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“Strive not to BE right, but to DO right.”

by Roy Blumenthal.

Roy’s self description:

I’m a visual facilitator, making pictures of meetings. I paint the things you say.

Roy is more than a bystander. He’s a creator.  You can tell right away he’s open and outgoing and anxious to spread ideas. You’ll love his Twitter background (see the link above).

You can see Roy’s mad creative skills on his blog, Visual Facilitation. If you just like the pictures, Roy on Flickr.

Twitter Unsafe by Guhmshoo on Bitstrips

Cartooning is an almost forgotten part of social media  You see them included in newspapers, online magazines, and blogs across the net.  Some of them are crafted totally by hand, others designed with tools from the Internet, like Bitstrips.

InventorSpot did a round up of their Top Ten Social Media Cartoonists. A long time Twitter bud and fellow online cartoonist, Guhmshoo, made the cut.

What makes one a social media cartoonist? It’s honestly not about the method of creation or how the work is shared, it’s that the creator targets social media. I dabbled a bit in this when Bitstrips, Toonlet and other online cartoon creation sites sprung up.

Bitstrips was the first to make adding multiple characters in a panel easy. Guhmshoo embraced this has his primary outlet and went on to create some conversation sparking cartoons.

Guhmshoo uses his cartoons to echo things going on in the social media universe. The one above is a reflection on the safety of Twitter. In another strip he pits Bing against Google.

If you’re not into cartoons, then I still recommend Guhmshoo on Twitter.

“Any task, big or small, do it well or not at all.”

by bookworm21.

Bookworm21 gives credit:

No idea where it came from; my mom used to say it all the time & now I do

Great quote. It may not strike you as original but it’s probably the most straightforward way I’ve seen this idea put.

Bookworm21 is a newer contact of mine. She’s outgoing and personable. Beyond Twitter, you’ll find her on the Bookworm’s Blog.

(Daily Quotes is an ongoing series. If you’d like to share a favorite quote for inclusion, send it to me on Twitter, drop a comment on any post, or shoot me an email – tojosan at gmail.)

Origami Envelopes by Tojosan, on Flickr

Origami envelopes, who knew right?  These were folded according to the Daisy’s Envelope diagram on pg. 81 of The Origami Bible (affiliate link).  Shown are my first four attempts.

Crafted with A4 size paper, these were actually quite easy to pick up.  There are only six folds or so. When completed, you have a working envelope. The picture doesn’t indicate the size well.  WHen done, they are about the size of an index card.

As part of an experiment in practical origami, and social networking, I’d love to send you, yes, you whoever and wherever you may be, a letter inside one of these envelopes.

Complex? Not at all. You simple drop me a line in the comments below indicating you want a letter from me and I’ll contact you to confirm the mailing address. I’ll be taking the first 10 or so folks that jump in.  If those go well, I’ll do what I can to get to everyone that would like one of these.

So jump into the comments, make sure from the comment I can find your email (automatic for Disqus registered users) and I’ll contact you this week to get your address. No promises that the letters will be interesting.

NOTE: I’d love in the first 10 to get at least one person outside the US.

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Day 1106 – The Saints Baby! THAT’S Who!, originally uploaded by lrayholly.

Guessing we don’t have to tell my friend Lynn who won.

Movies by Flixster Main Screen Screenshot

Movies, a rather plain name for an iPhone application, Flixster prefers it.  Movies app provides a portal for viewing information about movies. Sounds simple right? This app is comprehensive in spite of its name.

Movies divides movie information up into sections: Box Office, Theaters, Upcoming, DVD, My Movies.

Box office is what it sounds like, movies currently at the box office.  Movies are organized by Opening and Top Box Office.  These can be sorted by popularity, rating, or title.  This section, as all sections and screens, is searchable.

Box office is also the default screen.  It has the standard set of movie options you’ll see on the other choices, Theater, Upcoming, etc.

Those choices include viewing the trailer, if available, and viewing more information about the movie.

Movies by Flixster Movie Information Screenshot

The next image shows what you get when a movie s selected.  Flixster users’ rating, critics’ rating, and what your friends think.  Typically run time and rating are also show at the top.

The trailer option is listed her if available as well as showtimes, your rating and photos from the movie.  This is only the top portion of this long scrolling screen though.

Movies by Flixster Movie Information Screen 2 Screenshot

The next section of the Movie information screen, scrolled down to, is a synopsis (hit and miss here), a small selection of photos, and then the cast. The cast listings are clickable.

