Chris' Linkjockey blog links to unique, fantastic sites on the web that you haven't seen before.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

The economics (and the future) of web video

All Your Video Is Belongs to Us - Blog Maverick

Mark Cuban is the owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, as well as HDnet (a digital media company) and a popular blog author.
Today's link is an excellent post on the current state of the business of web video, and where it will go.  Mark argues that most independent video producers do not understand that Google/ Youtube currently subsidize the distribution of online videos.  Google is still working on developing a better business model to monetize video, and Mark Cuban argues that monetization will come at the expense of producers, either with pay-per-post or by requiring producers to license their videos to Google.

The best quote:  "At some stage in your life, asking your friends to work for free is no longer 'hanging out', its imposing or freeloading. Its at that point you are going to realize that you are working really hard and scared shitless about whether you will be able to make a living doing what you love. Then it will hit you that you are subsidizing the cost of video advertising inventory for Google or MySpace or whoever, while not being able to make ends meet."

That wouldn't be very encouraging if I was trying to start a career in video production.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto is the Walt Disney of video games - NYT

Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo Expands His Empire – NYTimes.com

Today’s link is a New York Times profile of the godfather of video games, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto.  Miyamoto is responsible for creating

some of Nintendo’s biggest franchises including Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Mario Galaxy, The Legend of Zelda, and now Wii Fit, and these series birthed Nintendo’s most memorable characters including Donkey Kong, Mario and Zelda.  Miyamoto is also the brains behind the innovative Nintendo Wii.

 

 

 

 

Monday, May 26, 2008

60 Free Charlie Chaplin movies

Charlie Chaplin Online
Over 60 classic films from Charlie Chaplin films that stream from the Charlie Chaplin Online blog.
The copyright on these entertaining works of art have expired, so they're now in the public domain.

Here's more links from Metafilter:
A Dog's Life (1918, 35 minutes)
The Kid (1921, 67 minutes)
A Woman of Paris (1923, 84 minutes)
The Gold Rush (1925, 71 minutes)
The Great Dictator (1940, 125 minutes)
Monsieur Verdoux (1947, 133 minutes)
City Lights (1931, 87 minutes)
His final directorial effort was A Countess From Hong Kong

Saturday, May 24, 2008

REAPER | Inexpensive Multi-track audio production for Windows

Pro audio production software for the masses.

http://www.reaper.fm/
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Maximize your produce & reduce waste

less waste, more taste: maximize your produce : AzSustainably.com

 

Eat better, more economical and in a way that’s better for the environment by reducing food waste and taking these four steps to healthier and more sustainable diets:

  1. Buy locally grown produce
  2. Start a garden
  3. Buy less more often
  4. Store your produce properly and strategically (with an item-by-item guide to storing fresh fruits and vegetables)

 

Steve Nash and endorsements

What Rhymes With Nash? - Forbes

Forbes takes a look at the choices and issues that have affected the marketability of the NBA’s Steve Nash.  Nash is outspoken politically, and it has affected which companies he has chosen to associate with as a pitchman, including companies such as Nike and BC Hydro.  There is some thought that American sports fans may be coming around to Nash’s way of thinking about Iraq and the environment, and that this could boost the appetite for his endorsements.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Ali Hewson (aka Mrs. Bono)

Ali Hewson: ethics girl (London Telegraph)

A profile in London's Telegraph on Bono's (from U2) better half.  It's a rare interview with a private woman who's an entrepreneur, a mother and a social activist.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Video - NYT's Mark Bittman on What's wrong with the food we eat




TED has all kinds of video presentations that they describe as "Inspired talks by the world's greatest thinkers and doers". Linkjockey has linked to food journalist Mark Bittman's writing before from the New York Times, but this is the first video.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

A local's guide to New York City

The NonGuidebook Version of What to Do (and Not Do) in NYC I've never been to New York, but this is what I would read before leaving the hotel on my first day there. Bonus points for mentioning that public bathrooms are getting difficult to find in other cities as well.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

"Electricity" Misconceptions Spread By Textbooks

http://www.eskimo.com/~billb/miscon/elect.html

I've got a lot to learn when it comes to electricity, but this figures to help. It's an faq of electricity myths.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Baseball Dominican Style

Baseball, Dominican-style.  - By Bryan Curtis - Slate Magazine

This is the story of baseball in one of its biggest hotspots, the Dominican Republic.  Starting with a Major League squad's recruiting academy, Bryan Curtis looks at the six team Dominican pro leagues and talks to the first Dominican player in MLB, Hall of Famer Juan Marichal.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

First Pecha Kucha in Vancouver

Pecha Kucha Night : Vancouver

At the Vancouver Museum1100 Chestnut Street in Vancouver (in Vanier Park)

Wednesday, 7 May 2008

DOORS 19:00   START 20:20   DOOR $11

 

Pecha Kucha is an event for young designers to meet, network, and show their work in public.  The key to a Pecha Kucha Night is its system where each presenter shows 20 images, each shown for 20 seconds each – giving 6 minutes 40 seconds of fame before the next presenter is up.

 

See also the Wired article:  Pecha Kucha: Get to the PowerPoint in 20 Slides Then Sit the Hell Down

 

Monday, May 5, 2008

nin: the slip download link

Your friend Nine Inch Nails has invited you to download nine inch nails new album "the slip". To download your file, click on the link below and follow the instructions on the download page carefully. If the link below is not clickable, copy it and paste it into your web browser's address bar.

http://dl.nin.com/theslip/confirmation?token=262o5b2W

When you click the link, you will be prompted for a token.

Your download token is: 262o5b2W

Enjoy,

The Staff
www.nin.com

Friday, May 2, 2008

Concert Presale Passwords

Free Presale Passwords

My wife, Mrs. Wonderful, found out that Neil Diamond was coming to Vancouver.  Presale tickets went on sale this morning, and we didn't have a pre-sale code.

I did some Googling, and found out that there's a thriving market on eBay (and other places) where people charge for passwords and presale codes.  There's also free presale passwords on a page appropriately named Free Presale Passwords.  To make a long story short, they had the Neil Diamond presale code for Ticketmaster, and Mrs. Wonderful and her girlfriends are going to the show, with good but inexpensive seats.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Adam Platt Travels to Tokyo to Eat Fugu, the World's Most Dangerous Meal -- New York Magazine

http://nymag.com/restaurants/features/46462/

When I was living in Japan, I had the opportunity to try fugu- the poisonous blowfish sushi. The taste was nothing special, but it did leave my tongue tingling a little.
Still, every year a few people die when it is prepared incorrectly.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry