Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Not on youtube
The link isn't to youtube.
But if it were on youtube... it would be my favorite link ever.
http://failblog.org/2008/10/20/best-man-fail/
But if it were on youtube... it would be my favorite link ever.
http://failblog.org/2008/10/20/best-man-fail/
Monday, November 17, 2008
Baidu shares sink
According to this article, Baidu shares sank because of the unreliability of medical ads it features. This to me brings up an interesting question of responsibility of information. Just like Google, the main page has no ads... but I cannot remember a time when Google's reputation was harmed when there were unreliable sites or ads on the side of the page.
NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S.-traded shares of Chinese search engine operator Baidu.com Inc. sank Monday -- a drop one analyst attributed to a report by China's state television network that Baidu may have let unlicensed health clinics buy popular medical ad keywords on its search engine.
American Depositary Shares of Baidu fell $45.11, or 25.2 percent, to $133.78 in afternoon trading. Earlier, the stock traded as low as $130.51 -- its cheapest price since May 2007.
Sterne Agee & Leach analyst James Lee said Monday that a report by CCTV over the weekend into medical malpractice in China indicated some consumers may have found their way to improperly licensed or unlicensed private clinics and health centers via advertisements that came up when they searched for health-related topics on Baidu.
Baidu, which holds a 70 percent share of the search market in China, removed the ads for medical practitioners that were considered questionable over the weekend, Lee said.
He sees the report as hurting Baidu's reputation, but doesn't think it will be hurt financially as much as Monday's share price decline seemed to indicate. Lee doesn't think health-related ads make up that much of the company's total advertising.
"The stock is obviously overreacting," he said.
In a client note, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said the questionable ads on Baidu "were typically selling drugs; we do not believe these are fake drugs per se, but were being sold through non-accredited medical Web sites that should not score as high on sponsored results."
Munster said that Baidu acknowledged in an online statement that this is true and that it has to put more focus toward sales practices, not just its technology.
He thinks the company will see a financial impact, but believes it will be "less than one would expect."
A Baidu spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081117/baiducom_mover.html?.v=1
NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S.-traded shares of Chinese search engine operator Baidu.com Inc. sank Monday -- a drop one analyst attributed to a report by China's state television network that Baidu may have let unlicensed health clinics buy popular medical ad keywords on its search engine.
American Depositary Shares of Baidu fell $45.11, or 25.2 percent, to $133.78 in afternoon trading. Earlier, the stock traded as low as $130.51 -- its cheapest price since May 2007.
Sterne Agee & Leach analyst James Lee said Monday that a report by CCTV over the weekend into medical malpractice in China indicated some consumers may have found their way to improperly licensed or unlicensed private clinics and health centers via advertisements that came up when they searched for health-related topics on Baidu.
Baidu, which holds a 70 percent share of the search market in China, removed the ads for medical practitioners that were considered questionable over the weekend, Lee said.
He sees the report as hurting Baidu's reputation, but doesn't think it will be hurt financially as much as Monday's share price decline seemed to indicate. Lee doesn't think health-related ads make up that much of the company's total advertising.
"The stock is obviously overreacting," he said.
In a client note, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said the questionable ads on Baidu "were typically selling drugs; we do not believe these are fake drugs per se, but were being sold through non-accredited medical Web sites that should not score as high on sponsored results."
Munster said that Baidu acknowledged in an online statement that this is true and that it has to put more focus toward sales practices, not just its technology.
He thinks the company will see a financial impact, but believes it will be "less than one would expect."
A Baidu spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081117/baiducom_mover.html?.v=1
New Star Trek Movie!
I know that one of our recent readings discussed the idea that dismal revenue from the Star Trek films has led Paramount to abandon them altogether and that any new Star Trek lore is fan-created... But the NEW Star Trek movie is being directed by J.J. Abrams and comes out at Christmas. It follows Kirk and Spock from their youth into their first battles with the Romulans and looks awesome. That's basically paraphrasing Wikipedia but the trailer is also really enticing. Just FYI.
more classifications
i was looking through some of our older readings, and stopped on a creative industries technical report from the UK, conducted in January 2008 by NESTA, the National Endowment for Science, Technology, and the Arts.
they divided the creative industries into the following segments:
+ Advertising and Marketing
+ Architecture, Visual Arts, and Design
+ Film, TV, Radio, and Photography
+ Music and Performing Arts
they divided the creative industries into the following segments:
+ Advertising and Marketing
+ Architecture, Visual Arts, and Design
+ Film, TV, Radio, and Photography
+ Music and Performing Arts
[+ Publishing] --may or may not be applicable to our list
+ Software, Computer Games, and Electronic Publishing
i thought this was interesting because having these 6 segments would be able to encompass what they deemed the "Creative Trident":
+ Software, Computer Games, and Electronic Publishing
i thought this was interesting because having these 6 segments would be able to encompass what they deemed the "Creative Trident":
1. those engaged in producing primary creative output [writers, craftspeople, composers, etc.]
2. those engaged in interpretive activity [i.e. performers interpreting works of drama, dance, music, etc. physically + digitally in a wide variety of media]
3. those supplying creative services in support of artistc and cultural production [editors, lighting designers, music producers, etc.]
also, if we go with this classication scheme, we might want to consider excluding those businesses which we labeled as just 'venues' for creative output -- i don't think that they would fit very well into any of these categories. perhaps place them in a separate 'periphery' circle that could expand to more larger-scope and extrapolated 'supporting creativity' but non-creative businesses.
Industry Sectors
Hey Everyone,
I've added my businesses to our map, but we have not yet decided how we want to organize everything as far as industries are concerned. I liked Trevor's list from last class, but have some potential additions. Here is my suggestion:
Gaming
Support
Performance
Venues
Broadcast
Design
Fine Arts
What do you guys think?
I've added my businesses to our map, but we have not yet decided how we want to organize everything as far as industries are concerned. I liked Trevor's list from last class, but have some potential additions. Here is my suggestion:
Gaming
Support
Performance
Venues
Broadcast
Design
Fine Arts
What do you guys think?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Google Flu Trends
The final post in a whirlwind of updates, I promise:
Today I read about a small project on Google.org that is using geographic data about specific Google searches to accurately predict when and where the flu will hit in various areas of the United States.
What's even more fascinating is that by using this data, Google can outpredict the Center for Disease Control's estimations by up to two weeks...
Check it out at www.google.org/flutrends
Funny coincidence
IDEO (one of the businesses we are studying in Central Square) has a desktop widget called "The Big Questions" which prompts users with a new "big" question every day.
After today's lecture, I thought it was funny that today's big question was:
What does sharing look like 5 years from now?
What a coincidence, right?
Anybody want to answer the question?
Adding a Business to the Map
I thought I'd post a concise guide for adding businesses to the map:
1. Click on the link in the email sent by Google where you were invited to contribute to the map. If you didn't get an invite, shoot me an email and I'll invite you again. If you just go to Google Maps, you may need to click on "My Maps" in the upper left.
2. Click on the map ("Central Square Creative Industries") in the list, then click the Edit button.
3. You can now search for any of your businesses in the search box at the top of the page. When you find a business to post to the map, click on it, then click "Save to My Maps." Make sure to save it to our map ("Central Square Creative Industries"). Edit as much of the content as you want (change the marker by clicking on it in the upper right of the little box), and click OK!
4. When you're finished, make sure to click "Save" and "Done" in the left sidebar.
Once we get all of the businesses posted (hopefully by the end of this week), we can look into some categorization concepts... Post ideas in the comments!
This is a Pirate / This is Not
An advertisement commissioned by the Consumer Electronics Association, as discussed in class. More info + larger version at the EFF »
Monday, November 3, 2008
on collars
from labor -- a blue-collar economy
to professional services -- a white-collar economy
to the creative industries -- a 'no-collar economy' [richard florida]
to... a green-collar economy?
'Provocative, personal, and inspirational, New York TimesThe Green Collar Economy by Van Jones is not a dire warning but rather a substantive and viable plan for solving the biggest issues facing the country--the failing economy and our devastated environment. From a distance, it appears that these two problems are separate, but when we look closer, the connection becomes unmistakable.'
The Green Collar Economy, Van Jones 2008
ps. he is also the founder of Green For All and the Green Jobs guru + will be speaking at Sloan on Wednesday, November 19 from 6-7.
[i wonder where this book stands on the greenwashing continuum?]
also! according to Wikipedia -- [which, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica's former editor Robert McHenry, is 'fundamentally incapable of rising to a high standard of excellence,' and, according to WP's first editor in chief Larry Sanger 'that the anti-expertise bias among Wikipedians foreshadows the death of accuracy in scholarship'...]
the pink-collar worker [white-collar but traditionally 'female']
the gold-collar worker ['low-wage, luxury-seeking]
the grey-collar worker [neither white nor blue, somewhere in between]
polka dots, anyone?
Monday, October 27, 2008
Woman "Kills" Virtual Husband, Faces Jail Time
Relating to Participation...
"Ever heard the phrase, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?" Well, that applies to the online world just as much as in real life. One Japanese man found this out the hard way recently when his virtual "wife" in MapleStory got so angry that she effectively killed his online avatar (via Yahoo News).
The 43-year-old woman carried out the digital murder after the 33-year-old man suddenly "divorced" her in the game. She was quoted as saying, "I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry." So angry, in fact, that she used login information she got from her former "husband" to access his account and then kill his character. The man notified police when he realized his avatar was dead, and the woman was arrested on "suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data." She hasn't been formally charged yet, but she could face up to five years in prison or a $5000 fine.
Fellas, let this be a lesson to you: never EVER give out your personal info to people you meet online. No, not even to your virtual spouses."
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3170900
"Ever heard the phrase, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?" Well, that applies to the online world just as much as in real life. One Japanese man found this out the hard way recently when his virtual "wife" in MapleStory got so angry that she effectively killed his online avatar (via Yahoo News).
The 43-year-old woman carried out the digital murder after the 33-year-old man suddenly "divorced" her in the game. She was quoted as saying, "I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry." So angry, in fact, that she used login information she got from her former "husband" to access his account and then kill his character. The man notified police when he realized his avatar was dead, and the woman was arrested on "suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data." She hasn't been formally charged yet, but she could face up to five years in prison or a $5000 fine.
Fellas, let this be a lesson to you: never EVER give out your personal info to people you meet online. No, not even to your virtual spouses."
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3170900
Urban Font
This isn't relevant to the creative industries discussion at hand, but I saw this today and thought it was an interesting representation of the intersection between art and industry that we've been studying: a font assembled entirely from images of powerlines.
Takes a while to load, but without further ado — Garamond Powerline
Monday, October 20, 2008
Vicki's List
1. Make Music Cambridge (Core)
Contact:
Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA 02238
www.makemusiccambridge.com
Mission:
"Make Music Cambridge is based on France's Fête de la Musique, which has been a great success for over 25 years. Since its inauguration, the festival has become an international phenomenon, celebrated on the same day in more than 300 cities over 108 countries, including Germany, Italy, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Australia, Vietnam, Congo, Cameroon, Togo, Columbia, Chile, Mongolia, and Japan."
Industry:
Performance
2. WRCA 1330 AM (Periphery)
Contact:
552 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 492-3300
Mission:
The station's mission is to play Spanish and Haitian Creole music.
Industry:
Broadcast
3. The Plough and Stars (Periphery)
Contact:
912 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-0032
Mission:
"The Plough and Stars features great music! Everything from blues to rock to country to sounds that can't be described. This eclectic mix has made the Plough a favorite hangout in Cambridge for over 35 years!"
Industry:
Venue
4. The Phoenix Landing (Periphery)
Contact:
512 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-6260
Mission:
The bar provides a variety of music and beverage.
Industry:
Venue
5. Creative Stride (Core)
Contact:
184 Green St. Suite 1
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 395 0226
Fax # 315 351 7098
Mission:
"Creative Stride develops compelling design solutions for functional Web sites, whether static, or animated with Flash, sites that are natural and simple to use, appealing, eye-catching design, and easy-comprehensible navigation. We create sites for companies, for educational or public institutions, like hospitals or utilities, or to publicize your non-profit organization."
Industry:
Design
6. Cambridge Library (Periphery)
Contact:
45 Pearl Street
(617) 349-4010
Fax # (617) 349-4418
Mission:
"So that enlightenment and literacy may flourish in our community, the Cambridge Public Library dedicates itself to collecting and distributing an array of information and ideas that is diverse in material, varied in formats, and rich in viewpoint, reflecting the multicultural character of the community and world it serves. The Library provides free, equal, and confidential access to its resources and services. Essential to this mission is the active promotion of library services, collections, and programs."
Industry:
Service
7. Velin Studio (Periphery)
Can't find a website...
8. Pino Bros. Inc. (Core)
Contact:
pinobrosink@gmail.com
Cambridge MA 02139
Mission:
Tattoo Parlor
Industry:
Fine Art?
9. Center for New Words (Core)
Contact:
7 Temple Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-876-5310
cnw@centerfornewwords.org
Mission:
"The Center for New Words is dedicated to a simple mission:
Contact:
Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA 02238
www.makemusiccambridge.com
Mission:
"Make Music Cambridge is based on France's Fête de la Musique, which has been a great success for over 25 years. Since its inauguration, the festival has become an international phenomenon, celebrated on the same day in more than 300 cities over 108 countries, including Germany, Italy, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Australia, Vietnam, Congo, Cameroon, Togo, Columbia, Chile, Mongolia, and Japan."
Industry:
Performance
2. WRCA 1330 AM (Periphery)
Contact:
552 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 492-3300
Mission:
The station's mission is to play Spanish and Haitian Creole music.
Industry:
Broadcast
3. The Plough and Stars (Periphery)
Contact:
912 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-0032
Mission:
"The Plough and Stars features great music! Everything from blues to rock to country to sounds that can't be described. This eclectic mix has made the Plough a favorite hangout in Cambridge for over 35 years!"
Industry:
Venue
4. The Phoenix Landing (Periphery)
Contact:
512 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-6260
Mission:
The bar provides a variety of music and beverage.
Industry:
Venue
5. Creative Stride (Core)
Contact:
184 Green St. Suite 1
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 395 0226
Fax # 315 351 7098
Mission:
"Creative Stride develops compelling design solutions for functional Web sites, whether static, or animated with Flash, sites that are natural and simple to use, appealing, eye-catching design, and easy-comprehensible navigation. We create sites for companies, for educational or public institutions, like hospitals or utilities, or to publicize your non-profit organization."
Industry:
Design
6. Cambridge Library (Periphery)
Contact:
45 Pearl Street
(617) 349-4010
Fax # (617) 349-4418
Mission:
"So that enlightenment and literacy may flourish in our community, the Cambridge Public Library dedicates itself to collecting and distributing an array of information and ideas that is diverse in material, varied in formats, and rich in viewpoint, reflecting the multicultural character of the community and world it serves. The Library provides free, equal, and confidential access to its resources and services. Essential to this mission is the active promotion of library services, collections, and programs."
Industry:
Service
7. Velin Studio (Periphery)
Can't find a website...
8. Pino Bros. Inc. (Core)
Contact:
pinobrosink@gmail.com
617*250*9903
617*250*9907
1100 Cambridge StCambridge MA 02139
Mission:
Tattoo Parlor
Industry:
Fine Art?
9. Center for New Words (Core)
Contact:
7 Temple Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-876-5310
cnw@centerfornewwords.org
Mission:
"The Center for New Words is dedicated to a simple mission:
To use the power and creativity of words to strengthen the voice of progressive women and women speaking from the margins of society.
Industry:
Education
Saturday, October 18, 2008
tiffany's list + contact info
1. CURRY INTERACTIVE [core]
2. IDEO [core]
3. CONYNGHAM ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS [core]
4. CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY TELEVISION [core]
5. IMPROV BOSTON THEATRE [core]
6. MIDDLESEX LOUNGE [out/periphery?]
7. THE DANCE COMPLEX [core]
8. CAMBRIDGE SEVEN ASSOCIATES, INC. [core]
contact:
contact:
http://www.curryinteractive.com/ [site currently in development]
617.945.0461
ci@curryinteractive.com
[location unknown.]
mission: 'a versatile, multi-disciplinary studio providing expertise in all aspects of interactive, print and identity design.'
industry: service
2. IDEO [core]
contact:
http://www.ideo.com/locations/
485 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
617 844 2400
mission:'we are a global design consultancy. we create impact through design.'
industry: service
3. CONYNGHAM ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS [core]
contact:
studio@intcad.com
19 Bishop Allen Drive, Cambridge
617 576 0042
mission:'Our ongoing goal to provide quality, affordable design solutions matched with multidisciplinary expertise frees the client from common constraints and allows design excellence to thrive. The result is an architecture that meets the client's aesthetic and financial needs and enriches their lives.'
industry: service
4. CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY TELEVISION [core]
contact:
675 Mass Ave, Cambridge
Phone: 617-661-6900 FAX: 617-661-6927
Phone: 617-661-6900 FAX: 617-661-6927
http://www.cctvcambridge.org/contact
mission: 'the voice and vision of cambridge, ma...a public forum for all Cambridge residents, businesses and organizations. CCTV provides training and access to telecommunications technology so that all may become active participants in electronic media'
industry: experience? media broadcast?
5. IMPROV BOSTON THEATRE [core]
contact:
http://www.improvboston.com
40 Prospect St. Cambridge, MA
Phone: 617-576-1253 Fax: 617-576-5304
Phone: 617-576-1253 Fax: 617-576-5304
info@improvboston.com
mission: '25 Years of the art of comedy!' ...With a critically acclaimed mainstage show, groundbreaking showcase productions, and a nationally known education program, ImprovBoston continues to be more than just a great comedy club: It's a recognized center for the development, performance and promotion of the evolving art of improvisation.'
industry: performance, education?
6. MIDDLESEX LOUNGE [out/periphery?]
contact:
315 Mass Ave. Cambridge, MA
Phone: 617-868-MSEX
Phone: 617-868-MSEX
mission: ...restaurant, club, happy hour place, music venue [DJs almost evey night]
industry: venue?7. THE DANCE COMPLEX [core]
contact:
536 Mass Ave. Cambridge, MA
Phone: 617-547-9363
Phone: 617-547-9363
mission: 'a volunteer based, artist run organization dedicated to promoting, advancing, and sponsoring artistic endeavors, creative work and education in dance and the movement arts'
industry: education, performance
8. CAMBRIDGE SEVEN ASSOCIATES, INC. [core]
contact:
http://www.c7a.com/
1050 Massachusetts Avenue. Cambridge
617-492-7000 Fax 617-492-7007
mission: ' a world-renowned architecture firm that maximizes the power of collaboration to bring fresh solutions to complex design challenges.'
industry: service
industry: service
9. HOLLYWOOD EXPRESS [periphery?]
contact:
contact:
765 Massachusetts Ave Cambridge, MA(617) 864-8400
mission: 'Since its founding in 1987, Hollywood Express has been Cambridge's leading independently-owned video store.'
industry: retail
industry: retail
10. ENORMOUS ROOM [out/periphery]
contact:
contact:
ttp://www.enormous.tv
569 Massachusetts Avenue. Cambridge
(617) 491-555
mission: club/bar/lounge, lots of music [DJs]
industry: service
industry: service
Friday, October 17, 2008
My Companies
Citius Printing and Graphics
Contact: Citius Printing & Graphics, LLC
20 Clematis Ave.
Waltham, MA 02453
Telephone: 781-547-5550
Fax: 781-547-5555
Email: sales@citiusprint.com
Mission: At Citius Printing & Graphics, we strive to deliver the highest quality printing with the fastest turnaround and a competitive price.
Industry: Service
http://www.citiusprint.com/
Gioiosa Design
Contact: 46 Westcott Road
Harvard, MA 01451
9874563789
rgioiosa@verizon.net
Mission: We can be relied on to answer all of your marketing needs.
Industry: Service
http://www.gioiosadesign.com/services.html
River Gods
Contact: 125 River Street Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-1881
http://www.rivergodsonline.com/
Industry: Experience
Integrated CADD
Contact: 19 Bishop Allen Drive
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-576-8776
Mission: We combine our experience in Architecture, Interior Design, Construction, graphics, and multimedia with our knowledge of computers to provide real, workable solutions. We know what is necessary to complete the design, documentation and construction of building projects and we can help you find the right software and hardware to suit the kind of projects you do.
Industry: Service
http://www.intcad.com/contact.html
Central Square Theater
Contact: Central Square Theater
450 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139-4106
617-57MYCST (617-576-9278)
Mission: URT has a 29 year history of connecting high quality professional theater with communities, performing new plays for young audiences, families and adults, and teaching through its rigorous education programming. Combining actors, puppetry and music, URT reaches out to and engages diverse audiences with performances of great beauty and compelling social content
Industry: Experience
http://www.centralsquaretheater.org/
Cantab Lounge
Contact: 738 Massachusetts Ave.
(Central Square)
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 354 - 2685
Mission: In its role as a neighborhood bar & grille and meeting place for multi-ethnic, multi-generation Central Square,
the Cantab Lounge provides stages for many kinds of music and the spoken word.
Industry: Experience
http://www.cantab-lounge.com/public_html/cantab_calendar.html
Out of the Blue
Contact: 106 Prospect Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 354-5287
Mission: The primary purpose of the Gallery has been, is and will continue to be, to organize and display to the public at large, the artwork of people from the local and expanding community. The gallery encourages artists of all backgrounds to show with us and we support all of artists and celebrate the uniqueness they carry from their different cultures, religions, genders, ages and academic background. Artists of all abilities are given a chance. Sharing in the expression of the arts, in all of its varieties of form, be it painting, drawing, poetry, short story, acting or singing, is what inspires all of us to be who we are and inspire the fire within every one of us.
Industry: Experience
http://www.outoftheblueartgallery.com
Beta House
Contact: info@betahouse.org
Mission:coworking for developers, designers & entrepreneurs
http://betahouse.org/
Industry: Service
Publishers Communication Group
Contact: Cambridge Office (USA)
875 Massachusetts Avenue,
7th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
Tel: (617) 497-6514
Fax: (617) 354-6875
Mission: Publishers Communication Group is a full-service marketing and sales consulting firm with locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Oxford, UK. We offer a range of services, including qualitative and quantitative market research, international multi-lingual telemarketing, UK- and US-based customer services operations, sales representation, and strategic consulting.
Industry: Service
Four Mangos
Contact: Four Mangos, Inc.
675 Massachusetts Avenue 9th floor
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
United States
Mission: Four Mangos is a professional services firm that provides integrated marketing, enterprise technology, creative design and strategic vision.
Industry: Service
Contact: Citius Printing & Graphics, LLC
20 Clematis Ave.
Waltham, MA 02453
Telephone: 781-547-5550
Fax: 781-547-5555
Email: sales@citiusprint.com
Mission: At Citius Printing & Graphics, we strive to deliver the highest quality printing with the fastest turnaround and a competitive price.
Industry: Service
http://www.citiusprint.com/
Gioiosa Design
Contact: 46 Westcott Road
Harvard, MA 01451
9874563789
rgioiosa@verizon.net
Mission: We can be relied on to answer all of your marketing needs.
Industry: Service
http://www.gioiosadesign.com/services.html
River Gods
Contact: 125 River Street Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-1881
http://www.rivergodsonline.com/
Industry: Experience
Integrated CADD
Contact: 19 Bishop Allen Drive
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-576-8776
Mission: We combine our experience in Architecture, Interior Design, Construction, graphics, and multimedia with our knowledge of computers to provide real, workable solutions. We know what is necessary to complete the design, documentation and construction of building projects and we can help you find the right software and hardware to suit the kind of projects you do.
Industry: Service
http://www.intcad.com/contact.html
Central Square Theater
Contact: Central Square Theater
450 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139-4106
617-57MYCST (617-576-9278)
Mission: URT has a 29 year history of connecting high quality professional theater with communities, performing new plays for young audiences, families and adults, and teaching through its rigorous education programming. Combining actors, puppetry and music, URT reaches out to and engages diverse audiences with performances of great beauty and compelling social content
Industry: Experience
http://www.centralsquaretheater.org/
Cantab Lounge
Contact: 738 Massachusetts Ave.
(Central Square)
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 354 - 2685
Mission: In its role as a neighborhood bar & grille and meeting place for multi-ethnic, multi-generation Central Square,
the Cantab Lounge provides stages for many kinds of music and the spoken word.
Industry: Experience
http://www.cantab-lounge.com/public_html/cantab_calendar.html
Out of the Blue
Contact: 106 Prospect Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 354-5287
Mission: The primary purpose of the Gallery has been, is and will continue to be, to organize and display to the public at large, the artwork of people from the local and expanding community. The gallery encourages artists of all backgrounds to show with us and we support all of artists and celebrate the uniqueness they carry from their different cultures, religions, genders, ages and academic background. Artists of all abilities are given a chance. Sharing in the expression of the arts, in all of its varieties of form, be it painting, drawing, poetry, short story, acting or singing, is what inspires all of us to be who we are and inspire the fire within every one of us.
