John Carpenter’s The Thing Minimalist Poster

Posted on July 3, 2011 by Reverend

I love the minimalist poster assignment over at ds106, and going through the process again allows me to do something with The Thing which I had promised last semester, but never delivered on. I ended up doing The Birds instead, and I think I thought it was better than it really is—but whatever it’s mine. That said, I like my take on The Thing even more–maybe I am getting better? Doubt it, but there is something to practice, practice, practice.

How did I do it?

I have been playing with Photoshop all night, and what I wanted to do is grab an image of the iconic head that grows eyes and legs and scurries off and that capture it as a kind of silhouette or black icon and use that as the poster. So, I found this image and used the magic wand tool to select the head and then went to Select–>Inverse to to select everything but the creature head and cut it all out. This left me with a silhouetter of the head surrounded by white.

I then had an issue with the legs of the monster on the right, so I copied the legs on the left and pasted them in the image and used Edit–>Transform–>Horizontal to make them fit right side seamlessly. I then hid one of the three legs so it didn’t look too symmetrical by grabbing the background color with the eyedropper tool and then brushing it over with white.

I then went on a search for the font used in The Thing poster, but realized it would be easier to just grab the poster and use photoshop to turn the white title to black by using the same method for grabbing the head I outlined above. The only difference was that once I had the title, I inverted the selection and filled it with black by going to Edit–>Fill–>Black.

After that, I used the transform tool to scale the title to how big I wanted i, and finished the whole thing off with a border that I created by selecting a perimeter with the selection tool and using the eyedropper to keep my blacks consistent. After that, I just grabbed the brush, made it a bit bigger and filled in the outlines of the site to give it a tight border that finishes it nicely.

There it is, hopefully I can revisit this and do a better play-by-play with screenshots, but I got it all down for the record at least.

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Lest they forget you, Dr. O’Blivion

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Reverend

Andy Rush, who rules, proved here why nobody makes art like the @rushaw. NOBODY!!! This is magic.

What’s more, it ups the ante. An animated GIF-like film, which reminds me a lot of this awesome site called 2manydjs that David Kernohan tweeted out today. Animated record albums, that is something to strive for right there. I love where I am right now in the web, so much more interesting than “education.”

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ds106 Live Broadcast 6-30-11: Design, Online Collaboration, and an Intro to Digital Audio

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Reverend

Please note: if you ever want to watch the live broadcasts and you have not received the YouTube link, the broadcasts are always available immediately after the session on Justin.tv here: http://www.justin.tv/ds106tv/ (I will make sure the video titles are correct going forward on Justin.tv —my bad).

Update: Here are the links presented during this discussion. Also, here is the transcript from the live chat discussion for this session.

IMPORTANT: The next live broadcast we will be having will be next Tuesday, and I’ll be switching up the times next week a bit. Rather than having the live broadcast at 11:30 AM (EDT) they will be happening next week at 1:30 PM (EDT) to give folks who are in class during the morning a chance to enjoy the Livechat and live stream. Be sure to be there and participate via live chat and/or Skype (call-ins are encouraged—contact jimgroom on Skype).
Due to prior commitments I will not be able to change the time to 1:30 PM (EDT) for the live broadcasts until Monday, July 11th. So, this coming Tuesday, July 5th, the live session will be at 11:30 Am (EDT) per usual.

Broadcast Breakdown
The Live Broadcast from yesterday was a particularly good one, in my humble opinion. We had Bianca preparing for the class she never taught, while Martha and myself went through some design assignments and discussed the amazing work you all ds106ers have been doing thus far (see links here).

We were fortunate enough to have Todd Conaway talk to us about the means by which his 13 year old daughter is using various technologies collaborating with people all around the work to make art. Her story is a powerful one and very important as we move into the online, collaborative part of ds106 which will make up a big part of the audio portion of this course.

The last part of the video was dedicated to introducing you to the audio portion of ds106 (which will require online collaboration, more on that next week). New Media Specialist guru Andy Rush has developed a brilliant overview on Digital Audio here. Be sure to look this over carefully, it is a gem of a resource with a general overview and a ton of good resources. Be sure to check it out. What’s more, unless you have another audio program you are comfortable using (such as Garage Band or Audition) you will all be expected to download Audacity and start playing with it this weekend. There are a couple of tutorials to get you going in the Digital Audio resource Andy created (linked to above)—but there are many, many more out there, try the Google. One more thing, I would like each of you to get an account on SoundCloud and update your audio assignments there, then embed them in your blog.

