Public support for the Hubble Telescope is one of the reasons the project has been so successful over so many years…let’s keep up that public enthusiasm for knowledge by keeping an eye on news from the IBEX that launches today. And maybe someday we’ll get around to making that Interstellar Boundary Explorer that everyone will LOVE.
This is cut from a FWD: email that you probably ignored, just translated to a more 2.0 format:
Basically if you get TV/History channel and are not out raging tonight, you should switch on at 8pm to watch a show that’s going to teach you about the LHC (biggest science experiment ever, going to teach us about dark matter, quantum mechanics, etc, by recreating very tiny/short big bang-type black hole experiments by crashing particles in a big loop in Europe, and don’t worry it’s not going to hurt you)
Or if you can’t wait for tonight/dont have TV, just listen to this guy, who’s job it is to teach us dum-dums about what the smarties are up to:
[AND the original FWD/email marketing scheme is here:]
Nearly two years ago, the Silent Crow team began looking cinematically at physics. Not just your everyday physics, but the quantum world of particle physics. Over my head? Yes. So, we were joined by the best physicists in the world.
On September 9, at 8 PM (Eastern),on the EVE of the first beam in the biggest particle collider on the planet,the History Channel will air the film we’ve created. It’s called Next Big Bang, and it is just that. It’s a deep look at the physics of the very beginning of time. We battled hard with the network to create something that isn’t simply sensational or dumbed down, something stunningly beautiful, and something that you will want to watch again, because it sparks so many questions about the nature of the universe. This is really compelling, fascinating, challenging and did I mention gorgeous(?) immersive stuff.
I am proud of the Next Big Bang, even if it is TV. Which is the reason for this email:
The network is not promoting the show for fear their audience doesn’t want to be intellectually inspired, enlightened or challenged. Prove them wrong. Watch the show. Tape it. Tivo it, and most importantly, call your friend down the block who you know loves science and physics, and tell him to watch it. Tell your school physics teacher that there’s a show her students should watch.
It’s VERY cool, and it sends the networks a message that we actually do like entertaining programming that inspires us… to think.
So, from the many producers and physicists that toiled to create this visionary piece, please enjoy the Next Big Bang.
TUESDAY, Sept 9, at 8 PM EST - HISTORY CHANNEL
Thank you!
MATT BENNETT
Silent Crow
1.212.944.3636 (o)
Absolut Vodka (as a part of their “In an Absolut World” ad campaign), approached Zach Galifinakis for a contribution, having “mention Absolut Vodka” as the only guideline. Sure enough, joining forces with Tim and Eric, the world is enriched just a little bit by their efforts:
Last weekend, my cousin showed me the first act of Dr. Horrible, and I didn’t get watch the other two until tonight.
Guess what…they are all incredible.
Created by Joss Wheden (Buffy, Firefly/Serenity) and starring Neal Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillian, and Felicia Day, this is a made-for-web mini-series (each act is only 15 or so minutes) that combines the wonder of vlogging, and the underused villain perspective, with the wonderful world of musicals. The production is unbelievably tight with great performances and remarkably good music (from Joss’ composer brother Jed) and a superbly condensed story-arc.
As of this week, it is no longer available to watch for free on Hulu, but the torrent crowd won’t have a problem finding it, and the people who want to support innovative low-budget productions like this should just shell out the $3.99 to have it right in their iTunes software program.
And it works!
Went a long time without posting. I don’t want that to happen in the future.
Cause:
Not being able to find time, access or inspiration to post (mostly due to being away from computers and having vodka spilled into my Macbook keyboard)
Solution:
If not tomorrow, then next week.
Expect Twittering, Geotagged iP pictures, and a more constant stream of new and improved content.
Just got back from a benefit for the Kageno Organization, a non-profit working to improve the lives of the poorest people in Kenya, and is now working in Rwanda as well. The state of some of these communities is just staggering, as the short video below details.
Not that anyone who would visit my site would necessarily be in the position to make a donation, but even if they can’t, the website and videos are still worth checking out (and are made by people in my creative community).
I met many of the people most deeply involved in their projects, and found them to be inspirational, not just in their optimism and dedication, but also their abilities to feel real human connection with those who can be just too easy to ignore.
Gotta love the nonchalance of this article describing no-bid contracts from Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total and BP coming into Iraq.
It reminded a TED talk posted not too long ago.
A quick word about TED. The Technology/Entertainment/Design conference takes place every year in California. But that name doesn’t quite do it justice. As far as I can tell, it has become a forum for the smart, the ambitious, the talented, and the philanthropic, to share their ideas with like-minded (or un-like-minded) peers. I was introduced to these earlier in the year, and have become addicted. This is exactly what our world need right now. For the people who know their areas of inquiry best (nerds) to reach out and share their knowledge with the world. Hopefully, this helps them find validation, support, funding, and maybe most importantly, an understanding of how it’s all connected.
