Thursday Thoughts and Randomness

Sorry I've been so quiet as late. I've been ill. Nothing serious mind, just a headcold probably brought on by allergies. I've also turned somewhat even more cynical than I usually am (as my recent Twitters attest). I think it has something to do with the very hot and humid weather. It's October. I shouldn't need the AC on "arctic tundra" mode.

Our very own chrisglass has been having *mad* success with both his Wire & Twine venture, and his recent launch of Merlin Mann's new 43 Folders makeover. He's now been tagged to do the 19th October edition of Layer Tennis (rhymes with susandennis, although the two are not affiliated). Kick Ass, Dude!

I may have mentioned I saw bothHelvetica The Movie, and The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Helvetica was the most boring documentary I've ever seen. All the interviewed designers said the same thing, but in different ways: "Helvetica is a great typeface, thank the gods we have it, but it's everywhere, and you can't escape it". Uh huh. Tell me something I don't know. Make a film about groundbreaking typography (and Helvetica *is* groundbreaking. If you don't understand why, read some history on typography) that's actually compelling to watch. Don't give me endless Type Queens all but spooging over a 60 year old font. Of course, there was one dissenting opinion, a German, who came off as nothing more than a typographic Salieri.

The King of Kong however, was a delight. Yes, I am a "retrogamer" (actually, I'm a gamer that used to play these games when they first came out, and I still play them, probably more than I play modern games, World of Warcraft notwithstanding). The director gave what is ostensibly a very dorktastic concept, and turned it into something compelling and enjoyable to watch. The film wasn't about video games, it was about *people*. The editing and narrative was done in such a way as to keep you interested in everyone, not just the central two players. There is even a great moment where we discover the then-current reigning champion of Q*Bert is, in fact, a septuagenarian grandmother. This film stirred emotion in me, and the rest of the (packed) audience. *This* is what a documentary should be.

Work has been less-than-thrilling. Not a lot to be done, I'm filling my time by doing random internal projects, as I am done with all my external projects. New client projects seem to be light in the IA front, so I've been banging them out at a very quick pace. On the plus side, I am generally happy with my product, although I am not thrilled with some of the design translations. More on this when they launch and I am no longer under NDA.

On the Warcraft front, I am about to /gquit, as my current guild can't even get its shit together to run a 5 man instance, let alone a 10 man Raid. Ah, guild drama! If I can't get into a casual guild that can give me that, I will probably stop playing entirely, as there is nothing left for me to do. Luckily, rogueboi has a potential fit.

Randomness from Wikipedia:

Florence Y'all
Icelandic Phallological Museum
Mojave Phone Booth
Punkeydoodles Corners
Tree That Owns Itself
Republic of Indian Stream

Thursday Thoughts and Randomness

Sorry I've been so quiet as late. I've been ill. Nothing serious mind, just a headcold probably brought on by allergies. I've also turned somewhat even more cynical than I usually am (as my recent Twitters attest). I think it has something to do with the very hot and humid weather. It's October. I shouldn't need the AC on "arctic tundra" mode.

Our very own chrisglass has been having *mad* success with both his Wire & Twine venture, and his recent launch of Merlin Mann's new 43 Folders makeover. He's now been tagged to do the 19th October edition of Layer Tennis (rhymes with susandennis, although the two are not affiliated). Kick Ass, Dude!

I may have mentioned I saw bothHelvetica The Movie, and The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Helvetica was the most boring documentary I've ever seen. All the interviewed designers said the same thing, but in different ways: "Helvetica is a great typeface, thank the gods we have it, but it's everywhere, and you can't escape it". Uh huh. Tell me something I don't know. Make a film about groundbreaking typography (and Helvetica *is* groundbreaking. If you don't understand why, read some history on typography) that's actually compelling to watch. Don't give me endless Type Queens all but spooging over a 60 year old font. Of course, there was one dissenting opinion, a German, who came off as nothing more than a typographic Salieri.

The King of Kong however, was a delight. Yes, I am a "retrogamer" (actually, I'm a gamer that used to play these games when they first came out, and I still play them, probably more than I play modern games, World of Warcraft notwithstanding). The director gave what is ostensibly a very dorktastic concept, and turned it into something compelling and enjoyable to watch. The film wasn't about video games, it was about *people*. The editing and narrative was done in such a way as to keep you interested in everyone, not just the central two players. There is even a great moment where we discover the then-current reigning champion of Q*Bert is, in fact, a septuagenarian grandmother. This film stirred emotion in me, and the rest of the (packed) audience. *This* is what a documentary should be.

