Metronauts: Getting People Excited About Transportation

Frequent topics of conversation with strangers: the weather, the time, the fact that it’s still snowing in April, the reason the bus is always late.

If you’re one of those people that loves bemoaning traffic, public transit, bike access, and a lack of great walkways, keep reading. If you’re one of those people that is not only frustrated, but has some fantastic ideas and solutions as well, I urge you to read the rest of this post.

Still reading? Good. I’d like to introduce you to Metronauts.

Uh, what is it?

To put it simply, it’s a way for people passionate about transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton region to voice their opinions on the upcoming Regional Transportation Plan being drafted by Metrolinx. But how about I let the project introduce itself:

Metronauts.ca is an open community of people from across the sprawling greater Toronto region who care about the future of their cities. Metronauts are explorers of the future form of our cities and the role transportation has in our lives.

The Metronauts community exists online at Metronauts.ca, and also includes a series of physical events taking place across the region over the next few months.

Cool, so what can I do?

The first thing you need to do is get involved in the online community. The only way we can encourage good discussion and share exciting ideas is if we get a diversity of voices involved. You don’t have to be from Toronto; you don’t have to be a transit junkie to voice your opinion either. All you need is some ideas and a willingness to discuss them with others. So go register now.

Once you’ve got yourself signed up for the online community, come out to an event! The first Metronauts Transit Camp (sweet, it’s an unconference) is this coming Saturday, and even though registration is closed for now, if you put your name on the waiting list, there’s a good chance more spots will open up.

Wow, are you a rockstar?

I’m no rockstar, but I am pretty proud to be working with a great bunch of people on this project. Here’s are the members of the band:

Mark Kuznicki (Steward-in-Chief), Wendy Koslow (Cruise Director), Sean Howard (Participatory Research Strategist), Misha Glouberman (Conversationalist & Facilitator), Sameer Vasta (ME!), Jed Kilbourn (Cultural Anthropologist), Qasim Virjee (Online Community Architect), Matt Rintoul and Lee Dale (Community Site Design), Alistair Morton (Visual Identity Designer), Daniel Rose (Collaborative Innovation Facilitator), David Eaves (Public Sector Renewalist), Michele Perras (Innovation Design Strategist), Jay Goldman (Social Technology Advisor), Eli Singer (Social Media Advisor), David Crow (transitcamp.org Domain Steward), Joey deVilla (Accordion Guy), Mark Raheja (Experience Strategist), Mark Surman (Professor of Open).

ICE08: Day Two

I could share another quirky story with you about my day yesterday at ICE08, but instead, I want to take this time to say a little thank you to Michele Perras.

Michele is a producer at Interactive Ontario that was instrumental in making ICE08 happen. For the entire duration of the conference, she was running around and making sure everything was going great and everyone was doing well, and she did it wonderfully. She was also the person that recruited me to blog for the ICE08 blog, and I want to thank her for giving me that opportunity. Attending ICE08 was an excellent experience for me, and have Michele to thank for that.

Speaking of the ICE08 blog, yesterday I wrote about bridging the gap between ideas and research:

In addressing the issue of finding great talent and innovative people, Montandon was clear: if you create an exciting environment where ideas are valued, you don’t have to look for great talent, because the talent will want to come work for you.

I also talked about future innovations in wireless:

If ubiquitous connectivity is essential to grow mobile and wireless adoption in Canada, is there room for growth when our wireless data rates are still some of the worst in the world? Smartphones and mobile devices these days are powerful enough to deliver rich and intuitive experiences, so why are there still few content providers taking advantage of this power to provide usable and compelling experiences?

ICE08 has now wrapped up, so I’m taking some time to relax this weekend and unplug. No internet for me. If you still need your fix, you can check the updates on the ICE08 blog. Of course, you can always look back at archival Twitter, Flickr, and del.icio.us updates over on Twemes.

And in a final note, I want to say congratulations to Michael Wilbon for becoming a father and to Davidson College for making the Elite 8. (I caught up on all the news this morning.)

