I forgot to say, as I'm having such a good time, that I'm in San Francisco for GDC and also to hang out with Yoz and Bob and see the city and meet like a million people who know from games and virtual worlds.
This picture makes me think of Cuba, for some reason.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
So we missed Bonhams' first Urban Art auction last night, althought there's a rather wide-eyed account from someone who sold a Banksy for £20,000 to pay of debts, on the BBC.
Who knows, maybe someday you'll be able to make money from local Kilburn grafitti.
(OK, they're not all local. I think one might even be a Banksy...)
Who knows, maybe someday you'll be able to make money from local Kilburn grafitti.
(OK, they're not all local. I think one might even be a Banksy...)
Thursday, January 31, 2008
DSC04111
I invented a new dish last night. Salmon mirin with ginger and rocket salad.
I marinated salmon in mirin and sake for twenty minutes or so. Then I cooked it on the griddle with a tiny bit of olive oil, two minutes on each side.
While that was cooking, I made a salad of:
- rocket leaves
- orange pepper
- spring onion, cut at an angle, in the Asian style
- sushi ginger, shredded
- dressing of sesame oil, rice vinegar and soy sauce
Assemble as per photo. Takes about twenty minutes to prepare, max. Delicious.
Yes, I know, I don't really eat fish any more, but you have to find your vitiman D somewhere, right?
I marinated salmon in mirin and sake for twenty minutes or so. Then I cooked it on the griddle with a tiny bit of olive oil, two minutes on each side.
While that was cooking, I made a salad of:
- rocket leaves
- orange pepper
- spring onion, cut at an angle, in the Asian style
- sushi ginger, shredded
- dressing of sesame oil, rice vinegar and soy sauce
Assemble as per photo. Takes about twenty minutes to prepare, max. Delicious.
Yes, I know, I don't really eat fish any more, but you have to find your vitiman D somewhere, right?
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
I think my neighbour has become a buddhist
There's a lot of tingly music, and ohhming, and a fair amount of mini-cymbals action. Any minute now I'm expecting him to wander through the hall in an orange getup and a serene face.
Like, yeah.
It's very annoying.
I was going to say let's just say it's very annoying, but it's been pointed out to me that I have something of a let's-just-say tic. So I won't.
Maybe the global economic melt-down is getting to him. I mean, he looks like a massage therapist / DJ (unique combination, no?) but maybe that's all a front for day trading or he was long on CDOs or something and this is his only want to deal with it.
Other people's lives. Interesting.
There's a lot of tingly music, and ohhming, and a fair amount of mini-cymbals action. Any minute now I'm expecting him to wander through the hall in an orange getup and a serene face.
Like, yeah.
It's very annoying.
I was going to say let's just say it's very annoying, but it's been pointed out to me that I have something of a let's-just-say tic. So I won't.
Maybe the global economic melt-down is getting to him. I mean, he looks like a massage therapist / DJ (unique combination, no?) but maybe that's all a front for day trading or he was long on CDOs or something and this is his only want to deal with it.
Other people's lives. Interesting.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Travel News
Yesterday it took me two and a half hours to get back to Kilburn from Finchley. Yep, two and a half hours for a twenty minute journey. I missed a meeting - called, them obviously, with the joy of mobile phones - sat back in the car, listened to Radio 4.
I find stationery traffic really frustrating. I'd rather be moving slowly and feel I'm getting somewhere, no matter at what speed, than practically parked, without the internet and no idea how to solve the problem.
Aaaaargh.
Anyway, when I got hope I discovered the North Circular had been closed near Ikea, because of a fatal car/lorry accident, and I figure that must be what it's about.
But I was supposed to go out in Golders Green last night and frankly couldn't hack getting in the car again when it was solid traffic outside my house and reports from my Golders Green High Road traffic spy were the same.
All this may be a message from the universe that we all should stop owning cars. Car share clubs are getting better and better: www.streetcar.co.uk ; www.Zipcar.co.uk; www.citycarclub.co.uk and www.whizzgo.co.uk.
Yesterday it took me two and a half hours to get back to Kilburn from Finchley. Yep, two and a half hours for a twenty minute journey. I missed a meeting - called, them obviously, with the joy of mobile phones - sat back in the car, listened to Radio 4.
I find stationery traffic really frustrating. I'd rather be moving slowly and feel I'm getting somewhere, no matter at what speed, than practically parked, without the internet and no idea how to solve the problem.
Aaaaargh.
Anyway, when I got hope I discovered the North Circular had been closed near Ikea, because of a fatal car/lorry accident, and I figure that must be what it's about.
But I was supposed to go out in Golders Green last night and frankly couldn't hack getting in the car again when it was solid traffic outside my house and reports from my Golders Green High Road traffic spy were the same.
All this may be a message from the universe that we all should stop owning cars. Car share clubs are getting better and better: www.streetcar.co.uk ; www.Zipcar.co.uk; www.citycarclub.co.uk and www.whizzgo.co.uk.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Her Purpleness
I am somewhere on the quite-shocked to quelle-surprise-it's-the-interweb-after-all continuum to discover there is a Purple Store.
Who knew.
I am somewhere on the quite-shocked to quelle-surprise-it's-the-interweb-after-all continuum to discover there is a Purple Store.
Who knew.
I went out to dinner with someone recently who didn't know there was a writers' strike in the US, now in its third month, and more in the public eye given this week's cancellation of the Golden Globes. So I was surprised, but hey, there's a lot of news.
Although I'm mostly worried about Desperate Housewives.
Anyway, it's all about internet residuals, and it seems fair enough to me. I've thought about recompense for creative work for a lot of time; in the commercial events business, if you come up with a great idea for someone while in their employ you don't get any credit; if you work for a TV company, you get credited (although no extra money) forever. I guess it's different in every industry, but there's already a precedent here. Here's a video which kinda tells all about it:
Although I'm mostly worried about Desperate Housewives.
Anyway, it's all about internet residuals, and it seems fair enough to me. I've thought about recompense for creative work for a lot of time; in the commercial events business, if you come up with a great idea for someone while in their employ you don't get any credit; if you work for a TV company, you get credited (although no extra money) forever. I guess it's different in every industry, but there's already a precedent here. Here's a video which kinda tells all about it:
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
The programme's up for this year's Jewish Book Week in February and it's a corker. In my experience, tickets sell out pretty fast, so get there quick.
My personal favourites: Tali Loewenthal and Rachel Elior on Jewish mysticism; Shlomo Avineri on Isaiah Berlin; The East End now and then and for a bit of light relief, Jonny Freedland and Matt Benyon Rees on writing thrillers.
But best of all: the people watching. Book Week is like shul without god; it's the people of the book talking and drinking coffee, buying books and arguing, and it's the best (Jewish / intellectual) fun you can have with your clothes on.
OK, there are other things. But not that many.
My personal favourites: Tali Loewenthal and Rachel Elior on Jewish mysticism; Shlomo Avineri on Isaiah Berlin; The East End now and then and for a bit of light relief, Jonny Freedland and Matt Benyon Rees on writing thrillers.
But best of all: the people watching. Book Week is like shul without god; it's the people of the book talking and drinking coffee, buying books and arguing, and it's the best (Jewish / intellectual) fun you can have with your clothes on.
OK, there are other things. But not that many.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Gare du Nord departures
So I'm not exactly in Paris, although I am in the South of France - Vence, to be exact. Somehow, it's gotten to be something of a French year.
This French keyboard is slightly doing my head in, so let's just say that it's nice and peaceful here, I've read lots of books, caught up on the West Wing, and not quite written as much as I'd like. Oh, and I have photos, but need to come to some kind of arrangement with the cyber-café bloke re my laptop and his badwidth.
Interesting factoid: Flickr thinks I'm French.
And happy holidays, peace and goodwill to all peeps etc.
This French keyboard is slightly doing my head in, so let's just say that it's nice and peaceful here, I've read lots of books, caught up on the West Wing, and not quite written as much as I'd like. Oh, and I have photos, but need to come to some kind of arrangement with the cyber-café bloke re my laptop and his badwidth.
Interesting factoid: Flickr thinks I'm French.
