“Thrivability... the designer's role... pays attention to... details of life hidden in the landscape... The invisible frontiers... where modernity has failed to make good on its promises... the wanderer around invisible peripheries, the witness and facilitator of emergent states.”
- "Design" by Joanna Guldi, Harvard Society of Fellows

Image: Public Domain

Projects: Open Source Font & Forges

Saturday, December 13, 2008 - 11:20 AM

An interesting post-typographical innovation...

Free EcoFont uses up to 20% less ink.
Results vary font size 9 or 10 is best depending on
your software and the quality of your screen...
Best for OpenOffice on Mac, PC, or Linux.
Distributed under GPL and based upon Bitstream Vera...

VeraSansSpecimen.svg by Sun Ladder
CC-BY-SA 3.0 & GDFL

Also check out some new forges on the top right column... : )
BioForge, Digital Commons, Media Commons, Moving Images, Open GoogleCode, RubyForge,
ScienceCommons, ScientificCommons, Software Archive, SourceForge, WikiSpecies

Organizations: WIKISTRUCTION OF WIKITECTURE

Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 12:00 AM

Wikitecture [wiki+architecture] "...a diverse spectrum of individuals interested in exploring the potential of applying an Open Source paradigm to the design and production of both real and virtual architecture and urban planning... conducting ‘Wikitecture’ experiments to work out the exact procedures and protocols necessary to harness a group’s collective intelligence in designing architecture... in much the same way Wikipedia enables a loose, self-organizing network of contributors to collaborate on content creation, the Studio Wikitecture group has been using these experiments to work out the manner by which a group of geographical disperse individuals can come together to share ideas, edit the contributions of others, and to vote on the success or failure of proposed design iterations..."

"OAN Nepal Challenge" via Flickr (updated March 4, 2008)

"Wikitecture Progress Machinima" (video update February 10, 2008)
the Open Architecture Challenge 3D Wiki interface, architectural collaboration,
Building Information Model (BIM) technology. Music by DJ BLUE, via ccMixter.

"Improving Architecture and City Planning by Harnessing the Ideas behind...
Mass Collaboration, Social Networking, Wikis, Folksonomies, Open Source,
Prosumers, Networked Intelligence, Crowd Sourcing, Crowd Wisdom,
Smart Mobs, Peer Production, Lightweight Collaboration, Emergent Intelligence,
Social Production, Self-Organized Communities... and the like."

Organizations: "Intersection Repair" by The American Public Health Association

Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 07:06 PM

The American Journal of Public Health recently published a study (field action report) featuring Metamedia collaborator, Mark Lakeman of City Repair Project.
"The Intersection of Urban Planning, Art, and Public Health: The Sunnyside Piazza."

(CC) Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

A Quote from the Abstract:

"...In an attempt to invigorate neighborhood stewardship, the community organized and created a public gathering place; together, they painted a gigantic sunflower in the middle of an intersection and installed several interactive art features. As a result of these collective actions of "place-making," social capital has increased, thus revitalizing the community, and expanded social networks among residents have stimulated a sense of well-being..."
- Jan C. Semenza, PhD, MPH, MS
School of Community Health, College of Urban and Public Affairs, Portland State University, Oregon

View: Abstract | Full Text | Figures Only | Download: PDF

Projects: Santa Barbara: Art, Science and Community: Analog & Digital Unite

Sunday, January 21, 2007 - 01:52 PM

Come support this event and Help... Heal The Ocean!
The ocean can no longer be used as a dump!

Course of Action: instead of lobbying the government for action on ocean-pollution issues, we study the problem ourselves and recommend practical solutions. We undertake scientific studies to identify sources of pollution - from leaking sewer pipes, offshore sewage disposal, leaking coastal landfills or septic systems.

They test for viruses in the ocean, creeks and groundwater to determine if human sources of pollution are present, and what are the likely sources. In cooperation with Santa Barbara County, Heal the Ocean pioneered both the use of environmental DNA testing and virus testing in the local area.

Organizations: Wise Ol' Ways Waking Up & WikiBooks (( FOR YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART ))

Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 07:43 PM

The Portland International Initiative for Leadership in Ecology, Culture and Learning (PIIECL) prepares future educators and leaders who are dedicated to creating a world that is livable, ecologically sustainable, bio-culturally diverse and socially just.

WISE WEBSITE featuring Eco!

Free and Open Source Wikibooks :
• Ecology
• Climate Change
• Earth Science
• Open Culture
• Outdoor Survival
• Social Psychology
• Utopia
• Wikipedia in the Classroom

Organizations: Future Farm Present : : EcoPortland

Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 09:04 PM

UPDATE: TRYON LIFE COMMUNITY FARM HAS BEEN SAVED! Portland is a future that continues to nourish innovation and livability. Nestled into Tryon Creek State Park in S.W. Portland is the intersection of rural, urban and wild. An Open Commons demonstrates how multiple communities can efficiently live, work, and play in urban density while learning to heal the land, cooperate with each other and change the world.

On this rare landscape, people are coming together to teach and learn the skills needed to ensure a sustainable future city. Tryon Life Community Farm is seven acres, surrounded by 670 acres of state park. Rolling wooded meadows. Fruit trees, grape vines, vegetable gardens, a bonsai nursery...

Organizations: Common Vision: Sustainable Concepts

Thursday, April 07, 2005 - 12:43 AM

Founded in 1999, Common Vision is a solution focused non profit organization. Common Visions mission is to cultivate awareness and respect for the Earth and to generate social and environmental changes towards sustainable lifestyles.

Common Vision and the Nomadic Institute
commonvision.org | Blog | Video
Our organization does this through four branches of focus,
education, restoration of degraded lands, direct action, and
documentation of those projects and other projects for positive change.
We integrate concepts of ecology with the traditions, music, and art of cultures
that live or have lived in harmony with the Earth.

Organizations: Bridging Worlds in the Northwest

Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 07:04 PM

Eugene, Oregon. The regional gathering of visionaries, creative solutions and inspiring stories. Please join in this October for a celebration of personal and planetary healing. The mission is to continue the development of a spirited community and highlight and support bioregional diversity and health. Eecognizing the contributions of women and youth within our communities. The conference features a live satellite downlink from the main conference. UPDATED!

Projects: 1st Solid-State Photosynthetic Solar Cell

Monday, September 27, 2004 - 10:19 PM

Nanoletters reports, "a solar cell made with spinach has been developed that promises electronic devices incorporating photosynthesis, the highly efficient process plants use to produce energy from sunlight....Initial tests showed that the rudimentary device could convert 12 percent of the light it absorbed into an electrical charge, and researchers think they can increase that output to 20 percent by thickening the amount of biological material on the substrate."