Industry: Experience
http://www.outoftheblueartgallery.com
Beta House
Contact: info@betahouse.org
Mission:coworking for developers, designers & entrepreneurs
http://betahouse.org/
Industry: Service
Publishers Communication Group
Contact: Cambridge Office (USA)
875 Massachusetts Avenue,
7th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
Tel: (617) 497-6514
Fax: (617) 354-6875
Mission: Publishers Communication Group is a full-service marketing and sales consulting firm with locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Oxford, UK. We offer a range of services, including qualitative and quantitative market research, international multi-lingual telemarketing, UK- and US-based customer services operations, sales representation, and strategic consulting.
Industry: Service
Four Mangos
Contact: Four Mangos, Inc.
675 Massachusetts Avenue 9th floor
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
United States
Mission: Four Mangos is a professional services firm that provides integrated marketing, enterprise technology, creative design and strategic vision.
Industry: Service
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Information to Gather from Central Square
Contact Info:
Address (Where they're located in central square):
What They Do (mission statement):
What Industry:
Address (Where they're located in central square):
What They Do (mission statement):
What Industry:
Monday, October 13, 2008
hipsters and the creative economy
saw this and thought it was interesting + might be slightly relevant...
tiffany's abstract: 'the creative class' is something that many of today's young 'countercultural millenials' are now striving to become, and along the way their tastes, consumption habits, size, and money could potentially fuel the retail and/or creative economies.
Often defined as 'hipsters,' this demographic holds a strong possibility that it may not only be a trend that shall pass, but could go on to define a genuine cultural movement with significant buying power and related global socio-economic effects.
Forbes article, 10/1/08: The New Counterculture's Buying Power
tiffany's abstract: 'the creative class' is something that many of today's young 'countercultural millenials' are now striving to become, and along the way their tastes, consumption habits, size, and money could potentially fuel the retail and/or creative economies.
Often defined as 'hipsters,' this demographic holds a strong possibility that it may not only be a trend that shall pass, but could go on to define a genuine cultural movement with significant buying power and related global socio-economic effects.
Hipsters Will Save Our Economy
In a rather striking article this week, Forbes recognizes hipsters as possibly the one demographic group that’s still happily consuming, at least in the retail sector. The article argues that while hipsters - here very broadly defined - might not make a lot of money now, they are a huge, powerful consumer group, and marketing dollars spent to capture them now will likely pay off in the future. Not to mention the fact that, even today, retailers which cater to the “creative class” are thriving while the rest of the retail industry struggles:
While retailers geared toward consumers under 45–the Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch and Express–have struggled in the past year to increase sales, hipster-centric clothing outlet Urban Outfitters has reported record results.
Citing many other examples including Marc Jacobs (”Ten years ago, college kids carried backpacks…On any college campus today you’ll find moneyed girls carrying Jacobs’ $1,000 leather handbags”) and Cooper Mini (”the company saw a 15% year-over-year increase in the number of units sold” while other car sales have lagged) — the article makes a good point.
Can hipsters buy our way out of a recession?
Forbes article, 10/1/08: The New Counterculture's Buying Power
Thursday, October 9, 2008
What I Learned about Central Square
There are several clothing stores and restaurants that actually sell art, making them potentially peripheral even though you wouldn't characterize them as.
Also something I don't quite understand... why is it that clubs that have live music count as a part of the peripheral but places that have DJs don't? I guess I can see the distinction if the DJ strictly plays songs, but what about ones that produce and mix their own songs? This would make them creatives right? I'm just a little confused.
Also something I don't quite understand... why is it that clubs that have live music count as a part of the peripheral but places that have DJs don't? I guess I can see the distinction if the DJ strictly plays songs, but what about ones that produce and mix their own songs? This would make them creatives right? I'm just a little confused.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Definition of Creative Industry
I think a creative industry should be defined as any industry that requires creativity as one of the inputs and creates an output that is inherently different from the original inputs.
tiffany's definition
creative industries:
the people + companies that provide individual creativity, skill, and talent to directly produce a 'creative output,' which are often referred to in the context of a new-knowledge economy.
creative output:
can be in the form of goods, services, and intellectual property that we broadly associate with having artistic, entertainment, or 'cultural value'; can also be the result of a transformation of a creative input.
cultural value:
... :(
[works consulted: hartley, caves, UK DCMS]
Lana's Definition of the Creative Industries + Place vs. Space
A Definition of Creative Industries
For the sake of simplicity in our project, it might be best to classify creative industries as those that have direct creative outputs. We can adopt, develop, or modify a system that maps other contingent entities, such as those that provide various kinds of support to creative workers, those that provide creative inputs, and those that facilitate the creative outputs but do not directly produce them independently.
Place vs. Space
We've been talking a lot about about Central Square as a place for creative industries and have wondered what it is that makes it such a "place." Josh and I thought that it would be worthwhile to check about some of the thinking that's been done about placiness of place and the differences between it and space. I looked around for a good, quick introduction and found this, "What is a 'Sense of Place.'" by Jennifer E. Cross. Please read it before Wednesday, when I'm in charge! Woohoo!
For the sake of simplicity in our project, it might be best to classify creative industries as those that have direct creative outputs. We can adopt, develop, or modify a system that maps other contingent entities, such as those that provide various kinds of support to creative workers, those that provide creative inputs, and those that facilitate the creative outputs but do not directly produce them independently.