And happy holidays, peace and goodwill to all peeps etc.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
New floor at St Pancras
One of the funnest things about my trip this week to LeWeb3 in Paris (and there were lots) was going on le Eurostar from the new St Pancras station.
It's all new and shiny, but, frankly, unfinished. A at dinner on Friday night had forewarned me that there was only one coffee outlet once you get past passport control, which was no biggie. But getting to St Pancras at stupid o'clock in the morning only to discover that (a) there's not a cashpoint machine to be had and (b) no bureau de change either, kinda pissed me off. I sorted it, as a resourceful person should, but it was... annoying.
Everything's new and shiny, like the floor - fabulous Yorkshire slate (I'm guessing) with a rich... cedar (surely not, in these sustainable days) wood floor. It's actually darker in real life, come out more oak-ish in the photo.
Reminds me of when you go to a friend's house when they've just moved into a developer-converted apartment and everything's oak and slate and shiny and new with a few things left off the snagging list shouting out at you. I half expected the station master (or is that the Fat Controller) to offer to doa tour.
Still, two hours fifteen minutes, you really can't complain.
It's all new and shiny, but, frankly, unfinished. A at dinner on Friday night had forewarned me that there was only one coffee outlet once you get past passport control, which was no biggie. But getting to St Pancras at stupid o'clock in the morning only to discover that (a) there's not a cashpoint machine to be had and (b) no bureau de change either, kinda pissed me off. I sorted it, as a resourceful person should, but it was... annoying.
Everything's new and shiny, like the floor - fabulous Yorkshire slate (I'm guessing) with a rich... cedar (surely not, in these sustainable days) wood floor. It's actually darker in real life, come out more oak-ish in the photo.
Reminds me of when you go to a friend's house when they've just moved into a developer-converted apartment and everything's oak and slate and shiny and new with a few things left off the snagging list shouting out at you. I half expected the station master (or is that the Fat Controller) to offer to doa tour.
Still, two hours fifteen minutes, you really can't complain.
MoneySavingExepert.com
I went to a meeting in West London and couldn't help noticing the MoneySavingExpert (or EExpert) listing on the reception. Makes me think of the Aasus EEE. There's a lot of it about, right?
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Here at LeWeb3, and only just blogging now, as had no-wifi at my free-wifi hotel, and slightly flakey wifi here at the venue, depending on where you're sitting.
Met a bunch of great folk, hung out with friends (great meal last night in a little bistro recommended by N's Paris-dwelling brother, who must surely be my new facebook-friend (as in I don't actually know him)), and moderated the virtual worlds panel yesterday afternoon, which was fun, although tough squashing a whole sector into 40 minutes. Marc Samwer from the European Founders Fund, Stefano Crosta from Cisco, Matthias Mikshe from Stardoll and Dominique Ribeiro da Costa from Les Plus Belles Lunettes du Monde talked through everything from consumer/marketing to enterprise virtual worlds, real cash economies, virtual world interoperability and the future of virtual worlds.
Met a bunch of great folk, hung out with friends (great meal last night in a little bistro recommended by N's Paris-dwelling brother, who must surely be my new facebook-friend (as in I don't actually know him)), and moderated the virtual worlds panel yesterday afternoon, which was fun, although tough squashing a whole sector into 40 minutes. Marc Samwer from the European Founders Fund, Stefano Crosta from Cisco, Matthias Mikshe from Stardoll and Dominique Ribeiro da Costa from Les Plus Belles Lunettes du Monde talked through everything from consumer/marketing to enterprise virtual worlds, real cash economies, virtual world interoperability and the future of virtual worlds.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Le crack (Shibboleth) at Tate Modern
At Tate Modern, last weekend. Louise Borgeouis really got to me, Doris Salcedo's Shibboleth was something of a light relief.
Friday, November 30, 2007
shoes
My friend Sue is an artist, and I totally love these shoes at her recent exhibition. They're a little bit art deco, and a little bit playful. Unlike real shoes, they're quite delicate, and you probably couldn't wear them.
For a reason I don't know, these shoes totally call to me.
For a reason I don't know, these shoes totally call to me.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Just listening to Alan Duncan on Question Time (in response to the Morrisey issue) saying that he basically doesn't want any more immigrants coming into the country. All I can say is that I'm a fourth generation immigrant, and I don't expect I'll ever forget it.
In 1897, when my great grandfather came here from Romania/Moldova, fleeing persecution, this country welcomed him, and he made a whole life he. Sure, he made a contribution, built up a business (or two), and was forever proud of his British identity. If Alan Duncan had his way, I wouldn't exist.
In 1897, when my great grandfather came here from Romania/Moldova, fleeing persecution, this country welcomed him, and he made a whole life he. Sure, he made a contribution, built up a business (or two), and was forever proud of his British identity. If Alan Duncan had his way, I wouldn't exist.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
I'm going to Paris in a couple of weeks, for LeWeb3 (which, strictly speaking one should pronounce in French), and I'm getting all into French property:)
SoPi, anyone?
SoPi, anyone?
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The Streets of Cricklewood: Three in a series
I got really excited, and I mean really, when the Momtaz Shisha Cafe started opening about six weeks ago.
First, they got a sign. My immediate thought was: hummous. I thought, bottom of the Edgware Road comes to Cricklewood, how cool is that. I watched them paint and decorate and ship in furniture. Then, they put seats outside, and I thought, it's nearly winter, who sits outside? But then I realised, shisha is like smoking, so you have to do it outside now.
So it's quite busy, now it's open, but it's 90% about the shisha and like less than 10% about the humous, so I've been nervous about going in. I've walked past, peered in to the kitcheny bit. But I am yet to step over the threshold.
Give me time.
I got really excited, and I mean really, when the Momtaz Shisha Cafe started opening about six weeks ago.
First, they got a sign. My immediate thought was: hummous. I thought, bottom of the Edgware Road comes to Cricklewood, how cool is that. I watched them paint and decorate and ship in furniture. Then, they put seats outside, and I thought, it's nearly winter, who sits outside? But then I realised, shisha is like smoking, so you have to do it outside now.
So it's quite busy, now it's open, but it's 90% about the shisha and like less than 10% about the humous, so I've been nervous about going in. I've walked past, peered in to the kitcheny bit. But I am yet to step over the threshold.
Give me time.
OK, so I never thought I'd say this, but I received superlative customer service.
Sorry it took me so long. I've been a little to-the-coast (I don't know entirely what this means. I heard it once in a Woody Allen film. I think - hope - it means busy).
So my Virgin Media operative arrived and rang the doorbell downstairs. Initially, I was worried because even though I buzzed him in, he didn't actually come in, and I had to run down and let him in. Seems as though he wasn't door-enabled.
He said, "I gather your cable modem doesn't work". And I said, "no, it works, it just does something odd to my wifi, and I now have two wifi routers. So you're apparently going to change the cable modem."
He said they don't support wifi routers. I was starting to feel all oh-dear-what-shall-I-do, as I know that I can't make inbound calls to the Virgin Media customer care operative, they only receive calls. But a smile and flash of cleavage (I made the last bit up, he was just fairly customer service focussed) and he plugged everything in, although it did take a few goes and we had to draw a diagram of our daisy chain. Also, he didn't understand why the wifi router was right next to the cable modem, because "it's wireless, innit." I persauded him the wireless router needed to be plugged into something to give wifi to all the other things.
Anyway. Seven-inch version: it works. It took ten minutes. And if I can find the receipt for one of my wireless routers and fax it to Mary at Virgin Media, they'll credit my account. Now, that's what I call customer service.
Sorry it took me so long. I've been a little to-the-coast (I don't know entirely what this means. I heard it once in a Woody Allen film. I think - hope - it means busy).
So my Virgin Media operative arrived and rang the doorbell downstairs. Initially, I was worried because even though I buzzed him in, he didn't actually come in, and I had to run down and let him in. Seems as though he wasn't door-enabled.
He said, "I gather your cable modem doesn't work". And I said, "no, it works, it just does something odd to my wifi, and I now have two wifi routers. So you're apparently going to change the cable modem."
