My friend Josephine and I got to check out the wonderful new play “Next Fall” at the Helen Hayes Theater not long ago. Given how much the live theater scene in New York has suffered during the economic downturn, I’m impressed with any new production that doesn’t have puppets, showstopping musical numbers, or movie stars…
FCC Chairman and Elmo explain on how broadband can help America’s youth (video)
Here's a pretty inspiring talk by the chairman of the FCC, Julius Genachowski, talking about how broadband internet access can help America's young people be successful students and engaged citizens. (Note that the chairman begins at about the 14:52 mark in this video.) He begins by outlining how much has changed in the past couple…
The Summer of Pilgrim: “Scott Pilgrim” manga series finale, movie and game coming soon!
Holy smokes, I'm excited about the impending release of Bryan Lee O'Malley's "Scott Pilgim's Finest Hour!" Volume six of the awesome "Scott Pilgrim" series, the manga-style comic chronicles the adventures of Scott Pilgrim, a slacker / musician / kung fu fighter who falls hopelessly in love with the lovely Ramona Flowers, ninja messenger girl. Trouble…
Yehoodi Talk Show #603: A Lindy Legend Turns 90, Bad Suzy-Qs, and Spuds Joins the P90X Cult
The (audio) Yehoodi Talk Show episode #603 has been unleashed on your innocent ears, featuring myself and my buddy Manu "Spuds" Smith. In this show we talk about the 90th birthday of a lindy hop legend, how lindy hoppers enforce the "right" way of doing lindy steps, swingers fighting hunger, and a boatload of events…
“Bayanihan”: To Be a Hero for Another
My father was recently in the Philippines and came back with some presents for my sister and I. This is a small painting he brought back for me called Bayanihan. Here's where the word comes from, as it was described on the back of the painting: The origin of the term bayanihan can be traced…
“Play”: A Mind-bending Short Film on Games and Reality
Check out this unpredictable, thought-provoking short film "Play." The film examines what happens when digital game play becomes indistinguishable from reality. By David Kaplan (Little Red Riding Hood and Other Stories, Year of the Fish) and game designer Eric Zimmerman (Gamelab, Rules of Play). (I personally find the First Date level extremely difficult to beat.)…
Rik’s Reading List for March 14, 2010
Here's some cool stuff that I've been reading lately: Biomega, Volume One: Violent, dark, beautiful manga by Tsutomu Nihei. It's kind of got everything that geeks like: motorbikes, zombies, talking bears, and damsels in distress. And that's just in the first 30 pages. Can't wait for volume two! Fashioning Technology by Syuzi Pakhchyan. A good…
America’s Best Dance Crew Episode 507: The Disco Challenge
America's Best Dance Crew (Season 5) – MTV Shows Here's my notes on America's Best Dance Crew episode 507. This week was the disco challenge, which wasn't particularly challenging. Here's how they all did in my opinion : Blueprint Cru: Killed it! Great locking moves. Nice synchonicity and incorporation of various dance styles. These Canucks…
Ken Swift and Joe Schloss on Preserving B-Boy Culture for Future Generations
Last night I was fortunate enough to be among a packed audience of 60+ folks at a "Conversation with Ken Swift and Joe Schloss, PhD" at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Ken and Joe were speaking on the subject of b-boying as a cultural phenomenon historically, in the present day, and into the…
“Q Train Manhattan Bound 942am” (poem)
Written this morning on my commute on my iPhone.