Real | Ideal | Life

Social Web

2008-11-12T14:21:00.002-07:00

Check it. (shameless self promotion)

Fear

2008-10-30T21:30:00.002-06:00

Voting out of fear on Nov. 4th? You're not alone. Oh man, I agree with this article and enjoyed John Oliver's piece. Let's just hope that post election day rather than take advantage of fear, people start to make decisions based on something else.

Wow, MTV has music again

2008-10-28T21:06:00.000-06:00

Internet killed the TV star:
http://www.mtvmusic.com/

World Vote

2008-10-28T20:58:00.001-06:00

If the world votes, who will it be for? Cast your vote here.

Wordle says it right

2008-09-07T17:55:00.000-06:00

Very cool: Wordle on DNC/RNC speeches

don't take the website down!

2008-07-24T16:08:00.000-06:00

The Website is Down. very, very funny.

step brothers marketing campaign

2008-07-23T10:57:00.002-06:00

Step Brothers comes out this Friday, and I've been pretty impressed with their campaign around the movie. Check out this link for some fun with your friends (send them a video with their picture and have them get a call from the characters). Or, go by the theater and check out the bigger than life scrap book that you can interact with. Pretty good stuff.

Oh, boy.

2008-07-02T12:59:00.002-06:00

via Kelly & the evil beet. This guy is either a. having a great time pretending to be a psycho, or (more likely) b. a complete D.bag who is now entertaining everyone who listens to the following:

http://view.break.com/527579 - Watch more free videos

Funny: man v. banner ads

2008-07-02T10:52:00.001-06:00

West Elm: Rocks.

2008-06-13T14:27:00.002-06:00

So, I'm in love with West Elm. And not just because they sell cute stuff. Here's why: I purchased my curtains at the new denver store - originally purchasing 2 different panels and choosing the one I like. I took the other back and wanted 3 of the panel I chose, but they didn't have them in store. So, naturally I go online to order the extra's. I think, score: Free Shipping. But then yesterday I went on westelm.com and saw that the curtains were on sale - a lot. So sad that I ordered them at full price and now they are at a deep discount.

But here's why they rock: I called customer service, spoke to an actual English speaking person immediately and justs told them hey I ordered these two weeks ago and now they're on sale. Do you have a refund policy for this? And that's it - she just credited me back the sale difference plus tax savings. SO EASY and I saved a good $70. West Elm, I heart you.

(And let this be a lesson: always worth calling to check if you can get the refund).

Text message your way to love

2008-06-13T13:47:00.001-06:00

Our generation has a sad but true text messaging problem. This is why I won't go on dates that are initiated via text. Ok actually I have. But it's not recommended:) You gotta have what it takes to make a phone call, people!!
Does this apply to you?:

Google's Favicon: it just isn't cool

2008-06-11T15:31:00.004-06:00

I had a conversation with a friend last week about how we hate Google's new favicon.

A favicon is the little icon that appears in your browser title bar when you are on a site. While this is a little thing that sometimes you don't even notice, on a site like Google that I frequent, the change in favicon sketches me out! I keep looking at it wondering what site I'm on not sure that it's the real Google. Why edit a brand image that is successful, Google!? I can understand a small modification to stay hip with the times but this is an all out change! Here and here are examples of overtime logo changes (a bit better don't you think)? Google: bad change.

Well, Google must know that it sucks, because they posted on their blog that you can now submit recommendations for their new favicon. Other posts around that are in agreement with me: Organic and SE Land.

Hulu & Comedy Central/Colbert Report

2008-06-10T10:53:00.001-06:00

Familiar with Hulu.com? Well, first of all you should be because you can watch TV shows and movies online for free (just view some ads, it will be painless). But now - now you can watch The Daily Show with John Stewart and the Colbert Report on Hulu. Yeah, Hulu. That's how it's done:)

Now, just show me some season 2 of Bones and I'll be happy.

what the?

2008-06-05T16:06:00.003-06:00

I'm in Like with you is a site I didn't get, until I read this.

While there's no way in hell I'll be signing up for it, I wanted to share it - as it's an interesting and yet another time waster that could be cool...

Fun random stuff

2008-06-05T13:11:00.002-06:00

A couple cool things to check out:
Google Street View images - a little out of the ordinary.
Design your own Kleenex box. Cool site and features.
MSN's Search and Give. MSN donates to charity for your searches.

Flickr - as a universe!

2008-06-04T17:16:00.002-06:00

Pretty cool site. Basically, puts flickr tags in a universe of relation to each other. When you cull down to what you want, click on the planet and you'll see all images belonging to that tag. Enjoy!

Botanic Gardens Blog

2008-05-30T10:48:00.000-06:00

Went to a CSIA event recently that featured blogging in the corporate world. Pretty good event that highlighted this particular blog: City of Denver's Botanic Garden's Blog. Check it out.

Everything We Know About Denver Blog

2008-05-16T13:22:00.002-06:00

I have linked to it a couple of times, but I haven't called it out: http://www.everythingweknowaboutdenver.wordpress.com is a Denver blog I contribute to. Check it out for Denver updates!

google friend connect

2008-05-12T16:01:00.002-06:00

Google launched friend connect - however it appears to be delivering a 404 error right now... check it out this evening and I believe it will be live.