ICE08: Day One

I’m at a conference about interactive content, and I spent a good chunk of yesterday’s post talking about chocolate and gushing about UK Trade & Investment Canada. Guess what? I’m going to do it again.

Yesterday afternoon, the organization sponsored a quick “Beer with the Brits” that featured free British beer, fish & chips, and bangers & mash. Stereotypical, yes. You can’t argue, however, that UK Trade & Investment Canada did a fantastic job in playing up those stereotypes in order to increase the ‘British’ consciousness at the conference.

Free food aside, my ICE08 experience has been fantastic. My gripes with the lack of power outlets at the Carlu has been completely overshadowed by the excellent hospitality, amazing speakers, and the phenomenal networking opportunties I have been offered.

And of course, I’ve been blogging about it all day. From my post about Lizbeth Goodman’s keynote:

While we are currently living in “a time of inconvenience” — after all, who has the time to check Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and all the other sites every day? — Goodman emphasized that the old model where people engage with networks based on trust is still a good model for content creation. However, we need to choose appropriate communication methods for our messages and objectives: “there’s no use shouting at the back of a deaf child’s head.”

From my post about international co-productions in the digital sphere:

While informal agreements may be easier to create and manage — particularly in the digital space — there is, however, still a need for formal agreements. These kinds of treaties allow for easy access to public funding and tax credits, and also lend recognition to digital content creation as a cultural industry that needs to be fostered and supported.

And from my post on interactive marketing, a subject that’s particularly dear to my heart:

It’s clear that old models (traditionally push models) of marketing don’t translate well onto the web. As Brian Cusack explained, the internet is not only a place for entertainment and education , it is also a place for community. Marketers need to enter the conversations that are currently happening between consumers — and not as marketers, but as active members of the community.

Just about to launch into a fresh new day of sessions at ICE08, so expect even more updates on the ICE08 blog as the day goes on. Of course, you can always stay on top of live Twitter, Flickr, and del.icio.us updates over on Twemes.

ICE08: Opening Night

One thing you know you’re always going to get at a conference is a schwag bag. While the quality of the content of the bag varies, you can always be sure you’re going to find something fun in there at every conference.

Last night, I came home from the ICE08 Opening Reception and opened my bag to find a bar of Green & Black’s Maya Gold chocolate in there, courtesy of UK Trade & Investment Canada.

I haven’t written much about chocolate on Eloquation before, but in my many trips to the United Kingdom last year, I became enamored of Green & Black’s chocolate. Their dark chocolate is exquisite, and made from fair-trade organic ingredients. The Maya Gold mixes the dark chocolate with a blend of orange and spices, and is quite good.

Of course, the free bar of chocolate was just one of the great parts of the evening.

Over on the ICE08 blog, I posted some thoughts about the opening reception (which featured Blackberry-themed hors-d’oeuvres) and the keynote on social entrepreneurship. A quick quote from my post on the reception:

It isn’t every day you can snack on a Blackberry Pearl. Of course, it isn’t every day you find hors-d’oeuvres named after smartphones.

And from my post on the keynote:

Alan Gershenfeld, when speaking about his recent trip to Davos, said the entire crowd was awash with conversations about social entrepreneurship. That should come as no surprise: the very notion of social entrepreneurship has become sexy, with celebrities and influential figures around the world all embracing the concept as an important step in making the world a better place.

The sessions have just kicked off this morning, so expect even more updates on the ICE08 blog as the day goes on. Of course, you can always stay on top of live Twitter, Flickr, and del.icio.us updates over on Twemes.

Blogging from ICE08 this week

A quick heads up for those of you that might be wondering why I won’t be answering your calls later this week: I’m going to be attending ICE08 from Wednesday to Friday, so if you’re not contacting me through Twitter, you’re probably not getting in touch with me at all until this weekend.

Seeing how I work in content development and production, it only makes sense I attend a conference called Interactive Content Exchange. Luckily this year, I’ve been selected to liveblog about certain parts of the conference, so I’ll be wearing a handy little press pass as I attend the great sessions that have been organized.