He said they don't support wifi routers. I was starting to feel all oh-dear-what-shall-I-do, as I know that I can't make inbound calls to the Virgin Media customer care operative, they only receive calls. But a smile and flash of cleavage (I made the last bit up, he was just fairly customer service focussed) and he plugged everything in, although it did take a few goes and we had to draw a diagram of our daisy chain. Also, he didn't understand why the wifi router was right next to the cable modem, because "it's wireless, innit." I persauded him the wireless router needed to be plugged into something to give wifi to all the other things.
Anyway. Seven-inch version: it works. It took ten minutes. And if I can find the receipt for one of my wireless routers and fax it to Mary at Virgin Media, they'll credit my account. Now, that's what I call customer service.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Well, what are the chances of this happening? I have a problem with my Virgin Media (once Cable London / Telewest) broadband, which seems to have fried a Linksys and Netgear wifi box, and someone's supposed to be coming round 12 - 4 today to change my broadband router and do something about it.
And they just called and said they're running a little early, and could they come round now.
Wow.
Although, reserved-wow, as let's see if they can fix it.
And they just called and said they're running a little early, and could they come round now.
Wow.
Although, reserved-wow, as let's see if they can fix it.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
It is 5am. I am at Luton airport, forced to use crappy internet kiosk at £1 per ten minutes, which is £6 per hour, which is slightly more than the minimum wage or what you get for working at McBux. In fact, we should all be a Luton airport internet kiosk.
On my way to web2.0 in Berlin, and ironically my broadband died around 1130 last night when I was just about to do online checkin. I cannot think of online checkin without remembering that terrible, yet somehow memorable late 80s Israeli TV ad "ah, Mr Cohen, you make advance checkin". I, however, did not.
Luckily, once the taxi driver had refound my house, because hey, I never use that local cab firm like all the time, like they practically live with me, I got here in good time and it's like the middle of the day here. Bought Euros for the princely £5 commission (the woman at Travelex, when pushed, told me that because it's a private airport the rents are higher, thus the price of everything is increased).
And yes, I can't link because the interweb here is ropier than old rope, but I know I haven't said anything since the VWF (Virtual Worlds Forum) the week before last. But it was great. We had 450+ people from 23 countries, great feedback, cool press coverage and a multiplicity of ideas of what to offer to the virtual worlds community next.
Uhoh. Two remaining minutes. Sheesh this internet is slow. Hope it's faster in Berlin. See you on the other side.
On my way to web2.0 in Berlin, and ironically my broadband died around 1130 last night when I was just about to do online checkin. I cannot think of online checkin without remembering that terrible, yet somehow memorable late 80s Israeli TV ad "ah, Mr Cohen, you make advance checkin". I, however, did not.
Luckily, once the taxi driver had refound my house, because hey, I never use that local cab firm like all the time, like they practically live with me, I got here in good time and it's like the middle of the day here. Bought Euros for the princely £5 commission (the woman at Travelex, when pushed, told me that because it's a private airport the rents are higher, thus the price of everything is increased).
And yes, I can't link because the interweb here is ropier than old rope, but I know I haven't said anything since the VWF (Virtual Worlds Forum) the week before last. But it was great. We had 450+ people from 23 countries, great feedback, cool press coverage and a multiplicity of ideas of what to offer to the virtual worlds community next.
Uhoh. Two remaining minutes. Sheesh this internet is slow. Hope it's faster in Berlin. See you on the other side.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
The Streets of Cricklewood: Two in a series
So, like you probably, I have no idea what the PAg - Ibig Variety Store does. Largely, it's closed. I think on the odd ocassion I've seen it open they have a lot of African-patterned material, mostly in bright colours. But given their alleged variety, there must be to it than that.
The streets of Cricklewood are paved with good haberdashery.
So, like you probably, I have no idea what the PAg - Ibig Variety Store does. Largely, it's closed. I think on the odd ocassion I've seen it open they have a lot of African-patterned material, mostly in bright colours. But given their alleged variety, there must be to it than that.
The streets of Cricklewood are paved with good haberdashery.
Monday, October 15, 2007
The Streets of Cricklewood: One in a series
So Cricklewood is idiosyncratic, we know that. Immortalised by Zadie Smith's White Teeth (early in the morning, late in the century, Cricklewood Broadway), it's a cornocopia of ... stuff. From African to Ethiopian, Lebanse to Indian, Irish to Arab, walking down the street you real feel that multiculturalism has found its home.
Lan 2000 Kompressor Ltd - which I have, of course googled, but learned nothing, I might add - sells a wide variety of food, hair products, cash-at-an-interest-rate, videos and all those things you might just need. I like how it's labeled twice. Signage, signage. Kinda like Peri-peri chicken-chicken, or Boutros Boutras Ghali or just double vision.
So Cricklewood is idiosyncratic, we know that. Immortalised by Zadie Smith's White Teeth (early in the morning, late in the century, Cricklewood Broadway), it's a cornocopia of ... stuff. From African to Ethiopian, Lebanse to Indian, Irish to Arab, walking down the street you real feel that multiculturalism has found its home.
Lan 2000 Kompressor Ltd - which I have, of course googled, but learned nothing, I might add - sells a wide variety of food, hair products, cash-at-an-interest-rate, videos and all those things you might just need. I like how it's labeled twice. Signage, signage. Kinda like Peri-peri chicken-chicken, or Boutros Boutras Ghali or just double vision.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
I love the Guardian's writers rooms collection.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
You know there's no news when they're reduced to talking about the Mutton Renaissance on the Today programme. And there's almost an election, you think there'd be stuff to say.
I'm off to Future of Web Apps, and some meetings, and wow, is the VWFE taking off:)
I'm off to Future of Web Apps, and some meetings, and wow, is the VWFE taking off:)
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
You know how it is.
So a friend (Yoz) mentioned in passing about cargo cult coding, and then I went on a wikitrail and become briefly but deeply knowledgeable about cargo cults. Almost like it would be my special subject on mastermind.
Then I go out for lunch with D on Sunday and he's kinda thinking about cargo cults, too.
Synchronicity? Or just not enough words to go round.
So a friend (Yoz) mentioned in passing about cargo cult coding, and then I went on a wikitrail and become briefly but deeply knowledgeable about cargo cults. Almost like it would be my special subject on mastermind.
Then I go out for lunch with D on Sunday and he's kinda thinking about cargo cults, too.
Synchronicity? Or just not enough words to go round.
Brian Dettmer's book autopsies are amazing. Amazing. There's a little bit of me that thinks that books are... almost holy, and shouldn't be desecrated, but hey, it's art.
Reminds me: when I was about twelve, by then-best-friend's father, a well-known local barrister, became a QC. Apparently you get (got?) a letter from the Queen. I remember him saying to us, "now, no cutting this up for school projects."
Reminds me: when I was about twelve, by then-best-friend's father, a well-known local barrister, became a QC. Apparently you get (got?) a letter from the Queen. I remember him saying to us, "now, no cutting this up for school projects."
Monday, October 01, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Monday 6ish, I was in Golders Green having coffee with a friend (in the Costbux right opposite the Northern Rock you kept seeing besieged by queues on the news), and when I left, an hour or so later (on my way to a shiva house in Edgware, if you must know) the road was closed, police and everything, and I had to go all the way round the back, and the traffic was backed up for ages, and there were like eight empty buses at the other side, which I guess had just stopped because of the incident. I really could't see anything.
I googled when I got back, there was a BBC story just saying the road was closed. Then last night, N sent me this video. Wow. Solly's was on fire. I even thought to stop for a felafel, but the road was too busy, and I actually thought it was some kind of (terrorist) "incident" so got out of there pretty quick.
Weird video with soundtrack. You can listen to this one, but what is the soundtrack of a fire? Just people going "oooh, aaaah, nooo".
So, closed for the duration. Solly's is kinda a Golders Green institution, but look, you can share the love/how you feel/anything on facebook.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
memories of summer
Now that it feels wintery and slightly cold - just in time for Sukkot - here's a nice pic that totally reminds me of summer, camping, Derbyshire. How long ago was that?
Monday, September 17, 2007
Obviously this is slightly bizzare thing to write on a blog.
You'll see.
Seems like modernity is a 360 degree public appraisal. Every single thing is observed, commented on - nay, blogged about - linked, twittered, facebooked, googled. If you've grown out of LinkedIn you've grown into some Ning sub-group.