Google says:

"Google Friend Connect is about helping the 'long tail' of sites become more social," said David Glazer, a director of engineering at Google. "Many sites aren't explicitly social and don't necessarily want to be social networks, but they still benefit from letting their visitors interact with each other. That used to be hard. Fortunately, there's an emerging wave of social standards -- OpenID, OAuth, OpenSocial, and the data access APIs published by Facebook, Google, MySpace, and others. Google Friend Connect builds on these standards to let people easily connect with their friends, wherever they are on the web, making 'any app, any site, any friends' a reality."

iMedia Connection Article

2008-05-12T09:48:00.002-06:00

I'm published in iMedia Connection - article is about choosing keywords in each buying cycle - SEO and PPC related:)

new west elm

2008-05-10T15:30:00.002-06:00

OOO... a West Elm is opening in Denver across from Neimen's in Cherry Creek. Set to open this month - located on 1st street.
Yay!

quote of the day

2008-05-07T22:05:00.001-06:00

There is no greater impotence in all the world like knowing you are right and that the wave of the world is wrong, yet the wave crashes upon you.
- Norman Mailer

Green on Facebook

2008-05-06T16:16:00.002-06:00

Pretty cool - check out the top 150 going green grafitti's on Facebook. While people must have a lot of time on their hands for this, I think the results are neat. More from regeneration.

Sadly

2008-05-06T13:03:00.002-06:00

From Iconowatch, a very disturbing and true stat:

Despite reporting an average of 14 paid vacation days in 2008, an estimated 31% of employed U.S. adults will not use all of their vacation days. Instead they'll leave an average of three vacation days on the table, in essence giving back more than 460 million vacation days.
YACHTCHARTERMAGAZINE.COM | 4.15.08

Haven't you people read 4 hour work week!? Don't you have lives to attend to outside of work? Balance is the name of the game!

Recycle!

2008-05-05T10:56:00.001-06:00

I'm loving this idea for recycling - makes me actually want to take the extra step.

project angel heart: dine out for life

2008-05-01T15:43:00.000-06:00

Tonight is dine out for life night. Check it.

The Mask Project

2008-04-28T11:42:00.000-06:00

Check out The Mask Project Gala in Denver.

Alberto vs. Pedro

2008-04-25T18:13:00.001-06:00

Google is a monopoly?

2008-04-21T15:55:00.001-06:00

Googlolopoly. Looks like a fun game, and a true story.

flight of the conchords

2008-04-14T17:10:00.000-06:00

via Courtney
Flight of the Conchords are coming to town at the Ellie, sponsored by KBCO.

Women's Event in Denver

2008-04-04T15:01:00.001-06:00

Saw this today in my Urban Eye newsletter. You may be interested:
New Colorado Women's Expo to Feature Suze Orman, Bob Greene and Stacy London

The inaugural Colorado Women's Expo, being held April 26-27, 2008 will feature three celebrity speakers at the Colorado Convention Center, including Suze Orman (Finance Expert), Bob Greene (Fitness Trainer to Oprah Winfrey) and Stacy London (Co-host of TLC's What Not to Wear). The celebrity speakers will present from a theater located within the expo. Other featured presentations will include Kahi Lee, Designer/Host from HDTV's Design on a Dime, and a local chef cooking competition with Jennifer Jasinski from Rioja and Bistro Vendome and Tyler Wiard of Elway's Cherry Creek.

More than 11,000 attendees are expected to visit the two-day event. In addition to the headline speakers, show goers will have the opportunity to sample new products and receive timely advice in the areas of home, food, finance, career, style, fashion, health and fitness from more than 150 exhibiting companies.

Saturday, April 26, 2008
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

The Colorado Convention Center
700 14th Street, Denver, Colorado, 80202

Ticket price includes the exhibit and the celebrity speakers. (Tickets good for one day only) On site ticket price $12.00. Advanced discount tickets on sale at TicketsWest outlets in all King Soopers. In addition, there are a limited number of reserved seating tickets available per speaker at $40.00.Tickets are also available on line through TicketsWest.com. Booth space is currently available. If you are interested in exhibiting, call 303-932-8100. For more information about the show, please visit www.PostNewsEvents.com.

Rockies Season!

2008-04-04T14:59:00.003-06:00

It's officially Rockies season. Out my window the hullabaloo is at full swing, I even stepped outside to grab some free Qdoba and Gatorade:) (The perks of an office right by Coors Field).

Colorado Rockies Schedule for Month of April

Visit http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com for more information!

Fri, 4/4 Diamondbacks 2:05p
Sat, 4/5 Diamondbacks 6:05p
Sun, 4/6 Diamondbacks 1:05p
Mon, 4/7 Braves 6:35p
Tue, 4/8 Braves 6:35p
Wed, 4/9 Braves 6:35p
Thu, 4/10 Braves 1:05p
Fri, 4/11 at Diamondbacks 7:40p
Sat, 4/12 at Diamondbacks 1:55p
Sun, 4/13 at Diamondbacks 2:10p
Tue, 4/15 at Padres 8:05p
Wed, 4/16 at Padres 8:05p
Thu, 4/17 at Padres 8:05p
Fri, 4/18 at Astros 6:05p
Sat, 4/19 at Astros 5:05p
Sun, 4/20 at Astros 12:05p
Mon, 4/21 Phillies 6:35p
Tue, 4/22 Phillies 6:35p
Wed, 4/23 Cubs 6:35p
Thu, 4/24 Cubs 1:05p
Fri, 4/25 at Dodgers 8:40p
Sat, 4/26 at Dodgers 8:10p
Sun, 4/27 at Dodgers 2:10p
Mon, 4/28 at Giants 8:15p
Tue, 4/29 at Giants 8:15p
Wed, 4/30 at Giants 1:45p

Mobile News

2008-04-01T13:10:00.005-06:00

Thought this was interesting in light of mobile marketing: in San Francisco, Google is providing phone/vm service to homeless people through Project Homeless Connect. Interestingly, this could roll out in other communities if successful.
This along with news of cell phones causing cancer (105.9's morning talk show was chatting about it). However, these aren't new allegations. They're just becoming more prevalent.

