Indianapolis Museum of Art Walking the Walk on Transparency

Indianapolis Museum of Art Director Maxwell Anderson’s recent lecture, Through the Looking Glass: Museums and Internet-Based Transparency is an important statement of the value of openness. Not simply a good talk, the IMA is actively walking the walk.

Kittens and David Mashups

Kittens, Inspired by Kittens: Best Internet Video Evar? OK, it’s cute, and funny, and already has inspired a remix. Best Mashup Evar? Probably!

Take Online Classes From Yale, For Free

Open Yale Courses provides lectures and other materials from selected Yale College courses to the public free of charge via the internet. The courses span the full range of liberal arts disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, and physical and biological sciences.

Why is Yale sharing some of its undergraduate courses free worldwide?

While it has long upheld the principle that education is best built upon direct interactions among teachers, students, and staff, Yale also believes that leading universities can make an important contribution to expanding access to educational resources through the use of internet technology. The goals of the project also align with the University's aim to increase its presence and strengthen its relationships internationally.

What is included in these online courses?

Each course includes a full set of class lectures produced in high-quality video accompanied by such other course materials as syllabi, suggested readings, and problem sets. The lectures are available as downloadable videos, and an audio-only version is also offered. In addition, searchable transcripts of each lecture are provided.

How do I enroll?

No enrollment or registration is required. Anyone with access to the internet can enter the web site and view the lectures and other materials.

Monitor shifts from print to Web-based strategy

In 2009, the Monitor will become the first nationally circulated newspaper to replace its daily print edition with its website; the 100 year-old news organization will also offer subscribers weekly print and daily e-mail editions.

Web 2.0 and Social Media, Crashing Politics and the Political Conventions

If you know a little something about online social network sites -- Facebook, MySpace, Fark, Digg, Twitter*, Flickr, etc. -- you'll want to jump to this article from the LATimes about how social media have invaded the political campaigns and the DNC and RNC.

The folks over at The Huffington Post have put together a Twitter account updating live from the Democratic National Convention. You can visit their site or follow them on Twitter. It's funny and revealing, such as:

"The Rolling Stone party sucked worse than a vacuum cleaner. I swear I'm not just saying that because police escorted me out of it! -AlGi "

and:

"according to kathy lash, clooney to make appearance at GQ party -alisavino"

Also be sure to follow the #rnc08 and #dnc08 hashtag for everyone's tweets.

There's been a lot of debate over politicians using social media lately. How they should do it, rules for how they should do it, great uses of it, abuses of it, and complete misunderstandings of it.

I wish politicians would try to use social media more, even if they fail, they've tried. If they do use it, I hope they find it a fun, habit forming, interactive and useful tool to keep their fingers directly on the pulse of their bosses.

*For those unfamiliar, Twitter is a free micro-blogging and social networking site that enables users to upload “tweets,” or small messages under 140 characters about a variety of topics. Here's a great Twtter tools resource list.

This Just In ...

Almost forgot.

I'm in the works to create an Indiana Centered History Podcast.

It's going to be about the Northwest Territory, Indiana Territory and Indiana as a State.

The podcast will be 15 min. to 30 min. long. I'll probably be able (unless things change) to do one every other week.

I'm currently doing podcasting research and tutorials with two wonderful full time podcasters I met on Twitter. I'm also outlining my limits. :) Don't expect well polished at first (or ever) [did I say that out loud?].

Subjects that I'm nearly 90% sure will make the cut include: Wm. Henry Harrison, Benjamin Harrison, Little Turtle, Gen. James Wilkinson, Jonny Alppleseed, Irvington, New Harmony and Ma Kettle. I'm going to include a full page of primary and secondary resources and a few paragraphs of information, Internet links and pictures. So, as you can see, it'll be pretty time intensive. Maybe one every-other week is being optimistic?

I don't know what to call it, if you guys have any ideas, let me know. I don't have any prizes for you other than that sense of extreme hubris you'll get seeing YOUR choice on the masthead every time you log on! :)

Ideas? E-mail me through here (see profile) through MySpace or indyguy6540 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Peace One Day

2006 | 80 min

PEACE ONE DAY is the story of one man’s attempts to persuade the global community via the United Nations to officially sanction a global ceasefire day; a day of non-violence; a day of Peace.  This documentary charts the remarkable 5-year journey of the filmmaker as he meets heads of state, Nobel Peace Laureates, aid agencies, freedom fighters, media moguls, the innocent victims of war and, eventually, everyone who was anyone at the UN. An individual genuinely can make a difference: The UN International Day of Peace is now fixed in the calendar on 21st September annually. The real challenge has now begun - to get the world to unite on a day fast approaching.