And TV. Do you think the next generation will expect their every waking moment to have like a narrator? That constant - generally middle-class - voice saying, "and what will Anastasia and Geroge decide about the house in the French countryside?" or "which young turk with slouchy street style will get the chance of a lifetime from the shouty chef" (Ramsay). Or that constant X-Factor backstory: will they be making the Hero's Journey from council house obscurity to D-list celebrity as soon as they've dropped out in round three and had their story sold to the Daily Mail by a disgruntled ex? Or - alternatively - humiliated for our entertainment because they dare to take their dancing-in-front-of-the-mirror singing-into-a-hairbrush act to the judges.
Is the rest of our lives going to have the white noise of annoying people saying about celebrity- bigbro- chef- model- whatever programme "it's been amazing, I've actually loved it."
Like we care.
Some say the unexamined life is not worth living. That's old school. Now we think the unmoderated, un-commentated, un-observed life's not worth doing.
I'm wondering if the obsessive media scrutiny makes everything a news story even when a lot of it is real life. And sometimes, there aren't any stories. In the words of Tom Clancy: the difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense.
Reality is messy. Not everyone wins. Not everyone's pretty. Not everyone's sucessful, and certainly not in the same way. Real life is about conversations, people, relationships, not about press mentions, and blog links and knowing that model off the TV.
All this brought on by Hells Kitchen/X Factor/too many house programmes and the constant conversation about Gerry and Kate. Like I know them. That whole McCann thing has turned into something like entertainment when really it's either a terrible family tragedy (abduction version) or a terrible family tragedy (alleged murder version).
I hank after peace, quiet. Countryside.
And I realise I'm contributing to the noise as much as anyone else. Sorry.
We all want to be heard, now. The audience has taken over.
You'll see.
Seems like modernity is a 360 degree public appraisal. Every single thing is observed, commented on - nay, blogged about - linked, twittered, facebooked, googled. If you've grown out of LinkedIn you've grown into some Ning sub-group.
And TV. Do you think the next generation will expect their every waking moment to have like a narrator? That constant - generally middle-class - voice saying, "and what will Anastasia and Geroge decide about the house in the French countryside?" or "which young turk with slouchy street style will get the chance of a lifetime from the shouty chef" (Ramsay). Or that constant X-Factor backstory: will they be making the Hero's Journey from council house obscurity to D-list celebrity as soon as they've dropped out in round three and had their story sold to the Daily Mail by a disgruntled ex? Or - alternatively - humiliated for our entertainment because they dare to take their dancing-in-front-of-the-mirror singing-into-a-hairbrush act to the judges.
Is the rest of our lives going to have the white noise of annoying people saying about celebrity- bigbro- chef- model- whatever programme "it's been amazing, I've actually loved it."
Like we care.
Some say the unexamined life is not worth living. That's old school. Now we think the unmoderated, un-commentated, un-observed life's not worth doing.
I'm wondering if the obsessive media scrutiny makes everything a news story even when a lot of it is real life. And sometimes, there aren't any stories. In the words of Tom Clancy: the difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense.
Reality is messy. Not everyone wins. Not everyone's pretty. Not everyone's sucessful, and certainly not in the same way. Real life is about conversations, people, relationships, not about press mentions, and blog links and knowing that model off the TV.
All this brought on by Hells Kitchen/X Factor/too many house programmes and the constant conversation about Gerry and Kate. Like I know them. That whole McCann thing has turned into something like entertainment when really it's either a terrible family tragedy (abduction version) or a terrible family tragedy (alleged murder version).
I hank after peace, quiet. Countryside.
And I realise I'm contributing to the noise as much as anyone else. Sorry.
We all want to be heard, now. The audience has taken over.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
L'shanna tova - to a happy new year. Here's to a creative, sucessful, peaceful and slightly eco new year. I'm feeling good because I waited in all day for British Gas to fix my heating and spoke to them 9 times. All good for the soul.
Calm. Calm. That's the secret. I have a lovely community(ies) and nice friends and lots of internety goodness.
Calm. Calm. That's the secret. I have a lovely community(ies) and nice friends and lots of internety goodness.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Here I am, in Second Life (although, as you all know, there are lots of virtual worlds).
I've been pretty busy these last few months making this new thing, the Virtual Worlds Forum Europe. Not blogged as much as I'd like. It's not you, it's me. You know how it is.
Anyway, my friends at RiversRunRed made this lovely place which is our virtual HQ - replete with all logo and corporate colours and a lovely room for meetings and our adverts on the wall. I'm loving it.
Oh, and the real conference? Filling up, great speakers, Lord Puttnam doing the opening keynote and lots of other goodies. October 23 - 26, with 24/25 the main conference. You heard it here last (it's all over the internet, baby).
I've been pretty busy these last few months making this new thing, the Virtual Worlds Forum Europe. Not blogged as much as I'd like. It's not you, it's me. You know how it is.
Anyway, my friends at RiversRunRed made this lovely place which is our virtual HQ - replete with all logo and corporate colours and a lovely room for meetings and our adverts on the wall. I'm loving it.
Oh, and the real conference? Filling up, great speakers, Lord Puttnam doing the opening keynote and lots of other goodies. October 23 - 26, with 24/25 the main conference. You heard it here last (it's all over the internet, baby).
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Anyone have any idea what BigWhiteWall does? It looks very street etc but, er, what does it actually do?
Thursday, September 06, 2007
I've just discovered WalkIt, which I really like. Previously, I was using WalkJogRun, which I also liked, but had a slighly clunky interface where sometimes I was in the UK and sometimes I was in the US. But then, you can put in your weight, and it tells you how many personal calories you burn, which is nice. But because people can share your routes, I think they also can share your personal calories, and that's not so great.
Anyway, I'm walking to Kensal Green this afternoon, and that'll be my first test of WalkIt.
Anyway, I'm walking to Kensal Green this afternoon, and that'll be my first test of WalkIt.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Mashup heaven: so some smart boy/girl/geek has made a kinda-mashup of LinkMachineGo's Evening Standard headline photos. It's hysterical: almost as weird as the real thing. Check it out here.
John Seely Brown
John Seely Brown last night in a "fireside chat" (more like a lion-side chat, as it was before the Singapore Zoo night safari), in discussion with Doug Thomas of USC. Fascinating conversation about the nature of education and virtual worlds. "It's not about creativity, it's about imagination".
Also posited that the "gaming disposition" may be the most useful thing in the twentyfirst century world of work, helping people use the skills they learn in-game (or in-guild) to work with a diverse group in another organisational setting.
Also posited that the "gaming disposition" may be the most useful thing in the twentyfirst century world of work, helping people use the skills they learn in-game (or in-guild) to work with a diverse group in another organisational setting.
Xu Hui, HiPiHi founder
HiPiHi Press Conference (August 19th)
HiPiHi, a Beijing-based new virtual world, announced its plans yesterday at State of Play V conference in Singapore, at the Marina Mandarin hotel.
HiPiHi™ is China’s Virtual World platform creator and believes that virtual worlds are the next phase of the internet and is looking to become one of the global leaders, along with early participants such as Linden Lab (Second Life), and has kicked off limited beta testing and is expanding.
HiPiHi looks pretty much like Second Life; users create their own stuff and own their own IP, and sees its vision as pioneering an online virtual world in China. They also announced that they are interested in devleoping standards for virtual worlds, that they may well collaborate with Mixi, Japan's largest social networking site, with whom they share an investor (NGI, lead investor in the consortium).
The demo is just in Chinese, and I asked about other languages. Founder Xu Hui (nominated as one of the Top Ten China Internet Heroes in 1999)stated that this is a promotional launch, and with the full launch, the product will be multi-lingual, and this will be automatic, based on the users'operating system and information. I presume this means IP address: useful, but I do get annoyed when google sends me to google.co.uk rather than google.com. But less annoying, as I don't speak Chinese.
HiPiHi, a Beijing-based new virtual world, announced its plans yesterday at State of Play V conference in Singapore, at the Marina Mandarin hotel.
