476ad

Now I can only speculate as to why the Web site is called 476ad but the first thing that comes to mind for a history geek like me is the fact that the year 476 A.D. marked the fall of the Roman empire. Visit the site and draw your own conclusions.

476ad is like Last Night's Party except for two distinct advantages. 1) It's not firewalled by Integer. Yet. And 2) Unlike LNP anyone can upload photos of their own shindig. As the site says it's a phot blogging revolution.

Romanesque Debauchery Meet the Photo Diary

Now, according to Iconoculture here's why we should care about this aside from the fact that it's really cool—and I'm talking cooler than in the 5th grade when Phil Roth got the new BMX, tore it up on our homemade dirt track, and was king of Naper Carriage Hill for like a week and a half—aside from that here's why we should care:

• Millennials, among scores of others, are into low-level voyeurism. "From personal blog-scoping to full-fledged Facebook stalking to see other people's party pics, the urge to check out the sometimes banal aspects of peers' lives is in full effect."

• Party-pic sites are popping up to cash in on the popularity of Mash Creativity (SM).

Iconoculturelyze! (That's Iconoculture Analyzes mashed together...see, that's clever)

Never Grow Up. Never Stop Learning.

People are no longer content to have little dreams or hobbies left unexplored. No longer content to take a job and turn it into a career. People want to, in the words of New Belgium's wildly popular print campaign, "follow their folly." Passion for what they do and the happiness that comes with doing what you want are becoming the barometers of success for some. For others it's merely exploring a long nagging interest. Whatever the reasons people are going back to school in record numbers, not to pursue another degree but just to take one or two classes. A literature class here, a music appreciation class there. People are using continuing education to further their hobbies, enrich their lives, and give themselves a sense of fulfillment.



These people cross age, gender, and race barriers, twenty-somethings to baby boomers are doing it. Occasionally a trend comes along that seems to defy demographics and this is that trend for this time. This is now how people sate their wanderlust, not just through travel but through education and stimulation. These are the people determined to not grow up, to not stop seeking out lessons, and to not stop following their follies.

CNN Reports on the Trend

Sidebar: Speaking of New Belgium, they currently have what is unquestionably the best advertising in the beer industry. The first beer company I've seen in, at least, the last 10–15 years to really understand their consumer.

New Belgium on the Boob Toob!

Vertical Farming

Vertical farming? Sounds crazy, right? Straight out of science fiction. Well, maybe not. According to this New York magazine article a Columbia professor believes it's not only feasible, but also inevitable and our only-best chance to curb global warming.

A New York with Farms

I first read about this in todays Rocky Mountain News. A writer for RMN must have stumbled across this article and began thinking about the possibilities of vertical farms in Denver. A possibility that, if these farms are proven to be efficient and doable, I see as very real. That led me to the Web site, which is very interesting.

The possibilities excite me, but more than that I think responsible civic leaders in this day and age have a responsibility to research any and all alternatives to farming, waste, pollution, and conservation. The vertical farm is certainly one such alternative. I appreciate that the conservation movement is starting to gain momentum as the threats and effects of global warming become more real and present, but our overall attitude is still too passive. We must be more aggressive in our efforts to create a new consciousness in our culture, and a new, greener world for our kids and grandkids. If these alternatives, like the vertical farm, can in fact meet these needs (farming in the city not only creates less waste and lower prices on produce it could also allow some farmed areas to return to their natural state, be it plain or forest) then I see no point or logic in idly waiting for someone else to try these methods, or waiting for some magic potion that makes it all better. And we don't need to spend tax dollars to do this. Create incentives for the industry to take charge on this, I don't care if the sign above the entrance to the farm says "City of Denver," "ConAgra," or "Starbucks." Corporations can dig into their pockets, as can philanthropists—after all this is a capitalist society, make it a capitalist initiative. Put dollars and sense behind these methods and make it impossible to not attempt.

Put aside thoughts of global warming for a second and just think how we're all environmentalists. There's not a single person alive who doesn't enjoy the beauty of a warm and clear spring day when the trees are in bloom and the grass is green. No one likes seeing a polluted river or a brown sky. And that is why we need to be proactive in our thinking and aggressive in our actions, if not for the future of the world then just for our own pleasure.

Still need more reasons? The majority of those who are intensely overweight in this country reside in the lower half of the income bracket. Why, you ask? Very simple: junk food is cheap, good food is not. Next time you're at the grocery store compare the cost of some junk food (say a bag of Oreos) to something healthy (a pound of apples) and see A) which is cheaper and B) which lasts longer. More than likely you're answer to both questions will be junk food. However, in a vertical farm environment not only is all food grown locally but it's grown year round. Making it much cheaper to produce and distribute, which would mean that suddenly those with tight budgets don't need to sacrifice to eat well. Now, of course, with all things being equal whether or not someone chooses to eat well is not something we can control beyond education. But the more I think about this the more I'm convinced that something like this needs to be done by someone and soon.

So bring on the ConAgra, WhiteWave, and Fresh Express vertical farming skyscrapers! I already got some good plots of infill land picked out.

Vertical Farm

Despicable Practices?

Is it just me or does this make anyone else kind of sick?

