Final Boss Form

Lost Garden: Ribbon Hero turns learning Office into a...

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:44:00 -0500

Lost Garden: Ribbon Hero turns learning Office into a game

Imagine Microsoft Office turned into a video game. One where learning a productivity app is a delight. One where the core loop of gameplay involves using and gaining skills in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Ribbon Hero, in part, was born from a speech I gave back in October 2007 on applying the design lessons of Super Mario Bros. to application design. I made the following bet:

* If an activity can be learned…

* If the player’s performance can be measured…

* If the player can be rewarded or punished in a timely fashion…

* Then any activity that meets these criteria can be turned into a game.

Not only can you make a game out of the activity, but you can turn tasks traditionally seen as a rote or frustrating into compelling experiences that users find delightful.

via dj

"Any trace of spontaneity from the public in official broadcasting is controlled and absorbed by..."

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:39:58 -0500

“Any trace of spontaneity from the public in official broadcasting is controlled and absorbed by talent scouts, studio competitions and official programs of every kind selected by professionals. Talented performers belong to the industry long before it displays them; otherwise they would not be so eager to fit in. The attitude of the public, which ostensibly and actually favours the system of the culture industry, is a part of the system and not an excuse for it. If one branch of art follows the same formula as one with a very different medium and content; then the claim that this is done to satisfy the spontaneous wishes of the public is no more than hot air.”

- Frankfurt School: Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer (1944): The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception

An Elle A Day Elle with Dior the Chihuahua at Kiki’s...

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:30:00 -0500

An Elle A Day

Elle with Dior the Chihuahua at Kiki’s Doggie Day Care.

An Elle A Day.

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0500

An Elle A Day.

Is it really hip to be glum?

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:27:00 -0500

Is it really hip to be glum?:

“Overwhelmingly, models advertising pricier brands were judged to look glummer. This is probably down to signalling, noted researcher Timothy Ketelaar: smiling indicates eagerness to please, suggesting low status. If a Prada model isn’t smiling, she clearly doesn’t need to, implying high status. Brands that target less wealthy customers use smiling models, suggesting lower status, and thus affordability.”

An Elle A Day.

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0500

An Elle A Day.

"Uranian Willy the heavy metal Kid, also known as Willy the rat - He wised up the marks. “This..."

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:11:00 -0500

“

Uranian Willy the heavy metal Kid, also known as Willy the rat - He wised up the marks. “This is war to extermination - Fight cell by cell through bodies and mind screens of the earth. Souls rotten from the Orgasm Drug. Flesh shuddering from the Ovens. Prisoners of the earth, come out. Storm the studio.

His plan called for total exposure - Wise up all the marks everywhere Show them the rigged wheel - Storm the Reality Studio and retake the universe…

”

- William S. Burroughs: The soft machine

An Elle A Day.

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0500

An Elle A Day.

"Think how painful it is every time you hear something about Twitter on the evening news, and then..."

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:16:19 -0500

““Think how painful it is every time you hear something about Twitter on the evening news, and then have to listen to a sixty second recap about what exactly Twitter is so that grandma is not left in the dark. Now cut all that filler out, as it’s not necessary since you obviously know how to use the web if you’re watching TV online. Now, make that news a bit more tongue-in-cheek, and you’ve got Rocketboom.””

- Life Without Cable (Part IV) by The Modern Day Pirates

An Elle A Day.

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:50:00 -0500

An Elle A Day.

"Keep Meetings Short. I work in the film business, where schmoozing is an art form, lunch hour lasts..."

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:25:51 -0500

“Keep Meetings Short. I work in the film business, where schmoozing is an art form, lunch hour lasts from 12:30 until 3, and every meeting takes an hour whether there’s an hour’s worth of business or not. Not so at Vogue, where meetings are long if they go more than seven minutes and everyone knows to show up on time, prepared and ready to dive in. In Anna’s world, meetings often start a few minutes before they’re scheduled. If you arrive five minutes late, chances are you’ll have missed it entirely. Imagine the hours of time that are saved every day by not wasting so much of it in meetings.”

- R.J. Cutler: What I Learned From Anna Wintour

via kottke

My parents’ dog, Macee

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:38:07 -0500

My parents’ dog, Macee

jamiew: Today is my last day working for Rocketboom. I’m...

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:10:33 -0500

jamiew:

Today is my last day working for Rocketboom.

I’m incredibly proud of everything we’ve built over the last 3 years, and am particularly astounded by the success of Know Your Meme. It’s gone from some goofy ideas about wearing labcoats and talking about rickroll to a legitimate research operation, with a dedicated writing staff, 30+ videos, a guest appearance by Weird Al and millions of YouTube views.

The Meme Database website I first hacked together over 2 weeks in December 2008 has now grown into a 500,000+ daily pageviews internets powerhouse, with a blossoming community of researchers.

Our Internet video aggregator & viral video tracking system Mag.ma grows more expansive & useful by the day.

Come Monday I’ll be joining the awesome team at 140 Proof here in San Francisco, and am excited to be tackling some big new challenges.

contact → jamie@internetfamo.us, @jamiew, Facebook, KYM

Fuck Yeah Jamiedubs!

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:57:40 -0500

Fuck Yeah Jamiedubs!:

Because it’s Jamie’s last day at Rocketboom, we wanted to post some of his awkward (and charming, but mostly awkward) moments of the past three years. Submit your own here: http://fuckyeahjamiedubs.tumblr.com/submit

Wanted: Rails Developers

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:40:00 -0500

Rocketboom is looking for talented Ruby on Rails developers in NYC (front & back-end). More info at http://mag.ma/jobs

(PS: Tell your friends!)

It’s not in the job description but you’ll probably also have to appear in the background of a Know Your Meme episode. Oh yeah, and you’ll also have to challenge Rosen at Wii Golf. (via: rocketboom: magmavideos)

Fucking Williamsburg. (via yatta)

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:48:24 -0500

Fucking Williamsburg. (via yatta)

Headshot, animated.

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 02:03:00 -0500

Headshot, animated.

Manhattan Mini Storage.

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:01:07 -0500

Manhattan Mini Storage.

Thank you, Donnie. Knicks Deal for Tracy McGrady, Sergio...

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:45:26 -0500

Thank you, Donnie.

Knicks Deal for Tracy McGrady, Sergio Rodriguez, assorted Celtics - Posting and Toasting

Grisbi - Army Of Me (lounge Bjork cover)

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:54:00 -0500

Grisbi - Army Of Me (lounge Bjork cover)