The Monthly Pimp: January '09 Edition

Merlin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:19:02 -0500

Although it's been way more than a month, per our little agreement, here's some recent Merlin-related stuff that may interest you. Really good stuff this time around.

Today/Friday: Macworld PULSE

Like Chairman Gruber, I'm frustrated that it's crazy-hard to link to our session. But, basically today is one (wow, long) day of TED-ish 20-minute presentations from...

Dan DiPaola, Co-Founder, HD-encoding.com

Adam Engst, TidBITS

John Gruber, Daring Fireball

Craig Hockenberry, The Iconfactory

Andy Ihnatko, The Chicago Sun Times

Vincent LaForet, Photographer

Merlin Mann, 43 Folders

Chris Pirillo, Lockergnome

Rick Smolan, Photographer

Ge Wang, Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), Stanford University

Musical Group LIYANA

Great group, if -- yikes -- a total sausage fest. Come hear me make shit up about "Design Patterns" for creativity.

I'm pretty sure my session is at 11:20. Right after Gruber. So, if anyone asks, I'll be happy to do my impression of him. He loves that.

New Video Project: "Most Days"

Most Days

Most Days (2009-01-04) from Merlin Mann on Vimeo.

I'm trying my hand at a (close to) daily video. Basically, every morning, I turn on the camera and just start talking. With the barest of preparation, no script, no editing, and ideally no more than two takes. The primary goal is regularity over polish, and the ideal outcome is whatever the heck it turns into.

I'm only committing to doing it (daily) for a week. But, given what I'm hoping to do with video over the next year, I have a feeling it'll go longer. We'll see. It's an exercise in I'm-not-quite-sure-what, but I hope you'll enjoy it. Or at least tolerate it.

In keeping with that lack of certainty (and with a deliberate openness to whatever the project decides it wants to be), I've titled it, "Most Days."

I'm no Jean Shepherd, but, what the heck, it's a project.

CBC Spark "How to Blog" Series

Spark | CBC Radio | Full Merlin Mann Series: How To Blog

I do a regular bit on CBC's wonderful Spark radio program. If you enjoyed my "How to Blog" video, you'll like this 5-part series we did on the same topic. Man, I love working with Nora and Dan. They're just great people and total pros.

Here's a zip file of all the Spark segments in one place.

You Look Nice Today: "The Noises Rest"

"The Noises Rest" on Vimeo
The Noises Rest | You Look Nice Today

OK, I'll admit it: I'm really proud of this.

MoMA (yes: that MoMA) asked us "You Look Nice Today" guys to make a video response to some silent films that they screened the other night. So, Adam, Scott, and I got together in LA a few weekends ago, and made "The Noises Rest."

It's a short film about doing "Foley" for silent movies. We wrote and shot it ourselves, and Adam (as usual) did an amazing job with editing the final product. Supposedly Michel Gondry was at the screening. Which is terrifying.

Looks way better in gorgeous HD, but here's an embed for you:

"The Noises Rest" from lonelysandwich on Vimeo.

Don't tell anyone, but "You Look Nice Today" is my favorite thing I do. Love those magnificent bastards. And their car horns. Subscribe to YLNT on the iTunes.

Also

Exclusive Audio Interview: Leo Interviews Merlin Mann of 43 Folders - I really like this interview. Leo was nice. If you enjoy the "new" 43f direction toward creativity, rather than "productivity tips," you'll get some insight into how I arrived here. If that matters to you.
SF Sketchfest: Monsters of Podcasting w/ Jordan, Jesse, Go! and You Look Nice Today at Eureka Theatre (Sunday January 25, 2009) - Upcoming - Come see You Look Nice Today and Jordan, Jesse, Go! live on stage, at the insanely great SF SketchFest. Tickets here.
Integrated Media Association Conference - Pretty sure I'm confirmed as a speaker at this public radio conference in Atlanta next month. Hoping I can finally meet Jay Allison and give him his long-overdue opportunity to punch me in the mouth. While someone gently fingerpicks a guitar.
43 Folders Clips - Don't forget about the new 43f sub-blog of notable things that are getting my attention. [RSS it]

And, finally

You should totally hire me to speak to your company or group. I'm good at it, plus it's really fun and theoretically useful. Now booking Quarter 2 and beyond. Email Erica: speaking at merlin mann dot com.

