130 years of news for the L.A. Times, my favorite newspaper's birthday

1937, the Times Building, beautiful right, gives Batman's Gotham a run for its money.

 

The Los Angeles Times has the best newspaper website in the world. Their online presence is the fastest growing in the U.S., and for a technologist, like me, that is awesome.

I have their iPhone and iPad apps, including the LA Times Magazine app which is the best magazine app I’ve seen yet. I love their spinoff websites, like Hero Complex that talks all about super hero movies, science fiction, fantasy, and more.

Most importantly, the taste of the newspaper suits me. From the art and architecture to sports and business, I feel a kinship with the writing and focus. It’s really cool to find something like that.

Especially, when the gray lady is putting up paywalls and messing around with commenters. The New York Times is supposed to be our newspaper of record, and they do have some great journalists, but when it comes to winning over technologists they are far, far behind. I say that until they fully embrace the online world we avoid their site and make them earn that number one spot.

Anyway, back to the special paper of the day. Happy Birthday Los Angeles Times!

Keep up the good work and here’s to another 130 years.

Capturing history as it was made – The Times celebrates its birthday with a look back at some memorable photos and front pages

Continue reading “130 years of news for the L.A. Times, my favorite newspaper's birthday”

A list of Facebook social apps for the open graph (the auto-sharing ones)

I’m having a lot of fun with these new social apps. The trouble is they are hard to find unless you have a ton of friends already using them.

Not to worry, I’ve uncovered all the apps released at launch during F8. Here are all 21 of them, in order of popularity (users) as of Dec 2011:

Unknown:
  • Netflix (only available internationally)
**Those not linked are available in Facebook, just search on their name and click the “App” link

I love The Vampire Diaries – a supernatural drama available on Netflix

You gotta love The Vampire Diaries. It has good vampires and bad vampires. Teen angst and beautiful people. Plus, lots of fun supernatural twists like witches and science fiction inventions.

The core of the story is a “vegetarian” vampire who falls in love and then brings the entire vampire world into this tiny little Virginia town. This includes his brother, who is demonic and fun, and all the vampire hunters you can imagine.

While the storyline seems to copy the Twilight series it is actually much older. Based on a book written fourteen years before Stephanie Meyer cooked up her plot. In fact, you have to wonder how much she directly copied to make her stunningly successful series.

What makes this show really click is producer Kevin Williamson. A native of the South, his production company is called Outerbanks Entertainment, he infuses the story with a balance of southern charm and fast paced action. Characters are introduced and then killed off so fast that it’s shocking…and fun.

I’m 22 episodes deep and starting to get others into it, but I can’t say much more than to give it a resounding two thumbs up. Otherwise, I’ll ruin the fun plotlines.

So, check it out on Netflix Instant Streaming and let me know what you think.

Movie announcements for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival

If you’re going to Sundance it’s time to get excited. All this week and next they are announcing the movies selected for the festival. Here is a schedule of their release:

Wed, Nov 30
U.S. Documentary and Dramatic Competition Films Announced
World Cinema Documentary and Dramatic Competition Films Announced

Thu, Dec 1
Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, NEXT and New Frontier Programs Announced

Mon, Dec 5
Premieres and Documentary Premieres Programs Announced

Tue, Dec 6
Short Film Programs Announced

Keep a watch on your favorite Hollywood insiders as they start picking their favorites and getting us the real dirt on each film. I prefer the LA Times and The Hollywood Reporter.

Soon they should put online the full interactive film guide so we can start setting up our own schedules and watching the previews. Stay tuned!

Join hundreds of local artists and designers at Unique L.A. this weekend

I’m a big builder, like Bob, and I love creating things so I’m pretty excited about Unique L.A. this weekend.

The event is the “largest independent design show in the country, attendees get the rare chance to meet and shop directly from over 325 hand-selected designers and artists.”

December 3 + 4
11 – 6pm both days
The California Market Center – 110 East Ninth Street, LA, CA 90079
$10 at the door or in advance online (Kids 12 and under are free)

The growing swell of builder events, like the Maker Faire, are hotbeds of creativity and awesome people. This one looks to be a bit heavy on female-focused crafts (purses, jewelry) but that means the mens clothes will be rad. Here is the show preview and the twitter account.