A British study released in September 2007 said mobile phones did not pose short-term health risks, but scientists noted that studies to date included few participants who had used mobile phones for longer than ten years -- the time many cancers take to appear.

Wondering why this stir is happening right now? Ask this guy.

Go Green.

2008-04-01T09:39:00.004-06:00

Al Gore is back at it with the "We Can Solve It" campaign for Global Warming.
On the organization:

The We Campaign is a project of The Alliance for Climate Protection -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort founded by Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore. Our ultimate aim is to halt global warming. Specifically we are educating people in the US and around the world that the climate crisis is both urgent and solvable.

Hailed as the famous video for the cause, check out the Black Balloon Video or watch the new TV campaign:

And, on marketing of Green: consumers DO care if you are lying about your Green campaigns or exaggerating. You can't just tout yourself as "green" - you should BE Green.

Mustache Challenge

2008-04-01T09:29:00.002-06:00

Oh yes, I said mustache challenge. We are having one at work and the ridiculousness ensued yesterday on judgement day. Check out our site for the challenge here: Mustachechallenge.com. Also completely awesome is Alberto's campaign to win the challenge: Alberto with Love.

And finally, the cutest entry by far, and just look at that stache!:

Denver Play: My Fair Lady

2008-04-01T09:23:00.003-06:00

This past weekend I went to see My Fair Lady at the Denver Performing Arts Center in the Buell Theater (Saturday's matinée show). Quite good. I'm partial to the movie, but hey, for a play it was lovely.
A piece of trivia for you: Apparently the gal playing Mrs. Higgins used to be the voice of Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady the movie - pretty cool.

April Fool's!

2008-04-01T09:15:00.003-06:00

Happy April Fool's! Our office and everywhere is rife with pranks. I'll post some of the office stuff later, but check out Google's pranks:
First, use the new "Custom Time Feature" in gmail. Article from CNET here.

Then, check out their fantastic new project, Virgile: The Adventure of Many Lifetimes!

(hint, go to FAQ and scroll to the bottom links. Click around a bit)

our dog in her new hiking booties

2008-03-31T23:00:00.000-06:00

On Search...

2008-03-31T16:41:00.001-06:00

Interesting little write up on what's going on in Search right now between Google, Yahoo and MSFT.
Also, wondering how Google works? Check this out.

Yahoo! Shines

2008-03-31T16:29:00.002-06:00

Check out Shine from Yahoo!, a new Yahoo! product basically geared toward creating content for Women. Or, as Wired says:

Yahoo likes the ladies -- or it thinks it can profit off them, anyway. The company rolled out a women's site today called "Shine," which will cover parenting, sex and love, healthy living, food, career and money, entertainment, fashion, beauty, home life and astrology -- pretty much everything we hate about women's magazines.

handvertising

2008-03-25T17:05:00.003-06:00

You've gotta be kidding me: Handvertising.
Apparently the new way to reach Gen Y'ers... this may be something Gen Y'ers will use and perhaps a gorilla tactic, but I just don't see it selling anything or really building brand experience all that much. And I'm in Gen Y.
I'd love to hear disagreements? Anyone?

Outside Lands: Music & Art Festival

2008-03-25T10:14:00.003-06:00

Looks pretty cool. I may have to add San Francisco's Outside Lands to my music lineup for the year!
Save This Page

on water...

2008-03-24T13:59:00.002-06:00

I am collecting some answers to an interesting survey regarding what your preferred method of heating water is. Please, please help me and Click Here to take the survey!
Save This Page

08 Music Line Up

2008-03-18T12:42:00.004-06:00

April 4: Ingrid Michaelson @ the Bluebird! :)
June 12-15: Bonnaroo!
July 19/20: Mile High Music Festival by KBCO.

What else is a must attend?
Save This Page

I'm in SiteProNews

2008-03-18T10:02:00.003-06:00

Local Search as a Lead Generator

Gone are the days of running an ad in the yellow pages or local newspaper and crossing your fingers that the right eyes would pass over it. Your customers look to the instant gratification of online search, sometimes even through their mobile phones, when they’re ready to make a purchase. Implementing local search best practices will ensure that these qualified customers find you.

Continue reading my article...

Save This Page

Awareness Test

2008-03-14T15:42:00.003-06:00

Completely unrelated to anything else: You have to take this awareness test. Pay close attention!
update: here's the original test.
Save This Page

RSS explained!

2008-03-14T15:24:00.000-06:00

If you ever wonder what those funny "RSS" links are, this video will help you out:

Save This Page

St. Patty's Day!

2008-03-14T11:35:00.004-06:00

This weekend I'm leaving Denver to jet set off to ChiTown with my Frontier buddy. I'll try to post some pics when I get back of the St. Patty's Day festivities.

If you are hanging around Denver, be sure to check out the LoDo festivities, which are set-up and roaring as is (I can see Fado's out my window at work, and it's complete debauchery). From now until Monday there will be partying going on in their huge white tents. More info here.

