A Whole Web World

I hear about a new Web site at least once a day. At work, on the subway, from the crazy person mumbling to themselves on the street. EVERYWHERE! The good news, however, is that most of the time they are actually pretty cool. Here's a highlighted list of some new ones that I've recently discovered:

Hitchsters.com: This lovely website helps people traveling to and from NY coordinate and share a cab with strangers seeking the same. You put in your location, your flight info and travel time and voila!It matches you with someone else who is going to the airport-- gone are the days of spending $60 just to catch your flight. There is of course the $7 ride on the subway, but all New Yorkers know that just takes forever!

Walkjogrun.net: I'm training for a 10 mile run, well, training is rather a strong word since I've been sick the past month and wouldn't exactly call my activity "training," but whatev. Anyway, this site helps you figure out the distance between point A and point B. It's much easier than mapquest because you're able to put your direct route. Unfortunately, I just discovered the run I thought was about 4.5 miles, was actually just a bit over 3. Damn.

Ohmyrockness.com/ pitchforkmedia.com: Two music Web sites I've been paying a lot of attention to. Ohmyrockness is a great source for indie shows in NYC- just realized that The Arcade Fire is coming back to NYC for round two and I am GOING to get tickets this time. Also, Pitchforkmedia is great for music reviews and sampling sounds, which is perfect for this music loving chic.

Twitter: Okay, I was a little suspect of this one at first. But, with much reluctancy I signed up and am actually enjoying it. Basically, it allows you to text, IM or post what your up to whenever you want and it automatically updates all of your friends. It's another social network, but it's more fun because of all the random messages you receive. For example, I got this message from my friend Moka today: "dude! didnt c picasso @ sfmoma! But justin.tv is so Much cooler! Kick ass! Now back to work!" If you're not familiar with Justin.tv well you will be because it's the last site on my list (for today anyway).

Justin.tv: This guy, named Justin, has had a camera attached to his body for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Apparently, he never turns it off. It's like his own version of The Truman Show. Now, I'm not watching Justin every moment of the day (I promise), but it is pretty fascinating and I will admit I've tuned in a couple times since hearing about it. I just checked now and he's playing a poker game! Ha!

SXSW Web Awards

Moka and I pose with video podcaster and host of this year's SXSW Web Awards, Ze Frank. This picture also made it onto PC Magazine's SXSW photo blog. Check it out here.


And the winners of the 2007 Web Awards include....

Exopolis Valentine's Day Mixtape
Smithsonian Photography Initiative
Twitter
Resn 2B2
OwnYourC
The Horizontal Way
Computerlove
Squidoo
Vitamin
The Fallen Alternate Reality Game
TimeTrumpet
Hungry Suitcase
Just for the F of It
Jonathan Yuen
How Do I Say This?
Stikkit
Social Saga

Check them out! I particularly like How do I say this? :)

The Ten

You know that feeling when you come across an idea that is so brilliant you wished you thought of it first?! Well, that’s exactly how I felt after screening The Ten at SXSW. The premise of the film centers on ten stories each based on one of the Ten Commandments. Featuring an ensemble cast including Paul Rudd, Winona Ryder, Rob Corrday, Ken Marino and Liev Schreiber to name a few, The Ten is a witty little ditty full of satire and spunk.

From the start, the film is strong. I particularly enjoyed the first few stories—one focused on, very literally, a fallen falsified idol, and the other on a librarian who is de-virginized during a Mexico vacation by no other than Jesus Christ. Yes, there are some crazy, raunchy, fantastically crass stories in The Ten, but that’s what makes it so much fun. Writer and director David Wain has made another cult classic with The Ten, and I hope it’s successful at the box office and that more people expose themselves to his work which includes The State and Wet Hot American Summer.

I attended a panel featuring David Wain, Paul Rudd who narrates and produces the film, and Ken Marino who co-wrote and produced. Although I’m not shockingly surprised, they pointed out that cast is about 90 percent why films make it to the mainstream. According to the panel, Jessica Alba’s very brief appearance in the film is a big reason why the picture was sold and will be distributed. I thought the film was strongly cast without her, but apparently studios insisted in her involvement, which I find incredibly interesting and somewhat sad. Just think of all the films being made today that don’t include a sexy, million dollar making actress. Everyday movies are being passed up on wide-distribution deals, but they are still very worthy of an audience. This trend in movie-making emphasizes just how important it is to support independent filmmakers and the stories they are trying to tell. I’m getting sick of how celebrity obsessed our culture is getting these days.

Anyway, I highly recommend The Ten. You will all be able to see it August 3, 2007 when it hits theaters nationwide.

Austin, TX

I've been meaning to post each day of the SXSW festival, but obviously have failed. If you haven't made a trip to Austin, Texas I have to ask, "what are you waiting for?" Austin is a great town and during the festival it really comes alive. What could be better than warm weather mixed with intellectual conversations, parties, movies, music and spicy Southwest food?! I've had so much fun in the "live music capital of the U.S" and am feeling a bit sad about leaving.