As ever, thanks for your patience with the pimping. I appreciate your time and attention very much.

”The Monthly Pimp: January '09 Edition” was written by Merlin Mann for 43Folders.com and was originally posted on January 09, 2009. Except as noted, it's ©2010 Merlin Mann and licensed for reuse under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0. "Why a footer?"

The Monthly Pimp: August Edition

Merlin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:11:54 -0400

Here's the latest stuff Merlin's been up to, here and abroad.

Huh? “Monthly Pimp?”

Meta: New experiment. Everybody hates endless self-promotion. I know I do. So, except where called for by amazingly useful exception, I’d like all “Yay Merlin” stuff that makes it to the content well of the 43f home page (including recent interviews and podcasts, new projects, as well as recent and upcoming appearances of possible interest) to be ganged into a single monthlyish post.

Nota Bene: I’d also like to encourage all my friends with blogs to try a similar experiment in personal curation. Our internet visitors are here to be delighted by useful stuff, not to watch a blogger smell his finger. Right? Exactly. Welcome. And thank you. No, thank you.

Merlin's Upcoming Stuff

Start. A Conference for Entrepreneurs. Tomorrow, my pals, Jeff and Bryan are putting on an amazing conference for people who are thinking of doing a startup. It's very close to sold out, but there's still time to see me, Mena, Ev, and many more folks talk about how to sensibly take your idea to the web. Register while you still can (it's cheap). Who knows? You might even get to see something special.
IzeaFest. In September, I'll be in Orlando, Florida to talk about how to build a smart blog for smart people without resorting to tricks and games. And, no: I will not be holding up AdSense checks for "Cash Proof."

For more information about inviting me to speak at your company or event, drop a line.

Merlin: Recently and Elsewhere

Guestblogging: Blogging at Maximum Fun. For the next couple weeks, me and the other You Look Nice Today "talent" will be guest-blogging over at Jesse's site; Jesse has apparently fooled a woman into marrying him. (Congrats, J&T)
Appearance: iPhone DevCamp. Participated in a fun panel with Dom, Mike, and Brian, talking about what we want from iPhone apps, what patterns to replicate, and which pitfalls to avoid. As ever, much love for Remote.
Interview: Real estate information overload | Inman News. Really enjoyed this interview with Glenn in advance of my talk at the Inman Connect conference a couple weeks back. How can you tell a good interviewer? You talk a lot about things you didn't realize you were thinking about.
Interview: "Technology in the Arts" podcast. Was interviewed by a very nice man called Brad about productivity, "branding," and why editing helps everything not to suck.

Player

Merlin's Ongoing Projects

Podcast: You Look Nice Today. We're off on walkabout until the end of the month or so, but it's a great time to catch up on recent episodes. Also the perfect time to go all the way back and start where it all began: Episode 2.
And, remember: You Look Nice Today is not safe for anything. Not even as a floor wax.
Blog: Kung Fu Grippe. My favorite recent posts on my personal blog were about MLM videos, the Flip Video camera, My Neighbor Totoro, a fertility monitor, Twyla Tharp's advice on creativity, and a test of Modomi, featuring The Long Winters.
Photos: Flickr. People recently enjoyed images of a business offer for YLNT, a banjo, the Dwight Schrute my daughter broke, and a delightful short film that my daughter directed.
Toots: Twitter. People seemed to like Toots about books, the internet, speakerphones, and my new catchphrase. Then there's my new nemesis, fakemerlinmann.

Thank you for bravely suffering my pimp. See you next month.

”The Monthly Pimp: August Edition” was written by Merlin Mann for 43Folders.com and was originally posted on August 06, 2008. Except as noted, it's ©2010 Merlin Mann and licensed for reuse under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0. "Why a footer?"

Promotion