Speaking of missing my life...

I have recently admitted to missing fog. This is just crazy to me, because that is probably what I liked least about living in San Francisco. I prefer the hot desert sun to the summers of damp haze I grew used to in SF....

One thing Bay Areans love are time lapses of their fine metropolis. SFist clued me in to The Unseen Sea by Simon Christen on Vimeo, that gives a new perspective on fog - that it mirrors the sea. Watch and be mesmerized.


The Unseen Sea from Simon Christen on Vimeo.

Watching this led me to wonder if there are any time lapses of the sort for New Mexico, because the skies here are absolutely breathtaking. Saturday morning I spotted my first balloon of the season (and then saw there were actually about six). This can only mean that the Balloon Fiesta is right around the corner! So in that spirit, I bring you a time lapse of last years Fiesta. The balloons bob up and down madly, and if you get about halfway through, you get taken on a wild, sped up balloon ride. Hold on to your butts (and please note, the music is about ten times more annoying, and jarring if you've just watched the fog time lapse. Therefore, you might want to add your own).

TEDxABQ

Heard of TED yet? When I got to town last month, my dad introduced me to one of the dedicated volunteers putting on TEDxABQ next Saturday at the Hard Rock Casino Albuquerque. I hopped on to the TED website and started watching videos, and they are all different, interesting and inspiring in their own way. However, for my ADHD mind, I go a little bonkers when on the internet and have hard time committing to 18 minute videos. That is until the Alibi hipped me to this talk by David McCandless. 

Now you say, data visualization? REALLY? Out of everything TED, that's the one that hooked you? Well, yes. Trust me, 17 minutes in I finally looked down at the time and was saddened to realize there was only a minute left. Seeing data in a pretty chart puts a lot into perspective - like our wars in the Middle East and the financial crisis.

When you're done watching that one, check out Ken Robinson on how schools limit creativity. He presents a depressing subject (the sad state that is our educational system) in a way that will make you laugh. And think. Then, check out whatever strikes your fancy. And welcome to the latest time suck. But at least it's a time suck that (hypothetically) makes you smarter.

If you're in ABQ, come check it out live and in person next Saturday! And say HI to me... I'll be working the registration table.