HiPiHi™ is China’s Virtual World platform creator and believes that virtual worlds are the next phase of the internet and is looking to become one of the global leaders, along with early participants such as Linden Lab (Second Life), and has kicked off limited beta testing and is expanding.
HiPiHi looks pretty much like Second Life; users create their own stuff and own their own IP, and sees its vision as pioneering an online virtual world in China. They also announced that they are interested in devleoping standards for virtual worlds, that they may well collaborate with Mixi, Japan's largest social networking site, with whom they share an investor (NGI, lead investor in the consortium).
The demo is just in Chinese, and I asked about other languages. Founder Xu Hui (nominated as one of the Top Ten China Internet Heroes in 1999)stated that this is a promotional launch, and with the full launch, the product will be multi-lingual, and this will be automatic, based on the users'operating system and information. I presume this means IP address: useful, but I do get annoyed when google sends me to google.co.uk rather than google.com. But less annoying, as I don't speak Chinese.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Jerry Paffendorf in the middle of the "building businesses" panel, talking about webphibians (who live online and off), and building a meta layer to the web, which encapsulates the transformative aspects of virtual worlds and helps you develop a persistent profile of who you are.
Personally, while I'm online-online and stalkers can find out pretty much anything, I'm still a little uncomfortable about the persistent profile. What if you want, like, a holiday.
Personally, while I'm online-online and stalkers can find out pretty much anything, I'm still a little uncomfortable about the persistent profile. What if you want, like, a holiday.
I can't believe it's nearly a year since I planned to come to Singapore for State of Play, originally scheduled for January. And I'm here.
It's a fascinating mix of academics, developers, sociologists, virtual worlds and associated hangers on. Debates so far have ranged from building businesses in virtual worlds, regulation and I'm currently listening to the education panel.
Connie Yowell from the MacArthur Foundation just said that "we need to shift from teaching to learning" and half the people in the room picked up a pen to make a note about it.
It's a fascinating mix of academics, developers, sociologists, virtual worlds and associated hangers on. Debates so far have ranged from building businesses in virtual worlds, regulation and I'm currently listening to the education panel.
Connie Yowell from the MacArthur Foundation just said that "we need to shift from teaching to learning" and half the people in the room picked up a pen to make a note about it.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
mooncakes
The mooncake festival isn't till September, but just like Christmas, it starts pretty early, and all the hotels and restaurants (and even Costbux) get in on the act.
Had a lovely lunch yesterday with J and J, talking about Singapore and food and travel, and they treated me to mooncakes, made of lotus paste, and the second from the left (cream, not yellow), were baileys flavour. Slightly untraditional, I grant you, but to die for.
Had a lovely lunch yesterday with J and J, talking about Singapore and food and travel, and they treated me to mooncakes, made of lotus paste, and the second from the left (cream, not yellow), were baileys flavour. Slightly untraditional, I grant you, but to die for.
durian
Durian is the local - acquired taste/smell - speciality, a fruit that tastes good but smells... well, odd. Behind, great lychees.
This in the fruit market behind Bugis, round the corner from where I used to live on Queen Street. Talk about memory lane: in some ways, not changed at all, but loads of building work, and in fact my old building is a building site. But everything is... renovated, neater, more perfect.
This in the fruit market behind Bugis, round the corner from where I used to live on Queen Street. Talk about memory lane: in some ways, not changed at all, but loads of building work, and in fact my old building is a building site. But everything is... renovated, neater, more perfect.
New York New York
This from a fastish food place in Marina Square shopping centre called New York New York (although I suspect a chain). Queue a mile long, so clearly popular. Wonder if they know that in New York people eat neither crispy fish pasta or mushroom cuppucino.
Classifieds
This morning's classifieds in the Singapore Straits Times - snake charmer for hire. We have a call for those in Kilburn, too.
DSC03002
In Costbux - buttery croissant, rather than butter. And about 85p, you might be interested to know.
reduce
This is a sale ad in a retail clothes store. I love how it sounds like it's exhorting you to diet rather than buy reduced clothes.
DSC03004
There' something interesting about copywriting here in Singapore. I know that Singlish (as locals call it) is... well, I guess a dialect of English, so the rules that I know don't apply. So some of the things that I see are local usage. But what's interesting is that there's a slightly... flowery language, I think perhaps reflective of customer service and attention to detail. Interesting, is all.
This one, I just don't get. Hook you in? Local variant?
This one, I just don't get. Hook you in? Local variant?
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Facebook is the word I hear in every bar, coffee shop, at every airport and train station I'm at.
All pervasive, sure.
But something weird's happened. THere is no way in the world that I would sign up the the Questions API and ask people stupid stuff, but now Facebook has seemingly asked everyone I know "if they kiss on the first day", like, I'd really ask people that. I am annoyed, hassled, and don't really have the tech skills to unpick why facebook is making me look like I need a prom date, or I'm in John Hughes movie or I'm twelve. P-u-lease.
All pervasive, sure.
But something weird's happened. THere is no way in the world that I would sign up the the Questions API and ask people stupid stuff, but now Facebook has seemingly asked everyone I know "if they kiss on the first day", like, I'd really ask people that. I am annoyed, hassled, and don't really have the tech skills to unpick why facebook is making me look like I need a prom date, or I'm in John Hughes movie or I'm twelve. P-u-lease.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Starbucks, Singapore
Like I said, Costbux everywhere, and not a drop to drink. I mean, even the chairs are the same.
Sometimes, with travel - aside from the eco-guilt - when you get there, it's just like home. Globalisation. Gah.
Sometimes, with travel - aside from the eco-guilt - when you get there, it's just like home. Globalisation. Gah.
Singapore, marina area
Singapore is really built up now. Shiny, pointed, humid, neat, perfect. And boy, are people polite. I'd forgotten the lovely way people treat business cards with respect: holding it with both hands as it's presented to you, as if it's some kind of lovely gift, rather than a business development opportunity.
I'm in Singapore.
It's actually over ten years since I was here, properly. I lived/worked here (like a downtown live/work space), as well as Hong Kong, Bangkok and Jakarta, a few years back. And of course I've travelled in South East Asia more recently.
But I'd forgotten about the peculiarities (in a good way) of Asian culture. And also, how damned humid it is. L'havdil, but when I go in the Costbux in Golders Green, which has something of an unresolved damp problem, I always think, I'm immediately transported back. You know how smells/tastes can trigger a memory? So that damp, hot feeling, kinda like an overwarm swimming pool, and certainly like a sauna? That's what makes me think of the intense humidity of Singapore.
And I'm back. Boy, is it different. When I lived here, I was like a local, living in a rented apartment in Victoria Street, the only white person for miles (so taxi drivers would regularly tell me), so I had a much more... local experience. Now I'm all high rise hotels, shopping centres, aircon (my first apartment had no aircon, but I soon resolved that with my then-MD).
Guess what? They have Starbucks, and Betty Barclay and "James Tyrwhitt of London England" shirts. There used to be (still is?) The Economist Big Mac index, benchmarking local costs market by market. Personally, I used to go on contact lense solution. Although that was before the bad-for-the-planet, good-for-your-eyes daily disposables. Now, it's the price of a tall skinny caramel machiato - $5.80- Sing dollar, about £1.90. So a better deal.
It's actually over ten years since I was here, properly. I lived/worked here (like a downtown live/work space), as well as Hong Kong, Bangkok and Jakarta, a few years back. And of course I've travelled in South East Asia more recently.
But I'd forgotten about the peculiarities (in a good way) of Asian culture. And also, how damned humid it is. L'havdil, but when I go in the Costbux in Golders Green, which has something of an unresolved damp problem, I always think, I'm immediately transported back. You know how smells/tastes can trigger a memory? So that damp, hot feeling, kinda like an overwarm swimming pool, and certainly like a sauna? That's what makes me think of the intense humidity of Singapore.
And I'm back. Boy, is it different. When I lived here, I was like a local, living in a rented apartment in Victoria Street, the only white person for miles (so taxi drivers would regularly tell me), so I had a much more... local experience. Now I'm all high rise hotels, shopping centres, aircon (my first apartment had no aircon, but I soon resolved that with my then-MD).
