Mobile De-Vices

Update (9/24/08): It seems that the Chronicle of Higher Education got wise to this story as well. Unfortunately, no mention of the article that started it all. Read their story here: Wired Campus: Neighbors Blame Microblogging for Wild Partying at Loyola Marymount.

The Westchester community is charging my dear university and peers for such vices as: drunkenly cussing at them, having sex on in their bushes and pissing on their lawns. Fair enough. I expect such behavior near a university and so should they.

Independently from the controversy, I wrote an article in the Loyolan about how micro-blogging will get you into parties. I still quite like the article. The idea is that you could more efficiently plan out your weekends by coordinating things with Facebook and Twitter. This is what I did in San Francisco and it lead to many new connections as I discovered parties I never would have otherwise attended whilst avoiding the charlie foxtrot of coordinating a hundred people.

The key here is that you could use it for efficient parties. Unfortunately for geeks like me, nobody actually does this in college.

A still from the KNBC story that covered my article

A still from the KNBC story that covered my article

But if you talked to a non-student you might think otherwise. A mention of my article was the sole appeal to the students in a remarkably journalistically irresponsible news story by KNBC about LMU parties in Westchester. This video actually features a policeman who doesn’t seem to know what a cell phone is, stating, “As soon as the 100-150 kids came out of the house, I saw all the things lighting up in their hands.” Then came a blog post by Living90045 (I suppose, as in “Martha Stewart’s Living” – what a laughable bunch of yuppies) which purported the same misconception. And then another from anonymous “westchester dad” – who won’t even put his name on a blog post.

Another shame behind these misconceptions is the same-old whine from curmudgeons: “I don’t understand technology! Get me out of here! Give me back my AOL!” Think about it for a second, Westchester. Wouldn’t you rather have people privy to every party and get-together in the neighborhood – spreading students broadly – instead of seeing 500 kids crash the single frat party that has a monopoly on party word-of-mouth? Once a party gets rolled by the cops, would you rather have the students quickly find something else to do or wander around on the sidewalk outside your home?

But all this feedback is fantastic. Maybe this will catch on and students will actually use it. Read the article to get a good rundown of how to party with microblogging.

Why TwitterMail is the best iPhone Tweeter

I’m tired of every Twitter application for the iPhone. Some are buggy, some are too complicated, others are slow. My solution is a little hack with the fantastic TwitterMail. As far as I’m concerned, it ends the debate. Regardless of what app you use to check Twitter, everyone should use TwitterMail for just plain Tweeting.

It sets up a unique email address that you can Tweet through. The contents of that email equals your Tweet. Here’s why it’s great: it isn’t dependent on an internet connection. When you open Mail, it doesn’t load a hundred other tweets or some buggy code like most other application. It just loads the robust Mail app. And even if you don’t have an internet connection, it’ll save your Tweet in the outbox until you get connected again. It’s fast and easy.

Sealing panels

We’ve put together a pitch for a panel concept at 2009’s SXSWi Festival, and 30% of sealing the deal is a poll of potential conference attendees. Even if you’re unlikely to attend the conference, it’d really be swell if you voted for it. It’s called “The Student 2.0 Revolution” and it’s about how Web 2.0 is shifting the playing field on college campuses and the administrators who stand in the way of that.

The ironic part about whoring out a self-promotiomal blog post on this is: does anyone read this blog? And even if someone does, wouldn’t they already know about the panel? Well, either way, it can’t hurt.

Critical massage

On Friday I did one of the most muscle-pleasing, tension-releasing activities of my life.

It was critical mass, an incredible demonstration of the power of people. And it was fun.

Critical mass started right here in San Francisco — where hundreds of bicyclists, from enthusiasts to laymen, dominate the roadways during rush hour once a month. As far as the eye can see, both lanes are consumed.

The police facilitate it — on motorcycles — as people “discreetly” drink 32 oz. cans on the (mostly) leisurely ride. Some sport custom-made rides: an 8-foot-high-cycle, a giant unicycle, two tandems side-by-side that make a massive DJ machine… It’s not a posse of pretentious messengers or athletic Tour de Frenchmen — it’s a new way to look at life.

Cars are helpless to the traffic jam. Some laugh and play music, admitting defeat. Others holler, “Fuck you!” To which the cyclists respond in unison: “I love you!”

Update: If you don’t believe me, check out the video that Tyler Howarth posted on Intern Row.

Incant on the Internet

On Tuesday, an new CD of religious chants will be released in the US. Why am I interested in the Cistercian monks of the Stift Heiligenkreuz? Because, according to the New York Times:

“Chant: Music for Paradise,” was released in Europe in May — and shot to No. 7 in the British pop charts, at one point outselling releases from Amy Winehouse and Madonna. 

Quite ironically, the monks are a little opposed to their newfound popularity. After all, how can a celebrity simultaneously devote himself to isolation? 

The group got hooked up with Universal Records when a rep got tipped off to the monks’ YouTube video. 

Gossip Assistant

This article was orignially published in the official Revision3 intern blog. I’ll be interning with Revision3 through August 2008.

I have a secret and for a while, I’ve been embarrassed to admit it. My Facebook profile is missing a piece, my Twitter account has yet to comment and at every mention of New York (a city I’ve never even visited before) I have to bite my tongue to avoid divulging this personal bit.

I watch Gossip Girl. And I like it.

I find myself rationalizing this immature fondness much more than my pretentious coffee hobby, my iPhone ownership or even my brief “Toxic” obsession. But in my Gossip Girl rationalizations, a pattern has emerged: I’m convinced that the show is actually good. So, here I am, sharing a testament to its wisdom.

…Read the full story at Intern Row.

I am posting a YouTube video

All around, this is weird. I don’t like music videos (in fact, I think they might die some day). I don’t like people who post funny YouTube videos on their blogs. But here I am, spiting both beliefs.

Besides its great entertainment value, this is one music video that’s worth a look because it’s a sign of the times. It’s a music video designed for the ‘net. I’m not saying that this is some insipid marketing scheme. I’m just noting that we’re so immersed in this new media world that a music video concept revolving around post-modern viral video anecdotes makes perfect sense — in fact, it seems ingenious for some reason. The reason is that you’re probably watching it on YouTube in the first place. You’re certainly not watching it on MTV.

And speaking of YouTube, I’d like to plug an interesting and relevant new project called YouTomb. If you’re like me, you’ll quite enjoy the concept.

Car Stunts 101

I’ve been working on 2nd unit shooting some action stuff for GI Joe. Though I’d love to take credit for the amazing stuff we’re pulling off, I’m just a lowly Production Assistant.

Some ass hole shot some of the stuff and put it up on YouTube. Free publicity for Paramount! Enjoy the Euro music choices.

I’m okay with being a progress-slave

This article, called “Technoslave,” recently appeared in Adbusters. Here’s a convincing little statement:

Scientists and psychologists are now beginning to classify technology dependency as a major health problem, putting it in the same categories as alcoholism, gambling and drug addiction. The stress it creates is causing arthritis, migraines and ulcers. 

Technology is all about how you manage it. Most of the time, I don’t answer my cell phone. I pick it up, see who’s calling, and calmly press “Decline” if it’s just going to be a further distraction. If you look at it this way, technology doesn’t seem any more stressful than someone bursting into your office to ask a question. 

Not to mention, the general point that this article makes is pretty weak when you apply the same logic to other forms of progress. Have we become “wheelslaves” or “toiletslaves?” Just because we’re a “slave” to something, that doesn’t mean it’s inherently bad.