Other events are going on too... make sure to get in early, though. Places will fill up! Parade info here.
Save This Page

Trampolines! In Denver!

2008-03-14T11:23:00.002-06:00

Last night, some friends and I went to a magical place. No not the kidn in your head. The REAL kind. This is a place called Jump-Street. It is in Thornton, and it is loads of ridiculousness. We rolled in around 9:30 (the place closes at 10) to jump in a room of trampolines for 1/2 hour. Yes. A ROOM full of trampolines. They're even on the walls. (Although, to be honest, I couldn't really pull off getting on the wall ones. I believe it's for experts only). This picture is pretty accurate:

Go try it out!
Save This Page

Derby Party!

2008-03-14T11:18:00.003-06:00

I want to remind everyone about the upcoming Derby Party - my favorite party of the year. It will once again be at the Denver Botanic Gardens, on May 3rd. It is a rain or shine event - last year it did rain, and it was fabulous regardless. Tickets are pre-sale right now but if you sign up on the site (just give em your email), you'll get the mass invitation this year. Be sure to sign up quick, tickets sell out literally within a few hours! The party benefits the Sean Lough Foundation... more on the site.

Save This Page

you are what you eat: unnatural

2008-03-11T11:44:00.004-06:00

The U.S. obviously has a huge problem with "western diseases" such as obesity. We also have, in my opinion, really unhealthy attitudes and ideas about food. I'm more of a foodie. I eat because I like food, I enjoy the experience of eating with friends and family, and just the experience of great food. Fresh ingredients and yummy recipes. Some people I know obsess over the fats and calories and never take a second look at the ingredients - and ask themselves the question is this less calories because it's unnatural? And if so, is that just a different kind of unhealthy?
Michael Polland says "don't eat anything that doesn't rot" and you'll be healthier. The idea is that things that have too many preservatives are less healthy. I also really liked his point:

If you go around the world, people eat for a great many reasons besides, you know, the medicinal reason. I mean, they eat for pleasure, they eat for community and family and identity and all these things. But we've put that aside with this obsession with nutrition.

He also says that:

Well, the interesting thing is that most traditional cuisines are very healthy, that people -- that the human body has done very well on the Mediterranean diet, on the Japanese diet, on the peasant South American diet. It's really interesting how many different foods we can do well on. The one diet we seem poorly adapted to happens to be the one we're eating, the Western diet. So whatever traditional diet suits you -- you like eating that way -- you know, follow it. And that -- you know, that's a good rule of thumb.

Check out the article here. I highly recommend it:)
Save This Page

Yay Indie.

2008-03-07T16:00:00.001-07:00

I love Indiana Jones.
Save This Page

Sprout

2008-03-07T15:40:00.001-07:00

http://sproutbuilder.com/ Pretty interesting, “Sprout is a quick and easy way to build sophisticated multimedia content, including widgets…”

Save This Page

Ghetto Rock

2008-03-07T11:04:00.002-07:00

This blog says I should love Mos Def. And I do.

Mos Def - Ghetto rock
by Dante35

Save This Page

Kanye University

2008-03-07T11:02:00.002-07:00

Kanye has a blog. For all the preaching that he does I'm not surprised he has a blog, but actually it's pretty cool. A lot of posts on fashion and Kanye type stuff.
Save This Page

Food Fight

2008-03-07T10:50:00.001-07:00

This is great:

Save This Page

Volunteer!

2008-03-03T14:16:00.002-07:00

via Sean (the original)

Rebuilding Denver is partnering with HGTV Change the World, Start at Home. Pretty cool. The featured neighborhood is my very own, Curtis Park! Check it out and volunteer!

Save This Page

Thailand Video

2008-02-13T21:55:00.000-07:00

Funny Stuff.

Save This Page

Chuck Norris

2008-02-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

This is fairly awesome.
Save This Page

Travel!

2008-01-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

As you know, I love to travel. And I love the good life.

Here are a couple things to check out regarding these two:
GetJealous.org (thanks Leslie!)
Take back your time! (promoting longer vacations in the US/Canada - work to live, don't live to work.)
Save This Page

Grand Central: Phone

2008-01-15T15:06:00.001-07:00

I think this name is funny because when I was little my dad would always answer: "Grand Central Station" because I got so many calls.

Do you have more than one phone? Then check out Grand Central, now a Google company. Could this tie to the Gphone????!!!! Perhaps...
Save This Page

GTD & Nike

2008-01-15T14:49:00.000-07:00

Like these ads:

Which go with Nike's new ad campaign. See more at USA Today, where you have to watch an ad to watch Nike's ad. Oh marketers...
Also check out what flickr's got.
Save This Page

Nano Car

2008-01-11T16:25:00.001-07:00

Oh! It is so cute. I like the Smart car too but this one is affordable - seriously about the price of a cheap scooter. Come to the US nano car!
What You Get for $2,500

The Nano, at about half the cost of the cheapest car now on the road, could bring automobile ownership to thousands of people who have been able to afford only a motor scooter, company officials said.

At about 10 feet long and 5 feet wide, the car accommodates four large adults comfortably, automotive reporter Murad Ali Baig told NPR — and it comes in a variety of colors.

It meets all safety and environmental requirements, Tata said. And, in these days of escalating gas prices, it gets a respectable 50 mpg and has lower emissions levels than the scooters now produced in India.

The Nano has rear-wheel drive and a two-cylinder, 35-horsepower engine, and can reach speeds of 60 mph, Baig said.

