Persona

posted April 15, 2016 #

The keen minds behind Cargo Collective have launched a new service entitled Persona that enables anyone to create a simple homepage for themselves. Yes, it is fundamentally the same as Flavors.me or About.me but the devil is in the details - particularly typography choices, layout options and mind-numbing javascript image manipulation. Please take just a moment to peruse the available styles to see the great styles they have to offer - particularly the subtle, tasteful but acid trip-y environments they offer. If your simple website is your business card, these certainly make a very impactful statement.

Now I just hope they merge it with Cargo Collective so I can give my own portfolio a serious scrubbing.

On ScarJo as Ghost in the Shell

posted April 15, 2016 #

i don't have a dog in this fight but I'm happy to learn more about the story of the film and why the 'controversy' exists at all

CaptionBot

posted April 15, 2016 #

Microsoft had a bit of a false start with their new Bot Framework but they're following up with CaptionBot; a bit of AI that looks at an image you upload and describes it with casual language. The results are surprisingly accurate and, dare I say, sometimes pretty funny. At the very least, upload some screenshots of your co-workers and throw them into Slack, it'll be a hoot.*

* But seriously, AI is seriously improving and this is a nice, simple, example of some legitimate progress. Speaking casually isn't exactly something robots normally excel at.

Kite

posted April 15, 2016 #

"Programming copilot" - augments your code with insight from the web on usage and possible typos. Intrigued.

The State of Emoji

posted April 14, 2016 #

Maybe journalists all share the same notebook but I've seen a strangely large amount of articles about Emoji recently. For me, it started with this Paul Ford tweet and then articles have just been popping up left and right. Here's what I've been reading:

Investigating the Potential for Miscommunication Using Emoji - a stale title for an interesting article about the high probability of misinterpretation of different emoji depending on how they're drawn on different devices. You may think you're sending a cherub-y smile but others see a major chagrin.
Buzzfeed: This is what iPhone Emoji Look like on Android - basically the exact same article as above but dumbed down 300%.
Ninja Cat: The Windows-only Emoji - Windows going rogue by using this technique to combine emoji. I admit, it's clever.
Android Emoji Getting Better - there's a major overhaul coming to the Android emoji set and the results look nice. I didn't think this would directly affect me but then I remember sometimes I use GChat and do see those blobby atrocities they currently use, so this will be refreshing.

Oh, and there may actually be a Colbert Emoji on deck for Unicode 10.0.

posted April 14, 2016 #

Ugh kids so narcissistic with their "selfies" I miss the good old days when people commissioned 8 ft tall oil portraits

posted April 14, 2016 #

Remember when that cop pepper-sprayed students in 2011? UC Davis paid $175K to scrub it from the internet's memory. https://t.co/pYeIHNbxP2

posted April 14, 2016 #

time and time again, i discover that many people have no idea that being cool and popular are not the same thing

Hyper Light Drifter Released

posted April 13, 2016 #

I originally stumbled on Hyper Light Drifter back in 2013 when it was just a massively successful Kickstarter project. After years of development, the game is finally released for PC and Mac. I imagine that once the console versions are available, the game will explode to a whole new level.

I've barely scratched the surface of gameplay but it actually manages to deliver on the ambiguous mythos that it setup at its inception, three years ago. Beyond that impressive feat, there's also the Disasterpiece Soundtrack that is the perfect otherworldly companion to the visual intrigue that the game brings.

There are far better writers to exalt its greatness but I think the reviews are unanimously positive. If you're one that plays games, go get it. If you're not, just watch the gameplay on Youtube, you won't be disappointed.

Bartkira Nuclear Edition

posted April 13, 2016 #

Are you familiar with the Bartkira project? It's an ambitious undertaking started by James Harvey to gather together 700 artists to have them uniquely redraw the Akira manga series, in its entirety, using a Simpsons cast. The amount of absolutely amazing art created in tribute to both series is staggering to say the least. Oh, and if you haven't seen the trailer, treat yourself!

The latest news in the Bartkira world is that they've launched a new book and an exhibition at Gallery Nucleus showcasing a ton of the mash-up pieces. Even if you're entirely unfamiliar with Akira, you can appreciate the humor of Ralph's Awakening, the alluring disgust of Bartkira Homer and the total badassness of Springfield Nightmare.

Paper Monday

posted April 13, 2016 #

After a recommendation from Miles, I've become fairly intrigued by Paper Monday. The project is described as "a monthly digital print publication featuring visual stories and news by Rog Walker." While I must raise a suspicious eyebrow to anything claiming to be a "digital print publication," I do enjoy the idea of an undertaking formatted, designed and executed for smaller screeners from the onset. Walker's portfolio is enough of a reason to sign up, so I did. Let's see what happens.

Steelberg VHS Redux covers

posted April 12, 2016 #

serious nostalgia vibes. link via @jeremy_okai

The Voyeur’s Motel

posted April 12, 2016 #

high priority Must Read. via @caspar_v

Caught Up - Metz & Swami John Reis 7"

posted April 12, 2016 #

Metz & Swami John Reis 7" April 16 When Metz found themselves on tour in San Diego with a couple of hours to spare, Swami John Reis immediately booked some studio time with the hopes of capturing the glorious noise of their collaboration. The four of them came up with 2 songs and now they are friends for life. The sound is reminiscent of an army of sea gulls inside a burning Benihana Of Tokyo.

What cyberpunk was and what it will be

posted April 12, 2016 #

added to Read It

Nostalgia is not the most toxic impulse

posted April 12, 2016 #

recommended for me to listen to. earmarking.

Paranormal Central

posted April 12, 2016 #

VHX powered site, looks up my alley

Steven Harrington on The Great Discontent

posted April 12, 2016 #

add to Read It queue

Larry Sultan

posted April 12, 2016 #

Thanks to Jeremy Davis, I've recently been familiarizing myself with the photographic works of Larry Sultan. He passed away in 2009 but he published a body of work that spanned 30 years. His Pictures From Home have a quiet sweetness to them, while his Swimmers have a real mysterious vibe.

There's so much to see on his site, I recommend picking one set and sitting with it for a bit and then returning later. The gift that keeps on giving.

Monster Children - 50 People

posted April 12, 2016 #

The latest issue of Monster Children is a huge compilation of interviews entitled 50 People. They sit down with the likes of David Lynch, Cleon Peterson, Kelia Moniz, Ian Mackaye, Gemma O'Brien and a ton more. The artwork, by Evan Hecox, is beautiful and I imagine the entire issue itself is a helluva read.

It's understandably easy to get worn out on Interview features with successful artists - there's no shortage of them - but I continue to feel inspired by them. Hearing about others creative processes can be enlightening, particularly if they're open about their hardships and blockers.