman Show. Also a nice video tutorial on their magical sound!

poptech2006

I’m zippin off to the PopTech Conference in Camden Maine for an amazing idea gathering. I’ve heard it’s very comparable to GEL or TED and based on the line-up of speakers, I can see why. If you think your missing out…not at all because all the freakin speakers will be webcast LIVE here!!!

Here’s a partial list of speakers that I’m familiar with though the unknowns are the ones that usually captivate me:

Chris Anderson: Long Tail, Editor and Chief of Wired Magazine.
Stewart Brand: Long Now Foundation and Global Business Network.
Blaine Brownell: Architect, sustainable building advisor, and materials researcher.
Homaro Cantu: Chef, Scientist, Artist.
Richard Dawkins: The world’s most influential thinker on evolutionary biology
Brian Eno: musical legend, innovator, visual artist, and pop icon.
Juan Enriquez: Futurist, author of As the Future Catches You
and The Untied States of America.
Ze Frank: This dudes amazzzingly funny.
Kevin Kelly: Technology Visionary. Has a great blog as well.
Bruce Streling: Futurist, science fiction author, jounalist and critic.
Craig Venter: Dedicated to human genomic research.
Will Wright: Creative force behind the groundbreaking Sims franchises and Spore!!.

To make up for the week, some goodies:
– spider on a bill.
– Real money is magnetic!
– Interesting discussion about Emotional Design and Cultures.
Jumpcut– online video editor(Yahoo bought recently)
– Chris Angel: levitation trick revealed!


If you want to hear from a passionate designer, listen to Ross Lovegrove speak at TED2005! He’s known for incredibly beautiful forms, but in this lecture he also talks about his inspirations, directions, responses, and reasons. I love where he mentions the overtime worker not getting paid, because yes, design is one of those disciplines you desire and just do. I’ll post a few more lectures from TED that captivated my attention after the jump. Catch all the TedTalks as they are released here!

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I had the Best time watching this episode of “SouthPark: WarCraft” making fun of RPG’s(role playing games) filled with very real stereotypes that all you gamers will reflect upon. If your a gamer or just someone that knows a gamer, this is a definite dose of laughter!

Sidenote: It’s amazing how you can find TV episodes online for free the next day, or even minutes after shows are out. Will PVR’s(personal video recorders) like Tivo live on…Will online sales on iTunes work? Do we really need to download shows anymore(bit torrent, kazaa, etc) or will it all be free like most of us like it(daily motion, VeoTag, youtube, google video,(rumors are google might buy Youtube)), and TV’s vanish as online content is there anytime we want with most the ads edited out already? I could go on and on about this topic, so I’ll pause here… but free content rocks!

update: The original video(probably down still) I posted was ripped down for copyright blah blah blah, hence, I spent 10 seconds, and found another one!! Don’t they get it…once it’s out, it’s out…don’t bother…yihawww internet world!

nf.revolver.jpg

Nextfest nyc ended this weekend with tons of attendees, free Wired subscriptions, and my very tired feet. My partial 2 days of browsing Wired Magazine physically was great, but also a reminder of what crowded conferences feel like.

Pictured above is my friend Vincent Leclerc’s project “Revolver” which is a very simple solution in creating a cost effective 3D display. For more on this project go to EskiStudios. If you ever meet him, try to get a video of his first mock-up, cause it rocks!
Tons of pics after the jump!

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nextfest2006

I’m off to Wireds NextFest2006 in NYC to check out the best of what’s next! Here’s a great list of exhibits there!
Nextfest is:
“WIRED’s vision of a new world’s fair, WIRED NextFest is a four-day festival of innovative products and technologies that are transforming our world. Patterned on the great World’s Fairs of the past, this year’s NextFest in New York features more than 130 interactive exhibits from leading scientists and researchers around the world. Experience the future of exploration, entertainment, transportation, health, communication, design, security, and green living.”