Guess what? They have Starbucks, and Betty Barclay and "James Tyrwhitt of London England" shirts. There used to be (still is?) The Economist Big Mac index, benchmarking local costs market by market. Personally, I used to go on contact lense solution. Although that was before the bad-for-the-planet, good-for-your-eyes daily disposables. Now, it's the price of a tall skinny caramel machiato - $5.80- Sing dollar, about £1.90. So a better deal.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
stormy weather...
Cue song. This picture reminds me of that film, The Sheltering Sky. You remember? Lots of moody blues and greys, even the clothes.
Brighton on a sunny day...
Now that it's raning like the end of the earth, I can't quite believe the hot, sunny, relaxed weekend I had in Brighton (Hove, actually).
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
Because I lived through the tail-end of the Hacienda generation (Madchester, anyone), and could even see the joins in 24 Hour Party People, I feel sad to hear that "Mr Manchester", aka Tony Wilson, died today. And he was only 57. I even remember Granada Reports. I have a slight... uncomfortableness with some of the political views of some Factory Record bands, but I have tremendous admiration for someone who just had an idea, and made it happen.
40+ speakers at the Virtual Worlds Forum Europe in October...
We're still working on the conference programme, and we've got over 40 (and counting... speakers) signed up to our two day conference, and three optional pre- and post-conference workshops. Check them out...
Keynotes from:
Lord Puttnam of Queensgate, CBE
Dr Colin Parris, VP, Digital Convergence, IBM Research
And our international speakers include:
Delé Atanda, Global Digital Marketing Business Partner , Diageo
Professor Richard Bartle, University of Essex
Thomas Bidaux, Director of Product Development, NCSoft Europe
Mark Boyd, Creative Director, BBH
Betsy Book, Product Development Director, Makena Technologies/ There.com
Justin Bovington, CEO, Rivers Run Red
Johann Brenner, Partner, Benchmark Capital
Corey Bridges, Co-founder,The Multiverse Network
Nic Brisbourne, Partner, Esprit Capital
Mike Butcher, Editor, Tbites
Stefan Crosta, Cisco
David Erixon, Vodafone Global Marketing
Robert Gehorsam, President, Forterra Systems Inc
Ian Hughes, Metaverse Evangelist, IBM
Paul Hemp, Senior Editor, Harvard Business Review
Ben Holmes, Principal, Index Ventures
Professor Michael Hulme, Centre for Study of Media, Technology & Culture
Aleks Krotoski, Journalist, The Guardian and virtual worlds researcher
Raph Koster, President, AreaE
Joe Little, Chief Technology Office, BP
Jess Mulligan, Executive Producer, Sunflowers GmbH
David Naylor, Partner, Field Fisher Waterhouse
Greg Nuyens, CEO, QWAQ
David Orban, CEO, Questar
Mike Parsons, Site Director, Cnet.co.uk
Adam Pasick, Reuters
Jerry Paffendorf, Co-Founder, Wello Horld; Co-Author, Metaverse Roadmap
Steve Prentice, Group Vice President and Chief of Research, Gartner
Meg Pickard, Head of Communities, The Guardian
Ren Reynolds, writer and philosopher
Michael Smith, CEO, MindCandy
Timo Soininen, CEO, Sulake / Habbo Hotel
Reuben Steiger, CEO and Founder, Millions of Us
Alice Taylor, VP Digital Content, BBC
Marco van Veen, Heineken
Steve Victorino, President and COO, Makena Technologies
Susan Wu, Charles River Ventures
Wanna be there? Easy to register here. It's gonna be pretty cool...
We're still working on the conference programme, and we've got over 40 (and counting... speakers) signed up to our two day conference, and three optional pre- and post-conference workshops. Check them out...
Keynotes from:
Lord Puttnam of Queensgate, CBE
Dr Colin Parris, VP, Digital Convergence, IBM Research
And our international speakers include:
Delé Atanda, Global Digital Marketing Business Partner , Diageo
Professor Richard Bartle, University of Essex
Thomas Bidaux, Director of Product Development, NCSoft Europe
Mark Boyd, Creative Director, BBH
Betsy Book, Product Development Director, Makena Technologies/ There.com
Justin Bovington, CEO, Rivers Run Red
Johann Brenner, Partner, Benchmark Capital
Corey Bridges, Co-founder,The Multiverse Network
Nic Brisbourne, Partner, Esprit Capital
Mike Butcher, Editor, Tbites
Stefan Crosta, Cisco
David Erixon, Vodafone Global Marketing
Robert Gehorsam, President, Forterra Systems Inc
Ian Hughes, Metaverse Evangelist, IBM
Paul Hemp, Senior Editor, Harvard Business Review
Ben Holmes, Principal, Index Ventures
Professor Michael Hulme, Centre for Study of Media, Technology & Culture
Aleks Krotoski, Journalist, The Guardian and virtual worlds researcher
Raph Koster, President, AreaE
Joe Little, Chief Technology Office, BP
Jess Mulligan, Executive Producer, Sunflowers GmbH
David Naylor, Partner, Field Fisher Waterhouse
Greg Nuyens, CEO, QWAQ
David Orban, CEO, Questar
Mike Parsons, Site Director, Cnet.co.uk
Adam Pasick, Reuters
Jerry Paffendorf, Co-Founder, Wello Horld; Co-Author, Metaverse Roadmap
Steve Prentice, Group Vice President and Chief of Research, Gartner
Meg Pickard, Head of Communities, The Guardian
Ren Reynolds, writer and philosopher
Michael Smith, CEO, MindCandy
Timo Soininen, CEO, Sulake / Habbo Hotel
Reuben Steiger, CEO and Founder, Millions of Us
Alice Taylor, VP Digital Content, BBC
Marco van Veen, Heineken
Steve Victorino, President and COO, Makena Technologies
Susan Wu, Charles River Ventures
Wanna be there? Easy to register here. It's gonna be pretty cool...
Thursday, August 09, 2007
I know this is silly, and stuff happens. But I only just bought a new PC from Evesham, and now they've gone bust. I am (was) a returning customer. I hope it wasn't the hefty discount I negotiated that sent them over the edge. But then, I did pay extra for a three year onsite warranty. My bad.
I'm going to Singapore Tuesday. I actually used to live there, but it's been a while and most of the people I knew when I was there have moved on. But doing interesting stuff, and slightly looking forward to that hot/sweaty/humid SE Asia feeling. It rained very intensely yesterday, and that .. damp smell reminded me of not-eating durian on a hot Singapore day.
I couldn't remember about power plugs. Are they the same/different/what? But, joy of the internet, it's easy. Look. Someone has taken pictures. Singapore is like the UK. I knew that, really.
I couldn't remember about power plugs. Are they the same/different/what? But, joy of the internet, it's easy. Look. Someone has taken pictures. Singapore is like the UK. I knew that, really.
Claire Morgan's art is both relaxing and inspiring. Thanks for the heads-up, Z.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
If you're interested in the history of virtual worlds and the social implications, check out the latest (well, first) Virtual Worlds Forum Europe podcast.
It's the Guardian's Jonathan Freedland in conversation with Professor Richard Bartle - click here to hear it on your PC. Jonathan's latest Sam Bourne novel is set partly in Second Life (one of quite a few virtual worlds, but quite a big one).
And you can hear the Guardian canteen in the background.
It's the Guardian's Jonathan Freedland in conversation with Professor Richard Bartle - click here to hear it on your PC. Jonathan's latest Sam Bourne novel is set partly in Second Life (one of quite a few virtual worlds, but quite a big one).
And you can hear the Guardian canteen in the background.
Friday, August 03, 2007
It's like buses, right? Nothing for weeks, then three at once.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about a lot of stuff. I've been on Facebook a lot. I don't know why. It's slightly addictive, but in a stupid way. I love the friends wheel app: I'm mesmerised by all the Jewish people in one section pratically solid with connectivity, and then the randomers, people I wasn't so sure I knew but I'm basically polite (and working on the benign non-stalker reality theory) so said yes to their friend requests. To friend. Who knew it was a verb.
People still send me Linked In requests, and I file them, aka do nothing. LinkedIn is basically Facebook in a suit with a two drink maximum, and I like to party. I'm informal. It doesn't do it for me.
