Awesome “Mini”-NYC “Animation” | March 5th, 2010

This is very cool, and from having lived there, very evocative:

The Sandpit from Sam O'Hare on Vimeo.

Ok Go! and Another Complex Vid | March 2nd, 2010

The latest from the Chicago dudes behind the infamous treadmill video:

Stephen Colbert on Our Chicago Congressional District | February 13th, 2010

Stephen Colbert profiled the Illinois 5th Congressional District the other night, including an interview with our Congressional Representative here in the LP, Rep. Mike Quigley. The interview doesn’t seem to be online — if I find it, I’ll update this — but I did appreciate the props to the Wiener’s Circle.

Gotta Admit, Obama Beats Kofi Annan | February 11th, 2010

And I thought we had a prestigious, rub-your-face-in-it speaker at NU in 2002:

President Obama to deliver U-M spring 2010 commencement address

Yet before I think this is too cool, it’s only for the undergrad graduation, as the b-school graduation is April 30. Regardless, that is one serious publicity coup for UMich. Way to go, Blue.

UPDATE: Seems grad students get four tickets after all. Sweet.

Titling Posts “Who Dat” Is Already a Cliche, But I Do Like the Win | February 7th, 2010

Much as this season was a huge disappointment for us in Steeler Nation, I’m happy to see the Saints win this one. Though I got married in Indy, I figure I spent a greater number of hours in New Orleans when my bro was there for school, so I’ll claim them more than the Colts.

Also, I won $10 betting against my friend on the outcome. That’s five pitchers at Scorekeepers!

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-05 | February 5th, 2010

• The Jihadist Next Door – homegrown terrorists http://nyti.ms/buhG3D #
• Excess Reigns at Super Bowl and That’s No Ballyhoo – http://nyti.ms/bsoVCp #
• Liking the promotion of nuclear power – Homer Simpson approves – http://nyti.ms/chEL4i #

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iPad Demo Vid | January 31st, 2010

For those who haven’t watched this one yet:

• While smart from a marketing and strategy perspective, Apple’s first-to-market launches always lead to a lot of bugs, so I await the list of flaws when people really start to buy this thing. (Yes, I’m still angry about my iPod dying exactly one month after the warranty ran out. And that one wasn’t even a new product.)
• I still think products like this or the Kindle need to be physically flexible, i.e. soft instead of rigid, before they’ll really catch on as a commuter / on-the-couch reading device. So it’s unfortunate that this isn’t the salvation of media that so many outlets want it to be, even if it’s cool.
• I still would rather have a really solid smartphone than a cool tablet device — Nexus One, please.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-29 | January 29th, 2010

• RT http://onion.com/a9twzi via @The_AV_Club – Fun look at fake computer screens from movies #
• RT @The_AV_Club – A fun look at fake computer screens from movies #
• SOTU's a wrap; time for Great Lakes beer and Fallout 3. #
• Here's NY Times link to GOP rebuttal, which I pieced together by a "View Source" when they made error on "The Caucus": http://bit.ly/9YHX2z #
• Overall, I thought SOTU was really good. Obama did a good job toning down the political volume, if only for one night. #
• Repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell – we heard that one a year ago, too, but here we are #
• Interesting when people don't applaud end of Iraq fighting – "Sorry, I prefer my wars without an end." #
• Love the line about "Just saying no to everything is not good leadership." #
• Earmark-publicizing idea seems reasonable – only problem is, everybody hates earmarks until they go to their hometown #
• Also no more overhead shots of the chamber – I just got vertigo from that one #
• Would like to hear something about how Iraq/Afghanistan was first time U.S. cut taxes during a war – it's better criticism of Bush tax cuts #
• Puzzled that the line about getting HCR done got bipartisan applause – where was this from GOP during the actual voting? #
• Alright, I lied, I'm watching it online after all. #
• Text of the SOTU, which as mentioned is how I'm consuming it: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/us/politics/28obama.text.html #
• Missing the State of the Union, but I'll read it later. Frankly that sounds better than hearing the endless "Nov. Election! Panic!" analysis #
• Tired already of the Apple-Tablet-as-media-savior stories, but this from @TechCrunch is a good analysis http://bit.ly/bEnPt3 #
• Bucktown/Wicker Park tries to return to edginess – pretty sure it's long gone, but I appreciate the effort http://bit.ly/dk70u1 #
• Thomas Jefferson and the curse on Haiti (note: he doesn't come off looking good at all) http://bit.ly/4X5ufw #
• New web icon displays online-privacy info to consumers – http://nyti.ms/9FNAxK #
• Ticketmaster and LiveNation merger approved – I can't wait to pay even more for tickets! http://bit.ly/boWxX5 #
• @plattitude Awesomely put. in reply to plattitude #
• WSJ.com – The Scales Can Lie: Hidden Fat http://on.wsj.com/7HFVcR #
• Just the side-by-side photo on this magazine name-change story is hilarious – http://nyti.ms/5bhvN7 #
• Toyota Halts Sales of Eight U.S. Models After Recall – http://nyti.ms/9Ti3vp #
• Slate Magazine – The Campaign-Finance Floodgates Were Already Open – http://www.slate.com//id/2242558 #
• RT @clickz Why media buyers avoid certain publishers http://bit.ly/6Ww1sB #
• James O'Keefe, ACORN Foe, Arrested for New Stunt: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01/26/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6144293.shtml #
• Also, law-firm compensation sucks for staying awake. #
• I can't remember the last time I went to bed up here before 1 a.m. #
• O’Brien Undone by His Media-Hopping Fans – http://nyti.ms/4nc6F6 #
• Freezing social programs but not defense budgets – and the country is going off a liberal cliff how, exactly? http://nyti.ms/8JMVmi #
• Let's Geaux Saints #
• That national anthem rendition was awful. Cool trained bald eagle, though. #afcchampionship #
• Do any of these "keep safer with our extra-bright headlights" cos. realize they are endangering the other drivers who are now blinded? #
• McLaughlin Group is a lot of shouting, but it's still a welcome, reasoned relief from any of the blogs, particularly after this week. #
• @plattitude Many people prefer Olive Garden to local Italian place, so maybe mega-corporations represent comforting familiarity in govt too? in reply to plattitude #
• Obama Calls Team From 2008 for Races in Fall – http://nyti.ms/6ylobK #
• This is baffling: http://www.gallup.com/poll/125333/Public-Agrees-Court-Campaign-Money-Free-Speech.aspx?CSTS=alert #
• Staten Island – the most mocked borough http://www.slate.com/id/2241950?obref=obinsite Admittedly I did hate the summer I lived there. #
• Good for Hillary: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8473546.stm #

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Three Favorite American-History Figures? | January 26th, 2010

Just stated my list to my friend Brian:

1. Abraham Lincoln. Probably a cliché, but that’s a good thing.
2. Benjamin Franklin. Smart, practical, and clearly a cool dude for a party.
3. Teddy Roosevelt. Easily the most bad-ass liberal President.

Other nominees?

Ross Follies Time Crunch | January 25th, 2010

With Follies 2010 coming up in a few weeks, I have mad video editing to do. In the meantime, here’s a quality Ross video from 2008: