I wouldn’t recommend missing sxsw. If you didn’t go you missed out (sorry) but even if you did go it was impossible to catch everything. I usually had 3 or more must-go-to talks circled in every time slot. Luckily, for the things I missed there are podcasts.

Bruce Sterling’s SXSW Rant
I went to a smaller more intimate panel discussion during Bruce Sterling’s Rant — but to be honest I think I like listening to the podcast more than sitting in a big room. It’s a great rant, check it out:
2007 SXSW Podcasts

I was just catching up on why web typography sucks (and how to make it not so sucky) complete with slides.
webtypography.net/sxsw2007

Every woman I know has sent me a link to this awesome little web page where you can drag a heart into a little house and every time you do, a box of tampons is donated to a womens’ shelter. awesome. I set it to be my default home page so everytime I open my browser I take a second to drag the heart in to the house.. the only thing is that I never take the time to select a state, so there will be a lot of tampons going to Alaska. Tampontification! Chlorine-Free Feminine Care from Seventh Generation

My friend Elyse and I sat down in front of her computer for a few hours yesterday and put together a quick website Elyse Fairweather.

Slide.com is a great tool … i just wish the look and feel were more customizable.

Watch this video: Video: Mt John, New Zealand Helmetcam Descent

Lappy 486

…and the ultimate how to for designers

The latest and greatest version of Painter is released, check out the website: Painter X Studio. You can download the trial version here:
Corel’s website

once you are an omni graffle lover you can spend hours playing with all the awesome stencils on Graffletopia — wow.

If you don’t use OmniGraffle to plan stuff yet, you should check it out and when you do check out all these cool stencils Some of them are incredibly useful, like this one: OmniGraffle Wireframe Palette | urlgreyhot

I’m pretty enthusiastic about this simple little piece of dated looking software that I’m trying out. It reminds you to stretch by showing you Poser animations (which look like they haven’t been updated since Poser 4). I’ve seen other stretch reminders and they are really easy to ignore, but something about seeing the little person doing them is motivating.
I highly recommend Stretch Break Pro for anybody that spends time sitting in front of a computer, especially if you have a tendency to be all-consumed by whatever your working on or whatever you are being distracted by (like this color toy)

Fashion and Home - pantone fashion color report spring 2007

My friend Aaron sent me this link to kuler, a collection of color themes.

If you bake you should definitely try making these Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

I thought I’d share a little summary of my recent trip to Central Europe.

We brought folding bikes with us and spent some time on the wonder bike path that follows the Danube River through Austria and all the way into Hungary — the Donau Radweg. I was so impressed with the services and respect given to cyclists along the way. We biked from Linz, Austria to Bratislava, Slovakia … we also did a little cycling around Budapest.

When we got to the first little for-cyclists cafe/bar/hotel I thought it was so novel that I had to get a photo, but then I realized that they were everywhere along the route. There was even a beer developed specifically for cyclists — Radler — with a low alcahol content and lemon, so you can enjoy your beer and stay hydrated.

This map is in progress.. but it shows the first leg of the trip:
CommunityWalk Map - Vacationing with Bicycles in Europe!

I’ve been getting yelled at by (explative omitted) “automobile drivers” when I ride my bike on Golden Gate Blvd. …I was commiserating about this to my friend Kathy Roberts and she informed me of “the way” to ride on Golden Gate.

The way to do it is to wait at the top of the hill (at Divis and GG), once the light turns green let all the cars go first (I can handle that) then follow them down at full speed — riding in the middle lane the whole way. Riding in the middle lane is the key, because people are always stopped or turning from either the left or the right lanes. I tried it today and, what a relief, I didn’t have to change lanes, I didn’t get yelled at and I didn’t have to slow down.

Thanks Kathy!

As if a giant child left their plush toy behind after having a giant’s picinic. Read the article: Ananova - Artists erect giant pink bunny on mountain sent to me by my friend Uli. Just to get your bearings here is a map of Colletto Fava.

Wow - Finally.
It’s not really as good as BART running all night, which I think should happen on Friday & Saturday at least, …..but!

You don’t have to get stuck in the city, or leave the party at 11:30pm to get back to the eastBay anymore. (or, Now I can go to the eastBay and stay late!)

Transit.511.org - Transit Provider Info

I met Matt at the adaptivePath party. He writes the software that powers this blog! … I realize that I need to upgrade to version 2 of wordpress, I wonder if upgrading will be as easy as the installation was? I have a photo from the party that I will definitely send to this blog via flickr (just as soon as I upload it).

I’m also inspired to refine the backgrounds and colors of this blog design .. and more-over my visualarena website redesign plan incorporates a blog. My plan is to change visualarena.com to visual-blog about design and technology, (everythingVenus will still exist and my place to blog randomly about anything and everything), then arenareed.com will be my portfolio, etc.

Thanks Matt! blogging is so much easier than it used to be, and i can’t wait to see how it’s gotten better.

A Documentary by Patty Kim & Chris Sheridan

“Abduction” beautifully tells the story of a Japanese family’s resolve to not give up on their fight and quest to get their daughter back from the North Korean government. The story of Megumi Yakota and the ongoing movement to get these captives back by their families is inspirational to watch. It made me cry but it also made me realize how important it is for people to know about stories like this. It’s clear to me that the North Korean government still has people like Megumi and they are exploiting them for their cultural expertise (basically expoiting them for their humanity), and as a world community there must be something that we can do to finally bring them home.

I was lucky enough to get to attend an “executive” Q & A session and after party hosted by John Wood (founder of Room to Read). One of the questions that John asked of the filmmakers in the room which also included the makers of Ghengis Blues was, “What is your must-see list of documentaries?”

The Filmmakers’ List of Must-See Documentaries:

… and of course if you are going to see the documentaries on the “must-see” list of these documentarians, you must see their documentaries as well:

- (also look for new documentaries by both Roko and Adrien that are coming out soon)

I was talking to a friend about the movie and asked him “When was the last time you cried at a documentary?” and he said

I’m adding this to my wists! SpokePOV: LED Bike Wheel Images

DSC00686

Originally uploaded by pb.

… no it’s not my hand, but looks just like it.