Facebook Posts: July 2010

July 2010

JULY 31
Scott shared a link.

YouTube Play
www.youtube.com
Youtube Guggenheim Play Biennial. Should be interesting to see what this turns up.
Scott shared a link.
https://retts.net/kids/abc_typing/application.macosx.zip
retts.net
Here’s a standalone app version of ABC typing. To use, download and unzip the file, then doubleclick the typing_letter app.
Scott shared a link.
typing_letters : Built with Processing
retts.net
Here’s yet another alphabet program-in-progress — ABC typing. Jessie’s enjoying this one. It won’t display at the right size in Firefox but works in Safari. It will take a minute or two load after you go to the page. I’ll also post the mac standalone app. I figure my nieces and nephews might get a kick out it. Apologies for the singing.
JULY 29
Scott wrote on Megan Rettberg Smith’s timeline.
Well done, Megan and Kevin and Mason James. I hope Mom and baby are both doing well.
Scott updated his status.
Jessie just completed her first independent potty act. And it was #2. Very impressive, and she is now consuming chocolate rewards (we gave her candy afterwards, that is). What a big girl!
Scott updated his status.
Welcome to the world, Anabella Violet Smith (Megan’s girl).
Scott shared a link.
-empyre- soft_skinned_space
www.subtle.net
I’ve been writing about creativity as a social ontology and electronic literature in that context as a guest commentator this week on the empyre list.
Scott shared a link.

GET LAMP: THE TEXT ADVENTURE DOCUMENTARY
www.getlamp.com
I’m psyched about the upcoming release of this documentary abou the history of text adventures / interactive fiction. We will be screening some episodes of the documentary at Landmark Cafe in Bergen on Sept 21st, as part of the “Electronic Literature Communities” ELMCIP seminar, followed by a videoconference Q/A with Nick Montfort and the director, Jason Scott.
JULY 28
Scott updated his status.
Congrats to Marion and Øyvind on the birth of my niece today, and good luck to Megan on the upcoming birth of my other niece tomorrow. Two nieces in two days on two continents. Rock and roll!
JULY 27
Scott shared a link.
U.S. Copyright Office – Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Request
www.copyright.gov
Alright! Go Librarian of Congress!
Scott shared a link.

Exemption Will Allow ‘Jailbreaking’ of iPhones – NYTimes.com
www.nytimes.com
The Library of Congress gets another fan. I probably won’t jailbreak my iPhone until I get another one, but it’s nice to know that the librarians are in charge of something to do with copyright, and are making the right decisions.
Scott shared a link.
sevenchildren : Built with Processing
retts.net
Here’s a new Processing piece, based on one of the reports in the war logs. I’m interested in the way that the context of the report is changed by its presentation.
Scott shared a link.

Afghanistan war logs: Wikileaks founder Julian Assange – ‘There appears to be evidence of war crimes
www.guardian.co.uk
A well-reasoned presentation of the war logs from Wikileaks Juian Assange.
JULY 25
Scott shared a link.
shape_clicker_sound : Built with Processing
retts.net
Another Processing toy — this one makes random shapes when you click it and plays a sound.
Scott shared a link.
animal_blocks : Built with Processing
retts.net
Animal blocks — another Processing version of the alphabet generator. Taking baby steps as slowly I learn how to program.
JULY 23
Scott updated his status.
Benjamin is skipping baby food and jumping right into the real stuff. Tonight he ate sausage, risotto, and broccoli, with great relish.

Scott updated his status.
Got write ups in Swedish and Italian today. I love when people write about my work in languages I can’t read.
Scott shared a link.
animal_randomAZ_function_timing : Built with Processing
retts.net
Another version of the Alphabet jungle generator — my first real Processing program.
Scott shared a link.

Florence Journal – Museum’s Display of Remains Reflects Latest Chapter in Galileo’s Legacy – NYTimes
www.nytimes.com
Three of Galileo’s fingers, one thumb, and a molar are now on display at
the Florence science museum. His other parts are not on display.
Scott wrote on Cris Eppenbach Smith’s timeline.
Gratulerer med dagen!
JULY 21
Scott updated his status.
is learning how to program in Processing, a useful distraction from more pressing work. I spent half the day figuring out two dimensional arrays.
JULY 20
Scott updated his status.
just realized an ipod and speakers are missing from my office. The ipod was vintage, so it’s not a terrible loss, but still — not cool.
JULY 18
Scott shared a link.
ABC Animals A-E
retts.net
Version
2 of the online alphabet book generator. Now with adjectives.
JULY 16
Scott updated his status.
I just heard Aurora, our newly-minted 14 year-old, explain to her mother that “the movies are research” for a future writing project. “So you can’t complain.” I’m impressed. She already sounds like a grad student.
Scott updated his status.
The verdict is in: byparken is the best stop for me to take from the bybane to work. I timed the three closest stops with a stopwatch: Florida, the route through the park, is 15:02 to the HF building. Nygård is 11:48. Byparken, in the center is 7:27. Even taking into account the extra time on the train, byparken is the fastest route.
JULY 15
Scott updated his status.
my to do list is depressingly long and slow to move in traffic.
JULY 14

Scott updated his status.
Live black metal in the center of Bergen on a sunny Wednesday afternoon.

Scott updated his status.
Hey there’s wifi on the bybane. Cool.
Scott wrote on Aurora Goga’s timeline.
Happy Birthday, 14 year-old!
Scott shared a link.
CANYONLANDS
www.unknownterritories.org
Det siste utbruddet / The Last Volcano

This U.S.-Norwegian collaborative video project explores the myths and histories that return as fragments of memory in light of ongoing volcanic eruptions. A story of disaster is set against slowly revolving images set in a contemporary, colorful yet seemingly people-less to draw out tensions between ecological anxieties and material realities. The work is a collaboration between US video artist Roderick Coover and Bergen residents Scott Rettberg (writer), Gro Jørstad Nilsen(voice) and Jan Arild Breistein (voice) and was created through a distinguished visiting scholar-artist award from the University of Bergen.
Scott shared a link.

How Microbes Defend and Define Us – NYTimes.com
www.nytimes.com
Fecal transplants and microbiomes. I wonder what William S. Burroughs would have done with this.
Scott updated his status.
All cone shells are venomous and should be handled with care when alive. The venom of the Matchless Cone is not fatal to humans, but its sting may still be painful.
JULY 13

Scott updated his status.
Back in Bergen after a good e-lit seminar at Kingston. The roundtable format went well, and I enjoyed seeing some interesting new work.
JULY 11

Scott updated his status.
at Tate Modern with a sunburned scalp.
JULY 10
Scott updated his status.
Helix Producer? That sounds like fake name to me, Mr. Producer.
JULY 9
Scott updated his status.
Early morning flight to London for a meeting and an e-writers seminar. Back Tuesday morning after a few ales and tales.
Scott updated his status.
Reading “Alone in Berlin” — a great novel (based on actual events) by Hans Fallada, originally published in 1947, about a couple who protested the Nazi regime by dropping postcards all over Berlin. A lot of interesting connections for me with Implementation, albeit with a lot more at stake.
Scott shared a link.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/magazine/11Jousting-t.html
www.nytimes.com
American Jousting
JULY 7
Scott updated his status.
Back in Bergen, getting caught up on work.
JULY 5

Scott updated his status.
Had a great day with the kids at Tidibapo, the amusement park on a mountain overlooking Barcelona. Home to Bergen tonight.
JULY 3

Scott updated his status.
Dessert at Starbucks in BCN — free wireless.