Continue reading “Join hundreds of local artists and designers at Unique L.A. this weekend”

NY Times updates it’s commenting system but still hates commenters

It’s amazing how long folks can ignore reality. On Wednesday, Nov 30, The New York Times announced a new version of their commenting system that still sucks.

They say it is about “improving the community experience” but it is really about assuaging their own egos. Let’s be honest here and point out that thousands of websites have no problems and several have developed systems that often make them better than the content.

Yet, here is the preeminent newspaper in the country and they are just now putting their comments on the same page as the article, and they are introducing threaded comments. LOL. The New York Times website, nytimes.com, was created 17 years ago in 1994, and they are just now making these changes?

Of course, the blogosphere is not even upset about this, rather it is the new “trusted commenter” function:

  • Trusted Commenters enjoy the privilege of commenting on articles and blog posts without moderation.
  • You must receive an invitation to become a Trusted Commenter. To be invited, you must have a lengthy history of comments that are thoughtful, discuss the issues politely and address the topics covered in the article or blog post.

Privilege…are they for real?

The truth here is that they are the problem, not us, the commenters. They don’t want to deal with their community or they think they are above it. Ivory tower and all that.

Maybe in the next 17 years of their web presence will they get over their revulsion of us lowly commenters.

I’m terribly vexed.

NY Times updates it's commenting system but still hates commenters

It’s amazing how long folks can ignore reality. On Wednesday, Nov 30, The New York Times announced a new version of their commenting system that still sucks.

They say it is about “improving the community experience” but it is really about assuaging their own egos. Let’s be honest here and point out that thousands of websites have no problems and several have developed systems that often make them better than the content.

Yet, here is the preeminent newspaper in the country and they are just now putting their comments on the same page as the article, and they are introducing threaded comments. LOL. The New York Times website, nytimes.com, was created 17 years ago in 1994, and they are just now making these changes?

Of course, the blogosphere is not even upset about this, rather it is the new “trusted commenter” function:

  • Trusted Commenters enjoy the privilege of commenting on articles and blog posts without moderation.
  • You must receive an invitation to become a Trusted Commenter. To be invited, you must have a lengthy history of comments that are thoughtful, discuss the issues politely and address the topics covered in the article or blog post.

Privilege…are they for real?

The truth here is that they are the problem, not us, the commenters. They don’t want to deal with their community or they think they are above it. Ivory tower and all that.

Maybe in the next 17 years of their web presence will they get over their revulsion of us lowly commenters.

I’m terribly vexed.

The top silvercat – Christine Lagarde in dazzling gray hair with exquisite style.. at age 55

I’m on a bit of a quest to bring back silver hair among women and launching myself right into the middle of the great gray war. I’m all for it and I think it’s ridiculous that men get all this respect while women have to hide.

I even think it’s hot and attractive for a lady to show off her gray mane. Case in point is the top silvercat of them all, Christine Lagarde.

I’m a fanboy, no joke. She is in my top 5, you know, women I would most like to *meet*.

Maybe it’s my way of rebelling against a society that puts such great importance on female youth. It’s as if nothing matters after a girl turns 30, she’s done. I really hate that.

Especially, because so few of us know anything at that age. I love meeting women who are solid and sophisticated at any age. If she happens to be older, even better.

There is simply something attractive in confidence and experience that a nubile beauty can’t match.

From her profile in Vogue

“When she does arrive at her office, the force of her presence is palpable. When we call somebody a star, we’re sometimes hinting that along with the glamour, there may be an element of fragility or caprice; Marilyn Monroe was a star.

“It would be better to say of Christine Lagarde that she is a planet with a powerful field of gravity, orbiting through the skies of global high finance, the first woman to be in charge of the world’s economy.

“Lagarde looks great. She’s wearing a pale oatmeal-hued suit, a white blouse, dangly earrings, and carries a large Kelly bag from Hermès. The ensemble complements her silver hair and smiling, younger-than-her-55-years face.

Altogether, she conforms to a profile common to women who project a steady hand and a cool head and are therefore acceptable to men as leaders of male-dominated organizations.”

…and she can project a steady hand and cool head on me anytime.

More photos of my woman:

Continue reading “The top silvercat – Christine Lagarde in dazzling gray hair with exquisite style.. at age 55”