So for this Christmas, I decided that I wanted to find the ultimate Christmas sweater vest to wear to my family's holiday party. After some unsuccessful web searches and visits to various Goodwill and Salvation Army outposts in the city, I was about to despair. There are just too many ironic shoppers in the city,…
Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks doing “Royal Garden Blues” (video)
Here's some awesome footage of vintage swing big band Vince Giordano and his Nighthawks performing "Royal Garden Blues" at the "Holiday Tea at Three" in Manhattan yesterday. Taken by twentythreeskidoo, a wonderful young lindy hopper and swing jazz fanatic. I love how she captures all of the musicians doing their solos as well as the…
EnerCities: first Facebook “serious game” on sustainable urban development
Dylan Nagel of Paladin Studios sends out the news that the public beta version of EnerCities has been released, reportedly the first "serious game" to be hosted on Facebook. With support from the European Commission, the goal of our project is to raise energy awareness among young people around the world through the gameplay. I…
Global Kids’ Nisrin Elamin talks about her work for peace in Sudan on WNYC
Here's an awesome radio interview with my colleague Nisrin Elamin, a senior trainer and curriculum specialist at Global Kids, talking about her work with grassroots groups like Sisterhood for Peace and an underground radio station in Darfur. I and my colleagues have benefited so much from Nisrin's passionate and untiring work for peace in her…
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…
Awesome machinima about community in Second Life by Ill Clan Studios
Here's the latest in a series of machinima videos produced by Ill Clan Studios about the virtual world of Second Life. This one focuses on the community-aspects of Second Life, arguably it's strongest attribute versus other platforms out there. Great work as always, Ill Clan! I just wish my SL experience was as lag free…
“Q is for Quaker”: Awesome Arty Keyboard Stickers!
I don't think this aligns well with the Quaker value of simplicity, but I kind of have to have these keyboard stickers created by designer Christopher Monro Delorenzo! Not only are they mad cute (B is for Bowie, P is for Pirate, G is for Geisha) but they have an adorable little Quaker icon for…
Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD) smokin’ trailer! (video)
LXD "Moments" Trailer from Jon M. Chu on Vimeo. I really have no idea what the "Legion of Extraordinary Dancers" (LXD) is, but the dancing and cinematography are ridiculous. Anything that has guys in sharp suits doing handhops is okay in my book. Here's their performance on "So You Think You Can Dance" last night….
Update on New Year’s Eve Eve Salon Party
I got the updated info on the line-up for the Salon New Year's Eve Eve party happening on December 30th. They have an amazing assortment of entertainment on tap at the very swank Player's Club in downtown Manhattan: Headliner: George Gee and the Jump, Jive and Wailers Big Band in the ballroom Queen Esther and…