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Send anonymous tweets from God Himself

The Atlanta Egotist — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:32:58 +0000

National

After visiting Tweets from God, you can send completely anonymous tweets from God to whomever you'd like. Seriously. Anonymously tweet anyone. God has spoken.

From the brains belonging to Marcus Brown and Nick Kaplan.

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Hypepotamus makes all of your dreams come true

The Atlanta Egotist — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:00:32 +0000

Local

Kevin Wallace and Heath Hyneman believe in Atlanta. They believe that creatives are born and nurtured in this city and there's absolutely no reason why anyone should ever go anywhere else. After identifying Atlanta as the perfect city for start-ups, they created Hypepotamus. Hypepotamus fosters the development of startups by providing a space as well as connections to similarly interested designers, developers and investors.

If you're a designer and you've got some awesome ideas and you need somebody to help develop it; you need to talk to Hypepotamus. If you're a developer with an idea that needs to be made more marketable, you need to talk to Hypepotamus. These guys are incredibly eager and excited and they want to help.

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GS&P celebrates 75th anniversary of Golden Gate Bridge

The Atlanta Egotist — Thu, 24 May 2012 22:15:25 +0000

National

On May 27th, over Memorial Day weekend, the Golden Gate Bridge will celebrate it's 75th anniversary. To commemorate the event, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners created a poster series featuring unusual and beautiful images of the bridge. Updated from the trendy vintage travel posters, they certainly deliver the message to the masses but wink at the past glory days of automobile travel.

Check them out here.

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Timeline Movie Maker now for Facebook Pages

The Atlanta Egotist — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:45:58 +0000

National

In January 2012, in conjunction with the creation of Facebook Timeline, Definition6 released Timeline Movie Maker, a FB app that does just that. The app analyzed your timeline, interactions, posts, etc. and then picks out the most important bits and makes a one minute movie about your Facebook persona. (Our favorite part is the Making your Movie bit).

As of May 22, businesses now have the ability to create the same sort of video that revolves around their Facebook page. This gives businesses the opportunity to showcase their brand, developments and whatever else they choose into a moving picture.

Now Hiring: Production Artist/ Graphic Designer - Schawk (Cupertino)

The Atlanta Egotist — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:59:20 +0000

National

Schawk, a brand marketing agency, is hiring a Production Artist/ Graphic Designer, to be a part of the Screen Team. Check out the job details here.

Please Note: You must become a member to see jobs posted within the last three days.

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Now Hiring: Content Traffic Manager - Schawk (Cupertino)

The Atlanta Egotist — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:55:39 +0000

National

Schawk, a brand marketing agency, is hiring a freelance Content Traffic Manager in Cupertino, CA. Check out the job details here.

Please Note: You must become a member to see jobs posted within the last three days.

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Backed-up Ketchup bottle? MIT Engineers got you covered.

The Atlanta Egotist — Thu, 24 May 2012 00:32:24 +0000

National

In a recent competition, MIT engineers solved an ordinary problem; backed up Ketchup bottles.

By inventing a non-toxic chemical that will line the inside of bottles, food items like Ketchup will easily slip out of the bottle. So what? The condiment market is worth about 17 billion dollars. The amount of food waste due to sticky bottles could add up to about a million dollars every year.

Lesson learned; there is no problem too small.

Via NPR

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Science on Tap: Film talks & booze at the GA Aquarium

The Atlanta Egotist — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:26:50 +0000

Local

A film about the great, wet unknown, beer, and fish. What else could a human ever need? Join the GA Aquarium tomorrow evening for Science on Tap, a regularly occurring lecture series. In this upcoming Science on Tap, the film, Nightlife, Sea Creatures, See, and Undercurrents, will be played with a discussion to follow. Heineken, hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served.

To purchase tickets, please visit here.

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Satellite images of Americans being fat after dark

The Atlanta Egotist — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:01:02 +0000

National

Okay, they're not really real satellite images, but they certainly look like it. Check out how Americans, compared to the rest of the world, eat junkier and fattier foods as the evening progresses. Sure, we're all healthy (sort of) in the daylight...when people can actually see us. But in the silent night hours, the faint, harsh light of the the Refrigerator, our Fatty McFattysons certainly do come out. Read the article here.

Via NPR

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German Street Artist 'Photoshops' H&M ads

The Atlanta Egotist — Wed, 23 May 2012 03:36:44 +0000

National

The woman featured in this H&M campaign is white however, she's been criticized for tanning herself into another race. After some controversy, an anonymous street artist voiced their opinion by carefully tagging the billboard ads with a Photoshop Tool Bar, reminding viewers of the reality of campaigns.