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- The New York Times and "Inside Edition" are among those sponsoring Google key-word searches for the phrase "Virginia Shooting." While many mainstream media companies solicited user-generated media for early coverage of the grisly scene at Virginia Tech, others are now ensuring they're the go-to source for news. In another development, NBC's "Dateline" has set up a FaceBook group seeking out friends of the shooter.

I'd say from now until...at least some later time I will be boycotting the New York Times. I would boycott Inisde Edition too, but you expect this from a fourth-rate sensationalist program like them.

The Slash-Proof Hoodie

An interesting idea, truly, and we'll see it could be hugely successful. I mean, who wouldn't want to wear clothing that helps them be a little more safe?

I do have some questions about its viability though. First, they say that these hoodies are for kids who live in more dangerous neighborhoods. Yet numbers support that if your 'hood's dangerous it's likely also poor, and at $130 a pop (or £65) it's unlikely that the hoodies intended audience can afford them. Secondly, just because it's slash proof doesn't mean it can prevent someone from jacking you for your slash-proof hoodie. And lastly, there's the question of even if this does take off in Europe could it ever make it's way to the States? Because slash-proof definitely doesn't equate to bullet proof.

Prevents Stabbing And Is Machine Washable!

On a slightly unrelated topic: in light of today's tragedy in Blacksburg could someone in Washington please, for the love of God, renew the gun control debate? It's time to tell Charlton Heston and Ted Nugent to f- off. I'm not saying abolish guns, that would be absolutely impossible, but it should nearly impossible to obtain a gun and law enforcement needs to crack down on the black market for these weapons. Then maybe a slash-proof hoodie would make some sense in this country.

Indy 4 Rolling Like a Giant Boulder

Since this is the Pop-Culture Periodical I feel compelled to share this article from USA Today. It's been known for awhile that Indiana Jones 4 is a go, but this film has had false starts in the past. However, this time around there is a script that's been approved by Lucas, Spielberg, and Ford, every key member of the cast has been locked up except Sean Connery, and they're actually in pre-production.

Now the USA Today officially reports what Ain't It Cool News first uncovered two weeks ago: that Shia LeBouf has been cast in the film. Some speculate he's just a sidekick, some say he's Indy's son, all that's known for sure is that he's in it and this film is hitting theaters in May 2008!

No time for love Dr. Jones! We gotta go!

OK, so why report this here? This isn't a trend, right? Well, it is news about one of the most important and successful film franchises in history. You take Star Wars, Indiana Jones and a host of 80s films like Risky Business, Fasttimes at Ridgemont High, Breakfast Club, Goonies, etc. and what you have is Pop Culture. Specifically pop culture that defined a generation. And to see that it's not only kept alive through nostalgia and VH-1, but is actually still a viable product should tell you something about the influence that pop culture has had on our society as well as where we're at today, and perhaps even where we're headed.



This article also serves as an indicator of that because it does mention that Shia (a 20-year old actor who wasn't even alive when most of this stuff came out) is also the star of this summer's live action Transformers adaptation of the popular 80s cartoon series. Some say it will be the biggest movie of the summer. And it very well could be, but it doesn't even compare to another chapter in the Indiana Jones adventure.

Step-It Up!

Organized by 6 college grads this is a protest event on a massive scale. The interesting thing is it's also completely local and do-it-yourself. The goal? Get the government to pass legislation committing to cutting carbon emissions 80% by 2050. The method? A series of local, do it yourself events and protests scheduled for this Saturda, April 14. All you have to do is go to the Web site and find the event going on closest to you. How easy is that? Overall this is pretty ingenious AND there are over 1,300 events set up nationwide.

Unfortunately I have to be in a wedding on Saturday, but protesting has never been easier!

Step-It Up Here!

Basketball Shoes Come Back to Earth

I never thought I'd be saying this but, Thank God for Stephon Marbury. He has started a sneaker line called Starbury. The idea behind this is to make cool sneaks affordable for everyone. He remembers what it was like growing up on Coney Island, the 6th out of 7 children, in a family that could only afford hand-me-downs. Sneaker prices are creeping upwards of $175 for "top of the line" shoes, and what child outside of gated communities can afford that?

So Stephon Marbury created the Starbury line of sneakers: sleek, comfortable, affordable. Currently they're only sold at Steve and Barry's®, but they retail for $14.98. Yep, $15. And Ben Wallace of the Chicago Bulls has since gotten on board to have his own line of Starbury sneakers. Other NBAllers are also in talks to create their own Starbury. People are hoping these are successful to bring sneaker prices back down to earth. I'm hoping it's successful to make the sneaker industry competitive and honestly priced, two things it hasn't really been since the first $100 pair of Air Jordans hit the shelves.

Chuck Taylor Eat Your Heart Out

Springfield is in...

Here's an interesting bit of marketing from 7-11, most importantly I think it shows that they're finally embracing their place in the pop culture and showing an ability to laugh at themselves. Now, this rumor's not been confirmed by either the studio or the company (at least not to my knowledge) but this has come to me from multiple sources so I feel comfortable posting it.

7-Eleven is set to turn a number of its stores into Kwik-E-Marts in conjunction with the release of The Simpsons Movie. Not only will the name on the outside change but inside they will sell products from The Simpsons universe, such as Krusty-Os cereal, Buzz Cola, and squeeshies.

Absolutely brilliant.