My briefly-run design-challenge show will one last appearance on the History Channel, Friday morning May 2 at 5 am (Eastern and 6am (Pacific). (Sorry to have missed that. It's 3am Mountain and am Central.)
Set your Tivo to a wide window, just in case! (See my previous entry for description. Anybody know a likely sponsor? ;-)
Or copies can be ordered from the HC web site.
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Heck, while I'm at it....here are some shocking items.
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Want the current economic crisis explained? See my friend (and extremely smart world pundit) Mark Anderson offer some unusual insights.
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Those of you who thrilled to the “big dog” robot video really ought to see the satire.
===AND NOW, FROM THE TRANSPARENCY FRONT===
Turning our gaze upon our paid protectors -- From Boing Boing: NYPD cops videoed illegally warring on photographers: This video compilation of numerous near-simultaneous arrests in NY is a nice example of how consumer technologies can help to balance abuse of authority. A fascinating study in the trend I forecast, of smart mobs holding authority accountable. This is how we'll get truly professional police. And yet...
And yet, I have to tell you that I have decidedly mixed feelings. Yes, the lapses in professionalism -- and outright lies -- of the cops deserve nailing. They must learn (apparently with some difficulty) to live in a world of cameras... and rights.
Still, the scenes depicted were drenched in the drug high of self-righteous indignation on both sides. There were scores of people in Time Square just itching for a confrontation, heckling, taunting and veering in front of guys who are... at a deep level... just human males high on adrenaline. Yes, the woman who would not show her ID was within her rights. But she could have given them their little ritual of control, and they had already proved that would likely be enough.
I want to emphasize, I am on the side of the smart mob. But I would betray this movement if I weren't able to criticize it. These things need to be smarter, calmer, and far more mature.
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I contributed to Game Development Essentials: An Introduction (and followup volumes.) If you want to develop games... and that's it for now.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
A Final Chance to See "The Architechs"
Andi Tobin wrote in to say "I just noticed The ArchiTECHS is on The History Channel at 5 a.m. on May 2."
I have the distinction of having been on the History Channel's top... and bottom... rated shows ever. "Life After People" was a huge success, and I'm still doing interviews about it, phoned in to New Zealand and Australia. History promoted it like mad, but there's also something deeply resonant about a show that portrays the world recovering after humanity somehow blows it. Suits the mood of the 21st Century, so far.
In contrast, "The Architechs" was a design show... that "challenged five geniuses to solve an impossible problem in 48 hours... to innovate more than a dozen new fire rescue and evacuation tools for skyscraper disasters." History never promoted the show and aired it one weekday night at 10pm.
Well, well. If end-of-the-world sells better than problem-solving, I'll do end-of-the-world!
Still, Tivo "The Architechs" if you can. (And tell friends! This may be their last chance.) You may enjoy a little dive back into the oldtimey can-do spirit.
A spirit of optimistic problem-solving we might do well to bring back, sometime soon.
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(Feel free to continue your previous arguments in comments below...)
I have the distinction of having been on the History Channel's top... and bottom... rated shows ever. "Life After People" was a huge success, and I'm still doing interviews about it, phoned in to New Zealand and Australia. History promoted it like mad, but there's also something deeply resonant about a show that portrays the world recovering after humanity somehow blows it. Suits the mood of the 21st Century, so far.
In contrast, "The Architechs" was a design show... that "challenged five geniuses to solve an impossible problem in 48 hours... to innovate more than a dozen new fire rescue and evacuation tools for skyscraper disasters." History never promoted the show and aired it one weekday night at 10pm.
Well, well. If end-of-the-world sells better than problem-solving, I'll do end-of-the-world!
Still, Tivo "The Architechs" if you can. (And tell friends! This may be their last chance.) You may enjoy a little dive back into the oldtimey can-do spirit.
A spirit of optimistic problem-solving we might do well to bring back, sometime soon.
----
(Feel free to continue your previous arguments in comments below...)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
First posting
This will be my second blog... one dedicated ONLY to literary matters!
THROUGH STRANGER EYES -- a collection of my book reviews, introductions and essays on popular culture -- will soon be released in the Western Hemisphere by Nimble Books and in the Eastern Hemisphere by Altair (Australia). Included will be those infamous articles about Tolkien and Star Wars, sober reflections on Jared Diamond's Collapse, and Rebecca Solnit's River of Shadows, scientific ponderings on Feynman and Gott, appraisals of Brunner, Resnick, Zelazny, Verne, and Orwell... all the way to fun riffs on the Matrix and Buffy! Watch for news here!
Those interested in a more general blog, with lots of science, tech news and quirky politics, see: http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/
THROUGH STRANGER EYES -- a collection of my book reviews, introductions and essays on popular culture -- will soon be released in the Western Hemisphere by Nimble Books and in the Eastern Hemisphere by Altair (Australia). Included will be those infamous articles about Tolkien and Star Wars, sober reflections on Jared Diamond's Collapse, and Rebecca Solnit's River of Shadows, scientific ponderings on Feynman and Gott, appraisals of Brunner, Resnick, Zelazny, Verne, and Orwell... all the way to fun riffs on the Matrix and Buffy! Watch for news here!
Those interested in a more general blog, with lots of science, tech news and quirky politics, see: http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/
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