Save This Page

checklist for life practicalities

2007-12-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

Good thread for those fresh out of college looking for some life/financial advise. checklist for life practicalities.

Save This Page

Denver news...

2007-11-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

So I have been out of town a lot lately. Thailand and then Mexico not to mention my little weekend rendevous. So I apparently have missed a few things.

First, the Del Mar crab house closed, which makes me very sad. In it's place is Osteria Marco. I'll have to check it out.
Also, the museum of contemporary art has opened it's new location on Delgany & 15th... first Saturday's cost only a penny so check it out.
The 16th street mall turned 25!
Writer's Square is getting a "crepes and crepes" restaurant - yum.
You can now see crime stats on your Denver hood here.

Save This Page

bad marketing strategies

2007-11-27T11:13:00.001-07:00

While this may be a great strategy for getting your videos seen on You Tube, it seems like a waste of money to me. Unless you just want to drive traffic somewhere so people click on your ads, don't go this way. It doesn't sell your stuff. And if it does, it won't create lasting customers.
Save This Page

Google Phone

2007-11-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

I told you there'd be a Google Phone! damn their expensive stock and my lack of money... should have bought...

Oh, did you know you can fantasy stock trade on Facebook? Pretty cool...
Save This Page

Did you know 2.0 Video

2007-10-15T09:45:00.000-06:00

http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/

Save This Page

G Phone!

2007-09-12T23:20:00.000-06:00

While this article is like reading a gossip column of he said she said, I do think there is a Google phone in the works. PCWorld hypothesizes on it too. I don't think it will be as amazing as the iPhone, if Google releases it. But, that is because it will be a. not as exclusive, b. cheaper, like everything Google does - pervasively available because they can then run ads to every man, woman and child, and c. maybe it will feature other cool things they have up their sleeve and they'll just call it a "beta" phone...i could for sure see it allowing "gadgets" (aka widgets to the rest of us) that users can make and hack their phone every which way the please as well. What will it look like? Blogs are all abuzz about different options, I've read several sayinig it's clear and you can see the inside and that it has the qwerty key system like a trio - but who knows. Here are some ideas.
Save This Page

cuill (cool)

2007-09-12T23:10:00.001-06:00

And now from the makers of Google's awesome algorithm: http://cuill.com/
Supposedly a stealth project right now, founded by some ex-googlers who are search experts. Probably not something to keep an eye on because if they become a threat, Google will just swallow them up with money, too. But, just in case!

Save This Page

Internet People

2007-09-12T23:07:00.000-06:00

I don't know if this makes me sad because I've wasted so much life or happy because I'm "in the know" (yeah right), but I recognized about 85% of the references in this:

Save This Page

google and opportunity

2007-09-12T22:36:00.000-06:00

Tonight i went to a BMA meeting where a very good speaker from Google told us about 10 ways to better market. That wasn't the exact speech but something along those lines. She opened with this video I posted a while back - and I was sort of surprised how many still hadn't seen it. Watch it, it's great.
Her points included various things, such as video, blogging, being available for search engines, and really opening yourself up to allow viral marketing to happen for your company. Let your customers be your brand advocates sort of idea. Then of course she mentioned other Google products and how awesome Google is and all that they do, which includes organizing the world's info - everything online and of course they want to expand into offline.

But then I came home and took a glance at Seth Godin's blog, and he had this great post that I completely agree with regarding what Google isn't good at. Which is "connections, rankings and horizontal results." While there are sites trying to accomplish this - Digg, del.icio.us, etc. with rankings and common tags, the job still isn't done, certainly not well enough. On del.icio.us you have people who tag with "tech, technology, technologies, technologys, IT" all for the same thing. While it's interesting to see what people use for tags, you don't have a single organized way of looking at all those because they don't mesh up. And not everyone uses del.icio.us. Some people use Google Bookmarks, or another obscure site. Then there are the engines that are niche. Take localguides.com. I met the starters of this site just the other day. The site has a great idea to capitalize on this problem, and to better organize blogger's ability to be guides - just as Seth's squidoo is doing something fairly similar - but the idea can only go so far regarding online content and user generated publishing. What about the sites that already exist?

Organize all of that in a connected, horizontal way, and you're perhaps Google's next magical competitor.
Save This Page

Wine!

2007-08-21T15:18:00.000-06:00

I want to be a sommelier someday. I'm inspired by Christy to do this, because she loves wine and I think she should do it:) And Nic too. But this just inspired me more - what a cool business to be a "wine consultant" basically. What would you consult on if you could do it for a living?
Save This Page

Organize

2007-08-21T14:23:00.000-06:00

Wow, not sure what they'll come up with, and be able to sell, next. but yes, there is a magazine for you OCD people that just need to Organize. Seems like this is a great idea for one glorified ad of container store stuff... but you never know how it will do. Perhaps success is in this mag's future.
What brought me to this in the first place is that I'm looking for decorating and home ideas. If you have any, or know of cool blogs/sites to find some, send em my way! My favorite so far are:
http://decor8.blogspot.com/
http://www.absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com/
and a cool thing decor8 has is links to Denver specific design shops, which are:
Zeitgeist (I drive by you on Spear all the time!)
Urban Lifestyle
Room & Board in Cherry Creek
One Home Design
Mod Livin
Furniture Room

I'm looking for steals of deals, too though. So even though these feature some pricey items, send me your deals ideas!
Save This Page

Crowd Energy

2007-08-21T14:18:00.000-06:00

What is piezoelectricity you ask? Ok well maybe you didn't ask... but MIT students James Graham and Thaddeus Jusczyk won first place with the "Crowd Farm," a proposal to produce electricity through stomping feet at the Holcim Foundation Sustainable Construction competition in Japan. And I think it's pretty cool.

