Tweet

Author and filmmaker Jon Ronson has started a fascinating documentary series called "Escape and Control". It's going to explore who controls the internet and how they do so. That would be interesting enough, really, but the manner in which he is making the documentary is equally intriguing. As you can see from this trailer, he will be releasing bits and pieces of the film as he makes it.

You can look for future episodes on his You Tube page, "Esc & Ctrl: Stories about People Trying to Control the Internet". In the video, Ronson says he will release the first hunk when he has something interesting to show; but his website says that his "first adventure will launch in early September."

Considering the number of compelling recent new stories on the subject, it's bound to be must-see web viewing.

Tweet

Our pals from Elephant Larry and our pal Kevin "Sprinkles" Pereira join force like Voltron for a segment called "Kings of Dot Comedy" on Attack of the Show.

Tweet

The Awesome Foundation is a new philanthropic organization seeking to promote awesomeness.

They define awesomeness thusly:
"Awesomeness is more the product of a creator’s passion than the prospect of audience or profit. Awesome creations are novel and non-obvious, evoking surprise and delight. Invariably, something about them perfectly reflects the essence of the medium, moment, or method of creation. Awesomeness challenges and inspires."

And they're giving away a thousand dollars a month, no strings attached, MacArthur-grant-style, to support awesome projects. Your only responsibility, should you receive a grant, is to report back on what you did and how it went.

I know someone involved in the foundation, and can vouch for its actualness and legitimacy.

So start applying now!

Tweet

HardTime :: Illusion from ze frank on Vimeo.

Via the new BoingBoing Video sideblog, to which I am a contributor.

Merlin Mann talks about the process of doing creative work, and particularly how to abandon the quest for perfection, get off your butt and get started.

Tweet

No sooner do I post about the Internets Celebrities than Cas, their director, posts this great short documentary he made about sports card collectors.

When I was a kid, I was a huge baseball card nut. My favorite player was Mark Grace, and somewhere in my mom's basement is my collection of Mark Grace cards -- I think I got to three hundred before the number of sets each year really exploded in the mid 90s.

I'm still fixated on stuff -- I love thrift stores and garage sales and estate sales and ebay -- but I'm not a collector anymore. Being a collector has a special satisfaction, but it also never ends. I'm glad to have let it go.

Tweet

Our primary underwriter is a community blog called Metafilter. It's a tiny operation that's hugely important, hugely influential and hugely awesome. I really admire Matt Haughey, the founder, and not just because he's our patron here at maxfun.

Sometimes I avoid writing about or linking to Metafilter, because it might be seen as distasteful, but something awesome is happening: Metafilter is turning ten!

In July, they'll be having meetups all over the world to celebrate the anniversary, and I'm gonna do my darndest to go. Way to go, Big Green!

Tweet

This is a great compliment to the panel from the Integrated Media Association conference I posted in the podcast feed last week. John Gruber of Daring Fireball and our pal Merlin Mann discussing how to make a meaningful blog.

The upshot: you need a voice and you need a passion. Your focus should be to delight your ideal reader, even if that ideal reader is just a single person you know.

An unusual Sound of Young America podcast: I talk with 43folders.com writer Merlin Mann,
Homestar Runners creators Mike and Matt Chapman (aka The Bros. Chaps), and Jeff Olsen, creative director of adultswim.com, at the Integrated Media Association conference in Atlanta. The (somewhat cheesy) title of the session was "Blow Up Your Brand." We chatted about how to do something on the internet that people will actually give a hoot about.

If you enjoyed this show, try these:
Merlin Mann
Ze Frank
Tony Millionaire