Loic Le Meur dropped into Amsterdam last night and we cought up on some of the projects we are doing together. I started talking to him about the Virtual Immortality project I'm helping with.
Last Month I did some moderation for an event at the International Rotterdam Film Festival here in Holland. There is a write-up in independent magazine about it. Have a look!
Blogging Rotterdam, Part Five: Understanding Europe's Zeal for Media Literacy
The Independent's
Randi Cecchine, a filmmaker and educator from New York City, is impressed to learn that governments in Europe are eager to come up with policies to promote media literacy among their citizens, particularly young people. But as a European friend suggests, the role of the government in establishing guidelines concerning media literacy and education can be complicated—especially if media makers are cut out of the policy-making loop.
Via: Randi Cecchine on www.independent-magazine.org
Here is my quoted excerpt (for family to be proud) the rest you should really read if you are interested in this stuff.
Gabriel McIntyre (I'll call him Gabemac) was the charming conference moderator. I found it interesting that they chose an American to lead the discussion. Gabriel is originally from Atlanta, but has lived in the Netherlands for many years, working as an educator and with emerging technology and advertising.He helped me understand the European media literacy context a little more clearly, reminding me that most media is funded by the government, and that historically media has often been used for propaganda for pretty bad purposes. The notion is that if the government has such a large role in creating the media, it also has a responsibility to enhance the cultural undersanding of media.
I ask Gabe what he thinks comes out of events like this.
“Policymakers make policy. It's up to artists to take the policy and make it right. That’s always how it is, in any democratic society. And if they didn’t make right policies, the artists wouldn’t take it up. Or they would say, you screwed up there—this is better.
It's good to be back and see everyone. This is me and my uncle Jack. We used to go climbing together when I was a kid. We don't do that nowadays. Maybe someday soon though.
I'm so happy to announce I have just launched a new show from XOLO.TV called CRBZ.TV. Create YouR BiZ.TV. Basically we go around filming all new web startups, but we go to the homes of those who founded it. It's gonna be very cool and I'm really excited. RSS feeds to subscribe will be coming after episode 2. Fo now, just goto CRBZ.TV and check it out. The first episode is with Felix Paterson of Plazes. Upcoming episode is with SellaBand.
It's My Birthday!!! YEAH!!!
It's that time of year to play this awesome song from my firend Steve! Furthermore for my Birthday WE ARE LAUNCHING THE XOLO ALPHA!!! How cool is that. So here's the deal. Today we will be sending out the first 10 invites, checking the system and then follow with some more invites. It may take a week to get through our list, but we are starting. What a great birthday present that is. If you haven't sigend up to be a tester you can still do that at www.xolo.tv still, but you have to be fast.
For those who are wondering what I'm doing for my birthday, I will be at the Holland New festival every evening from now until friday. Friday there is a cool party, so come by and have a drink with me.
It's a great day so far!!!!
fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too.
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh, and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh, and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
Thanks In-ah!
Last Friday we played some Poker at GabeB's. Mindcaster, bicycleMark and Richard Bluestein showed up as well. Richard grabbed the tape recorder and just put it on the table to a show. You can hear it here. I won a whole 10 euro that night! YEAH!!! It was actually just great to see Richard and the Mark(c)s all together.
I made the DLD book this year. How cool is that! Thanks to Guido for making this picture.
For those who are interested, I will be speaking on the panel "Transforming Media" being hosted by Divx at the Picnic Festival in Amsterdam. The panel is in the Engine room on Wed. 26 and is from 10:00 to 13:00. If you are there, give me a shout out!
Furthermore there are lots of interesting things to be seen at picnic, for free. If you have the time next week, check out the program. The conference track is 900+ euro (I know it's pricey) but you don't need that for all events.
This is a short video of an acrobatics act that wrapped up the Theater Festival in Amsterdam. over 30 theaters were participating. There were more plays than you can throw a stick at. It's at the scale of the Edinburgh's festival, but that's where the organizers are headed. Amazing that they got no funding from I Amsterdam. This is the kind of festival that needs more attention from the city and from sponsors. For more information check the TF1 website.
Theater Festival Amsterdam