You can read more about materials generating electric charges (piezoelectricity) here. Or the idea these guys have for crowd energy, here. Imagine using this on the 16th street mall, or Times Square...

Save This Page

Denver Culture Feed

2007-08-13T09:40:00.000-06:00

Will be interesting to see if this catches on and becomes a good resource: Denver Culture Feed.
Save This Page

Virgin America

2007-08-08T12:31:00.000-06:00

Yay - Virgin will fly in the states! Opening fight is SFO to NYC - soon to come: las vegas, DC and LA! Come on Denver!!

And, psst if you haven't heard, Southwest is opening up a route directly to ABQ from Denver - yay!

Save This Page

home ideas

2007-08-04T14:46:00.000-06:00

fun chairs
Save This Page

Denver’s Mile-High Style

2007-07-27T12:34:00.001-06:00

Denver is growing up and it's so fun to be a part of it. The NYT just did a story on Denver's Mile High Style. Featuring many cute places, one of which is composition which I've talked about before. While I'm sad they moved their place from Lodo to Belmar, they still have cute (expensive) stuff.

Save This Page

What's been up

2007-07-09T14:41:00.000-06:00

This has been a whirlwind year so far - The 4th of July is already over - crazy!

Here's a little recap of the fun I've been having in Denver and plans for the rest of the year. Maybe it'll give you some ideas of what to do if you're looking for some fun stuff!
January: Overnight in Vegas for my B-day; no room, just fun for 18 hours, in and out like that.
February: Visit to Taos, skiing, Westword's Artopia,
March: Sean's B-day at Crave, just like home. A visit to CSU. Holly's B-day (eat at Z Cuisine, it's delicious!), I got a new roomie, Courtney. Went bowling with work to Lucky Strike Lanes.
April: CSUnity, Green & Gold Gala. Salsa at La Rumba. Nuggets Game. Rockies season! Panelist @ CSU for new grads. The Review Denver for AMA. Court's B-day @ Le Central (also delicious! Get the mussels if you go!)
May: Planned Brew it Up!, an AMA Up Agency & Pub Crawl event ending @ Flying Dog Brewery. Christy moved to Seattle. Moab for memorial Day weekend which involved camping, hiking and canoing. Derby Party @ botanic gardens - go next year, it rocks. Angie's hat night B-day at Wazee Supper Club (yummy pizza). Bowling at Elitch Lanes. Brother gets expelled but graduates! Attend a Self Made.
June: Rockies games, bike to work day, Salsa dancing. Search for a house to buy. Kenny Chesney concert @ Dick's stadium! Kelly's bachellorette party @ Jet, etc. Kelly's wedding in Georgetown. Jeff's Brother's wedding. Rick's B-day @ Great Divide Brewery, Casa Bonita & the private room @ Earls (order the frozen mint mojito!) New Grad Welcome @ CO Biz Bank. AMA Volunteer appreciation @ Palomino (get the flavored mojito!). Denver Chalk art festival in Larimar Square.
July: Try Scuba @ Denver Divers (I'd recommend them). 4th of July fireworks & Rockie's game. Jazz at the park. Reading in Commons Park. Butterfly Pavilion. Movies as usual. Afternoon thunderstorms.
Planned: Salsa Lessons @ the Dance Collective. Corteo, the cirque du soleil show that is in town! More house hunting. Jackie's Bday @ Martini Ranch. 5280's Top of the Town. BE CSU event. Rick's Triathlon! Snow Patrol @ Red Rocks!
August: Find a house! Vegas trip w/ the gals. Riverfront fashion show (wear black) (ps this is an example of why you should take down your old website!) Confluence park movie: BIG. The Fray concert @ Red Rocks!
September: Labor Day! Move into a new place.
October: Thailand trip! YAY!
November: Mexico trip! YAY!
December: Christmas!!! Skiing!
Whenever: Grizzley Rose, Film on the Rocks, First Friday, coffee shops, camping, hiking, tubing (floating), more salsa!, what else?

Save This Page

More Google Maps

2007-07-03T11:49:00.001-06:00

Google Maps is going crazy adding features. They now have customized driving directions. More here.
Save This Page

411-Goog

2007-07-02T10:57:00.000-06:00

I still like the sms feature w/ Google, but sometimes 411-Goog comes through for me. Try it out: 411-Goog - now with maps! Check it out!

Save This Page

2007-06-19T10:42:00.000-06:00

Reactee is taking social to a new level, with shirts you can make that let users who see them text a code and get a message back. This is what we call new school. The could be really useful in several ways.
1. the obvious make a statement (Stop AIDS)
2. drive people to a website with your return message
3. advertise your biz! (Need a dog walker? )
4. tell everyone about a recurring party
5. limitless! What ideas do you have for it?

You can change the shirt's response whenever you want. They're american apparel shirts (soft, made in LA), Shirts run you about $30 + text charges.

Save This Page

This Week's Sign of the Apocalypse

2007-06-17T12:11:00.000-06:00

Apparently you don't need a fabulous commercial to make it big these days. Or any skill.

Save This Page

Feed Bags

2007-06-14T14:48:00.000-06:00

Saw this on my daily candy, and thought it was cool: feed a child for a year, get a cool bag. Visit www.amazon.com/feed for more info or to buy!