Place vs. Space
We've been talking a lot about about Central Square as a place for creative industries and have wondered what it is that makes it such a "place." Josh and I thought that it would be worthwhile to check about some of the thinking that's been done about placiness of place and the differences between it and space. I looked around for a good, quick introduction and found this, "What is a 'Sense of Place.'" by Jennifer E. Cross. Please read it before Wednesday, when I'm in charge! Woohoo!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Definition of The Creative Industry
The Creative Industry is defined to be the subset of the economy which directly produces a creative output. This output relates to both tangible products and intellectual property.
Company Info
I couldn't remember which places we had decided not to do (aside from Faneuil Music) so if I put them on this list, my apologies.
Cambridge Library -
45 Pearl Street
(617) 349-4010
Fax # (617) 349-4418
Creative Stride -
184 Green St. Suite 1
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 395 0226
Fax # 315 351 7098
The Phoenix Landing -
512 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-6260
The Plough and Stars -
912 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-0032
WRCA 1330 AM -
552 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 492-3300
Make Music Cambridge -
Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA 02238
www.makemusiccambridge.com
Cambridge Library -
45 Pearl Street
(617) 349-4010
Fax # (617) 349-4418
Creative Stride -
184 Green St. Suite 1
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 395 0226
Fax # 315 351 7098
The Phoenix Landing -
512 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-6260
The Plough and Stars -
912 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-0032
WRCA 1330 AM -
552 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 492-3300
Make Music Cambridge -
Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA 02238
www.makemusiccambridge.com
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Classifying Central Square (First Column)
Core:
Pino Bro: tattoo parlor
Publishers CG: publishing company
Central Square Theater: theater company
Gioiosa Design: graphic design company
Out of the Blue Studio: will create paintings on request, close ties with the interior decorating industry.
Periphery:
Velin Studio: showcases the works of Velin Petkov, a photographer (depends if actual photography is taken place or just a showroom.)
River Gods: night club
BetaHouse: location where freelancers and artists work
Integrated CADD: CADD company
Cantab Lounge
:
Loponkhler Fine Art: a store that sells fine art.
Unsure:
Community Mapping, Geoffrey Dunn Street.
Pino Bro: tattoo parlor
Publishers CG: publishing company
Central Square Theater: theater company
Gioiosa Design: graphic design company
Out of the Blue Studio: will create paintings on request, close ties with the interior decorating industry.
Periphery:
Velin Studio: showcases the works of Velin Petkov, a photographer (depends if actual photography is taken place or just a showroom.)
River Gods: night club
BetaHouse: location where freelancers and artists work
Integrated CADD: CADD company
Cantab Lounge
:
Loponkhler Fine Art: a store that sells fine art.
Unsure:
Community Mapping, Geoffrey Dunn Street.
The Middle Column
Here are the breakdowns for the businesses in the middle column:
CORE
Harmonix
Creative development of music-oriented video games like Rock Band.
http://www.harmonixmusic.com/
Green Street Studios
"Center for movement and dance" for artists and students
http://www.greenstreetstudios.org/
HMFM Architects
Architectural firm headquartered in Cambridge that focuses on educational buildings.
No website
Pfeufer/Richardson PC Architects
Full service architectural firm in Cambridge.
http://www.pfeuferrichardson.com/
Center for New Words
Writing center for women, focusing on reading, writing, blogging, performance arts, etc.
http://www.centerfornewwords.org/
PERIPHERY
Classic Graphx
Printing services with some graphic design
http://www.classiccopy.com/
MIT Museum
Local museum with lots of MIT relics, world's largest collection of holograms.
http://web.mit.edu/museum/
The Middle East
Club/restaurant/nightclub/venue for lots of independent artists, well-known in the area.
http://www.mideastclub.com/
T.T. the Bear's Place
Club/venue with live music 7 nights a week.
http://www.ttthebears.com/
Enormous Room
Lounge/bar/club/venue with live music
http://www.enormous.tv/
Hollywood Express
Independent video rental store, local hangout of many movie buffs.
http://www.hollywoodexpressvideo.com/
OUT
Kowal & Associates
Does contact center consulting and line monitoring... totally irrelevant.
EDP Services
Custom infrastructure for financial institutions...
Motus Games
Develops hardware for the Nintendo Wii.
GamerDNA
Hosts "clans" and online gaming groups.
the first half of the right column
and here are my contributions from the list:
1. CURRY INTERACTIVE
'a versatile, multi-disciplinary studio providing expertise in all aspects of interactive, print and identity design.'
core: like other design firms, curry interactive directly produces creative output.
2. IDEO
'we are a global design consultancy. we create impact through design.'
core: directly creates design solutions, systems, industrial products, etc.
3. CONYNGHAM AND ASSOCIATES
architecture firm [no website]
core: produces direct creative output -- architecture services
4. CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY TV
'the voice and vision of cambridge, ma...a public forum for all Cambridge residents, businesses and organizations. CCTV provides training and access to telecommunications technology so that all may become active participants in electronic media'
core: perhaps debatable at first because it labels itself as a 'forum' which leads one to think of merely a 'media venue,' but it also offers programs, initiatives, and community projects.
5. IMPROV BOSTON THEATRE
'25 Years of the art of comedy!'
core: direct creative output - improv comedy shows, classes, etc.
6. MIDDLESEX LOUNGE
no site, but yelped pretty well http://www.yelp.com/biz/middlesex-lounge-cambridge#hrid:FMEsE2AMPWmek2EPgnsSMg/query:Middlesex
periphery...maybe not even?: restaurant, club, happyhour
[here is my favorite yelp...hah]
I arrived here at 10pm to start my Bachelorette party. The place was basically empty until about 25 of my loveliest ladies showed up and populated the belly of the Middlesex beast. We were like mighty gazelle and the men around us were on the prowl, obviously staring and circling us. We probably didn't stand a chance. I started my night off with a Margarita. Damn, that bad boy was strong and tasted quite acidic, however, it was a good drink, but I'm still not sure why places in Boston have been putting OJ in perfectly good margarita's lately. I sucked that one down pretty fast, the music was fantastic a mix of late 80s and 90s -- By 11pm the whole bar was pretty damn packed. My ladies were chatting up various men folk in the bar, and surprisingly, despite my concerns about the place -- the guys weren't bad at all, in fact, I might even say they were Nice. Cool. And FUN. There was some weird dancing French guy, but for the most part, the doods didn't skeeze me out.
I squeezed up to the VERY crowded bar and put in a drink order within 3 minutes, I had a very, very, VERY delicious mojito in my hand. Totally worth the wait. And again, the awesome tunes kept on coming.
I'm sorry Middlesex, I had you completely wrong -- I thought you were somewhat hot girls & douchebags, but instead you were cool girls and nice bags. I will be back to offer my ladies up to the (middle)Sex gods.
I squeezed up to the VERY crowded bar and put in a drink order within 3 minutes, I had a very, very, VERY delicious mojito in my hand. Totally worth the wait. And again, the awesome tunes kept on coming.
I'm sorry Middlesex, I had you completely wrong -- I thought you were somewhat hot girls & douchebags, but instead you were cool girls and nice bags. I will be back to offer my ladies up to the (middle)Sex gods.
7. THE DANCE COMPLEX
'a volunteer based, artist run organization dedicated to promoting, advancing, and sponsoring artistic endeavors, creative work and education in dance and the movement arts'
core: offers dance workshops, classes, performances...
' a world-renowned architecture firm that maximizes the power of collaboration to bring fresh solutions to complex design challenges.'
core: provides direct architecture services
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Classifying Central Square
During last class it was decided that I would focus on the last 7 companies in the right most column of our list. I've created an outline that essentially explains why I have classified each company as either in the core or in the periphery.
Cambridge Library
Periphery
Reason: This is a public library and allows people to check out books. Since it doesn't create books, but merely houses them, it should be in the periphery.
Creative Stride
Core
Reason: This company develops solutions for functional websites. They create sites for companies as well as other organizations. It is described as a design firm. Since they create intellectual products they are in the core because they are actually directly involved in the process of creativity.
The Phoenix Landing
Periphery
Irish pub that also serves as a night club. Since this place isn't primarily focused on creativty (it provides entertainment, but doesn't necessarily help it grow) it is in the periphery.
The Plough and Stars
Core
Described as a hangout that houses various types of music. Their webpage mentions that artists can send their demos in. Although it does feature meals, this establishment seems to focus on bringing in new talent and hence directly participates in cultivating creativity.
Faneuil Media
Periphery
Builds online news services, including a directory of Boston area blogs and various maps detailing where news occured. Appears to manage others' efforts rather than create new products.
WRCA 1330 AM
Periphery
This radio station plays Spanish music. It is not actively creating new material, but broadcasting the creativity of others.
Make Music Cambridge
Core
Event that gathers 100+ performers and is based on a festival of performers. The performers play while walking around the Harvard area. It is a yearly event. This event creates an experience that showcases music and its sole purpose is to do this, hence why it is in the core.
Cambridge Library
Periphery
Reason: This is a public library and allows people to check out books. Since it doesn't create books, but merely houses them, it should be in the periphery.
Creative Stride
Core
Reason: This company develops solutions for functional websites. They create sites for companies as well as other organizations. It is described as a design firm. Since they create intellectual products they are in the core because they are actually directly involved in the process of creativity.
The Phoenix Landing
Periphery
Irish pub that also serves as a night club. Since this place isn't primarily focused on creativty (it provides entertainment, but doesn't necessarily help it grow) it is in the periphery.
The Plough and Stars
Core
Described as a hangout that houses various types of music. Their webpage mentions that artists can send their demos in. Although it does feature meals, this establishment seems to focus on bringing in new talent and hence directly participates in cultivating creativity.
Faneuil Media
Periphery
Builds online news services, including a directory of Boston area blogs and various maps detailing where news occured. Appears to manage others' efforts rather than create new products.
WRCA 1330 AM
Periphery
This radio station plays Spanish music. It is not actively creating new material, but broadcasting the creativity of others.
Make Music Cambridge
Core
Event that gathers 100+ performers and is based on a festival of performers. The performers play while walking around the Harvard area. It is a yearly event. This event creates an experience that showcases music and its sole purpose is to do this, hence why it is in the core.
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