Assignment for this weekend
You need to complete three audio assignments by Tuesday, July 5th as a way to demonstrate that you have been playing with audio over the weekend. No need for perfect, just for play. Two of those three assignments I am going to recommend you do are The Sound Effects Story (get free sound effects here –be sure to give sound effect authors credit for their work) and Dickie Goodman’s Break-Ins (see the accompanying YouTube video in that assignment for an example). The third one is up to you, and as always if you have a better idea for an assignment submit it, then do it.

Resources:
I am still working on getting the chat from yesterday’s session up and online, I’ll let you all know when it is up.  Also, I have a list of URLs for the design assignments, Todd’s discussion, as well as the intro to audio, you can find them all here. And to re-iterate here is Andy Rush‘s awesome resource on Digital Audio that you should use as an overview as well as a gateway to more resources and tutorials.

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Talking ds106 design with Ben Rimes and Cheryl Colan

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Reverend

In today’s session Bianca O’Blivion seems a bit delusional as to her role in the class, while Ben Rimes and Cheryl Colan were kind enough to talk with me about everything from ds106 design assignments to K-12 education (which I mean to follow up on) to a tutorial (which you can find here) for the Exquisite Corpse design assignment to different approaches to understanding and teaching digital storytelling (my favorite part of the discussion that I do want to follow up on). Special thanks to both Cheryl and Ben for taking time out of their busy schedules for an impromptu talk about whatever I threw at them, they are both extremely gracious and courageous.

Once again the 17+ viewers in live chat added another dimension to the live broadcast discussions as they always do, and we captured that here as well (thank you Andy Rush for both capturing the chat and uploading the video to YouTube—you’ve been huge, can’t thank you enough). It has taken a village to teach this class, and I am fortunate enough to live and work in the best one, bar none, online.

Finally, I must admit I am still a bit concerned how few of the UMW for-credit students are engaging these discussions in anyway. Whether that be watching them, skyping in, reflecting on them in posts, quick YouTube video responses, etc. But that is something we can address on Friday when I will meeting with each of the for-credit UMW students via Skype for a conference about your progress in ds106 thus far. You need to schedule your meeting with me at one of the available times listed in this wiki page as soon as possible. You can add your name next to a specific time by logging into the ds106.us site and then click on the edit link and adding your name next to the time you would like to talk. I am jimgroom on Skype and this meeting is mandatory for all credit seeking students.

Best,
Jim

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Creativity, Pop Culture, and Copyright

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Reverend

In today’s live broadcast we were fortunate enough to have the diabolical sock puppet Stella Meme join us. She left us with an awesome resource here with links to a number of excellent videos resources such as RIP: A Remix Manifesto (featuring Girl Talk), Larry Lessig on copyright, and Steven Johnson’s Where Good Ideas Come From. What’s more Otto Paertz joined in at the end of the call when discussing the ds106 assignment repository.

The conversation is a free-ranging discussion about everything from creativity, Jonestown, copyright, creative commons, Hollywood cannibalizing itself, HBO, the role of popular culture in our moment, design assignments and much, much more. Enjoy!

Tomorrow’s session will look at some particular Design assignment examples and hopefully work through an example. On Thursday we jump to Audio, so be sure to download Audacity if you don’t have an application for audio editing on your computer.

Also, a couple of points I want to reiterate for the UMW for-credit students:

  • Be sure you are commenting on other people’s work, I can’t emphasize how important this is to your success in this course
  • Building on the first point, please be sure you are moderating all comments on your blog and publishing them so others can get credit for them
  • You need to make sure you post a link to your assignments on Twitter, with a link to your blog and the #ds106 hashtag
  • Have you changed your Daily Shoots to a Creative Commons license? And are you tweeting them daily and using hashtag #ds106
  • YouTube video responses to the daily live broadcasts? Chelsea is carrying you all on this.
  • I will be sending out a schedule for Skype calls this Friday so that I can speak with each of you for 5 or 10 minutes about your progress in this class thus far. Your assessment.
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The Search for O’Blivion: a phone call, an image, and a potential posse?

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Reverend

After today’s live broadcast I received a rather strange phone message which I’m not sure what to do with, take a listen below and let me know what you think. It was from this free online wake-up call service, so it could have been anyone—as always the case with these clues and sightings—but the reference is odd, and there is a promise for more updates.

A phone message from Dr. O’Blivion?

Also, someone uploaded the following screenshot via the ds106radio dropbox, once again I have no real way to trace the source, but the file name was “closer_than_you_think.png”. Bizarre.

I am assuming it is the minecraft.ds106.us server we have setup for any and everyone to use, but on a quick scout through the environment today I came up empty handed. It’s a vast world, however, and it would take a well organized search party to make any real headway. Perhaps there may be some out there interested in organizing and leading a search posse for Dr. O’Blivion in Minecraft? It may very well be a lead worth following.

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Week 2: Design Assignments and a Skype Call with Oblivion

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Reverend

All,

Welcome to week 2 of the Summer of Oblivion, I have to apologize in advance for the seemingly unending drama surrounding Dr. Oblivion. If we know things were going to work out like this we would have never hired him. That said, the show must go on, so be sure to watch both part 1 and part 2 of today’s live broadcast. Part 1 reviews the visual work of ds106 students over the past 3 or 4 days and part 2 talks about some required listening and viewing along with a Skype call between myself and a (not THE) Dr. Oblivion that ends quite badly.

Todays Live Broadcast

Part 1

Part 2

Required listening/viewing, as well as some useful design resources

This Week’s Design Assignments
Complete at least four Design assignments from the ds106.us site. You can find them all here. Feel free to submit new assignments as you feel compelled. They all need to be completed by this Friday, 6/27—and ideally you will do one a day. On Thursday we begin moving towards audio, so remember how fast this course moves and be sure not to fall behind now ebcause audio will prove very demanding.

Tomorrow’s Live Broadcast
I am counting on having a live broadcast again tomorrow at 11:30 AM (EDT), but unfortunately I am getting quite sick. I will do what I can to find a replacement if it proves unwise for me to go on with it given my condition. I had one co-presenter planned for tomorrow, but if anyone else would like to jump on the live broadcast via Skype or their own video camera I can give you access to the Justin.tv account for ds106, or just contact me with your Skype address. Let me know if this is an option via email (jimgroom_at_gmail.com), but count on seeing me unless you hear otherwise tomorrow.

We will be discussing the art of design, some of the inspirations for the assignments we have in this category, as well as iPad visualizations, and copyright. In preparation for the discussion about copyright see the blog post on the recent “Kind of Bloop” incident.

Also, read D’Arcy Norman’s follow-up to the discussion wherein he discusses the potential impact for ds106.

Godspeed O’Blivion’s return,
Jim Groom, TA Extraordinaire

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Dr. O’Blivion dead? Clearing my good name

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Reverend

Over the past week we have not only seen the disappearance of THE Dr. Oblivion, but also the emergence of another Dr. Oblivion who at first claimed to be the real #ds106 Dr. Oblivion, but then retracted this story to clarify that he was in fact retired fisherman from Swaffham (where ever that is). I would link to all these details, but his blog his currently been taken offline by the local police as they server as evidence in an investigation.

So, given the latest development, I think it is high time to come clear with what I do and do not know. I have been contacted extensively via direct message on Twitter for the last week, and those messages have ranged from delusional to accusatory. I have consistently been the object of this particular Dr. O’Blivion’s oscillating moods. I tried to keep my responses to a minimum, but after hearing what I did today over Skype during class (recording following shortly), I think it is prudent to share everything before the authorities intervene so that I can clear my good name.

If none of this makes any sense at all to you, I understand completely, and you should go to Michael Branson Smith’s narration of the events so far here. That will take you up and until today’s tragic call I received from A (not THE) Dr. Oblivion.

So, A (not THE) Dr. Oblivion recently accused me of putting a contract out on his life. Suggesting I as jealous that Dr. Oblivion was now teaching ds106 and I had been relegated to the position of TA this Summer, which I believe is a very noble position in such a rarified course being led by such a visionary as THE Dr. Oblivion. Anyway, A (not THE) Dr. Oblivion recently pointed to this site as evidence that I, Jim Groom, had put a contract out on his life. We all know anyone could have done this, it is basic internet literacy not to trust such disembodied, textual identities. But, something went wrong, there was a so-called Mr. Fixer who started emailing me, and here are our exchanges, for the record:

Subject: Dr. Oblivion
Mr. Fixer to me
show details 5:50 AM (8 hours ago)
_______________________________________________
I believe I can confirm the location of the Doctor. Shall we continue with plan?

