Ever wonder if someone is doing the same exact thing you are at the same exact moment?
Arguing with a cabbie, mentally looping the same Lupe Fiasco song or snickering alongside you? They will be soon.
Enter Pangea Day. Named after the super continent that might’ve existed over 250 million years ago (before the component continents separated), it intends to bring the world, well, back together.
On May 10th, millions of people worldwide will watch the same short films at the same time. Via thousands of locally organized events, the organizers hope to remind watchers what we all have in common.
6 cities will [...]

In step with recent smart mob activity mentality we’ve been covering, a dance revolution broke out when hundreds gathered in NYC’s Union Square for a ‘silent rave’ event on Friday, April 19th. iPods in hand, the crowd began dancing at 6:15pm sharp. Each hearing only the song in their headphones, the group convulsed disparately. The not so silent dance-a-thon buzzed with onlookers and spontaneous hoots from dancers in the zone.
The crowd was comprised of many underage teens and NYU students. Some stood on benches and while others climbed the statue of George Washington but all shared a sense [...]

Slideluck Potshow recently returned to New York for its 11th event. This new twist on a potluck dinner features a series of 5 minute themed slideshows by a mix of emerging and established artists. Everyone brings a dish to share, and a casual atmosphere is created where aficionados of all sorts can sprawl out and enjoy the show.
These events are just as much about mingling as highlighting contemporary art. Participants have used the events as a foundation for fame, some going on to be featured in Communication Arts and obtaining commercial work.
Beginning as just a few friends sharing work [...]

Helping to bring graffiti artists out of the shadows, Sean Bono started Art Battles in NYC’s Lower East Side. A live graffiti competition, the event retains the street’s sense of urgency by limiting the time allotted to sketch. No take-back strokes or do-over drawings. But in the end, this doesn’t get painted over – it gets sold to the highest bidder.
The live audience thrives on contestants’ improvisation, last minute changes and quick bravado. Much like the DJ Battles of the early ‘90s, the pressure to perform is tangible. Staged spontaneity requires not just talent, but showmanship. [...]

MySpace is banding together with UK’s MTV2 to create new programming for media-obsessed millenials, following in the footsteps of other MTV branded entertainment such as Axe’s GameKillers and Doritos’ When Spicy Meets Sweet. The collaboration pumps up the volume for MySpace’s network of music lovers, forming a show even teens can’t rebel against. The win-win, known as ‘The MySpace Chart’, launched in the UK on March 16, 2008 and will air weekly on MTV2.
MTV keeps traffic within its own channels by containing voting to the station’s TV viewers and website audience – all the while, showcasing MySpace’s affinity for budding [...]

Upcoming technology from Fiserv, a financial IT services company, will soon make it possible to deposit checks virtually, from anywhere equipped with a scanner and wifi. Users will be able to wave goodbye to long waits at their local branch, and tellers and even ATMs could be dethroned by Fiserv’s service value and rewards. And it’s no surprise that the service-over-geo location mindset is impacting banking. We already purchase our cable, mortgage and prescription drugs without knowing where the closest branches are, because few consumers care who the man behind the curtain is as long as they’re getting what they [...]

Say bye-bye to the peel-stick-and-pray method. Toumaz Technology is creating a new way to track how boo-boos heal. The UK start-up aims to manufacture custom microchips that can remotely monitor patients. When placed on patches such as band-aids, the chips enhance the healing process.
In this approach, the chip interfaces with sensors to track three vital signs; electrocardiogram (EKG graphic), blood glucose (sugar) and pH levels (hydrogen-ion concentration). The disposable piece has a life expectancy of 5-7 days and, assuming mass distribution, could cost as little as $5 each. This development follows in WebMD’s footsteps to make consumers more informed about [...]

After years of crashing through walls to bring children cherry refreshment, the Kool-Aid man needs new sneaks. The tried and true juice drink partners with the time-tested Reebok brand to revive its message. The co-branded marketing promotion, Instant Classics, kicks off in Reebok’s ’08 Spring collection.
Other than color-by-flavor and ‘ice cube’ rubber soles, the common thread between these two hangs on nothing more than a few puns about ‘flavor’. Nonetheless, the two classics pimped out the Pro-Legacy basketball low-top for the big promotion. The Kool-aid Reebok Collection falls in line with ultra-saturated color palettes debuting in urban shoe wear designs [...]