I view machinima (digital films created using a game engine or virtual world) as a powerful and accessible medium for storytelling and artistic expression. And despite its game-based roots, I think there is ample evidence that machinima can be used to engage people on serious issues and ideas — whether its the upcoming US Presidential…
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Useless App of the Day: Poladroid for the Mac!
This what computers are good for — creating useless but entertaining programs that replicate stuff that worked just fine in the real world. DK of Mediasnackers tweeted a link to this awesomely useless and free Mac application called "Poladroid." Poladroid puts a cute Polaroid on your desktop that you can drop any image file on. …
How NOT to integrate global issues and hip-hop: Ban Ki Moon drops a rhyme
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon "raps" about the role of private donors and foundations in helping the UN do its work. Ouch. I’m embarassed for the entire UN system. Someone really needed to advice Ban Ki Moon to not try and rap. Where were his advisers getting his back? And there are lots more…
Art for Justice Event at Second Life Justice Center October 24
Can virtual art stimulate real-world political action? Find out on Friday, October 24, as digital media artists Peggy Weil (Ping Rau in SL) and Nonny de la Peña (Nonny Writer) discuss how they are using 3D artwork as a form of political expression and civic engagement. In Second Life at the International Justice Center (click…
Scenes from Yehoodi’s 10th Anniversary weekend (video)!
I threw together this video montage from Yehoodi’s 10th anniversary celebration this past weekend, a whirlwind of live music, dancing, and partying until all hours that started on Thursday evening and went straight through to Sunday at 1am. This video gives you a small taste of what the weekend was like, including footage from: Our…
Amazing swing dance fundraiser for Obama tonight at Union Pool in Brooklyn!
Just got home from an inspired, amazing night of dancing and music to support Barack Obama. Local lindy hopper Ramona Staffield got together an all-star cast of musicians, singers, lindy hoppers and hoofers to throw on a fundraiser dance concert at Union Pool tonight in Williamsburg. The event was officially in support of the non-profit…
Machinima Festival November 1 at Eyebeam in NYC
I’m excited to announce that the 2008 Machinima Festival is set for Saturday, November 1st at the fabulous Eyebeam studios in New York City. This is a historic period in the emergence of machinima as its own form of media, with more filmmakers, genres, and tools than ever before making this a truly public and…
“Swing Out for the Swing Vote” dance party tonight at Union Pool, Williamsburg
Tonight I’ll be dancing for Obama at Union Pool in Williamburg (Google Map). Local bad ass lindy hopper Ramona Staffeld is throwing a "Swing Out for the Swing Vote" dance party for the Democrats tonight at 8:30pm. There’s a kick ass swing band, performances by world-class dancers, and a full bar: Dance for the Democrats…
Sponsor Rafi & “make plastic bags history” in NYC
My buddy Rafi has been working over the past few months with an effort to get rid of plastic bags in New York City, called the "Back to the Sack" initiative. Rafi is asking for support for the environmental initiative as he participates in the "One City Walk" walkathon on November 8: Some of you…
Beijing’s Forbidden City as a virtual world (a mini-review)
I did a short fly-through of the new virtual world "Forbidden City: Beyond Space and Time" created by IBM and the Palace Museum of China. The goal of the project is "to provide the means for a world-wide audience to celebrate and explore aspects of Chinese culture and history" through doing a virtual tour of…