Save This Page

Denver City Planning

2007-06-11T15:13:00.000-06:00

If you live in Denver, may want to check out: http://www.denverinfrastructure.org. See what's in the pipeline. Get involved!
Save This Page

Surface

2007-06-11T14:17:00.000-06:00

Not a new technology at all, but newly distributed and available, you can fork over $10,000 for Microsoft's "Surface." I'd consider waiting until other items become more compatible such as cameras, phones, and mp3 players... but it is pretty cool that this will be around sooner rather than later - table and wall panels alike. Make sure you keep some coasters handy!
Also check out the interactive window movement, which you can view in our very own "you are here" building owned by riverfront park developers.
Save This Page

Denver Street View: Google maps

2007-05-30T13:35:00.000-06:00

Google is rolling out Maps Street Level view - and Denver made the cut of cities to test! Here is a super lame video on it:

More info straight from my Google rep:

» Today we are launching Street Level View in five US cities on Google Maps – San Francisco Bay Area, New York, Las Vegas, Denver and Miami.

Street View is a layer of high-resolution, navigable, 360-degree street-level photographs available on Google Maps in US. These photographs along with the navigation interface offer an easy-to-use, virtual walk-through experience along the streets in the covered areas.

Users can turn-on the Street View layer by clicking on the "Street View" button in Google Maps (top right corner of the map). The covered areas will be highlighted in blue.

At lower zoom levels (i.e. when zoomed out) there will be camera icons on the maps of cities where Street View imagery is available – users can simply click on a camera and zoom in, or search for a specific place. At higher zoom levels (i.e. when zoomed in), the orange Street View person icon will appear.
Users can point and click on the map to see the Street View at a specific location, or move the Street View icon to the desired location. The image opens in an info window and can be enlarged to cover the entire map.
Once the Street View window is open, users can click and drag/rotate the image to get 360 degree views; users can also zoom-into the images to get greater details. With the navigation arrows in the window, users can move from one image to another and take a virtual-walk along the street.

Enjoy!
Save This Page

New Yorker Conference

2007-05-24T14:30:00.000-06:00

The New Yorker conference has some interesting videos from "the minds" (code: the pretentious). Watch a few. My favorite, of course, is on the future of the internet. And they talk a bit about citizen journalism - which is an obvious topic of interest to me as I post about it often! Discussion includes what exactly is citizen journalism, where is it going, why is it good (or bad)... and how does advertising relate. Great conversations to get me thinking for hours on this stuff!
Save This Page

Chris Angel

2007-05-24T13:32:00.000-06:00

Freak your mind is a pretty cool viral site. I'm actually fairly disturbed by his video from the A&E episodes - either its a lot of special effects or something crazy is going on. either way it's fun. Check out the site and send to a friend. The gullable ones will FREAK OUT. Save This Page

Tree Flights: Travel w/o guilt

2007-05-22T13:17:00.000-06:00

Tree Flights is a tangible way to offset your carbon if you travel often and are on the green movement. Environmentally conscious folk who travel a lot can plant a tree for each flight they take by donating roughly $20 to Tree Flights, who will offset your carbon for you - in a tangible way!
As Tree Flights isn't a charity, here's what happens to your $$:

Save This Page

Free music! Free art! Fun!

2007-05-18T18:23:00.000-06:00

June is fast approaching, make your summer plans!

(Which might include Piazza dell Arte in Larimar Square or the 2007 free concert series.) Check back for more D-town updates!
Save This Page

Self Made

2007-05-18T18:03:00.000-06:00

This past Monday http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifI went to the special edition of Self Made with Lela Shields. Her work has been featured in gallerys and places from LA to the Louvre to our very own Andeken Gallery in Denver where she is currently doing her work. I liked most of her stuff, some wasn't my favorite, but it was lovely to see someone around here in the art community that has a big world view rather than part of the usual clique. One of my favorites was:

She's currently working on some animation and I wish her the best - it would be lovely if she'd do a children's book too! I think she could even use her animation and have it spoken over (rather than as a music video) for the kids stuff. Check out other Self Made events (normally on Tuesdays) at Double Daughters.
Save This Page

Denver Chalk Art!

2007-05-14T14:00:00.000-06:00

From Create Denver:
CALL FOR ARTISTS
Comcast La Piazza Dell'arte

Professional, amateur and student artists are invited to participate in the 5th annual Comcast La Piazza dell'Arte (“the square of art”) on Larimer Square. The internationally award winning event will feature more than 200 artists who will take to the pavement armed with vivid pastel chalks and create temporary, breathtaking pieces of art on the street. By the end of the weekend, the expanse of concrete along Larimer Square will be a dynamic outdoor gallery with subjects ranging from traditional master-style works to modern images and surreal chalk paintings.

There is no fee to participate. Each artist will be provided with pastels, an event t-shirt, complimentary breakfasts and lunches, water throughout the weekend, an invitation to the Festa all'Aperto reception, and goodie bags. Artists do not need to have prior experience in this medium to participate. For most participating artists, this is the first foray into street painting. Madonnari, the professional chalk artists, will offer a free workshop prior to the event for participating artists who want to learn more about this medium prior to beginning work.

To apply, artists may visit www.larimerarts.org to fill out an application or can call Mike Rieger, art director for Larimer Arts Association, at 303.685.8124.

Workshop
Friday, June 22
7 to 8 p.m.

