Musings on Dance, Food, Geek Stuff
Salman Rushdie wrote this remarkable essay just days after 9/11 in 2001. I think of it often. Particularly this line: The fundamentalist believes that we believe in nothing. In his world-view, he has his absolute certainties, while we are sunk in sybaritic indulgences. To prove him wrong, we must first know that he is wrong….
My friend DJ posted to his Facebook wall this excellent summation of why fan culture matters in an our current era of aspiring autocrats and empires. I got his permission to repost it here. Remember, when you're rolling your eyes at all the people posting about "May the 4th be with you", think about what that actually…
I couldn't be more proud of my website I help administer Yehoodi.com than I am today. Our team has taken the decision to join hundreds of other websites around the world — including Wikipedia , BoingBoing and Reddit — in shutting down our site on January 18 in protest of the PIPA / SOPA bills…
I'm excited to announce that Global Kids , a pioneering nonprofit that transforms the lives of thousands of urban teens into global leaders, is in the running for $1 million in the American Giving Awards sponsored by Chase. If you think that all young people deserve a chance to express themselves on important global issues, serve their…
Ten years ago, I was lying in bed with a cold. At the time, I was living in a group house in lower Manhattan in a closet sized room with barely space for a twin mattress and an iMac. I had forgotten to turn off my radio alarm clock, which went off at 7:45am. I…
The nice folks at the US Institute of Peace send out the news that they are holding an all-day conference on "Seizing the Moment: Media & Peacebuilding" this Wednesday, May 12, at the Newseum in Washington DC. It looks like a fantastic event, which will consider "specific recommendations on ways to harness the power of media for…
EVOKE trailer (a new online game) from Alchemy on Vimeo. The World Bank, working with ARG master Jane McGonigal, have launched a new online game called "Urgent Evoke" that's geared toward getting young people — particularly African young people — to come up with creative solutions to the worst of the world's social ills. It…
The FCC has created a website using IdeaScale to solicit ideas and opinions on the importance of broadband internet on education in America. I just posted my own views entitled "All of America's Youth Deserve to Play a Part in the Digital Society." Here's a bit of what I wrote: I work at Global Kids,…