Blog
I have been blogging about digital technology’s impact on culture and our lives since 2007. I post when inspiration strikes as I’m working on various projects.
11 G+ Hangout best practices
If you've had a chance to read my previous blog post introducing Google+ Hangouts, you'd know I'm a big fan of the free video conferencing feature of Google's social network, Google+. Enticed to give a Hangout a try? With six months of Hangout participating and host...
Google Plus Hangouts: the interactive tv they were talking about back in the early 90s
In today's word of social network overload and media buzz this and media buzz that, Google Plus' epically awesome Hangout feature has been further improving itself with new easy-to-use features and productivity tools. Even if you don't have the need for "yet another"...
I’m tired of all the frequent surprise UI changes on my social networks
Facebook has been famously notorious in making changes to its UI and Ux without the best practice of giving prior notice to users. Lately, I’ve been noticing this practice being used by my other social networks and cloud services. Please stop it. Stop it now. It’s...
Super Spud iPad web app comics preview
What a mouthful that title is, eh? Anyhoo, I'm close to launching the interactive iPad optimized web app edition of my SuperSpud digital comics. I thought I'd share a sneak preview of the three comics that will launch with the app. Particularly, their covers!
Google For Veterans and Families
I was alerted to an awesome use of Google products by my buddy and American war vet, Jody Fuller. A group of veterans, their families and Google employees got together and created a community called Google For Veterans. Their mission is to connect veterans and their...
Storytelling advice from a screenwriter and filmmaker
I asked my friend, Eric Stirpe, a screenwriter and filmmaker living in Los Angeles — and a super awesome illustrator — to share advice he can give us digital media folk on telling a great story. Thanks Eric! What makes a compelling story? In my experience,...
Keep Calm And X On
Came across this cool video talking about the story behind the famous "Keep Calm And Carry On" posters from World War 2 Britain (not to mention a cool use of an old railway station!). I had a brainstorm at the mention of King George VI's crown on the poster. I stutter...
I was interviewed in The Globe and Mail
I was interviewed by The Globe and Mail to talk about my latest digital venture, Stutter Social, an online virtual support group using Google Plus Hangouts. Read more about it in this blog post. Journalist, Wency Leung, did an excellent job at telling the Stutter...
Empowering and Enlightening Communities with Digital Media
I'll be giving a session once again this year at PodCamp Toronto! Actually, I'll be co-presenting with my friend and PodCamp Toronto co-organizer and community management team member, Dr. Vibe of The Vibe and Vegas Show. Entitled, "Empowering and Enlightening...
I was interviewed on CBC’s Here And Now
It's too bad the iPad doesn't take very good photos indoors. But that still doesn't take away my excitement of being interviewed on CBC Radio One's superb afternoon drive program, Here and Now hosted by Laura Di Battista last night! We chatted about my latest digital...
Reimagining CBC TV
I came across this video today of someone's suggestion for CBC. In a nutshell: stop broadcasting on TV and move entirely online. While I love this idea and think it's perfectly the right direction for any television studio or network to go, I can't help thinking about...
Leading the PCTO community management team
I'm excited to announce that I will be leading the PodCamp Toronto Community Management Team this year! That's my team in the photo above (I'm on the right). This will be the first time that PodCamp Toronto will have a dedicated team for community management. Being a...
Google+ Hangouts for communities
Stutter Social is a new organization I recently co-founded with my friend, David Resnick. It connects our fellow stutterers all over the world through group video chats. Using Google Plus. Why would we want to do that? Because it's often difficult to meet other people...
iPhone practical joke
So my friend just bought his first smartphone — an iPhone 4 — and I received a text message from him...
Angry Birds Hallowe’en Parody
My latest free ebook of a classic piece of literature featuring my illustrated cover of a related reference to digital culture is The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (.epub, .mobi). Just in time for Hallowe'en! Angry Birds is the digital cultural reference for this...
Trying out watercolors
My 4th Sketchbook Video has me flipping through my watercolour Moleskine sketchbook from sometime in 2008 or 2009 (I really should add dates in my sketchbooks). In spite of having grown up frustrated with the medium, I was inspired by the beautiful watercolour work by...
Drawing using no erasers
My latest sketchbook video features the sketchbooks I used to draw my Snert Oh No web comic in 2010. I'd draw a one-panel comic during the 1.5 hour wait for my Toastmasters meeting every Wednesday after work. Then I used my iPhone for photographing, post-processing...
Sketching in Paris
I mentioned my 2007 trip to Paris in my last Sketchbook Video. So the sketchbook I used during my trip is featured in my latest episode (I like how that sounds. I guess I'm a video podcaster now). It's a Paris Moleskine City notebook. I highly recommend these little...
On-Demand Creativity
My second sketchbook video features my followup pocket Moleskine from 2007ish (unlike the first one, I didn't date my sketches). I remember this time vividly. I loved the idea of having sketchbooks full of colourful works of art however I ended up forcing myself to...
Sketchbook Videos
I've been sketching in sketchbooks for years now and have them all sitting on a few shelves. No one will able to see any of my sketches unless they came over and flipped through the sketchbooks. Even if someone wanted to, it most likely wouldn't happen often. Well,...