Random

My buddies at Architecture for Humanity this morning launched the beta version of the Open Architecture Network, “a stand alone site that allows will allow designers, community groups, NGO’s and others to post projects, browse others, comment and review projects, discuss relevant topics, contribute to shared resources, collaborate with each other and access project management tools to support their work”.

They’re unveiling the site at the TED conference today. The idea of the site, as for the organization, is to help designers and architects use their talents for the greater good of those in need all over the world. Commendable, for sure, and pretty damned cool besides. AFH rocks!

P.S.Wired ran a story on the site today.

So, I guess it makes sense, working at Federated Media, but it’s still strange to find out what your colleagues had for lunch — 10 feet from your desk — on the Internet.

I only heard this weekend that Dynamic Logic‘s COO Tom Deierlein, who was called up by the Army to go to Iraq about a year ago, was shot by a sniper in September. He’s OK, and seems to be in good spirits, but he’s got a long road to (hopefully) full recovery.

The company has set up a Web page for Tom where people can comment and share well wishes.

Just wanted to post to say you’re in my thoughts, Tom, and I’m hoping you heal quickly and remain in good spirits. It sounds like you were doing great work over there, especially in helping poor children and needy Iraqi families. Sorry things turned out the way they did, but am happy you’re back in the U.S.

By chance, I hit the Internet Archive Wayback Machine today and noticed that The River actually has entries dating back as far as 1998.

I remember that design… the first after I actually learned how (somewhat) to use PhotoShop.

I’m so pleased Jason “Trickster” Chervokas has turned his sharp mind and excellent writing to the subject of media again. If only because I can link to it from this, my very neglected blog, and chime in with agreement. Of course, I’m not the only one linking. Fred has shared an applicable personal experience, as well.

I had a conversation the other day with a guy a bit younger than myself, who didn’t believe people (specifically young people, like college-aged and teen-aged) would pay for media. I think they will — maybe not those folks but their parents, for sure, if it’s priced reasonably — if they can access it on their terms. I find myself not buying from iTunes nowadays, when I used to do so fairly regularly, because the proprietary format doesn’t play on my TiVo. (BTW, I tried the Apple device, whose name I forget, to play iTunes songs on my stereo, and it sucks, at least for PC users.)

UPDATE: Tom has some thoughts, too.

Spotted near a Berkeley soccer field/skatepark — a silver Lexus SUV with California license plate “RSS”. Anyone we know? I know Dave Winer‘s recently moved to Berkeley, but does he drive a Lexus? (Sorry no photo. Cameraphone’s batteries were dead.)

UPDATE: Only on today’s Internet would I be able to actually determine that it’s definitely not Dave Winer’s car. How? Because he posted on Amyloo’s community car roll. (He used to drive a Lexus, but no more…)