I'm not sure anything could encapsulate my entire year better than this one picture from the New York Times. For me it was a sublime, bittersweet moment — leading hundreds of people marching, dancing, clapping, making music, laughing and crying in celebration of the life of one humble man who touched us all. The year…
Category: Travel
Conscience Unconference Session on Games and Human Rights Education
On Saturday, December 5, I had the pleasure of joining about 30-40 other participants at the "Conscience Unconference" in Washington DC, sponsored by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Center for History and New Media. Having experienced a few unconferences before, I knew coming in that the quality of the experience would lie largely…
Me talking about youth video at Conscience Unconference
I had a great time at the Conscience Unconference at the US Holocaust Museum in Washington DC today. Lots of amazing museum professionals, activists, nonprofits, academics and tech developers talking about how to leverage social media for human rights and civic engagement. A perfect event for me. Here's a semi-coherent video of me talking about…
RidetheCity.com: Google Maps meets crowdsourced biking data
I'm really digging the new RidetheCity.com website, a service that debuted in 2008 to help bike commuters find the best route from A to B in the city. Let's face it: it's a jungle out there for New York City bikers. We need all the help we can get. The new site integrates elevation data…
Conscience Unconference explores intersection of social media and human rights
This Saturday, December 5, I will be participating in the "Conscience Unconference" at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. This looks to be a very interesting gathering of museum professionals, activists, educators and academics to discuss "problems, practicalities, and opportunities of using social media to further the missions of 'institutions of conscience' —…
Finding balance with the Brooklyn Quakers at the Powell House Retreat Center
I just got back from the Powell House retreat center in upstate New York, joining 40-some Quakers from the Brooklyn Friends Meeting. It was a relaxing and spiritually recharging weekend among some very deep souls. I'm fairly new to Brooklyn Meeting, having only started attending a couple of years ago. So going on a weekend…
Quaking and Swinging: Teaching Quakers how to social dance
This weekend I am up in Old Chatham, New York at the Powell House retreat center for the annual retreat of my spiritual community, the Friends Meeting of Brooklyn. Tonight I taught a small group of Quakers the basics of social dance both as a fun activity and to deepen their understanding about the concept…
Apl.de.ap of Black-eyed Peas wants to “Take You to the Philippines” (video)
I got that news that Philippines-born member of the Black-eyed Peas Apl.de.ap recently launched a new music video / tourism spot called "Take Me to the Philippines" on MTV Asia. It's a catchy little number and a slickly produced music video, created by LA-based We Are Royale, with support from the Philippine Department of Tourism. …
Dreaming of Dutch Living
As I write this, I’m eating brunch in an outdoor café on the corner of Oosterpark in the southeastern part of Amsterdam, imagining (again) what it might be like to live here. Tall blonde girls walk past me every couple of minutes, each one cuter than the last. A waiter serves me a perfect cup…
Helping bring a new life into the world
Tomorrow night I'm off to Europe to help some dear friends of mine have a child. To be exact, if all goes as planned, I am going to be the biological father of their child. It's one of the most important things I've ever done in my life. I've been friends with the couple for…