Via Brand Flakes For Breakfast

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Fabulous Dictators painted by Scott Scheidly

The Atlanta Egotist — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:13:55 +0000

National

Schiedly depicts famous dictators as their utterly fabulous inner selves. Check out more of his work here.

via Brand Flakes for Breakfast

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Transparency in the Evolution of Technology

pieratt — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:33:14 +0000

The Next Web recently asked Is the internet is making us more honest?

The article is interesting, but I wonder if there is more at play here.

If you’ve ever gotten me liquored up, you may have heard me mention my belief that the internet is forming the foundation of what will eventually become the first artificial intelligence. Which is to say, I believe that someday, our collective activity online will reach the right density and type and the connections between us will become synapses. Somewhere in the digital aether a light will go on and a new kind of life will exist. The first self-aware machine, born of the wetware of a billion+ humans.

If you take this as a given (!), that we are all nodes in the network of a massive machine, then our move towards transparency begins to look more like system optimization on a cultural scale, encouraged through new memes and behaviors, as expressed in all sorts of unexpected ways, like Foursquare checkins, reality television and CEOs volunteering their failures.

A lie holds no information beyond what it says about the lie teller. An exaggeration stated in conversation does nothing but breed false expectations in the mind of listener. A great experience not shared is done so at the detriment of the collective. If my laptop was forced to run on the inefficiencies inherent to the day-to-day communication styles of a typical person, one full of nuance, assumption, and false starts, its processor would slow to a crawl and burn out altogether.

From the Next Web article:

I’ve literally stopped telling little white lies because it’s much easier to be honest. Instead of cancelling a meeting with a PR rep and using the excuse “I’m not feeling well,” I say, “I’m exhausted and taking tomorrow off to go to the beach!” because I know I’ll likely take a picture of my beach trip on Instagram and wouldn’t want to get caught in a lie. And you know what? Most of the time they just say, “Have a great time!”

As a society, we’ve had 10,000 years to choose to be open and honest with each other, and we have generally chosen not to. But now we’re at a point where new technology plays a critical role in our lives, and technology has no use for our half-truths and doublespeak. They are disruptions in the flow of information. As we are all becoming parts of the machine, our relationships with each other are being ground down to purer, more efficient forms so that they can be put to better use.

We are becoming more honest because it increases the speed at which information can travel. We are becoming less private because to withhold valuable knowledge from the rest of the network is to act selfishly. We are becoming more transparent because that is what the evolution of technology asks of us.

Ben Pieratt is the designer and co-founder of The Egotist Network and Svpply. He loves design and he loves the internet. This piece was cross-posted from Ben's blog.

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Coupe Farts. Everyone Listens.

The Denver Egotist — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:04:12 +0000

Local

Recently, Boulder’s Coupe Studios challenged Egotist readers to pose sound questions via Twitter in preparation for their new “Ideas. Amplified.” campaign from gyro’s Denver office. The crowd-sourcing initiative launches today (you'll see it over there on the right) and features original animated soundscapes by Coupe, animated visuals by gyro AD and resident doodle maestro, Rob Lewis, and questions submitted by Egotist readers. Writer Ricky Lambert and ECD Cameron Day pitched in on the concept, along with Coupe’s multi-faceted sound designers and composers. Credit for the twittered questions appear in each banner. Tweet your question today for consideration in future banners — the weirder, the better.

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Unused Parisian Subway Platform Used to Advertise Movie

The Atlanta Egotist — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:46:09 +0000

National

Unused Saint Martin subway platform in Paris, France was transformed to advertise an upcoming movie, Prometheus. Subway riders would travel through what looked like a cave with icons and references to the movie.

This is an awesome space that has been underutilized in most underground systems. However, due the fleetingness of the scene, I wish that they had taken the opportunity to really go over the top with the design. But alas.

Via PSFK

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This Weekend: Tunes from the Tomb, About The Modern Spirit, Atlanta Streets Alive!

The Atlanta Egotist — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:13:55 +0000

Local

Tunes from the Tomb
Benefiting Oakland Cemetary, Tunes from the Tomb is a music festival featuring all sorts of musicians on five different stages throughout the park.

When:Saturday and Sunday, May 19th, 20th
Where: Oakland Cemetary
More information: http://www.oaklandcemetery.com/tunes.html

About The Modern Spirit
Alejandro Aguilera, local Atlanta artist, will be featured at the High Museum until May 20th (Sunday) for About The Modern Spirit exhibition. Aguilera's work has been called a life-affirming group hug to human creativity (via Creative Loafing) as he captures the wisdom and spirit of his subjects.

When: Through Sunday
Where: High Museum, 1280 Peachtree St. Atlanta

Atlanta Streets Alive!
Celebrating life without cars and traffic, Streets Alive! will be embracing Highland, just south of Ponce De Leon, as it will be closed to all motorized vehicles. Calling it Human Powered Amusemet, there will be the Bicycle Parade, soccer, laughing yoga, double dutch jump roping and much more!

When: Sunday, May 20th
Where: two mile stretch of N. Highland
More information: http://www.atlantastreetsalive.com/

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Toddlers on Skrillex: "This music makes me want to slap my sister's fat bum"

The Atlanta Egotist — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:53:47 +0000

National

While we're on the kid track, might as well cover Noisey's newest project: interviewing British children regarding their thoughts on Skrillex. A bit hysterical, a bit disturbing, but mainly an interesting montage of opinions and very legitimate questions.

via Paste

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Nine year old blogs about school lunches

The Atlanta Egotist — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:37:09 +0000

National

Today my lunch was baked potato and cheese. I was given an overload of salad and with the potato it really filled me up and it was hard to finish. The brownie is definitely better than Dads as it has sticky chocolate icing on it. It is crumbs in the photo by the cake, not flies.

Food-o-meter- 6/10
Mouthfuls- 48 (didn't quite finish the salad)
Courses- main/dessert
Health Rating- 9/10
Price- £2
Pieces of hair- 0

Surprisingly interesting idea for a blog and it's a good way for kids to keep up writing.

Excellent job, Veg! Read more here.

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Creative Circus lets students fight to the death: it's okay, they can fend for themselves.

The Atlanta Egotist — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:48:48 +0000

Local

The Creative Circus, an advertising and design school located in Atlanta, GA, mandates a particular class for all designers. This class is considered one of the most terrifying and deadly classes the school has to offer. Legend has it, it used to be called Deathmatch (according to official records, the actual name is a bit more corporate-friendly).

Every week, students are given a new assignment, five days later it must be completely finished and turned in for judging. All entries are posted on the Deathmatch blog and professionals and creatives are invited to judge. Traditionally, if a student ranked last two weeks in a row, they would fail the class (as we understand it, we believe they've done away with that friendly tradition).

Check out the Deathmatch work here.

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Glee's Sue Sylvester hates on advertising folks. Oh no.

The Atlanta Egotist — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:02:45 +0000

National

"Commercials aren't real life. Advertisers are manipulative alcoholics who use images to play on our emotions."

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Support SCAD:atl student in Keane Poster Design Competition!

The Atlanta Egotist — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:29:56 +0000

Local

Creative Allies has challenged designers and illustrators to create a Keane summer tour poster, and one of our local SCAD students has submitted an illustrated poster! Thomas Turner is just about to wrap up his BFA in Illustration, and we're asking you to give him your vote in this competition.

Check out his poster (as well as submit your vote) here.

Good luck, Mr. Turner!

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Pergo vs. Battlebots

The Atlanta Egotist — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:19:16 +0000

Local

In the next Pergo commercial-sode, Pergo's wood floors are matched up against the legendary Battlebots. Although we've seen this formula before with Pergo's TV spots, this one in particular stands out. Perhaps it's the aching nostalgia. Or perhaps it's the element of surprise. Or perhaps it's because the arena is now in your own home. (The first 'challenge' was on a boardwalk, the second being in an animal shelter.)

Way to go, Fitzco !

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What Book Should You Read Next

The Atlanta Egotist — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:40:17 +0000

National

Dinah Fried is a RISD MFA graphic designer that recently launched a site dedicated to what you should read next. Simply laid out without option of refreshing or skipping (other than manually refreshing your browser), this website tells you exactly what you should read next. No buts nor ands.

What Book Should I Read Next?

Excellent, Dinah!

viaQuipsologies

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Exclusive interview with ATL designer James Martin!

The Atlanta Egotist — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:36:05 +0000

Local

The Burger Coalition, a monthly meet-up with the intention of connecting people with people (and awesome burgers). The coalition will hopefully spark progressive conversations amoungst local innovators.

We were lucky enough to be able to interview James Martin, one of the two founders of The Burger Coalition. James is an Atlanta-based designer that has been the brains behind numerous projects that really exemplify simple and unique ideas.

1. Why Atlanta? You're here by way of Ohio, what inspired and influenced the move?
James: I moved to atlanta in June 2010 to open up a design agency with two other dudes. They both lived here already, so once conversation went from a little idea to oh shit, it's happening, I threw as many things as I could fit in a ford ranger and made the drive down. It wasn't until the following lyrics played en route to Atlanta that I realized that I was committed to this little idea we all had: I'm gonna take me that south-bound, all the way to Georgia now. It's interesting reflecting on it now, nearly two years later, the idea of transplanting your entire life to a new city. I let things unfold and was met with such support in Atlanta.

2. Now that you've been here for a bit, what makes Atlanta Atlanta?
James: Atlanta is such a wonderful place for me. Personally, it opened a new and very wild chapter in my life. I had just started an agency and was working for myself and collaborating on some pretty awesome projects at Cardinal & Company (c&c). I remember so vividly being constantly in awe of the neighborhoods. They truly inspired me and motivated some of my biggest self-initiated projects. Whenever I wasn't at the studio, I was exploring through them. Local food was a big deal for me, too. Where I'm from, the dinner options were chain restaurants. Now, all of a sudden there are countless places to dine that offer good food and excellent stories. The beautiful thing about many of the restaurants in Atlanta is that they invite conversation and are accessible to the neighborhoods they call home.

3. Is there a specific hide-out (ie coffee shop, museum, park etc.) you go when you need a jolt of inspiration? What's your regiment?
James: First of all, coffee is a big part of my routine. I appreciate the expertise that baristas and roasters in atlanta give to their craft. As a designer, I soak in the vibes at coffee shops and utilize that positive reaction to assist in my work. Sometimes, I'll sneak away to Condesa or the Old 4th Ward park and just sketch. Usually for a project, but sometimes just to get some floating ideas out of my head. The spring in Atlanta is such a wonderful time to visit the parks, with the breeze and the changing foliage. The murals in atlanta, the hidden nooks, the festivals, the people, but mostly the neighborhoods with all of their happenings inspire me. Wherever I may be standing or driving when those things confront me, that's my secret hideout.

4. You've curated several projects involving creativity in the South; what do you suppose is the biggest thing that we've got to offer?
James: I admit that living the South was never on my radar growing up. I had these blinded goals of going to New York or Chicago and living happily ever after. The second I moved to Georgia, I was engulfed in so many different wonderful emotions. The sense of being a part of such history, being supported creatively by a welcoming community, being introduced to wonderful food and art, having the neighborhoods around me be so beautiful and truly understanding what that whole southern hospitality deal is all about. This place is home.

5. Many of your projects seem to be self-initiated, which is incredibly admirable. How do you find time/ funding to do it? Do you have any advice for young, awesomely naive creatives?
James: I don't sleep. I can't sleep when I become passionate about an idea or project that I've started. I love collaborating and creating things that people find useful or that are supportive of the community. I'm so fortunate to be in a city with a very good collective of makers, which constantly motivates me. I get so excited about ideas when I talk them out with fellow creatives that they usually evolve in to more focused projects. Most the time, though, I'm doing projects that I'd love to be a part of if someone else created them.

For example, I'm a cofounder of TripLingo, a foreign language learning guide to help travelers assimilate while abroad. I traveled internationally a lot and the tool that TripLingo offers is the exact tool that I'd utilize as a traveler.

Additionally, I am designing an iPhone app for The Disloyalty Card, which reinforces the idea of exploration around the city, shopping local, and supporting the vendors in our city that have passion for coffee.

I also just launched The Burger Coalition with this guy in Birmingham that we're completely bootstrapping, although we're slowly reaching out for sponsorship to help support some of the logistics. These sorts of projects are all self-funded, with the exception of TripLingo which is investment and revenue supported. For bigger initiatives such as Something in Particular, the documentary about Southern creativity and The NeuYear calendar, funding was needed in order to see the project through. In that regard, Kickstarterwas used. The need for funding is dependent on the resources needed to get the idea out to the world.

6. And last, but certainly not least, if you were an animal, what would you be?
James: I'd be a squirrel. I fucking love them. (See photo above)

Check out James' portfolio here.

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This Weekend: The Room, WRAS Fest, ATL Fringe Fest and Unplugged in the Park

The Atlanta Egotist — Fri, 11 May 2012 21:39:53 +0000

Local

The Screening of the Room, with directors Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero
Known as the worst movie ever made, The Room has become an incredible cult classic. Come see the movie and shake hands with the dudes behind it all.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8:30
Where: The Plaza Theater

WRAS Fest
We all love Album 88. And now it's time to party with Album 88, featuring Cute Boots, Elf Power, NEC and others. More info on their site.
When: Saturday 6pm- 1am
Where: Goat Farm

ATL Fringe Festival
The underground artists of the world are coming together in Atlanta to celebrate the unusual fine arts. Check out their performances happening all week. More information here.

Unplugged in the Park at Park Tavern
Every Sunday in the summer, Park Tavern hosts various musicians for an outdoor concert. Check out this week's featuring Charlie Mars.
When: Sunday 7:30 until 11
Where: Park Tavern.

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A logo-less branded spot: does it work?

The Atlanta Egotist — Fri, 11 May 2012 21:12:36 +0000

National

Ford's newest TV Spot features the cars, the brand and certainly carries a tone, however, no where in the commercial does the V.O. mention Ford nor do you see the logo anywhere. Does it work?

When they actually aired the commercial, it was sandwiched by Ford sponsorships and whatnot, so it was probably a bit more obvious who the commercial was intended to represent.

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