Work has been less-than-thrilling. Not a lot to be done, I'm filling my time by doing random internal projects, as I am done with all my external projects. New client projects seem to be light in the IA front, so I've been banging them out at a very quick pace. On the plus side, I am generally happy with my product, although I am not thrilled with some of the design translations. More on this when they launch and I am no longer under NDA.

On the Warcraft front, I am about to /gquit, as my current guild can't even get its shit together to run a 5 man instance, let alone a 10 man Raid. Ah, guild drama! If I can't get into a casual guild that can give me that, I will probably stop playing entirely, as there is nothing left for me to do. Luckily, rogueboi has a potential fit.

Randomness from Wikipedia:

Florence Y'all
Icelandic Phallological Museum
Mojave Phone Booth
Punkeydoodles Corners
Tree That Owns Itself
Republic of Indian Stream

Holy Crap! Gothamist Posted a Picture of Mine…

…totally without my permission!


West Village Parents Take on the S & M Fest

I own and retain all rights to my images, and while I don't mind their unaltered use in non-commercial situations (as long as it has attribution), I'm more than a little peeved they're making money off my work.


I am about to send an email to the author of that article.


Update:This is the email I sent:

Jen,

I was quite surprised to read your post today, the 4th October located here: http://gothamist.com/2007/10/04/sm_fest.php and noticed my photograph being used in the story without my permission. I own all copyright on that image, and do not allow people to use it without my permission, especially in a commercial forum. That said, you did give attribution, and I take that as a sign of "good faith".

Considering Gothamist is a commercial venture, I should be compensated for your use of my image. I am sure there is some Gothamist swag floating around, and I am willing to allow you this one time, non-exclusive use of my image on Gothamist in exchange for a Gothamist T-shirt. I take a men's large.

The alternative is to take down the image immediately.

If a phone call is more convenient than email, please give me a ring at [:::redacted:::]

I will also be at the street faire this week-end, just outside The Dugout, with my camera.

Another Update: My picture has been taken down, replaced by another picture, by another photographer. However, that picture is not within their rights to use *either*. Yes, that picture is under the Creative Commons license, but it has *limited* use, ie. non-commercial. I also noticed Jen Carlson authored *another* article that is still on the homepage: http://gothamist.com/2007/10/04/were_1_in_rat_a.php which is *also* using a Flickr image without the rights to do so.

Clearly, she needs to grab a clue.

Holy Crap! Gothamist Posted a Picture of Mine…

…totally without my permission!


West Village Parents Take on the S & M Fest

I own and retain all rights to my images, and while I don't mind their unaltered use in non-commercial situations (as long as it has attribution), I'm more than a little peeved they're making money off my work.


I am about to send an email to the author of that article.


Update:This is the email I sent:

Jen,

I was quite surprised to read your post today, the 4th October located here: http://gothamist.com/2007/10/04/sm_fest.php and noticed my photograph being used in the story without my permission. I own all copyright on that image, and do not allow people to use it without my permission, especially in a commercial forum. That said, you did give attribution, and I take that as a sign of "good faith".

Considering Gothamist is a commercial venture, I should be compensated for your use of my image. I am sure there is some Gothamist swag floating around, and I am willing to allow you this one time, non-exclusive use of my image on Gothamist in exchange for a Gothamist T-shirt. I take a men's large.

The alternative is to take down the image immediately.

If a phone call is more convenient than email, please give me a ring at [:::redacted:::]

I will also be at the street faire this week-end, just outside The Dugout, with my camera.

Another Update: My picture has been taken down, replaced by another picture, by another photographer. However, that picture is not within their rights to use *either*. Yes, that picture is under the Creative Commons license, but it has *limited* use, ie. non-commercial. I also noticed Jen Carlson authored *another* article that is still on the homepage: http://gothamist.com/2007/10/04/were_1_in_rat_a.php which is *also* using a Flickr image without the rights to do so.

Clearly, she needs to grab a clue.