Amber Mac

A few weeks ago Leo sent me a link to this video of Hillary Clinton shedding her skin, a product sample from Aviary.

This week I contacted the people behind Aviary, a company based in Long Island that offers up "a suite of rich internet applications geared for artists of

all genres. From image editing to typography to music to 3D to video,

we have a tool for everything." 

Very innocently, I asked to be bumped up on their Beta list so that I could show off their tools during an upcoming segment of The Lab with Leo Laporte on G4TechTV.

One of their very creative artists used Phoenix, their Flash-based image editor, to give me the AlienMac look that you see above my "before picture" (just so I could see the product's potential in full swing).  Ah, yeah, thanks guys, love ya.

If I wanted to maintain a professional reputation, I'd probably hide this photo.  But, let's fact it, beside my two gorgeous friends Jenna and Marcella, I look like a renowned member of Star Trek - and that is too good NOT to share.   

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (10)

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (11)

I just spent a brisk 24 hours in Winnipeg, Manitoba, speaking to a small group of CBC's (Canada's national public broadcaster) radio folk about radio stations kicking butt and setting trends in the web space.  While researching radio on the Internet (outside the world of podcasting) I stumbled upon some great examples of innovation in the radio world.  Probably my fave find is KCRW, love their new media player.

*Create your own channel
*Embed content on blogs, websites
*Watch in-studio performances (select shows only)
*Direct links to buy content from authors or artists

The player is still in Beta (like all web apps), but it has a lot of promise.

Let me know if where you're listening (or watching) radio online (if so, post some links).  Have a great weekend ;-).  -A

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (7)

Microsoft FINALLY buys Yahoo!
Originally uploaded by The Core-Man.

Corey from Port Richey, FL just sent me this pic, which he mocked up tonight.  Nice work!

Check out this insightful article re: Microsoft, Yahoo!, and Google.

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (9)

OK, there has been a lot of snow in Toronto this winter.  I know, I know, it is Canada, but the white fluffy stuff is getting a little extreme.  For other snowed-in folks with a few minutes to spare, check out this CBC video snow spoof (I gotta hand it to CBC, they are putting out some innovative, informative, and entertaining content on TV that is making the rounds online - also, it's always fun to watch news people making fun of, well, news people).

UPDATE:  With all due respect to my former colleagues, this article here is hilarious.  Unfortunately, what a lot of viewers don't realize is that the powers that be in newsrooms actually tell reporters to act like this (so, so silly).  The writing is on the wall, or in this report.  Sensational local news reporting is not what viewers want.  Time to put down the snow folks, let loose and do a few donuts in the parking lot (OK, that was me last night). 

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (17)

Just wanted to say a quick congrats to the commandN team!  Our two-and-a-half-year-old video podcast won the Best Podcaster Award for 2007 (CBC Radio 3, which we all love, came 2nd and Galacticast also made the winning list).  Our most recent ep, posted here, is typical for a cN shoot -  bad weather, back alley, and lots of geeking out.  Enjoy!

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (20)

OK, I know that y'all hated the naked photos of Robert and Shel.  Now I'm forcing you to look at naked bums.  It is a pure coincidence that my last two posts involve nudity, must be something in the cold Canadian air. 

I was doing some web navigation research and came across this site (long story how I got to Toto toilets in the first place).  Although these happy (clean) bums and faces could be annoying time and time again, I do really like the innovative way that Washlet uses Flash video and multiple hosts to guide toilet-loving users through its site. 

If you've seen any other interesting site navigation that breaks traditional web design standards, post a comment here.  Am off to watch The Daily Show, so good to have it back (perhaps it's my late-night posting that is leading to nudity >:-).

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (15)