I’ll be cross-posting my conference posts here on Eloquation, but you can find a lot more over on the ICE08 liveblog. If you’ve got any specific questions or sessions you’re interested in, drop me a line on Twitter and I’ll see what I can do to steer you in the way of some good coverage.

If you’re going to be at ICE08, be sure to tag your blog posts, Flickr photos, and del.icio.us links, and use the #ice08 hashtag for your Twitter updates.

No one hears you when you say you’re sick of traveling

In high school, I’d hear stories of jet-setters who would be traveling non-stop for work, hopping from city to city, hotel to hotel, never staying still and living the fast-paced life. I dreamt of being one of those jet-setters, living the high-flying life.

I was seriously deluded.

As someone who now spends a considerable amount of time traveling — and a considerable amount of time living in unfamiliar hotels, crowded airports, and stuffy airplanes — I can now admit that the jet-set life is highly overrated.

My friends don’t seem to understand my traveling malaise. They keep reminding me that I’m getting paid to fly to places like London, Paris, Brussels, and Lisbon on a regular basis. They remind me that I’m getting the opportunity to meet new people, explore new places, and have new experiences, all under the aegis of my freelance career.

I agree with their perspectives, and am thankful of the opportunities that I have. My traveling woes are perhaps somewhat more melancholic: I miss routine, stability, comfort. I love the bliss of strolling through Portobello Market or having dinner at a charcuterie near Champs-Élysées, but I miss the sensation of being in control of my time and activities.

What am I talking about?

While it’s not exactly the same, Rosencrans Baldwin expresses a similar sentiment of his experiences in Paris:

No one hears you when you say you’re sick of Paris. Sick of Paris: three words that make sense to people separately, but not in sequence. And they’re right—what am I talking about? What about champagne for sale in gas stations? And aisles dedicated to yogurt in grocery stores? And grocery stores that only sell frozen food of such high quality that, when reheated, it beats most bistro meals? And my boss and his thousand Lacoste shirts in every color? And all the gossip and insights: how French men go to pieces when they’re dumped; how Parisian girls won’t sleep with you unless you have permanent residency papers.

No one hears you when you say you’re sick of traveling. Sick of traveling: three words that make sense to people separately, but not in sequence. And they’re right — what am I talking about? What about being treated to fancy dinners at over-priced restaurants? And staying at hotels I could normally never afford? And watching rugby in crowded and rowdy bars? And having a choice of various kinds of bottles of water at ever meal? And walking past the line at customs and walking straight to baggage claim after getting my iris scanned?

I’ll tell you what I’m talking about. There are a lot of things I miss when traveling. What about the luxury of opening the fridge at any time of the day and drinking milk straight from the carton? And the comfort of being able to do your laundry whenever you feel like you want to wear that t-shirt again later in the week? And the ease of going to the gym and working out some aggression after a long day at work? And the ability to call a friend at any time of the night and grab a cup of much-needed coffee?

This year, my travel schedule has been much lighter, and I’m much happier for that. I’m looking at new ways of slowing down and making my life work for me, instead of my life being work.

Next time you hear me complaining about my travel schedule, please don’t look at me in contempt. It’s just my malaise being vocal — next week I’ll be grabbing lunch in Parque das Nações and smiling at the ocean. Remind me of those times when I’m a bit fed up.

John Mayer: Growing Up?

A small observation regarding John Mayer’s lyrics and their evolution.

In his song My Stupid Mouth (released in 2001), Mayer bemoans the fact that he keeps putting his foot in his mouth:

My stupid mouth has got me in trouble — I said too much again. […] I’m never speaking up again.

In 2007, Mayer released Say, where he recommends clearing your mind and expressing yourself:

It’s better to say too much than never to say what you need to say again.

There’s an obvious nod to his previous song in that lyric. An example of John Mayer’s growing maturity as he progresses in age?

Happy New Year!

Sorry if I confused you by the title of this post, but today, March 21st, is the new year, so I thought I’d send some warm wishes your way.

Still confused? Well, along with being the first day of spring, today is Navroz, the celebration of the Persian New Year. It’s a bit of a big deal in my family, and we’re not the only one: millions of households around the world will be celebrating the holiday today.

