Laugh || Think || See || v. 4

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Goats sounding like humans. I thank the Interent for educating the masses of this - apparently - innate ability for Goats to sound like humans. If you haven’t seen the original video, check it out here. The best thing to come out of this however is a Taylor Swift/Nicholas Cage inspired parody. Literally, I LOL’d so hard when I saw this. 

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In Medical First, a Baby With H.I.V. Is Deemed Cured

Doctors announced on Sunday that a baby had been cured of an H.I.V. infection for the first time, a startling development that could change how infected newborns are treated and sharply reduce the number of children living with the virus that causes AIDS.

How amazing is this? Years of research and study lead to victories of this nature. I’ve been reading a few counter arguments: do we know that the baby was actually infected to begin with, what if they were just resistant to the virus in the first place? All that aside, I’m excited to see more stories like this and see how this will influence countries like South Africa and Nigeria. 

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I went to California for work last week and enjoyed every ounce of sunshine. Our first parking spot was under 3 palm trees. 

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Laugh || Think || See || v. 3

Laugh.

Just when you thought the best Christmas song couldn’t get better…it did. 

Think.

There is now more deserted office space in Lower Manhattan because of Hurricane Sandy than there are offices in many cities. Mobile boilers line the streets. Portable generators are stacked to the curbs. Ventilation tubes coil around scaffolds, snake above sidewalks, quiver and pulse. It is as if bodies had been turned inside out, exposing the hearts, lungs and organs that are normally internal. Of course, these devices keep the buildings running in some limited ways. Still, 15 million to 18 million square feet of space is unusable, about as much as exists in any condition whatsoever in cities like Miami, Phoenix and San Diego.

NYT - Empty Offices Seem Poised to Remain So for Months

Hurricane Sandy has left a LOT of work to do in lower Manhattan. Lots of the East Village bounced back fairly quickly, but lower Manhattan is facing a mix of complicated problems — from flooding damage, telecom outages (still), and leasing complications of tenants and offices that have been displaced.  The worst news? It could take as long as May to get things back to normal. 

See.

I participated in Help Portrait again this year, and I just can’t explain in words what kind of blessing it is go serve our neighbors in such a way. There’s something insanely special about helping people capture their beauty or a special moment in a single shot. 

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Laugh || Think || See v. 2

Laugh.
With thanksgiving right around the corner it’s only natural that someone would make a horrible auto-tuned song about Thanksgiving. The same people who brought you Rebecca Black’s Friday brought you this little gem, so no surprise here. Actual Lyric:  ”The turkey. HEY! Mashed potatoes. HEY!”

Think.
This NYT article, Trying to Keep Your E-Mails Secret When the C.I.A. Chief Couldn’t, illustrates the sheer lack of understanding most people have when it comes to the Internet and privacy. If the head of the CIA couldn’t figure out how to keep his affair a secret, it’s no surprise that most people have a naive understanding of the fact that your secrets aren’t safe on the Internet. To be fair, his mistress kinda of went and really pushed things over the edge when she started sending threatening emails that ultimately uncovered the whole thing, but that’s beside the point. 

See.
Today while meandering around the neighborhood, I noticed a new exhibit at the Mark Miller Gallery. My friends and I walked in and found what can only be described as one of the most lovely and creative things I’ve seen in awhile: Plan-in City.

From their website:

Plant-in City is a collaboration between architects, designers, and technologists who are building new ways of interacting with nature. Our 21st century sculptural terrariums combine modular architecture, basic laws of physics, embedded technologies, and mobile computing to construct a “Plant City” where the aesthetic meets the pragmatic.

Each frame is made with cedar wood and copper piping, with digital sensors and integrated lighting controlled by smartphone app. The plants live in an artful structure that’s nearly self-sustaining. After all, plants improve our quality of life and nurture us on an everyday basis; we think it’s only fair to nurture them in return.

Units can operate as independent terrariums, or with extensive modular components to create a diverse ecosystem – your own personal park. Just think of Plant-in City as bionic plant furnishings for the information age that are equally at home in galleries, public spaces, cultural institutions, or apartments.

If you have a chance, stop by the Gallery and see Plant-In City for yourself. The space smells soft like cedar and is a warm escape from the chilly wind. 

Laugh || Think || See v. 1

Laugh.
For when you need to tell someone something nice but don’t know what to say, insert Emergency Complement. These are sure to leave an impression.

Think. 
Everyone is freaking out about Facebook’s algorithm change and the notion that promoted (read: paid) posts will play a big role in reaching fans. While this definitely feels like a “bait and switch” after five years, users don’t really have a right to complain. Facebook is a free platform and therefore able to do whatever they want. If Facebook were a paid platform, the outrage might be warranted, but IMHO, it’s not right now. While I don’t necessarily agree with Jason Sadler’s notion, his WJS article “It’s Not Cool to Pay for Facebook Posts” is an interesting read. 


See.
I watched the Presidential debate on Monday. And I can say for the record, I would never, ever want that job. The campaign process is…rough. P102112PS-0030

President Barack Obama reads briefing material while meeting with advisors inside his cabin at Camp David, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)