Click watch below and you'll go to my new favorite site. SnagFilms is sota the documentary version of Hulu.com. It hosts hundreds of documentaries such as Super Size Me, Baghdad Bound: Devil Dog Diaries and Asteroids: Deadly Impact. Go to this wonderful new time-suck and watch this and many other documentaries.

A Message to Twitter

RE: Twitter Tweeps. I did high school, lets see ... 24 years ago. I taught Elementary age kids for several years and at work, I supervise people who are mostly in their Twenties. I don't need to re-live cliques on Twitter.

Yes, they exist. No, I'm not jealous and no, I'm not talking about the 'celebrity' Twiterati. Just the (mostly) Genxers who seem to talk a big game about how well they understand new media. "It's in our DNA," said a young intern of mine. Ok, great. I mean that. But so is the need to associate with like people. That's in your DNA as well. I love that there are things you can teach me, show me and ideas that can change or even challenge my preconceptions. I just hope you realize that I and others in our 30's, 40's and up can do the same for you.

Aren't we on here to learn and improve ourselves? Broaden our horizons and our social-circles? I love Twitter, I follow less than 200 and have about 100 followers. I just try to be myself and sometimes engage in conversation (which is the hardest part for me, since I'm fairly shy.) I'm not trying to be popular or a Twitter celebrity. I have my own real-life accomplishments that I'm very proud of, thank you very much. I'm the first to admit, I don't do small talk well, but I do like sharing bits of my life, bizarre thoughts and inane observations. I've met some really wonderful, smart and engaging people on Twitter and have discovered some great sites, blogs, videos, memes and books.

It's not my age, I've always hated cliques. No, I wasn't unpopular in High school and now seeking revenge. I went to a very small rural school. There were 75 people in my class. Class-mates that didn't vary much from first grade. I was liked by the stoners, the FFA, the nerds, the geeks, the athletes and the teachers. I fought cliques from the inside then and I'll do it now. They just don't make sense to me. Why exclude the opinion of someone? For what reason exclude them?

What's the point of using a social network that potentially reaches across and bursts apart our pre-conceived boundaries of age, race, class, economy and geography only to use it to talk to people who look, think and believe just like you and make fun of, exclude, or talk about people who don't. If so, IMHO yer doin' it wrong.

I leave you, dear reader, with a challenge. Go make a new contact with someone you wouldn't normally. If your an atheist, say hi to that openly Christian or Muslim or Jew that you follow. A bit homophobic? Find something in common with that sarcastically funny lesbian or the English tranny you follow. Look at the avatars of those you follow? Are they all white? Fix that. Is there someone you follow who doesn't have a lot of money? Say hi and find something in common. I doubt that they'll hit you up for money. Invite those older, younger, shorter, taller or less funny to the next Tweet-up. Who knows, maybe you'll learn something.

Quote Of The Month

"It's easy to be envious of youth, but if you've got a certain degree of wisdom and your body hasn't fallen apart yet, you may be at the best time of your life."

- Tom McBride, an English professor at Beloit who helps compile annual Beloit College Mindset List.

I'm 99% Male

...and 1% female, which is a bit more definitive than I'd expected. I went here, clicked on the button, a script ran, which analyzes (but claims it doesn't save) the history of sites I've visited and worked out whether I was male or female. Clearly, when I've got a browser in front of me, I'm not in touch with my feminine side. (Despite my trips to lolcats.)

Dr. Horrible Is Up And It's Wonderful

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

I finally saw it. Act I anyway. It’s Wonderful! I can’t wait for the next two parts. All I can say is … The World needs more super-villain Musicals … and curtains, lacy, gently wafting curtains… what!?