Beyond this section are reviews by your friends, and by other Flixster users in general.  Movie reviews include the beginning of each comment with the ability to select a specific comment to see in full detail.

Again, you get to this Movie information screen from any of the options: Box Office, Theater, etc..

Movies by Flixster Movie Information Screen 3 Screenshot

The bottom of the Movie information screen rounds up the reviews from Flixster users but also gives you some other movie website links.

Special bonus here is that these don’t leave the Movies application. They open up a special in-line browser window to the site selected. This allows you to jump to say IMDb (my personal favorite) and not have to restart the Movies app.  You simply click the DONE button and poof, back to Movies.

That’s a feature more applications should be taking advantage of.

Movies by Flixster Theaters Screen Screenshot

The Theaters screen is the last one I’d like to share.  Theaters are shown by favorites then by distance by default. Users can mark any theater a favorite.

Selecting a theater provides the showtimes of course, but there’s more. Phone number, address (which jumps out to Google Maps and allows you to come back), Yelp connection (which goes to the Yelp app with a search for nearby restaurants), and a selector for showtimes date.

It’s a load of features for a movies information application. There are a few other applications going after the same market but in my opinion, this is not only a well rounded application for movies but it’s one of the best built iPhone Touch apps I’ve used so far.

For the record, there is a Flixster website.

Movies app link.

Have you used this app or another in the same vein? Please comment below and tell me what’s better or best.

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Edward Jones Dome Inside by Tojosan, on Flickr

No escaping Superbowl Sunday.  This year it’s the Saints versus the Colts.  Not being a football expert, let alone Superbowl, I don’t have anything to write about.  I do have questions though.

Who is your favorite player on the rosters today?

What are you serving for Superbowl chow?

Which team are you rooting for?

Answer any of those questions or just leave your Superbowl rant below in the comments and you’ll be in the running for this.

This book claims to be the Ultimate Superbowl Book.  The reviews are positive and it’s current.  I’m no sports fanatic though.  Alternately, if you’re the winner and not a sports fan either, I’ll provide a $15.00 Amazon gift certificate.

To sum up the contest:

1) Comment below about the Superbowl, using suggestions above or not – one entry

2) Tweet about this giveaway, and leave a link below to that tweet in the comments – one entry

3) Blog about this giveaway, leave a link below in the comments – one entry.

This contest closes at Midnight Central on February 7th. Winner must be in Continental US. Please state in your comment whether you’d rather have the book or the gift certificate. I need your EMAIL to contact you.

Winner will be chosen on Monday by using Random.org.

Get commenting and do your team proud. And don’t feel limited to the max of three entries.  Comment to your heart’s content!

Oh yeah, Go Saints!!!

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“When I was a kid time-out was the time it took my Dad to take his belt off.”

by Rockstarima.

Rockstarima is one of my rock start Twitter buds. Craft happy and outgoing, she’s no bump on a log. She’s organized another crafter St. Louis Tweetup for Sunday, Feb 7th.

12:30  @MoKaBes for Brunch. Tweet her for more details.

Into sports? Into women in sports? Local to St. Louis? Then you need to get out to an Arch Rival Roller Girls game.  The above is a slide show with some highlight photos from the February 6th game.

It was my wife and my first roller derby game, let alone a women’s game.  Arch Rival Roller Girls are part of a Flat Track League. This is not what you typically see on television where the track is raised on the outside.  These ladies play on a flat surface with the track laid out in tape.

Action is non-stop once it the game begins.  Unlike football, where 15 mins of game time can equal an hour of real time, the pace is much quicker in roller derby.  There are two 30 minute halves and the first one flew by.  Timeouts are short and play resumes quickly after each scoring period.

I’m a bit fuzzy on all of the scoring rules but with jammers and blockers, and people being knocked flat it’s a good time.  The announcers did a great job of keeping up on lead jammer and the scoring.

Bonus: Signing language interpreters were provided.

I’ll write a longer article later but for now I hope I gave you a quick taste and a desire to visit their home page, Arch Rival Roller Girls.

Little things - Greeny and the bead

“Enjoy the little things in life, you will eventually learn that THEY are the big things.”

by Tenakim.

Tenakim is not only an avid Twitter abuser, but she runs a great blog, Tena’s Therapy, Not Doctor Recommended.  If you’re not shy of the word boobs, have ever raised a teenager, or perhaps been married, then you should check out Tena’s Therapy.