Here is a list of their impressive past speakers
Here is their RSS Feed for new videos
and the YouTube page for the TED talks Director
but best of all, if you have an iPod/iPhone that is capable of playing video, you can use their VIDEO PODCAST for an easy dose of intelligence.
This is not one of the most entertaining TED talks, but you’ll see the connection to the article pretty early on, and hopefully these “Ideas Worth Spreading” will do just that.
We had some people over last night, and in indicating the nearby Kosciuszko Bridge (which I was pronouncing “kos-kee-oos-koh”), we decided to actually do the research to find out how it’s pronounced:
“Although many broadcast announcers pronounce the name of the bridge as “kahs-kee-OOSH-koh”, the actual Polish pronunciation approximates “kohsh-CHOOSH-koh” [Wikipedia, obvi]
From another source, (that was referring to its namesake, “Tadeusz Kościuszko, a Polish volunteer who was a General in the American Revolutionary War.”) we found this to be “koshy-chyoosh-koh.”
Either way, this is what you see on that bridge when crossing into Brooklyn (our building is off to the right below frame).
It’s not for everyone, but if you are the kind of person who’d be curious to hear what a Jay-Z verse perfectly laid over a Radiohead riff would sound like, or Busta Rhymes over The Police or what “Ms. New Booty” plus “Come on Eileen” equals (or Public Enemy and Heart?) you should probably check out “Feed The Animals.” This is Girl Talk’s 4th LP, and if you aren’t familiar with the others, they pretty much follow the same basic principle: take interesting pop melodies and vocals, both new and forgotten and stir them into a cohesive production. The outcome is indeed manic, and not all of it will gel for you, but it’s worth it for those moments when two or three or four musical elements you never would have connected seem to mesh wonderfully. Best of all, Girl Talk has adopted/improved the recent Radiohead/Nine Inch Nails music distribution system. His whole album is available for download on a “you set the price” basis. $0.00-4.99 gets you 320Kbps MP3’s (with album art), $5 will get you uncompressed FLAC files (play them with VLC) and give $10 and you get the downloads + a disc come November. Great options all around. Download “Feed the Animals” here.
6/19 wasn’t just the launch of MY national campaign…
Lots of guitar pickin’ and lame-looking white people, but the pic @ :30 let’s us know who’s boss.
Update:
I mentioned this specific clip to some friends and it seemed to have resonated with them too, so I’ll share:
10. Teach others about ME!
Or at least what I want you to think I am like, which is probably just as revealing. The ‘folio part entails having access to all worthwhile projects I’ve been a part of in the past (which will take some time to locate/upload) and a source to check out all the latest efforts, including one or two of the thoughts that go through my head from day to day.
9. Fame and Glory!
The videos may never go viral, and the blog will probably not land me any book deals anytime soon, but hopefully I will be able to provide content that’s worthy of passing on to friends, and make my name/face/ideas public enough that I could get connected to new people and projects that fit my interests and skills.
8. It’s like a TIME MACHINE!
Any good historian will tell you that sometimes the best way to see into the future is to look into the past. Where I’ve been/what I’ve done over the last few years should be revealing of where I want to be heading in the next few.
7. Flyers waste paper!
How else will you know if I, or someone in my creative community will be performing?
Whether it be standup, live skits, TV/Internet appearances, music-making, or throwing a great great rooftop party, BoDS will keep you in the know!
6. Control my brain!
Like a post? Comment on it! Ask for more like it! Don’t like it? Tell me why so next time I will be sure to include/exclude information that would be interesting to you. In this way, I’ll be able to get a better read for my prospective audiences and have a great forum for feedback, and at the same time you now have a place to publicly call me out for being a _____.
5. I need you to be impressed by me!
Please. Please… PLEASE!?!?!
4. I’ll become better at writing!
I am a know a little bit about a lot of things kinda guy. While this is great for convincing people that you’re “well-rounded” the only real tangible skill would be to communicate all those wonderful thoughts to the world. Besides writing, you know what help’s someone become a better writer? Reading! My blog!
3. I’ll become better at thinking!
Being able to communicate thoughts in a simple, cohesive and entertaining [besides this post ,obviously] manner, is one of the most effective way of curbing illogical or unhelpful thought processes. If you don’t believe that you should go see a therapist.
2. Progress!
Everything I write, and everything you read will improve both of us. We’ll all be able to go back and look through all the wonderful lessons we’ve learned together, and make fun of ourselves for being so lame.
1. Save the World!
Duh.