The other thing I got into is the zero-inbox thing. It's one of those internet cults like the hipster PDA execpt this works. I took over 2000 emails and filed them in a file called archive. I now have 32 emails and I deal with them immediately, and move all the crap I didn't know what to do with into the archive file. And I use follow up flags for priorities (and purple for personal).
Writing. Yes, good question. I'm working on two things. One, "virtual worlds and the Jewish question" because there's always a Jewish question. Short answer (elevator pitch) community. Long answer: wait.
Also... I've been thinking about this. I'm basically from the film generation. I grew up at the tail end of the John Hughes heyday, and people like me, and a little older or younger, if they work in advertising, secretly, they have a film script. And all the books people I know write? They're filmic. It's not that they've got their eye on the film rights - except they have - it's just we grew up on that: old fashioned literary structures feel... old fashioned.
But younger people: twenties, teens. It's the game generation. Gameplay is where it's at.
What I've noticed, since I last had a real job (Industry Standard, 2001), is that work has got very informal. Gameish. Coffee-like. Like, you have a lot of coffee nowadays. Time was, coffee was for people on bikes. Now, everyone's meeting rooms look like Pret a Manger, and meeting is a dirty word and informality is it. I've been into a few offices recently (media companies, sure) where frankly they're nicer than my house. Of course you'd spend a long time in the office is there are nice sofas, good coffee and a party vibe.
Other thing on my mind: what drives virtual worlds, both social and gameplay, it seems, is the inherent desire for narrative. Olden days, narrative was bible stories, then shakespeare... the ageold desire to engage with the story, any story, it doesnt' go away. People don't really have religion, and they may not have literature, but the basic human desire: it's there.
I'm rambling. Semi-formed thoughts, late nights, washing to do.
Hello, I'm back.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about a lot of stuff. I've been on Facebook a lot. I don't know why. It's slightly addictive, but in a stupid way. I love the friends wheel app: I'm mesmerised by all the Jewish people in one section pratically solid with connectivity, and then the randomers, people I wasn't so sure I knew but I'm basically polite (and working on the benign non-stalker reality theory) so said yes to their friend requests. To friend. Who knew it was a verb.
People still send me Linked In requests, and I file them, aka do nothing. LinkedIn is basically Facebook in a suit with a two drink maximum, and I like to party. I'm informal. It doesn't do it for me.
The other thing I got into is the zero-inbox thing. It's one of those internet cults like the hipster PDA execpt this works. I took over 2000 emails and filed them in a file called archive. I now have 32 emails and I deal with them immediately, and move all the crap I didn't know what to do with into the archive file. And I use follow up flags for priorities (and purple for personal).
Writing. Yes, good question. I'm working on two things. One, "virtual worlds and the Jewish question" because there's always a Jewish question. Short answer (elevator pitch) community. Long answer: wait.
Also... I've been thinking about this. I'm basically from the film generation. I grew up at the tail end of the John Hughes heyday, and people like me, and a little older or younger, if they work in advertising, secretly, they have a film script. And all the books people I know write? They're filmic. It's not that they've got their eye on the film rights - except they have - it's just we grew up on that: old fashioned literary structures feel... old fashioned.
But younger people: twenties, teens. It's the game generation. Gameplay is where it's at.
What I've noticed, since I last had a real job (Industry Standard, 2001), is that work has got very informal. Gameish. Coffee-like. Like, you have a lot of coffee nowadays. Time was, coffee was for people on bikes. Now, everyone's meeting rooms look like Pret a Manger, and meeting is a dirty word and informality is it. I've been into a few offices recently (media companies, sure) where frankly they're nicer than my house. Of course you'd spend a long time in the office is there are nice sofas, good coffee and a party vibe.
Other thing on my mind: what drives virtual worlds, both social and gameplay, it seems, is the inherent desire for narrative. Olden days, narrative was bible stories, then shakespeare... the ageold desire to engage with the story, any story, it doesnt' go away. People don't really have religion, and they may not have literature, but the basic human desire: it's there.
I'm rambling. Semi-formed thoughts, late nights, washing to do.
Hello, I'm back.
Just got off the phone with Clay Shirky and then Yoz pointed me to this great video of him talking about Love, Internet Style. Sample quote: "they didn't care that they'd seen it work in practice, they knew it didn't work in theory."
Love it.
Love it.
Monday, July 16, 2007
So, I'm kinda excited that there was a full page feature on the impact of virtual worlds on business in the Guardian on Saturday, and it talks about the Virtual Worlds Forum Europe - the conference I'm putting together.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Alan Johnson is free!
(I actually wrote this at 8am, but got distracted).
I so rarely use exclamation marks, but I feel relieved, and happy, and was even quite tearful. Frankly, what has the world come to when I'm happy that someone who should never have been kidnapped is released. Just hoping Alan is feeling kindly-disposed to my favourite middle Eastern country. Although, I suspect he just wants a cup of tea, a sit-down and a hug. At least, that's what I'd want. Although I would also probably add a Costbux Caramel Machiatto and some spiritual sustenance.
(I actually wrote this at 8am, but got distracted).
I so rarely use exclamation marks, but I feel relieved, and happy, and was even quite tearful. Frankly, what has the world come to when I'm happy that someone who should never have been kidnapped is released. Just hoping Alan is feeling kindly-disposed to my favourite middle Eastern country. Although, I suspect he just wants a cup of tea, a sit-down and a hug. At least, that's what I'd want. Although I would also probably add a Costbux Caramel Machiatto and some spiritual sustenance.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
As you know, probably, I'm not usually this quiet. I've been working pretty solidly for the last little while on a new project, a launch.
It's Europe's largest virtual worlds confex - a conference and exhibition about this fascinating emerging sector. We've got some great speakers, cool sponsors, and a lovely location... all to be unveiled shortly.
In the meantime... here's a peek at a little corner of our lovely (and very large) venue...
It's Europe's largest virtual worlds confex - a conference and exhibition about this fascinating emerging sector. We've got some great speakers, cool sponsors, and a lovely location... all to be unveiled shortly.
In the meantime... here's a peek at a little corner of our lovely (and very large) venue...
Falun Gong
Sometimes, when I'm really busy and running aorund town and trying to get everything into my day, I think to myself, I know. I'll go stand outside Riba on Great Portland Street and move slowly, as if through frozen cotton wool, but with grace, style and closed eyes. Maybe if I do that, I'll feel calmer. And the traffic'll slow down. Maybe.
Hello, long time and all that. Been a little busy. Well, more than a little. A lot.
Anyway, a final word on Moldova. I raised the £5k, which is great for the community of Moldova, and the trip is going ahead on the new revised date in October (which sadly I can't make). Of course I'm a little disappointed personally, but I feel like I did something good for the world. I hope to get to Moldova some time soon, and I may even make it next May, but in the meantime, time to draw a line under it.
A line.
Other news, soon. Promise.
Anyway, a final word on Moldova. I raised the £5k, which is great for the community of Moldova, and the trip is going ahead on the new revised date in October (which sadly I can't make). Of course I'm a little disappointed personally, but I feel like I did something good for the world. I hope to get to Moldova some time soon, and I may even make it next May, but in the meantime, time to draw a line under it.
A line.
Other news, soon. Promise.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Went to a great "Science and Virtual Worlds" talk at the Apple Store last night - check it out on my other blog.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Given my green-ish credentials, this'll come as no surprise.
An NY buddy of mine, Judith Helfand, has made another great movie (Blue Vinyl was quite something), called Everything's Cool, about global warming. Right now, it's just doing the film festival circuit in the USA, but I can't wait for it to get this side of the pond (except, it should travel slowly).
I haven't seen the movie yet, but if it's half as good as Blue Vinyl, I imagine it'll be pretty good. Judith has a unique combination of wit, humour and personal stories that she brings to her work, and I'm sure this'll be no exception.
An NY buddy of mine, Judith Helfand, has made another great movie (Blue Vinyl was quite something), called Everything's Cool, about global warming. Right now, it's just doing the film festival circuit in the USA, but I can't wait for it to get this side of the pond (except, it should travel slowly).
I haven't seen the movie yet, but if it's half as good as Blue Vinyl, I imagine it'll be pretty good. Judith has a unique combination of wit, humour and personal stories that she brings to her work, and I'm sure this'll be no exception.