If your in NYC check out! I’ll be back with crazy fun pictures next week!

seth godin broken

I went to GEL last year, but actually missed Seth Godins lecture then, but due to the fast paced amazing world of the internet, it’s online now for ya’ll to view here! It’s basically Seth doing another swift and incredible presentation…this one basically a demo of the wonderful webpage ThisIsBroken.com which he started with guru GEL Master Mark Hurst. Give the video a shot and enjoy the many wonderful things that are Broken in our clumsy mystified world and get a good laugh!

blogmusik

Most of you have heard about this already, but if not, check out blogmusik.net for an impressive collection(network) of ad-free music! Once you try this ipod like interface you’ll enjoy the sweet music fades between songs and custom playlists. They even have a firefox plugin for quick song finds.
Many have doubts this site will stay legal, so have your go at before it shuts down! Personally, I still use Yahoo’s Launchcast which rocks since it uses Gracenote tech to suggest songs to you much like Amazon does for books.

sellabrand

SellaBand creates an awesome platform enabling fans to invest in their favorite bands and get a piece of the profits in return!!! Yes, the passionate fans become the bands investors, marketing crew (word of mouth), and profits are split between SellaBand, the band, and the fans!!! How cool!!!

So how does it work: fans find artist they like on SellaBand.com. For $10, they can buy a share, or ‘Part’. Once the band sells 5,000 parts, SellaBand arranges a professional recording in top studios. Fans receive a limited edition CD of the recording and splits profits from CD sales, Ads, etc. Basically, the more ‘Parts’ you purchase, the more shares in a band you own from the 5000 available.

This strategy is a step up from Threadless.com’s vote-to-make-real method by allowing anyone to become an investment fan “brand sneezer” in a band they love and believe in! Otherwise, it’s just like the stock market for music fanatics. I’ve been through a few musicians tunes and found some really interesting sounds. Check out the site, listen to some musicians, and invest in the ones ya crave!

SellaBand.com
Here’s another interesting angle to music by the users!

giant girl at sultans elephant

Wow!!!… Watch this video and be astonished, memorized, and creeped out all at the same time. I thought it was CG then realized it was freaking real!! What an awesome experience this must of been watching these master puppeteers work their magic in this festival! I wished I was in London when this event (The Sultans Elephant by Royal de Luxe) happened, but it’s not too late as the show will continue on to Calais (September 28-October 1) and in Le Havre (October 26-29,2006) I’ll admit, my first craving for puppeteers was while watching Being John Malkovich and now this amazing creation! I’m sure everyone felt like a kid again in some mysterious way. I want one! More pics after the jump!
More pics on Flickr here.
The video of the Giant Girl!
The Amazing Elephant!

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rusty belle

If your in the Boston area this weekend and craving some awesome acoustic music, hit up Club Passim In Harvard Square for their 4 day “Cutting Edge of the Campfire Weekend” filled with an eclectic range of live music ranging from folk, country, classical, a bit of rock, and bluegrass. If you like acoustic music, you’ll love it here! It’s also located in Veggie Planet hence serving up an awesome meal while chilling to some good tunes.

Pictured above is Rustic Belle. They served up an incredibly unique and new sound to music by mixing up a rustic set of tin cans, drums, guitars, baby toys, an accordion, a zither, and other various wonders. Their sound and performance was a mix of gypsidic, pirate like, jazz-spunk, with a parisian french chocolate type of twist played by a very chill and happy crew of characters..yea, very different! Here are some highlights from the two Campfire events I’ve been to:

Campfire May 06 highlights, based on live shows:
Laura Distasi, Christina Orbe, Tripping Lily, Milton, Ilyaimy, Laura Cortese, Rachel Mccartney, Jason Myles Goss, Morwenna Lasko& Jay Pun,Tim Gearan, Gretel, Lily Holbrook, Don DiLego, Sydney Wayser, Melody Garoot, Frank Marotta, Jr.

Campfire Sept 06 highlights:(minus some repeats above)
Rose Polenzani, Brian Webb, Justin Rosolino, Rusty Belle, Amy Campbell, Jenny Owen Youngs, Trisha O’Keefe, Matt Duke, Jesse Dee, Miss Tess, Rolla, Tom Bianchi, Mark Radcliffe, Blue Moose & The Unbuttoned Zippers, Ralston, Anne Heaton, Mieka Pauley, Jaded Mandolin, Ellery, Hoots and Hellmouth, Notorious, Abbie MacQuarrie & Amanda Cavanaugh