ideas

TED africa videos
Ooooo, TED Africa videos just started to get posted! If you missed out on the incredible TED Africa this past June in Tanzania, now you can enjoy a glimpse of this adventure online. If you prefer to read about it, I’d recommend reading 2 blog entries: Ethan Zukerman or LunchOVerIP by Bruno Giussani.

I’ll post the first 4 launched TED Africa videos after the jump.

Continue Reading



Very cool! Capturing spider-webs to make art! I love simple, random, some may think odd, hobbies that become a business!
via Coolhunting part 1 and part 2.

“The first in a two-part series, this video is an introduction to the real Spiderman, Emil “Rocky” Fiore, who captures and mounts spiderwebs on glass. Here, the episode documents his process—from spray paint and varnish to delicately aligning the glass—on a pier along New York’s Hudson River.”

“Our second video on Emil Fiore, New Jersey’s only spiderweb catcher, ventures into the forest to watch a few “catches.” Going a little deeper than Part One (which documented the capture of one web), this episode looks more closely at his process, as well as the spiders and their webs themselves.”

Second video after the jump.
Continue Reading

Here’s a great hour long panel discussion moderated by Guy Kawasaki (garage.com) talking to successful start-ups about how they started, how they made millions, how they survived, what not to do, where they came from, fun times, etc.

On the panel:
James HongHotOrNot.com
Max LevchinSlide.com
Akash GargHi5.com
Sean SuhlSuicideGirls.com
Drew CurtisFark.com
Markus FrindPlenty of Fish

cableYoYo
I first spotted the CableYoYo at CES2005 and never really thought I’d need an extra piece of plastic to manage my small extra corded products such as my mouse, laptop, earphones, keyboard, etc, but I received one as a gift last year and latched it onto my favorite Mouse (red Logitech MX510).

Having to hop around with my laptop a bunch, the CableYoYo has saved me loads of time, frustration, and space. It seems rather un-needed at first, but shortening my mouse cable has freed me of tangling wires in the bag, a cluster of noodling wires next to my laptop, and a few saved seconds every time I pack. Why not just get a bluetooth mouse? Well, I find them a bit slow and jumpy nor do I care to change batteries every few months or bother with an extra USB dongle I can lose… and as far as a charger… I’m not packing another clunky charger with more wires since I already have many for all my other electronics. (I really wished power adapters could be universal like USB for everything)

“>Buy the Cable YoYo here. ($5)

– Proof Aquafina and Dasani water is just local tap water!
– Super high res image of downtown boston via neatorama.
– IDSA Okala EcoDesign Guide.
Naoto Fukasawa’s project on how materials make a huge difference.
Dippy Egg set.. makes ya want eggs and toast!

– Tech guru GigaOm launches The GigaOm Show! The first episode was a great interview with co-founder James Hong of HotorNot, and CEO Bill Watkins of Seagate.
SoundBall! Pretty cool! Reminds me of Mario Brother in Reality! Watch the video!
– Double sided toothbrushes (brush your gums while brushing your teeth)(The Colgate 360 or the Reach Fresh & Clean) I think i saw this as a student project many years ago…great design!
Underwater Pool Installation! Fun fun! via Hemmey.

Do you have 500+ e-mails sitting in your inbox? If so, shame on you! Get your digital communications gear in tune and get that email mess count down to ZERO every single day! Trust me, it’s worth it! How you might ask; two options: 1) take an hour listen to Merlin Mann (43 Folders) lecture about “Inbox Zero” while at Google (his slides here), or 2) give Mark Hurst book “Bit Literacy” a read. (Marks run CreativeGood in nyc and also runs the incredible inspirational GEL Conference yearly which I’ve attended many times)

I’ve been using a hybrid of these systems for many years now, and I’m not sure where I’d be without it. Many ask me how I manage so many different email accounts, clients, web accounts, etc… and the simple answer is… I keep my inbox down to zero! In the most simple cliff-notes version on how to achieve this system:
– Answer emails asap.
– Do not let emails be your address book/calendar/to do lists.
– Trash the ones you don’t need to read.
– Answer and move emails to folders (this is a step Merlin says not to do, but archive it all).
– Make it a habit to get to zero daily.

You know how right before you leave for a vacation or something, you sit down and hammer out tons of overdue emails, activities, projects, etc…. we’ll basically be that productive every day… with an inbox of zero, your less stressed, can find things much faster, and you feel much cleaner!!!

via Lifehacker (via 43 folders)

google maps draggable routes map

I knew about this sometime ago but I finally had the opportunity to use Google Maps Draggable Routes (This is what I call it, not Google). If ya don’t like the route Google maps gives ya… no problem… just drag the route to another road and watch the route magically change! Here’s a over-dragged route from NYC to Boston which I plan to use today… drag it around a bit more if you want.  Type in a route, drag it around, have some fun!

newport rock cliff walk

I had a wonderful weekend venturing over to FooFest, Newport Cliff Rocks, Waterfire, and a few other activities while dining at Pizzico in Providence! Next weekends the Blackship Festival!

Here are some random cool links for the weekend:

Eureka Skydeck: An elevator that goes sideways, and pushes you out 300 meters above ground.(article)
– How to get free internet at Hotels.
Headhoods: Face prints on hoodies!
– Amazing landscape images from China.
– Wifi Blocking Paint!!!
– How to make a baby quiet by sipping water sommelier style.
– Womens dreamhome 84 sq ft space.

Kent Rogowski bears inside out book

“Think of your favorite teddy bear. Now imagine it’s been ripped open, gutted, and turned inside-out. That’s what Kent Rogowski’s Bears series has done to the iconic stuffed animals of our childhoods. In his recently published book and show at Foley Gallery, Rogowski mangles our memories and, at the same time, makes them all the more real.”

Pretty cool project ..and Kent’s a RISD alum whooohoooo! His bears reminds me how doing a total 180 makes things better!.(Pro E to Solidworks story, or making ugly dolls which have sold like hot cakes!!!)

via Boing Boing
Morning News Q&A interview
Foley Gallery in New York
BearsTheBook.com
Amazon Book purchase
Version by William Wilson via DesignBoom

Several pictures after the jump…
Continue Reading

type the sky book photography

I’ve seen tons of books mimicking our alphabet using our environment, but it’s great to see this refreshing book and set of photographs using a medium we all have access to; the sky and surrounding buildings. I have no clue where to buy this book, but have a glance at this German website or babelfish the webpage to get a somewhat english translation of the page. If any of ya’ll can find out where to buy this book, please send a link by commenting. I’ll be looking up towards the sky more often now 😉

Pictures after the jump.
via slanted.de

update: This is the work of  Lisa Rienermann at lisarienermann.com. Continue Reading