I am sure a lot of you have become news junkies in the past few weeks, or even in the past few days with both the real storms and symbolic ones that have hit us (in US) lately. If not I truly commend you because I seem to check back to News Map and the New York Times through out the day.
If you aren’t familiar with news map you may want to check it out (as pictured below). It is a info graph of current events and changes sometimes second to second depending on relevance and popularity of story.
Check it out here.
Below: Perspctv graphs from the site Perspectv.com
If it is the polls that have you going you might want to check out Perspectv. The site calls itself a “An exploration of internet activity in reference to mainstream media. This project presents different perspectives in our world, including that of Mainstream media and user-generated content on the Internet. Explore the similarities and the disparities, hear the many voices that have emerged and choose which view, if any, makes the most sense to you. What we think vs. what they say we think — All the chatter on the Internet, all the traditional news media coverage, and all the pollsters — Perspctv brings it all together in a simple and elegant manner — and gives a unique “dashboard” picture of the elections at any one given moment in time, totally un-biased.”
It is really amazing to see the constantly updating of “Twitters” and blog headlines all concerning just the two presidential canidates on hand. Another interesting feature of this site is that you can download a widget to put on your blog, facebook or dashboard.
The following photographs have nothing to do with the news brewing. They are pictures of one of the oldest Cathedrals in the world where nuns still live.
And I would like to close with a recommendation for a fabulously funny podcast by one my favorite funny men, Rainn Wilson. Adaptly named “Book Chat with Rainn Wilson” the minute long podcasts consist of quick jokes, several interviews with Slash, and a complete lack of talking about books at all. Go to your podcast directory on itunes and check it out.
Come on you know that we all need a good laugh.
In other unrelated news, I recenty found these pictures of a girl I went to Middle and high school with on Friendster. Note: EVERYONE HAS LASERS!!!
Do you see all those lasers! I bet those kids also got to eat Little Debby sandwhich cakes and what not. Lucky ducks. I would have been wearing my homemade (requested) little house on the prairie dress for the occassion. Yes, I wore a 19th century-styled dress to school as often as possible.
Lastly, lastly . . . great art in Atlanta if you live here. Go check out the Mint Gallery. I went to a show at their non-profit space a couple of weeks ago entitled “Mix Tape” in which walkmen were mounted to the wall with a REAL mix tape blasting away through equally old-school headphones. Next to each music piece was a art piece that was inspired by the songs. Great concept. I love all the collaborative work I have seen lately.
6 Comments
September 3, 2008 at 11:33 pm
that sassy hands-on-hips pose that everyone is striking is also amazing.
September 4, 2008 at 9:21 am
Hey there – given the topic of yesterday’s blog, I just wanted to introduce you to http://www.indiconews.com.
Based in London and Seattle, we position indiconews.com as an originator of citizen/user-generated content/news via video, image and text for dissemination beyond indiconews.com itself.
We also view the site as a platform, enabling individuals, communities and other organisations to amplify their ‘voice’, spotlighting issues and encouraging debate.
Indiconews.com carries news mapping, a fully integrated Facebook application, plus users are able to embed reports back into their own sites (excellent for bloggers etc).
In short, indiconews.com is a site to empower, engage and enable users anywhere in the world to share their news, issues and community/locality concerns with a global audience – igniting action and reaction… (BTW – We especially want coverage from from real people about the US election, so put your pennies worth in now!).
See for founder biogs: http://www.indiconews.com/founder_bio.php
We’re keen to get all feedback (the good, the bad and the ugly!) and look at how we can improve and adapt to the needs of the end user.
Thanks for your time – much appreciated!
September 4, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I’m pretty sure Phil and I have laser-backgrounded pictures from Holly Hill Elementary School. I’m going to dig those out next time I’m at mom’s.
September 6, 2008 at 7:50 am
THANKS FOR INFO
September 8, 2008 at 6:51 am
I love graphs like that, and also those school photos are priceless!
September 10, 2008 at 5:26 am
the thing you don’t realize jess, is that laser tag was incredibly popular in the late 80s/early 90s, and there were actually laser tag matches going on behind these pictures with all the other children waiting to be photographed. Yes, you missed out. You missed out big.