b e h i n d the i d e a

Lemonade: Detroit

rmcgeher — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:15:44 +0000

“Lemonade: Detroit” is a film about the disarming resilience of a city that can no longer rely on a single industry for its livelihood, and the entrepreneurial strengths of those who are reinventing themselves and their communities.

Instead of sensationalizing blight, “Lemonade, Detroit” will sensationalize hope, told through the intensely personal stories of those who are turning the city into what it will become.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This is an incredibly inspirational film. In the midst of adveristy a city bans together to help itself.

“You have to have more faith, than fear”

American Censorship Day

rmcgeher — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:13:32 +0000

How Much Do Music Artists Earn Online?

rmcgeher — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:56:41 +0000

I’m a huge music fan. I’ve worked in the music industry. I know how little the artist who create the music make – and how hard they work.

I was really excited to get my Spotify account. Then I read a wall post from a friend and someone I follow on Facebook – Eric “Roscoe” Ambel.

That made me wonder what was up with that – the thread of comments had a link to this infographic:

Now I am trying to figure out a way to cancel and remove my Spotify account, I don’t want to be a number they can use.

Spotify doesn’t share the love (or money) with those who make the music.

via How Much Do Music Artists Earn Online?.

Ira Glass – Theft of the Dial

rmcgeher — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:40:32 +0000

Theft of the Dial is a program on The Current they have public figure come in and take over the airwaves. Steve Earle used to do this on his radio program on Air America. Honestly it one of the best ways to get insight on some you are a fan of – what music they like or want to share. It’s like having to make a mixtape, but for a much larger audience. I can’t image the anguish one must go through to create there list – reminds me of the scene from High Fidelity, when Rob is discussing making a mixtape – it’s a very delicate art.

This week’s host is Ira Glass host / creator of This American Life . I’m a huge fan of him and his show. He has a great playlist – and the stories and dialog he supplies along with his playlist make it even better.

There’s even an extended interview with Ira.

Support Public Radio – and check out The Current’s online archive’s of Theft of the Dial.

Note Taking Porn

rmcgeher — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:04:34 +0000

I find myself always jotting down notes. I used to always doodle in the margins of my notebooks when I was in school. Often when recalling what I had written, I would remember the corresponding doodle. Back then my doodles where often made fun of whoever was speaking and usually focused on some trait or thing they would say. The first time I had to turn in my notebook for teacher review – well that was a little awkward.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Example of my notes

I still find myself taking notes – it seems when I write something down I increase my odds of remembering the information. More often then not, my notes end up with doodles. Sometimes the doodles don’t have anything to do with the words, sometimes they illustrate the idea or connect the words. Creating these notes help keep me engaged, and help me retain information – in this world information overload. I usually create these notes on the back of paper or on odd size paper. I have a little scanner at my desk and I’ll feed my notes into my computer before I toss them. I use Evernote to store all my notes. It has some pretty cool features: translates scans into searchable words (if it can) and it’s accessible from my iphone, computer or anywhere on the web. You can also easily create and share notes. Check it out – there’s a free version.

Over the last few years I keep see these great animated videos that attempt to share an idea. They come from http://www.thersa.org/. I am a huge fan of RSA animations. I also love their name the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce – I want to start a royal society for something.

One of my favorites from RSA:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Why am I suddenly inspired to write about how I take notes? This morning I stumbled on this project from Ogilvy.

Recommendation Engines: Going Beyond the Social Graph

While digging around I was able to pick up some great information this year’s SXSW conference. It was intriguing and fun to read these notes – I can only imagine what it was like to create them. I am going to work on fine tuning my visual note taking skills – less characters making fun of the speaker – more illustrating concepts.

Stay tuned for more on this.

Flipboard – my favorite app – just got better.

rmcgeher — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:54:03 +0000

I still love reading magazines. So when the folks at Flipboard released their news reader and I was able to get feeds in a magazine like style, I was jazzed. I felt a little limited with the sources, but they quickly fixed that by adding links to google reader, facebook and twitter. I can now read all those sources with one application. They have just updated making it easy to search, share and do it is quicker and cleaner. If you have an iPad this is a must get app. It makes reading Twitter feeds interesting!

Changing Education Paradigms

rmcgeher — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 03:31:08 +0000

As a parent and person that works in a creative industry this type of thinking is crucial. I think you should know the standards but be willing to flip them on their head and look for a new solutions. This is inspiring. I love the videos these folks create.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Cool iPad Case

rmcgeher — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:59:22 +0000

I love my iPad. I wish I used it more. It’s great for reading books, surfing the web, and there are so many great Apps. I can watch movies via Netflix and TV via Hulu Plus. I even use it at work sometimes to take notes and refer back to notes I have taken. Taking notes is a little cumbersome for my fat fingers – and if something gets in the way of paying attention I tend to not do it. A buddy sent me a link to interesting look case, the Clam Case. It was a case with a keyboard – makes the iPad more like an netbook then a tablet.

After glance, I thought cool – but I don’t want to make the iPad any bigger. Then I read a little more and kept going back to the site. List price was $149 – too much in my book for a case. It was on sale for $119 – closer but a little high, then they had a gift option where you could buy for $99. Well that’s just hard to say no to. So I gifted myself one of these bad boys.

I am super excited to get it. I will write up a review when I do. Love buying myself gifts!

Clamcase - iPad Keyboard Case

Words to live by

rmcgeher — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 20:08:49 +0000

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Bridging the gap

rmcgeher — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 18:41:52 +0000

My son loves to change the radio in the car to “his station.” I love music – but I don’t necessarily understand or appreciate “his station.” I do tend to sing along and make up my own words. My daughter finds this humorous, I think my son does too – but he acts more embarrassed.

During one song I started to sing put put my ham in the trunk – he laughed said Dad “she’s saying Whip my hair back and forth.” Then he told me about the song by Will Smith’s daughter Willow Smith.

Click here to view the embedded video.

When arrived at work, I saw this in my newsfeed:

I’m a Fan of both Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen – so I had to check this out

Click here to view the embedded video.

At first glance I did not realize that was not Neil Young. Suddenly I heard what he was singing – it was the same song – Whip My Hair – and that wasn’t Neil Young, but Jimmy Fallon – joined by 1970′s version of The Boss. Seeing Bruce doing a parody of of himself only makes me respect him more. Being able to hear a song my son likes, performed by Neil & Bruce – not sure it’s priceless, but it’s pretty damn funny.

This morning I tried to play both videos for my daughter – she loved Willow’s version and just that the other was sort of boring.