In honor of the new year, I’m making some goals for the upcoming twelve months. They’re not quite resolutions, because I won’t be upset if I don’t get them done, but they are large goals that I hope to work towards as this year goes on:

• Learn how to play the guitar.
• Learn how to ride a bike.
• Find new meaningful work.
• Launch Cinegasmic.
• Try out some yoga (not sure what kind).
• Save more money and invest it wisely.
• Buy a video camera and create video content.
• Start eating healthier.
• Make valuable connections in my industry.
• Slow down and unplug.

I’m going to need your help in making a lot of these happen. I need places to find cheap used guitars and bikes, suggestions on what good beginner camera to buy, ideas on what type of yoga is best for me, and introductions to the right people who can help me in my career development. Let me know if you’re willing to help in any way, I’d really appreciate it.

In the meantime, enjoy the new year. Navroz Mubarak!

Barack Obama has a place in history

At this point in the US presidential race, it doesn’t really matter who wins. What matters is that Barack Obama has managed to reinvigorate Americans to look at politics as a system for change instead of simply an exercise in power.

I have praised Obama on his oratory skills before — going so far as saying that he was the best orator American politics has ever seen — but his speech yesterday brought political discourse to a whole new level. Instead of simply denouncing Reverend Wright’s previous comments and simplifying the race issue, he used the opportunity to address the complexity of (and lend relevance and validy to) America’s inherent frustrations with the way things have been happening in their country.

For those of you that haven’t seen the video, I strongly recommend you check it out in its entirety to understand the true historical impact that his speech will have on American society.

History textbook writers across the nation woke up this morning with an important task ahead of them: to incorporate this speech into the historical canon of American politics. If there’s anything high school students in the USA need to learn, it’s how to take adversity and turn into inspiration — how to use other people’s anger and frustration as a springboard for enlightened discussion and motivation for change.

I’m not here to tell you to vote for one candidate or another. I’m here to share with you the vision of a man who truly believes in the potential of the people in his country.

In a post earlier this year, I explained why I felt Obama was what America needed more than anyone else:

Obama was not only insightful and intelligent, but he also had a passion. Not a passion to win an election or to gain power and respect — instead, he had a passion to discuss what was on my mind, to learn more from who I am, where I came from, and what I knew. It is this passion to learn, to grow, and to inspire that makes me hope that Barack Obama is the next President of the United States of America. After all, if America needs anything right now, it’s the passion to learn from the people within and outside its borders.

I have not wavered from that sentiment. Obama is a man that embraces potential and rigorous discourse instead of petty politicking. That’s my kind of world leader.

Remember how, four years ago, some Americans threatened to move to Canada if George W. Bush won the election? Well, if Barack Obama wins the election, I’m threatening to move to the United States of America.

Update: In even more impressive news, it turns out Obama wrote the speech himself. No speechwriters involved. Wow.

Seth Godin, I have and use a resume

For a span of two or three years, I didn’t update my resume once. All the employment opportunities that came my way were filtered through word-of-mouth and potential employers were able to review my work and credentials through my blog and web presence.

So when Seth Godin recently wrote his post entitled Why bother having a resume? and claimed that remarkable people don’t need resumes, I was ready to wholeheartedly agree. After all, as Seth says:

A resume is an excuse to reject you. Once you send me your resume, I can say, “oh, they’re missing this or they’re missing that,” and boom, you’re out.

Recently, however, I’ve learned that a resume is not only a good thing to have, but still almost necessary when searching for a job.

There are still several companies and organizations that require a resume in order to apply for certain positions. To people like Seth, those “average jobs” in the “corporate behemoth” might be worthy of derision, but to many of us still starting out in our respective industries they are learning opportunities and chances to build experience that makes us all the more remarkable.

I won’t argue that having a resume is the best way to be recruited: truly spectacular people will have projects, blogs, and portfolios that accentuate their talents. Having a resume, however, is a good way to get those projects, blogs, and portfolios noticed by people who aren’t usually in the habit of looking at those things.

Because of that, I have and use a resume. It’s not the only tool in my employability arsenal, but it’s a good first move when necessary.