I can make arrangements for accident or suicide.

ps. there is tension in situation that was unexpected and unplanned for. Some of the connections between Oblivions have blurred and some are left in baffled state. Elimination may be best asap. We might also allow him to continue? Will wait on your directions before final actions are taken.

This email will disappear ten seconds after it is read.

___________________________________________________
James Groom to Fixer
show details 5:56 AM (8 hours ago)
How I have been linked to you is beyond me, but it is apparent you are incompetent at what you do. Whoever hired you should be furious, for you have been spotted.
I am referring your email and identity to the ds106 authorities.

Jim
___________________________________________________
Mr. Fixer to me
show details 6:01 AM (8 hours ago)
Mr. Groom

Are you saying you wish to discontinue our efforts regarding Dr. Oblivion? I have spend a large sum of the monies you deposited and I have spend considerable effort tracking him.

I will not return any of the money and will call of this hunt if you do not commit to action. Are you in, or out?
__________________________________________________
James Groom to Fixer
show details 6:05 AM (8 hours ago)
I am out nothing and you are delusional. It is you who will be on the run from the authorities. MY conscience is clear, and may God preserve your soul.

Jim

___________________________________________________
Mr. Fixer to me
show details 6:11 AM (8 hours ago)
The I shall leave this dreary town of Swaffham and all it’s stupid inhabitants. Including the doctor.

Mr. Groom, those in my profession are a close knit group and I will be explaining our interaction to them. You have cancelled on a contract. You will have a hard time finding such resources again.

I believe I will spend the rest of your money on a trip to Jamaica.

Good bye Mr. Groom.

> From: [email protected]
James Groom to Fixer
show details 7:04 AM (7 hours ago)
Hippie scum!

Hopefully this email exchange will help to clear my good name. What’s more, this so-called Mr. Fixer is now direct messaging me as @OblivionDoc as a means to inimidate me. See the following:

I hope this evidence proves I have done everything I can to help the authorities. Given those direct messages from Mr. Fixer it seems that A (not THE) Dr. Oblivion may still be alive, but who can be sure at this point. You should be able to better judge once we share the broadcast in which the audio of Mr. Fixer attacking A (not THE) Dr. Oblivion was captured. Fact is, at this point I don’t know who or what to believe, and I really hope someone can offer a clue to what’s next? Any lawyers out there who can give me advice to protect myself from the certain barrage of questions, accusations, and general infamy? I’m just the ds106 TA, and I need your help.

Update: In the comments below Martha Burtis asked for some screenshots as more conclusive evidence. I could just as easily have PhotoShopped this info in Gmail, but given it is all true, here are the screenshots, and I will be happy to share my account info with you if you want more. I am innocent!

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Danger Diabolik!

Posted on June 26, 2011 by Reverend

Danger Diabolik is one of my favorite Mario Bava films, and this animated GIF is taken from probably my favorite scene in the film which has Diabolik tearing around in his bitchin car driving to the tune of Ennio Morricone’s best song off the soundtrack “Driving Decoys.”

From Mario Bava's Danger Diabolik!

I would narrate the process here, but I already have elsewhere. My fourth visual assignment, which means I have met the course requirements for week 1 and can move on with the game….can you?

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Averaging Flickr Visual Assignment, the new black

Posted on June 26, 2011 by Reverend

Last semester maybe one or two ds106 participants did Timmmmyboy’s Averaging Flickr Concepts assignment, but this semester it seems to be one of the most popular. One of the reason may very well be Tim Owen’s awesome tutorial. Interesting how the assignment bank will in many ways start to reflect those changes of interest and focus over time, very cool. A whole host of folks did the Averaging Flickr Concepts assignment.

I think creating a tutorial for all these assignments would be a cool cool for going at ds106 into the future, and I would love to see more from the good folks out there. I’ll pitch in my part as well. Needless to say, I also did the Averaging Flickr Concepts assignment which forced me to download a trial version of Photoshop—which would be a layup for anyone in ds106. And Tim’s tutorial was brilliant and the assignment was easy. I averaged the keyword blue, and inspired by Lou McGill I tried to do something with the final image as a background—and not having the Photoshop skills she obviously does for cut out complex images I took a silhouette of the recently missing Dr. O’Blivion and made another “Missing Persons” poster.

Image of Dr Oblivion Missing Person Poster

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