I have moved…

Well, I haven’t, but the blog has.
This one won’t be updated any longer.

But don’t worry.
The new one will.

Follow/stalk me at:
http://typeofwords.com

Update

So I am working on moving everything over to the new site, which should be completed this weekend.

I hope.

Check back here for the new address and then update your browsers.

Yah heard?!

Fake AP

I know many people won’t get this, or care, but if you do, it’s funny.

Did that make sense?

A Writing Revolution

After taking my midterm this morning in Magazine Editing, I was online and found this at Seed Magazine:

A Writing Revolution

Nearly universal literacy is a defining characteristic of today’s modern civilization; nearly universal authorship will shape tomorrow’s.

I emailed it to myself and just got done reading it. I was a little disappointed in the piece. With such a proclamation, I thought the entire article could have been the lead. Definitely made me want more. More information, more analysis. I was ready to discount the entire thing because I didn’t see any source list at the end, but as I read it, I found it under the graphic. In case you missed it, it is here.

As usual, the behind the scenes, methodology and sources in this case, were more interesting than the piece.

One of the questions I asked myself is whether or not someone who uses Twitter one time is a publisher. This got me thinking about libel, and something is considered published if it is read by any third party. By one person besides who is doing the writing and who the writing is about. I also question whether we are really 4 years away from 100% of the world being “published.”  I didn’t find anything about an allowed margin of error.

Tonight…

Is the night.

Spotted in West (P)Hilly:

Distributed to businesses on Broad:

Subject: Preparations for Spontaneous Phillies Fan Celebration
To: “Center City District PCAN, Law Enforcement”
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 5:26 PM

In light of the incidents that occurred after last year’s Phillies Championship win, the City is taking steps to insure that any spontaneous victory celebrations stay positive on Wednesday night (or whenever the Phillies clinch the National League pennant). The Philadelphia Police Department will be deploying additional officers in Center City around South Broad Street to establish a safe environment for fans, property owners and businesses alike.

Property owners and businesses are being asked to survey their properties including loading docks, garage entries and alleyways for any non-fixed or permanent items such as planters, valet or sale signs, unsecured or unlocked dumpsters, bike racks, etc. The Philadelphia Police are asking that those items be removed temporarily or secured from harm.

The City is removing the new solar trash cans and replacing them with wire mesh cans that will be chained to poles. Newspaper publishers are being asked to remove unsecured honor boxes (newspaper boxes) as an additional precaution. In addition, restaurants and bars have been asked to refrain from serving take-out beverages in glasses or glass bottles and to use plastic instead.

Lastly, parking restrictions will be in place on Wednesday evening, starting at 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM along South Broad Street from City Hall to Locust Street, from 13th to 15th Streets and on the cross streets in between. In addition, parking will be restricted on North Broad Street from City Hall to Poplar Streets.

Thank you for your cooperation. Go Phillies!

All via Philebrity.

Fearless Ninjas

Why wasn’t this on Rae’s album?

Ghost beats up the track and shows his versatility.

There’s an app for that

As I said in a previous post, iPhones and Apple have pretty much been the focus of things as of late. And not only because of me buying one. Some people may already know what I am referring to, but there were a few recent postings that refer to what I haven’t explicitly said.

Conde Nast Launches IPhone Platform With GQ App

and

What lit mag McSweeney’s could teach news orgs about the iPhone

The Ad Age piece is exciting and hopeful because it seems like finally a publisher is figuring out how to make sense of and work with technology, instead of being so far behind (which they clearly already are) and are willing to be the first to make a move. Sometimes the decision makers seem to stand around talking about getting in the water, but that’s all they do is talk and no one wants to make a move until someone else jumps in to see if the water is cold or not. The fact that a media giant like Conde Nast is going for it, or at least going forward with it, is a good sign. Ignoring what is going on with iPhones is (more) business suicide. (Please see: the internet.)

When I got the iPhone and was looking fiending for apps, I saw the McSweeny’s app, and due to my app-ignorance, couldn’t understand why I didn’t see something like this for all magazines. I mean, it just makes sense right? Then I came across the above article and reading it, it sounds both logical and exciting. Both of these furthered by the fact there is talks going on between an unsaid magazine and iTunes which I didn’t have the details or understand in full, but it’s becoming much clearer. Stay tuned for more on that…

Understanding and developing with technology instead of fighting it, is a mandatory part of a successful business model in today’s day and age. And most companies are already starting from behind.

Jesus Christ…

Ironic that I actually could have used this service when I got thrown in jail in Baltimore…

And yes, it is a real commercial and real business.

Crazy game last night…

Edit: Guess MLB.com thought it was over too…

Edit: how true…

Antichrist

No, no. Not me.

A new movie by Lars Van Trier which debuted in Philadelphia last week at the Philadelphia Film Festival.

The premise is simple; following a terrible tragedy, a young married couple (played by Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg) retreats to a cabin in the woods to cope with their grief. When a series of bizarre and surreal events starts occurring, the couple begins to crack from the stress, threatening their bond forever. In the hands of an auteur, this basic concept becomes something much more shocking. Famous for his uniquely searing arthouse melodramas, von Trier ups the ante yet again, and returning with what is, without a doubt, his most controversial work ever. Like most pieces of thought-provoking art, Antichrist is best viewed completely fresh with little to no prior knowledge of the material. From the first glimpse of its gorgeous black and white opening sequence to the uncomfortable rumble of its perfectly colored climax, the audience is treated to a plethora of brilliant twists and metaphors. For those willing to take the risk, the film offers incredibly beautiful imagery and surgically precise manipulation, but its content makes von Trier’s previous films like Dancer in the Dark look like a walk in the park. Consider yourself warned. –– Michael Lerman

I was at work one day talking to someone about movies, about films that really rocked me and I started talking about Dancer in the Dark. That move kinda affected me and it’s doubtful I will ever watch it again. Not because I didn’t like it, but because I want that experience to stay exactly what it was, if that makes sense. So after overhearing the conversation between me and Lamont, Aimee and I started talking about DITD’s director Lars Van Trier, and what he is known for.

So last week she noticed his new film playing at the film fest and sent me the link to the show which was sold out, as well as a blurb about the controversy when it when it was screened at Cannes.

Seems that this year’s Cannes Film Festival entry by past “Golden Palm” winner Lars van Trier has created the first real scandal this year. The press screening was accompanied by laughther, hisses and booing at the end – there are even reports that at least one reporter fainted during paticularily graphic scenes. Not many reviews seem to be out yet, but what is out is pretty devastating – “appaling” is a mild adjective, and there are predictions that this movie could end van Trier’s career – pretty unlikely given that the careers of past generators of Cannes Film Festival scandals seem to be doing just fine.

The italicized part is mine, but how could that not make me want to see this?