I finished my first real switchcraft project tonight: a vest with LED light epaulets. It seemed deceptively simple and easy, but actually took a lot longer than I thought to complete (about 2.5 hours). Components: 2 battery holders with batteries 2 slide switches 8 white LED lights Conductive thread Sewing needle Vest Glue (optional, but…
“I Charleston New York”: Frenchies bring Charleston Mania to Manhattan
As I mentioned about a month ago, I participated in the "I Charleston New York" flash mob in Times Square along with a bunch of other local lindy hoppers. Organized by those wacky dancers from Montpellier, the Swingjammerz, "I Charleston…" is a video project where they go from city to city around the world, spreading…
Co-hosting a Podcast from NYC and Cali over Skype
This was not the most fantastic day I've ever had. But it ended on a high note with a recording of another Yehoodi Talk Show podcast with my buddy Manu in California. Manu and I have been doing the Yehoodi Talk Show for more years than I care to count right now. He's a great…
Global Kids is Hiring a Technical / Program Assistant
My organization Global Kids is looking to round out our awesome team of digital media experts and educators with a Technical / Program Assistant. If you have LEET web skills, a passion for digital media, and a heart for urban teens, we could use you! Global Kids is a great place to work with a…
Krumping as Transcendent Expression
This morning at Quaker Meeting I couldn't stop thinking about krump. Krumping, of course, is the hyper-energetic, aggressive dance style that emerged out of some of the roughest neighborhoods in LA in the 90s, and has since become an international phenomenon. I've long had difficulty understanding krump as an artform. It appeared to me to…
Adventures in Lindy Hop: Dancing with Zac Posen at Saks
Tammy, who runs You Should Be Dancing Studios, invited me and a friend to participate in a cool promotional event at Saks Fifth Avenue department store last night. The gig was a dance party as part of "Fashion's Night Out," a series of parties going on all over the city as part of Fashion Week….
Wanted: Computer Mice for At-risk Teen Programs in NYC
Do you have an extra computer mouse you aren't using? My nonprofit Global Kids could use any working USB, two-button mice for our digital media programs with at-risk teens. Starting in a couple of weeks, I'm running a science, culture and technology project in Brooklyn, and realize that our laptops don't have computer mice. For…
Turn a Book into a $1 Ironic Case for Your Kindle / e-Book Reader
Dadjunk.com shared a DIY project for making a cheap and fun case for your Kindle e-book reader, using an old book. Irony alert! I decided to try it out this weekend and here's the results. Check the pics and a quick video of how it went for me. I'm a complete spaz when it comes…
Compilation of Dance Scenes from the Movies: What’s Missing? [UPDATED]
TinyMich tweeted out this fun compilation of dance scenes from movies from the past, including some of my favorites — "Footloose," "Step Up," "Singing in the Rain," etc. Some missing ones from my list of fave scenes: "Breaking" (Turbo's broom dance) "Beat Street" (first b-boy battle), "The Fisher King" (Grand Central Waltz) and "Shall We…
The Brooklyn Public Library is Awesome
I'm embarassed to say that yesterday afternoon, after 15 years in New York City, was only the second time that I've been to a NY public library. I was planning on doing some research for the "I Dig Brazil" program which begins in a few weeks, hoping to find out information about the local culture,…