So this was in response to Khurt Williams request for me to work on the idea that he and his family came up with, essentially a character to raise awareness for Diabetes and the rituals that go with it. I like what I did, but I really prefer his original image that he gave me for inspiration a whole lot more:
Thanks for the opportunity, Khurt, but quite honestly, I think your original is quite possibly the better solution.
So foursquare can be used as a brand building tool, to let people know the venues you visit, the kinds of things you do, and in a way, the kind of person you are. If you check in to museums, coffee shops, and libraries, it says something, and if you check into other kinds of places, it sasy something different. However, going further, it’s a game.
It allows you to vie for control over spaces, even if it just means something to a few people. It can be a lot of fun. For instance, several months ago I created the venue “Moore Library” at Rider University which happens to be the building that houses my office. Dave Reynolds, who also works in this building, took the venue (became Mayor) after a long ongoing bout of checkins. In order to maintain your status you have to check in at least one day per month more than another foursquare user. He slowly crept up and rigorously overtook me after a few months of me sporadically forgetting to check in, and it was a friendly, but sobering, loss with much social fallout.
After a few more months of steady checkins, this morning I regained the Mayor title, when I saw the message depicted above on my phone.
And I plan to keep it.
A library in New Jersey has apparently removed a book from its shelves due to pressure from a political group. The problem, first and foremost, is that the protocol for the removal of the book was not strictly followed, and instead, a leader in the library decided to simply bypass the process of removal and just sort of make it disappear. The book is Revolutionary Voices: An Anthology of Queer Youth and the removal controversy is detailed at as well as , and http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/nj_public_library_removes_lgbt_book_after_request.php . My biggest concern is the cited reason for the removal: Child pornography, which is in response to the image that my image spoofs, available for your review at — Note that the image may not be suitable for all viewers, at least out of context, but certainly is reasonable enough in the context of art, sexual identity issues, and coming of age in the LGBT community in a world that generally does not accept nor understand it without help. In reality, it looks like a blurry picture of two wrestlers next to a blurry picture of a scout leader and a boy scout. Bad art? Maybe. Child porn? Hardly. Also, some of my favorite librarians in NJ are being given some negative focus for raising their voice about the issue: the unilateral removal of content without proper review. Meanwhile, the rest of my favorite librarians in NJ are showing their strong support for a book that’s being met with (in my opinion) homophobia and prejudice.
Andy Woodworth, a NJ Librarian and friend, suggested a part of the response to his tweet to the recently retired Old Spice Guy (OSG), a video in which OSG talked up some of the benefits of libraries, which in turn started some larger conversations and discussions about the interactions of commercial ventures and libraries and what that means. Andy details the exchange here. The video in part stated, in typical genius, freethought OSG style:
“I’m handsome. You’re pretty. Let’s eat peanut butter. Stop throwing pigeons. Jump onto that giraffe.”
Nice work, Andy, for keeping the discussion public and going, and we’ll miss you OSG.
So @annavan (Scoyoc), a friend in the NJ Library Land circle, simultaneously made me aware of a logo contest for Libraries and Transliteracy and called me out (in the best possible way). She tweeted
“It’s Contest Time! Libraries and Transliteracy Needs a Logo! https://librariesandtransliteracy.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/its-contest-time-libraries-and-transliteracy-needs-a-logo/ [hmmm… wonder what @lemasney would come up with]”
I love design challenges, Libraries, and Anna, so this one was a no brainer. So the first thing I did was make sure I had a clear understanding of transliteracy and how it related to libraries, and so I did some research, starting but not ending with the ubiquitous Wikipedia entry, which gave me a good start, defining Transliteracy as:
“Transliteracy is The ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks. (PART 2007) The modern meaning of the term combines literacy with the prefix trans-, which means “across; through”, so a transliterate person is one who is literate across multiple media.” from Transliteracy – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia at Sun Jul 18 2010 14:12:31 GMT-0400 (EST) on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transliteracy
A few other sources extended, reinforced and clarified the definition. Thanks for the nudge, Anna, and I hope my answer gets to the finals!
If you like this image, please share it. If you use it, please attribute me, and thanks! (cc-by lemasney)
lemasney, design, open source, creative commons, cc-by, typography, poster, Inkscape, GIMP
If you like this design, please consider looking at my Graphic Design Portfolio, Presentations Portfolio, or upcoming Public Workshops or Classes. Let’s do something great together!
This came out of a conversation with a very good friend about relationships and how some people really work together in couples in such a way that they increase in energy and explosive potential when they’re near each other. I personally prefer a calming relationship with others — I seek out people who are happy, productive, and encouraging, but I know a few people who seek out the explosive, the challenging, on purpose. In a way, I think of my relationship with you, the audience for 365sketches, as having explosive potential. With each feedback loop, each connection, each suggestion, I get blown up into a new way of thinking, and detonations of new ideas. Thanks!
You’re the gasoline to my molotov cocktail; you’re the detonator to my c4. You complete me. cc-by lemasney