I have a feeling #Barrack just won the election.

I’m well overdue for a post about my newest project as Creative-Strategist/Lead-Geek on the development of Al Jazeera’s newest show The Stream. When I first got wind of the project it was explained to me as a ‘new-media show about what is trending on the internet,’ I like to think I played a large role in carrying it from there to what it is today: ‘a social network with it’s own daily TV-show.’

Before I say anything else on the subject, I gotta thank my buddy Eric Miller, who was on the pitch-team for the show, was instrumental in a number of the early decisions helped convince me to join the project, and then bowed out allowing me to take a lead technical position.

One of the best parts of this project has been the variety of tasks I’ve taken on. I helped conceive the relationship between the show and website, helped pitch the concept all over silicon-valley, I hand built an alpha version of the site, I did video production during the development phase. Currently my role is an odd mix of editing, tech-support, and R&D.

The Stream has received a lot of critical praise, and I feel it is really a groundbreaking project.

It’s a rare attempt to create a TV show that treats the internet holistically, a feat I don’t think any news networks have managed to achieve. The project is tied more closely to the promise of AJE than any other project project I’ve worked on for the network. What has always appealed to me most about Al Jazeera English is it’s potential to foster conversation, particularly between ‘The West’ and the Arab World. The Stream is based on that conversation and must therefore protect and foster it.

I’m extremely proud to be working on a project which is predicated on the notion of the global village, and helps reinforce the viability of that concept. The Stream is a responsible and productive use of social networks. There is so much on the internet, especially on social networks, that is trivial, entertaining or self-serving. I’m glad this is not.

Finally the people on the team and the people I’ve had the opportunity to meet during the course of the project have been nothing short of inspiring.

Five years ago today the entire staff of AJE (at the time AJI) Washington fit into half of the 4th floor. There weren’t enough chairs, there was no ceiling or dry wall, and we were “Launching in May.” It is cliché… but the company has come LONG LONG way. Come to think of it I have too. Thanks all!

HATES THE FCC! God forbid NBC broadcast a curse or the wrong part of the human body. But if they want to become the media production arm of the corporation doing the most to ensure that individuals have lesser rights than corps in the infrastructure of next century. Oh please go right ahead. Oh yeah and even in the short term people will probably lose their jobs over this… but the CEOs should do ok.

I’m angry! We’re all Facesheep! I had to stare at “Click Here to use the new facebook profile” for a month… Which I didn’t do! Cause I don’t want to waste my time relearning where stuff is on facebook… and then Zucker-way-too-famous goes and changes it for me anyhow. Like I ever had a freaking choice! On the other hand the grass is green here… (munch)(munch)(munch)(poke)(like)(munch)ALSO! I realized that a lot of people know who Zuckerberg is but not Sergey Brin.  Good work TIME magazine.

2011 finds me engaged in an exciting new project. It’s a little early to provide much detail publicly… but, it calls for more creativity than my usual work, it makes use of under-utilized portions of my skill-set, it includes a much better schedule (BONUS!) And the real clincher is: I feel as if I’m hunting the great White Whale of the internet age. We’re trying to create an application that disrupts traditional communication structures, puts power in the hands of the people and effects the global conversation in a meaningful way with tangible repercussions.

More to come in follow weeks…

I saw Tron Legacy last night at midnight. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found it to be one heck of a fun ride.  While I’m happy to offer a more thorough review (on request)…

The reason I’m writing is, seeing the CG version of young Jeff Bridges inspired me to return to an old project. I’m not a pro with 3d software, but I’ve always been kind of intrigued by the idea of a custom 3d avatar. A while back I had taken a stab at producing a facial texture in hopes of putting one together, but I got 15 minutes into reading about polygons and got distracted with something else

Today I redoubled my efforts. I found in the end that the path of least resistance took me through Second Life. I was pretty please by what I was able to achieve with the face after some tutorials and some trial and error. I wanted to present what I accomplished so I bashed together this quick test reel.

Anyone got ideas for a practical application? LOL

Just for the record, despite my strong feelings about transparency and openness… I am not happy about Wikileaks. Assange’s acts discourage open governance, and they can cause trouble (potentially life threatening trouble) for people who are trying to work within the system to make the world a better place.

And what for? So we can read the obvious and uninspired “burn books” of diplomats.

Save your whistle for something that needs blowing.

This recent Washington Post story is heart breaking, partly because of the personal and innovative way it was written.

It is the story of a young woman, Shana Greatman Swers, giving birth and then later dying of complications. Told entirely through editing and annotated facebook posts.

Read the whole article here.

Every Sunday in Malcom X/Meridian Hill Park there is a drum circle. We were ‘warned’ about the sound for our wedding. We were not concerned, quiet the contrary, we embraced it and they embraced us back! Check it out.
Props to our friend Joel Tucker who shot this for us on a flip cam.

Untitled from Ben Connors on Vimeo.