Battleship Island -  A former coal mining facilty owned Mitsubishi Motors that was at one time the most densely populated place on earth (13,000 people per square kilometer). Viceland, the web outlet of the Vice media conglomerate, takes us on a quick tour and offers up some really cool pictures of this “rotting metropolis.” For those of you that are into industrial lookin’ living spaces, check this out for sure.

Goofing Off Boasts Productivity – Another interesting study about how taking a break from work to check out the Internet is good for getting things done. I’d be curious to see the results of a study on those of us who “goof off” for a living and take breaks from goofing off by filing papers and organizing their inboxes.

$23/month iPhone plan – That would rule!

100 Awesome Facebook Apps – Because I know you love/hate a good/bad Facebook app as much as I do. Notable apps include Picasa (photo manipulation), Goodread (personal book tracking) and “What language should you learn” (self explanatory). There are 97 more for your enjoy/disdain ment.

Monday Music – “My Maudlin Career” by Camera Obscura. Title track off their new album.

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Filed under: Art, Current Events, Marketing

The Museums and the Web 2009 conference was here in Indianapolis last week and I came out of it with a bunch of web related scripts for my patient Monday patients. Here’s a few…

boxee.tv – This is the most incredible 10-foot HTPC interface I’ve ever seen. Windows Media Center and Front Row don’t hold a candle. If it had a PVR feature it would be perfect. And since it already lets you watch Hulu and YouTube as if they are just a normal television channel, MW2009 chats thinks there should be a channel for ArtBabble.

blurb.com – Free book making software. Best part is, you can print as few or as many as you want and the prices are super reasonable. There was a session at the conference where I got to actually check out a sample of their product and it looked just like something you would buy off the shelf at Borders. Oh, they make little flip books too that are super cute. I’m thinking limited edition ArtBabble something.

Mega Menus – In a website critique session at MW2009, I suggested that this slick new interface techniqe was about to be “hot right now.” Funny thing is, nobody had ever heard of a Mega Menu and thus my avant-garde status was confirmed. Oddly, my favorite implementation is on the State Farm Insurance website.

Twitterfall – Thanks to Twitterfall and a video projector, all the Twitter activity tagged with #MW2009 could be seen streaming by as the IMA’s Director, Max Anderson, gave the conference’s opening plenary address. A few months ago a display like this may have been distracting; however, during Max’s speech it was really interesting and helpful to see what people were thinking about as words were hitting their brains.

Monday Music – “Once We Were Strangers” by Peggy Sue. Third rainy Monday in a row.

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Filed under: Current Events, Local, Marketing, New Media

BrainRules.net – A companion website to a book with the same name (minus the .net). On this site, Dr. John Medina lays out “12 principles for surviving and thriving at work, home, and school.” The site is video heavy and each gets progressively more interesting. The “Stress” and “Vision” sections are standouts.

Umbrella Art – Given the weather today outside the museum, I was pleased to stumble upon a collection of umbrella art put together by crookedbrains.net. As much as I like umbrellas and how they make me think of Mary Poppins/Julie Andrews, this freezing rain nonsense is harshing the good Spring cycling vibe.

IndyCultureMatters.org – The IMA is one of the cultural institutions behind this organization and is urging its employees to take off work to attend the rally that is happening April 20 on Monument Circle.  Show your support for Indy culture and attend the rally. There is also a Facebook group.

Twitter for Plants and ArtBabble.org – Just came accross two cool examples of Twitter integration. The first was Botanicalls.com and how they are using the micro-blogging service to get status updates from plants. The second was the new ArtBabble.org page that now includes a feed of everyone on the Twitter-sphere tweeting about ArtBabble. I can’t believe I just used the word “Twitter-sphere.”

Monday Music – “The Ark” by Dr. Dog. 38 more days and we’ll have something…

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Filed under: Current Events, Marketing, New Media

Yahoo BOSS and  SearchMonkey – I’m super fascinated by this whole “semantic web” thing. With these two technologies now being able to be tied together, word on the web is that Yahoo is looking for a breakthrough. Very interesting.

WebDesignerDepot.com – A beautiful blog, at least in my mind, about designing for the web. The Feb 13 article, “10 Writing Tips for Web Designers” was particullary interesting. Check out “Tip 2″ and prepare for your mouth to mouth the word “wow.”

Skateistan - BOOOOOOOM! is relentless with the postings about design. It also just recently turned me on to Afghanistan’s first skateboarding school. I know that skateboarding has saved at least one local life. However, knowing now that there is a school somewhere converting Afghani youth to the cult of sidewalk surfing has got me totally stoked.

Bomomo.com – By way of Gary, comes this little something that lets you be creative/waste time. Once you’re done creating, Bomomo has a “save” feature that lets you use your creation wherever you like. A person could probably make a lot of hot web 2.5 graphics with this thing.

European Design Facebook Contest – The week two winner has been selected. Up is the new picture!

Filed under: Current Events, Design, Horticulture, Local, New Media, Technology