The Illuminati

Photographer Even Baden has created an intriguing portfolio of young adults and their electronic devices.

They have become part of who we are and how we identify ourselves. These devices ordain us with a wealth of knowledge and communication that would have been unbelievable a generation ago. More and more, we are bathed in a silent, soft, and heavenly blue glow. It is as if we carry divinity in our pockets and purses.

Baden's thesis describes the dissonance created by the connection to others and the disconnection between our immediate surroundings. Of course, disconnection has come up with virtual reality (VR), and I bet it come up when popular recreational reading became commonplace. The question remains whether we should embrace this phenomenon as an evolutionary leap in human consciousness (ala Cyberpunk) or fear it as a neo-Luddite (I mean that in the kindest of terms). Regardless, the library needs to meet their patrons and potential patrons where they're at. For digital natives, that's online at their current social network(s) du jour.

(Note: on the other hand, beware of the danger of network fatigue--maybe offer, via the network, the library as third place)

Via: PSFK

Kahn and Selesnick

I just came across the work of Richard Selesnick and Nicholas Kahn. Their work is absolutely amazing. Part of the Apollo Prophecies dynamically mixes image and text in a truly imaginative way. While reading the fictional account (which is a little reminiscent of reading something from Bradbury's Martian Chronicles) of astronaut Charles Duke, the reader is treated to a scrolling panorama that compliments the story.

Apollo Prophecies is partially set on the moon which, incidentally while reading Boing Boing yesterday, I was introduced to Dick's Time Out of Joint.

Kahn and Selesnick are currently on exhibition in New York. For more information, check out the links below.

Cool Hunting

Kahn and Selesnick

Updated Resume

At long last, my updated resume is posted. Now to work on my site. My first foray into Flash can be seen here - http://www.bryan.theloars.com/index2.htm

It's not really where I want to go, but it's a start.

Charles Leadbeater

Leadbeater on Libraries - The Open Library PPT

Nasa's Mars Phoenix Mission on Twitter

Very, very cool.

http://twitter.com/marsphoenix

Jan Vormann

Flat Grey - Fung Sway Gallery, Kopenhagen, Dk

A continuous bubble machine and other really interesting art.

http://www.janvormann.com/

Seen on: Hip.Young.Thing and Brandflakes

Monetizing National Security?

It's clear.
Now, all we need is to have one of these puppies for libraries. (not)

Life Before Death: Portraits of the Dying

A powerful and interesting look a living and dying.

"This exhibition features people whose lives are coming to an end.
It explores the experiences, hopes and fears of the terminally ill. All
of them agreed to be photographed shortly before and immediately
after death."

http://www.lensculture.com/schels.html

Seen on: Brandflakes

Facebook in Real Life

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, it's making the rounds in the blogosphere right now. I couldn't resist. Especially now that I've just asked a lot of librarians to be friends.

FaceBook In Reality - from www.idiotsofants.com

McKinsey Quarterly Steps into the 21st Century

I was very happy to receive an automated e-mail from McKinsey indicating that they've introduced RSS feeds and social bookmarking. Bravo!

Now, if ARTnews would just get on board.