Did you know there's a Penguin Paperback Spotters' Guild?
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Colourtelly.tv - TV without prejudice. Don't know much about it, but sounds interesting.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
I know what ails me: continuous partial attention.
I turned off getting Twitters direct to my phone because I felt like I was in that experiment (Milgrom?) where they keep giving you electric shocks. But some people. I mean, it gets busy. This morning, Mike B told me this new word: twitterhoea and he's right.
I mean, I know there's a human desire to communicate (hell, I've been blogging over five years and it's nearly/over a million words, although I never count), so I get that. But, you get tired. You know?
And I have to email people and say "I'll be away from desk for a few hours, please call my mobile." How retro. How twentieth century. I must get a blackberry.
I turned off getting Twitters direct to my phone because I felt like I was in that experiment (Milgrom?) where they keep giving you electric shocks. But some people. I mean, it gets busy. This morning, Mike B told me this new word: twitterhoea and he's right.
I mean, I know there's a human desire to communicate (hell, I've been blogging over five years and it's nearly/over a million words, although I never count), so I get that. But, you get tired. You know?
And I have to email people and say "I'll be away from desk for a few hours, please call my mobile." How retro. How twentieth century. I must get a blackberry.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Tuesday, went to Tim Guest's book launch - I loved My Life in Orange, and I'm pretty excited about Second Lives. Listen to him just now on Start The Week.
It seems to me that, come July 1st when pubs go no-smoking they will be absolutely crawling with Jews. Because we may increasingly like drinking, but we're not so great with the smoking.
Friday, June 08, 2007
About a year ago I came to the trAce conference in Leicester, which was a little... odd (for me, as a different kind of online writer), but I did take some lovely photos.
Here I am at Women Business Blogging in Leicester (the centre of the universe, surely) and I couldn't get the wifi to work this morning, so couldn't get this pic of Meg up in realtime. Her keynote was great, though.
Met some interesting people. Good conversations. Nice to be out of the (soho) office.
I have no idea why this came into my mind now, but I'm pretty sure John Amaechi was in my brother's year at school. Although I suspect he played more Rugby than basketball in dowtown Stockport.
Happy birthday, Dan. This one's for you.
Happy birthday, Dan. This one's for you.
through the glass bottle
Pizza Express, Liverpool Street, great - but weird - light, more than a few glasses of wine and excellent company. And my trusty camera.
Theatre roundup: because I don't want you to think I've been activity-free. On the contrary, I've been fitting a lot in, and there's just ... not a lot of bandwidth left.
Taking Care of Baby at the Hampstead Theatre is kinda harrowing, as it's about the Donna McAuliffe case. It's verbatim theatre (new to me) which means it ends up having a slightly Big Brother feel to it. Reminds me a little of Capturing the Friedmans; essentially it's about truth, and what counts as truth. Be aware: you might think it's all over in one act, but it's an interval, not the end.
Little Shop of Horrors at the Duke of York's Theatre. Sheridan Smith plays Audrey, and she had some serious fans in the audience. The plant is amazing - both in terms of technology and voice. I don't even like musicals (exceptions for this and Rocky Horror, kitsch being my middle name). Feed me. See it.
All Mouth at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Southwark's finest. This is a total must-see. A brilliant, insightful comedy, which really shows the inside track on advertising and luvvies, and had me thinking about the characters for days afterwards.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Nowadays, I'm always banging on about sensible financial planning, maximising your tax efficient savings etc. Fidelity have this cool little toy so you can see what might (or might not) happen to your pension.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Here are some things I did recently...
saw Zodiac - scary murders, but good, if long movie. From David Fincher, who did Seven (7even). A chick flick, it ain't.
saw How We Are, the photography exhibition at the Tate Britain. Rainy bank holiday monday; heaving. I've added my pix (haven't we all) to the flickr group. (And they fixed the exhibit since Meg went)
made humous. A few times.
Went to shul... a few times. Ate cheesecake: a lot of times.
Had a lie-in and read the Sunday papers over two days. They are truly the gift that goes on giving.
and dinner last night at the North London Tavern. Local, great food (if a lot of shouty football people) and the venue for Thursday's JCC Jcast party (hey, there are a lot of Js in there...)
Friday, May 25, 2007
Well, it's been yomtov for two days, and I feel like I had something of an enforced holiday, which was quite nice. Never use the world nice, Mrs Havelock told me that in Junior School.
Anyway, I went to shul, ate lots of cheesecake, had meals, hung out with friends. Yesterday there was a communcal shul lunch (To a remarkably high standard), and afterwards about forty of us went to Fortune Green and played cricket (or watched, as I was not wearing my cricket shoes. I was wearing green platform espadrilles which S was quite jealous of).
So there we were... a large, multi-generational group of overdressed people (we'd been to shul, some people were wearing hats)sitting around in the park on a Thursday afternoon.We must have looked odd. Actually, I suspect we looked like a cult: a cult of over-accessoried cricket players/watchers. We got some strange looks.
And it's odd that today's Friday and I feel like it's Monday because I just had two days off.
And I'm in a Starbucks. And the internet (which I will never spell with a Capital I) still thinks I'm German.
Anyway, I went to shul, ate lots of cheesecake, had meals, hung out with friends. Yesterday there was a communcal shul lunch (To a remarkably high standard), and afterwards about forty of us went to Fortune Green and played cricket (or watched, as I was not wearing my cricket shoes. I was wearing green platform espadrilles which S was quite jealous of).
So there we were... a large, multi-generational group of overdressed people (we'd been to shul, some people were wearing hats)sitting around in the park on a Thursday afternoon.We must have looked odd. Actually, I suspect we looked like a cult: a cult of over-accessoried cricket players/watchers. We got some strange looks.
And it's odd that today's Friday and I feel like it's Monday because I just had two days off.
And I'm in a Starbucks. And the internet (which I will never spell with a Capital I) still thinks I'm German.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Oh, I'm sorry I've been neglecting you. Really.
I'm working on something big, really big. I'll be able to tell you more next week.
In the meantime, tonight is Shavuot - otherwise known as the cheesecake eating Festival. I've made three, and delivered them all over north London. And tonight, if I can stay awake, I'll be at a tikkun leil shavuot.
I'm working on something big, really big. I'll be able to tell you more next week.
In the meantime, tonight is Shavuot - otherwise known as the cheesecake eating Festival. I've made three, and delivered them all over north London. And tonight, if I can stay awake, I'll be at a tikkun leil shavuot.
Monday, May 21, 2007
DSC02546
Nature is weird, and I love that. This tree looks like a cross between a tyrannosaurus' foot and, well... a tree.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
DSC02530
Few weekends back, spent a lovely day at Kew Gardens. Today's looking like a gorgeous sunny day, and it reminded me of the sun glinting through the leaves.
Friday, May 18, 2007
See, this is what the internet is great for.
I, oddly, see the world lolcat (lolcatz)twice in a couple of minutes, and think, weird new word, what's this. So I google, and the socialogy of lolcats, caturdays, kitty pidgin etc, is revealed to me through the wonder of wikipedia.
Of course, in the olden days, all this stuff would have happened slower, and in a more distributed way (I'm at internet speed, right?. But I love it how a trend/fad can happen in a relatively short period, everyone can get it, the world can come into commom usage blah blah blah.
I once had a boss who had that cat thing. She liked cats, and had cute kitten pitctures on her desk, and if the internet had existed, then, she would have posted pictures of her kittens there.
I didn't get it then, and I think I might not get it now.
I, oddly, see the world lolcat (lolcatz)twice in a couple of minutes, and think, weird new word, what's this. So I google, and the socialogy of lolcats, caturdays, kitty pidgin etc, is revealed to me through the wonder of wikipedia.
Of course, in the olden days, all this stuff would have happened slower, and in a more distributed way (I'm at internet speed, right?. But I love it how a trend/fad can happen in a relatively short period, everyone can get it, the world can come into commom usage blah blah blah.
I once had a boss who had that cat thing. She liked cats, and had cute kitten pitctures on her desk, and if the internet had existed, then, she would have posted pictures of her kittens there.
I didn't get it then, and I think I might not get it now.
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