Moments

I was recently introduced to Devour.com, a fantastic website that posts a well-chosen collection of videos found around the web.  While I have spent many hours devouring the contents of the website, I continually come back to the first video I watched there, “Moments,” by Everynone - a beautiful short film that captures the little things that make up every day experience.  I also recommend Everynone’s “Words.”

Tales of Mere Existence

Tales of Mere Existence is a series of animated autobiographical comics by Lev Yilmaz.  Lev has the amazing ability to make the most mundane topics fascinating, hysterical, and a wee bit sad.

Here is “How To Carry Your Books At School,” the first video I saw by Lev:

GnomeBomb

I am rather intrigued by GnomeBomb, a new blog documenting the adventures of a gnome in New York City.

Logged In

I don’t have anything in particular to say except, “Watch this.”

The Tourist Lane

I love pretty much everything Improv Everywhere does, but their latest project especially resonates with me because they eerily read my mind and made a video of my thoughts.  Posing as NYC’s Department of Transportation, they set up a “Tourist Lane” (slow lane) and a “New Yorker Lane” (fast lane) on a sidewalk in Manhattan and directed pedestrians accordingly.  As a fast-walking New Yorker, I am thrilled that they did this.

Walking Men Worldwide

While out for a long walk in Manhattan last week, I came across an incredible art installation entitled “Walking Men Worldwide.”  Artist Maya Barkai collected images of 99 walking men from cities around the world and covered the walls surrounding a construction site with their life-size images.  I like to imagine all 99 of those figures coming to life and exploring New York with me!  The installation will remain at 99 Church Street until January 2010.

CoverSpy

CoverSpy is a fascinating blog that makes me miss those beautiful short moments one shares with one’s fellow New Yorkers.  Here’s the creators’ description: “A team of publishing nerds hits the subways, streets, parks & bars to find out what New Yorkers are reading now.”

Indexed

Rediscovered via BlinkCast.  Jessica Hagy comes up with humorous and insightful graphs, draws them out on index cards, and posts the cards on the site Indexed.  She’s been making these clever graphs since 2006, which leads me to believe Indexed may have been one of the early inspirations for the internet’s recent graph craze (see GraphJam).

Here’s “Rural Astronomy” from Indexed:

The Thorn in the Heart

“The Thorn in the Heart“ (L’Epine dans le Coeur) is incredible director and incredible mind Michel Gondry‘s latest film about his aunt Suzette.  It seems to only be in select theaters for a short amount of time, so check this site to see if it will be shown near you.  Here’s the trailer:

Stuff White People Like Posters

Workspace, a brand new Arkansas-based design group, has started off with an intriguing project: creating a poster version of each entry in Christian Lander’s popular humor blog Stuff White People Like.  Each month, 30 new posters will be available in the Workspace online shop.

Ted’s Birthday

Here’s the latest Improv Everywhere video, “Ted’s Birthday.”  I love how “Ted” plays along with the joke!

Adopt a Word

Found via Quoteskine.  I CAN, a charity that helps children with communication difficulties, has a wonderful campaign called “Adopt a Word.” For £20, you can “adopt” your favorite word for a year and support I CAN as it gives more children access to life-changing language resources.  It’s a great idea and a great cause!

How Are You Doing?

I have always wondered why people ask “How are you?” without bothering to hear the answer.  Enter Laura Mayer‘s How Are You Doing Project, an audio art project that’s all about hearing the answers to that question.  Anyone can call the toll-free “How Are You Doing?” phone number listed on the project’s site and talk about their day.  Parts of these messages are then compiled into podcasts, which you can listen to on the site or on iTunes.

Barbie is a Computer Engineer

Mattel recently announced Barbie’s 126th career: Computer Engineer.  Apparently, Mattel asked Barbie fans to help pick Barbie’s 125th career (News Anchor), but so many people wanted her to be a Computer Engineer that Mattel decided to introduce two new careers.  As a female computer science student, I am thrilled to hear the news!  I haven’t bought a Barbie doll in over a decade, but I might just have to get this one.  You can read more about Computer Engineer Barbie on all sorts of blogs around the internet (such as Chip Chic and NYTimes Bits) and on Barbie’s official media website.  (Image below from PC World.)

Wisdom

Wisdom by Andrew Zuckerman is beautiful and inspiring.

The Principles of Uncertainty

Maira Kalman‘s The Principles of Uncertainty will change you.

Very Small Array

Very Small Array‘s posts are always so aesthetically captivating, like this map showing the locations mentioned in Craigslist missed connections.

Technological Generation Gaps

I was just reading the New York Times’s article “The Children of Cyberspace: Old Fogies by Their 20s,” which reiterates what we already know: each generation grows up with more technological resources at their fingertips than the generation before them, and thus the youngest generation is always the most impatient and the best at multitasking, more likely to communicate via the newest social mediums than through old-fashioned things like snail-mail and telephone.  We tend to see advancements in technology as benefits to society, yet the article’s tone suggests that society is going downhill, as each generation demands more and concentrates less than the last.  Is this paradox or hypocrisy?  And if this is really such a problem, why aren’t people doing anything about it?  Why aren’t parents correcting their children when they call a Kindle a book and a robotic hamster a pet?

Disconnected

Disconnected is a student-made documentary that follows three Carleton students as they attempt to go computer-less for at least three weeks.  The documentary resonates with me, as I too am a college student admittedly addicted to my computer, and I like how Disconnected focuses not only on the students’ desires to use computers recreationally, but also on the ways in which computers have become necessary to how colleges run – for example, online timesheets for student employment, computer programs for Chinese assignments, and Library search engines instead of physical card catalogues.  I highly recommend this film, which you can watch online at Hulu.  Here is the trailer:

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street

I am not ashamed to admit that I just bought Christmas Eve on Sesame Street on DVD.  It was one of my favorite Christmas movies when I was little, and unlike so many other things that seem amazing only when you’re seven or under, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street is still as charming, entertaining, and heartwarming as ever.  Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go wander the snow-covered streets of New York City and sing this song: