New-Fangled Giving

Posted by Kara Ayaram in Matters To Us, Random on January 5th, 2012

As 2011 drew to a close, you probably had giving on the mind. Not just with holiday presents and host gifts, but combined with the many requests for your year-end donations, it all conglomerated to form a whirlwind package of year-end generosity. But of course, giving doesn’t stop when January first rolls around. It’s the more subtle giving that lasts throughout the year that, perhaps, makes the bigger difference for both us and the community and world we live in. As we settle into the blank and fresh 2012, we’d like to take note of changes in the way the world gives, and perhaps write this year’s story of giving a little better than the year before.

There have been three major shifts in how we give. The first is an turning from a one-way donor-to-recipient model to a community-oriented, grassroots partnership model. Instead of giving toward large, multifaceted undertakings, projects are smaller, and communication between donor and recipient is increased, and sometimes even tangible. Therefore, gifts aren’t seen as much as donations, but more of a support partnership. It’s been around for a while, with the likes of microfinance-oriented sites you’ve heard of like Kiva and Kickstarter.

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Best Christmas Episode Ever?

Posted by Bob Davidson in Inside Rule29, Random on December 9th, 2011

One of the most often overlooked benefits of the holiday season is the plentiful of Christmas episodes our beloved sitcoms offer up each year. Some have failed, but plenty have offered up new lingo for our holiday cheer. Our office voted and here are some of our (more recent-ish) favorites, everything from this past week’s Modern Family (“Express Christmas”) to what is arguably the greatest Christmas, ahem… “Festivus” episode of all time. Enjoy. Read the rest of the entry >

When Did We Stop Dreaming?

Posted by Tim Damitz in Random on August 19th, 2011

The James Webb Space Telescope. Are you familiar? Named after the NASA administrator who served from 1961-1968, this telescope is set to replace the aging Hubble as our window into the furthest reaches of the universe. Hubble has allowed us to see further and learn more about our cosmos than any other device that I can recall. The JWST is set to build upon that legacy, and then some, with infrared instruments and a mirror that’s about seven times that of Hubble’s primary mirror.

Development and testing of the JWST is well underway, but the telescope is close to losing its funding entirely. Amid delays and cost overruns, the JWST is on the congressional chopping block. At some point, our leaders stopped dreaming.

Recently, this video from Real Time with Bill Maher was shared with me. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Director of the Hayden Planetarium, gets fired up when Bill brings up the JWST and puts some of the congressional decisions in perspective (much more eloquently and passionately than I could).

I love the way Dr. Tyson talks so passionately about the dream that we’ve so carelessly let slip away after taking it for granted for so many years. NASA has the tools to tell the stories that will help inspire a new generation of kids that will grow up without a Space Shuttle. For instance, the #NASATweetups for Juno and GRAIL help tell the tale of an ever exploring NASA even without the Shuttle. Even administrator Charles Bolden is often outspoken with his emotions when discussing the Space Shuttle and future SLS programs – it’s a refreshing honesty and story that I wish more people in leadership positions would share. What will it take for the leaders in our government to start dreaming again?

My iPad… Completes Me

Posted by Katrina Strich in Random, Uncategorized on April 1st, 2011

I’ll admit it. This post might come a in a bit over over the top, but I’m completely enamored with my new iPad. I think it was love at first site watching the Keynote presentation on March 2nd. Don’t get me wrong, the 1st iPad was amazing as well but feeling of “must have” didn’t become overwhelming until the announcement of the 2nd.

I saw that beautiful sleek design of the tablet accessorized by the glorious smart case, coupled with so many delightful features and capabilities and quickly realized – it had to be mine. (Might have been channeling a little Gollum and let slip a “my precious” but don’t quote me on that.)

If I were to describe a typical week day with the iPad, it would go like this. There’s access to Google Docs for the morning production meeting. I’m using it to log onto the different 37 signals applications throughout the day in order to follow up on projects and clients. And, I’m able to walk to and from meetings with all my notes organized and easy access to my email.

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The Most Imaginative (Animated) Film of All Time?

Posted by Bob Davidson in Matters To Us, Random on March 10th, 2011

It’s not an “official” tradition, but more than not, our family sits down together to watch a movie (most) Friday evenings. And having a 10 year-old, 8 year-old, and a 4 year-old, each Friday is proving somewhat challenging to decide upon a movie that everyone enjoys… okay, let’s be honest, one that I enjoy and/or willing to watch. This Friday I finally talked the crew into watching the Japanese animated, and Oscar winning, film “Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi” (Spirited Away, 2001) directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki.

Honestly, it is one of the imaginative, meaningful, and spiritually rich (animated) films I have ever seen and arguably the best animated film of the last 10-15 years. (Before you Pixar fans scream foul, know that Miyazaki’s work, including this film, has served as creative inspiration for John Lasseter’s team at Pixar.) But let me table my own opinion on the matter in favor for what has truly intrigued me about the film – my 10 year-old daughter’s (Grace) utter captivation of the story. Of course, this response made a little more sense to me after I read the following interview with Miyazaki soon after the film’s release:

“The most important thing for me in making this movie was to persuade the 10-year-olds that this movie was for them. I wanted them to be able to recognize themselves in the characters. I think I would like them to leave the movie theater with a sense of humility about the complexity and difficulties of the world we live in.”

So, rather than waste time with my own thoughts on the film, I find it more appropriate to hear from a 10 year-old’s perspective. Here is what my daughter Grace wrote on her blog about the film (unedited):

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