I read an @Garethk tweet about a talk on information overload vs. filter failure given by @CShirky (from the Web 2.0 Expo in NYC). Check out the video here.
This led me, just like I’m leading you now, to BoingBoing. I feel very foolish for not knowing about this tremendously smart, interesting and relevant website until now. But, it will be added to my google reader and the general awesomeness links to the bottom right of this post.
The site prompted a twitter following which then led to the discovery of a new article about barefoot running. That article brought me to a super cool, very quickly trending new line of footwear called Vibram.
I’m pretty sure I’m going to get a pair of the KSO or Flow so I can frolic in the woods and boulder with my buddy Jay.
After this I came across a sweet NASA video that reminded me how badly I want to visit Sao Paulo, Brazil. It’s also slightly NSFW, depending on where you work. Here’s the YouTube link:
This is my last post about Japan. I think I’ve made it abundantly clear that the trip was phenomenal and I can’t wait to go back. So, in an effort to bring this adventure to a close, here are some essential last notes.
This idea popped into my head 3 weeks ago. It all started while reading Sasha Issenberg’s “The Sushi Economy” over Christmas break. The book outlines the impact of Tuna (specifically prized Boston Bluefin) on the global marketplace in meticulous detail. What I was most fascinated with were the descriptions of the Tsukiji fish market and learning stories of some of it’s major players. I was hooked and I decided quickly, almost hastily, that I needed to go to Japan and see for myself.
I bought a travel guide and began to plot my course. (side note: A good agenda should be like connecting the dots, with lots of room in the middle for randomness and exploration.) A lot of things changed from start to finish, but at the end of the trip I was able to hit every landmark I wanted and then some. Here is my final itinerary, courtesy of TripIt.
I’ve posted all of my photos here and below is a final mashup of all the video. It’s a little messy, but I think it does the job.
I wanted to make sure to include two of my favorite posters. The copy alone makes these both memorable.
Today, January 26, 2010, I was in two different countries at the same exact time. I took the first picture while walking to the train in Shinjuku, Tokyo at 9am. The second picture was taken at 9am in San Francisco off of Powell & Market. Maybe I’m a huge nerd, but I couldn’t be more excited about my time travel.
And lastly, my favorite meal from the trip. A curry pork cutlet with rice and a bowl of udon. Tasty and extremely filling.
I’m still working on videos of Shinjuku, Tsukiji, Roppongi & Yoyogi, but the internet is too slow to really get cranking on things. This trip has been an amazing experience and I definitely want to come back again. I could actually see myself living here. Just not right now. I’ve explored just about every area on my checklist, with only Ueno Park and Asakusa left for tomorrow. There are lots of museums and shrines up there so I’m planning on a busy last day.
As for today, I was slightly let down. I traveled up to Ryogoku to the National Sumo Stadium hoping to grab a ticket for the last day of the tournament. Unfortunately, they were sold out and I had to improvise. After a little ramen therapy I crushed Central Tokyo, absolutely destroying the Bank of Japan and Tokyo Station. After that I was off to see the Sunday freaks in Yoyogi. I topped the day off exploring Shibuya and East Shinjuku, stopping at Takashimaya Times Square for a sushi dinner.
While I am still sorting through most of my videos, I found time to put together another short. This episode features Shibuya crossing at night.
I wish I had taken more video while I was traveling, but this will do for now. I have a ton of stuff from today, including pictures, so more coverage to come.
Planning on hitting up the Tsukiji fish market (early) tomorrow morning. Should be fresh.
I’ve been all over the place since landing back in SF. There have been lots of gallery openings and lots of randomness (my favorite). Here are some of the highlights from the last few days:
1) Studio Number One
First, I noticed one of Philip Lumbang’s cuddly bears on Market Street (btw Jones & Taylor). The former Studio Number One designer was in town for the opening of a show at Giant Robot. I’ll need to get up there to check it out…and score a Dunny.
Shortly afterward, I ran into Neek, Kasl & Rezen in SOMA. I have a feeling we’ll be hearing a lot about these guys in the not so distant future. Here is a short video I made (Smoke & Mirrors by RJD2) of Neek painting a robot:
He and Kasl went huge on a wall at McAllister & Jones yesterday morning. Here it is.
I met this dude at 1AM’s “Circle of Life” opening a few weeks ago. His work is utterly captivating. I think I spent the majority of my time at the gallery staring at his massive circle. It looked like a rainbow threw up all over the canvas. And I mean that in a good way. He was cool enough to talk to me about his work and gave me a sticker which is now affixed to my computer. Here’s proof:
Anyway, also while riding, I noticed an electrical box (best guess) under the Bay Bridge with a similar sticker. (Note: I saw this while riding north on the embarcadero, by Ideo, through 2 lanes of traffic, 2 muni lines and 2 sets of barbwire fence. Damn, I absolutely swear by refractive eye surgery. See here.). Sure enough it was my man. He also snuck the small version on another box around the corner.
Cool show featuring Henry Lewis and Mike Davis. It was too crowded to really look at anything or take more pictures. I might try to go back later this week to get a little closer to the work. Hopefully without being trapped in a corner and sweating profusely. Henry Lewis below.
This is slowly becoming my favorite gallery combination in the city. The adjacent show rooms consistently feature artists who blow my mind. They do a great job of self promotion, via guerilla attacks throughout the city. And they also have a killer online/social media presence. Kudos. You might remember my post on the discovery of “wheatpaste face” by Hugh Leeman? Actually, it’s funny because the same image is next to Neek in the video above. I also tweeted a picture a while ago of a illustration, unaware that it was for the White Walls show. The artists name is Jesse Hazelip. Here are some pictures from the opening:
On the other side of the wall Shooting Gallery was showing work by Morgan Slade. These were my favorite all night. I love that they disturb me, but I can’t look away. There is something about the combination of photography and paint that just cripples me. Here is what I’m talking about:
I was walking home when I noticed a giant scene outside of the SF Hilton. I grabbed my flip and started recording. Joining a protest is just one more thing I can check off my (bucket) list. Here is a short video:
Completely unrelated, but, check out my boy Jay’s video from Main Cliff Crag in Rumney, New Hampshire. Wish I could’ve been there to “GET VERTICAL.” Ha.
I’ve been following Evolution Bureau since Daniel Stein was cool enough to accept my Foursquare friend request. Not only is the agency mind-bogglingly creative, but they also serve cookies every Friday at 3pm (at least according to their website).
In a not so recent, but still relevant blog post they teamed up with Chicago street artist Goons to put together a stop motion bit for Orbit gum. Check it out:
Not too long ago I posted BLU’s famous “MUTO” video which is put together in a similar fashion. I guess I’m just glad to see an agency take advantage of this style of animation while putting some well deserved dollars into the pocket of a street artist.
Here is another video, just for kicks. You will be amazed and terrified at the same time.
I just read John Winsor’s UC commencement speech. It’s so refreshing to hear such a prolific thinker/doer talk about the lost art of epic failure.
I didn’t experience enough defeat in 2009, so this will be a part of my new year’s resolution – go down in flames, extravagantly, and soak up the entire damn experience.
It will make me a better, stronger person. Maybe like Norman Vaughan?
Here is a teaser quote:
“Today, as you start your journey I know that many of you have the burden of high expectations on your shoulders. Let go of them.
Instead, dare to fail. Fail fast. Learn from failure. Build on failure. Share failure. Understand failure.
Most of all, enjoy failure. Life is so short. Hold nothing back.”