It's the tale of a romantic but evil mad scientist, Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris), who wants nothing more than to snag the attention of a cute girl named Penny (Felicia Day) who goes to his laundromat. Sure, he has a few other goals: He wants to join Bad Horse, leader of the Evil League of Evil; and he's hoping to take over the world, if only oafish super-hero, Captain Hammer would let him. The songs, are witty, and well placed. I love that Whedon turned Dr. Horrible's blog description of his freeze ray into a love song. Inspired!

Neil Patrick Harris. a veteran of Broadway musicals, needs to be nominated for an Emmy or a Grammy or Webby or something. The beauteous and elfin Felicia Day’s voice is pleasant and melodious. Nathan Filian (Desperate Housewives & Firefly) plays the cloddish, self-absorbed, pretty-boy super-hero perfectly. (Could I have had more hyphens in that last sentence?)

The site is up and Act I is great, but the site was down most of the day. Yup. It got slash/dotted. Horrible created quite the stir on the Internets. So many people tried to watch the first episode that it crashed their server. Not only their server, but Felicia Day’s site, whedonesque, etc…. It’s been added to iTunes. The cost is $1.99 per episode, $3.99 for all three. The iTunes link is here. Here’s a great story from the LA Times about Dr. Horrible’s site crashing success!

Jamie Weinman's blog on Macleans.CA said this about trying to get on the site:

This is the internet equivalent of the old urban legend that after a much-viewed series finale ... everybody in the world goes to flush the toilet at the same time. Think of the internet as a toilet and bandwidth as toilet water. I could try to come up with an analogy that isn’t toilet-related, but why?

As of 11:15 PM (E) the guys at Dr. Horrible tweeted this. Here's the full story and more links on the other site.

"You're Gonna Die" from Act II

Technorati Tags: joss,joss whedon,nathan fillion,felicia day,neil patrick harris,doctor horrilble’s sing along blog,slash/dot

The Guild's Felicia Day Talks New Media With EpicFu

EpicFu talks to Felicia Day; Show Runner, Actor, Writer and Producer of the Online sensation The Guild. She gives some great advice about how to get started online broadcasting. She talks a bit about her work on HOUSE and how she landed in Joss Wheadon's Dr. Horrible.

Note: I'd normally post this to my other blog, but it won't accept java, so decided to post this here.

Hulu Keeps Getting Awsomer!

Hulu.com just keeps getting awsomer! (I KNOW it's not a word, just let me have this one, M'kay?)

I just found out that they've added Hill Street Blues!! I loved that show! For you young'uns, HSB was:

Before "NYPD Blue" and "The Shield" came "Hill Street Blues," the series that revolutionized the TV cop show by giving television viewers a realistic glimpse into the daily lives of the officers and detectives at an urban police station. Earning 98 Emmy nominations over its seven-year run, "Hill Street Blues" was one of the most innovative and critically acclaimed shows of the 1980s.

Some of my favorite shows I've found there:

Alf, A-Team, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Babylon 5, Barney Miller, Burn Notice, Chicago Hope, The Daily Show (uploaded the next day), The Dick Van Dyke Show, Emergency, Family Guy, Firefly, Heart To Heart, House, The Incredible Hulk (Bill Bixby version), Kitchen Nightmares, Kojak, Lost in Space, Lou Grant, Married With Children, McHales Navy, Mimi Vice, Monk, News Radio (Phil Hartman!!), Night Gallery, Nip/Tuck, The Office, The Outer Limits, Partridge Family, The Pretender, Remington Steele, The Riches, The Rockford Files, S.W.A.T., St. Elsewhere, TJ Hooker (OK, not a good show, but have to include the Shat!), Top Chef, The Time Tunnel (this show will blow you away!!), Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, Welcome Back Kotter, What's Happening, W.K.R.P in Cincinnati ("As God is my witness, I thought Turkeys could fly!?!)

I've only watched Burn Notice and Time Tunnel since I seemed to have missed those shows. I've watched a few episodes of others when I have time. It's just nice to know they are there. There's lot's more there than just these. Go check it out. Send me a thank you comment for Time Tunnel! :-)

**Update** About 20 mins. after I Tweeted about Hulu having HSB, Fancast.com started following me, reminding me that they can be awsome too. Yes Fancast I do like you. I really like that you have all of the original ST:TOS (now work on the re-mastered versions) and several episodes of the Twilight Zone. But I still like Hulu better. Though I do like your blog.