I’ve always been incredibly fascinated with flash mobs after reading about them several years ago in Harper’s Magazine. Below is a video of a flash mob where more than 200 people freeze in place at precisely the same time for exactly five minutes. Needless to say, people notice and start talking to each other to figure out what’s going on. This is a rather organized group called Improv Everywhere in New York City. I also love their Mobile Desktop mob, where three people bring giant CRT monitors and full size desktops into a Starbucks to use their wifi to get on the Internet. My other favorite to check out is where several people in a Starbucks recreate the same scene looped over and over again like in a time warp for a full hour (it’s named after a phenomenon in Star Trek TNG called the Moebius). One of the most famous flash mobs is called the “silent rave” where thousands of people gather together and spontaneously start dancing their asses off to music no one else can hear.

Here is the video of the Grand Central Station where everyone freezes for five minutes. The full post including narrative and background can be found at Improv Everywhere’s website. I just think this is super cool.

The guys at Common Craft have done it again. Trying to explain to people what twitter is is pointless. They look at me like I’m growing two heads. I’ll admit, when I first heard about it, I thought it was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard. Now, however, things are different. Very different. I’m a non-stop twittering machine! I find it serves a social purpose and a business purpose. It helps you develop the brand that is you, and keeps friends posted on what is going on in your life. Likewise, it allows you keep up with others whom you may find interesting. You may be following someone with which you share interests, or someone who’s an expert in a field of interest. Perhaps you want to follow an up to the minute news source or a presidential candidate. It also can notify followers of updates to your blog as well as update your blog with your tweets (twitter messages are called tweets) in real time (see Nanoblog in the right column). Enough of my piss poor explanation - on with the video!

I think this impressive piece from the current issue of Rolling Stone reflects my own opinion regarding the current Presidential candidacy of Senator Obama. I could make a futile attempt to add something, but I believe she expresses my own viewpoints clearly and concisely. Enjoy.