Event Dates & Times
Saturday, June 23
9 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Festa all'Aperto at 6 p.m.)
Sunday, June 24
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Save This Page

Joost Competition

2007-05-14T11:09:00.000-06:00

Babelgum looks like they are attempting to give Joost a run for their money. See Marketing VOX's take on it:

Like Joost, Babelgum offers broadcast-quality, full-screen programming, and it is already serving content from Reuters and AP.

Scaglia is allegedly in conversation with a few Hollywood studios and courting indie produces for niche content. Content creators currently receive $5 for every 1,000 views. Ultimately the site is expected to be entirely ad-run.

Babelgum will also offer content owners a secure area for uploading and managing material. Scaglia said there are no restrictions on content size or file type.

Scaglia has invested $475 million of his own money into Babelgum and will invest another $175 million in revenue from Fastweb.

Meanwhile, Joost recently signed a content deal with Viacom and is currently in talks with ITV and Britain's Channel 4.

I still have Joost invites, leave a comment or email me if you want one!

Save This Page

Map of online communities

2007-05-10T21:54:00.000-06:00

Saw this on MAKE and liked it:

Save This Page

Squidoo

2007-05-03T09:43:00.000-06:00

You may have noticed I've posted several links to different "Squidoo" lenses I've made. Well, here is a little article about Squidoo that explains why I made the pages, what Squidoo is and what it offers. And, if you want to sign up for Squidoo and make your own lens, use this link: http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/referral/realideallife !! (Yes, I get rewarded for referring friends, and so do you! You get the same extra amount I do for signing up through referral)
If you do create a lens, I urge you to make at least part of your pay-out to charity. 10% really isn't that much - try that!

Save This Page

The Dip by Seth Godin

2007-05-03T09:19:00.000-06:00

Seth Godin's "the Dip" is out in stores. I have not read it yet, but I have been reading his blog (that is emailed to me every day). I thought this post was good and worth pointing you to: Was the DaVinci Code any good?
Agree? Disagree?

Save This Page

I hate reality TV, but I Love New York 2, only if you vote

2007-05-02T11:04:00.000-06:00

I received the below email today. And as this is perhaps the funniest thing I've seen in a while (perhaps partly because I know Tim Ulrich), I had to post it to share the love. If you know Tim, you'll vote for him. I don't even like reality TV AT ALL. In fact I have a deep hatred for it, and also for Flava Flav. But if Tim gets on the show I will be very tempted to sign up for cable just to watch it.
Now, if you don't know Tim, take my word for it that getting Tim on the show would be entertainment for all of America. So what I'm saying is, if you love America, you'll vote for Tim. Vote here.

So, as many of you know, there is a little show out there called "I Love New York". Even though she said "yes" to Tango, she didn't find the eternal and real love that she was looking for in Flavor Flav, Tango, Twelve-Pack and Boston, she and her mom are going at it again for another round of how much America really loves New York.

You may be asking yourself, "Why would she be sending me an email about a random reality TV show?" Well, the answer is I know someone that is auditioning for I Love New York 2...if you read below, you see the conversation that my friend Tim entered as a dare and he is correct in that it would be the funniest thing in reality television for New York to meet his Greeley farm/ranch owning parents...

Take a look and vote often for Tim "Trust Fund" Ulrich.

http://ilovenewyork2.com/people/TrustFund

I hope that you will take the time to vote and read below for some of the comments from Tim's references...not to mention that it's the funniest thing ever...

Holler,
Ana

Tim:

Save This Page

$100 laptop

2007-05-01T12:58:00.000-06:00

I wrote about this a while back while it was in plans, but here is a little follow-up to the $100 laptop. To be deployed in May 2007, this little project is very exciting for third world countries that are in need of some technology. Look out, world.

Give a laptop to a child by donating.

OLPC Wiki

Article from Marketing Vox:

Social Computer Hits Doorsteps of Third World

Little green laptops are Third World-friendly

Nicholas Negroponte, founder of One Laptop Per Child, is on a mission to put open-source computing systems into the hands of Third World Children.

The durable green XO laptop is a low-power, lightweight system able to withstand a number of extremes, including heavy rains, bright sunlight, five-foot falls and small hands. It is typically both electric- and crank-operated and costs approximately $175 per unit to manufacture, according to The Boston Globe.

Negroponte aspires to put one of these in the control of at least 1 billion children between ages 6 and 16 in developing countries. Partners include Advanced Micro Devices, Red Hat and Chi Mei Group.

There are no distribution costs associated with the project and, writes Groundswell, no profits for One Laptop Per Child either. Citibank handles financing and credit information, then distributes money to every member of the supply chain.

This September manufacturers will ramp production up to 400,000 laptops per month, but hundreds have already been distributed for the testing phase in seven launch countries: Argentina, Brazil, Nigeria, Uruguay, Libya, Pakistan and Thailand.

The laptop's functionality includes Windows capabilities (though it presently houses an open source menu), a tablet function and games that range from Tetris-style BlockParty to a virtual orchestra.

The pure open source XO has already caused a competitive stir. Microsoft has lowered its cost to $3 for Windows and applications in developing countries. Intel is also producing its own low-cost unit, the ClassMate.

Designed for social computing, one of the main apps on the laptop tells children who else in the village is online. Other applications are collaboration-based, which means students can work on projects together, and work is auto-saved onto a Google server.

"How big is the horizon for the kids in some of these villages?" asked Josh Bernoff, analyst at Forrester Research. "Now they will have a way to communicate with the rest of the world."

Save This Page