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I often marvel at tiny space apartments. I recall once looking at in awe of the 300+ sq. ft. mock up they had in the Ikea showroom. I could never fit all my crap into that kind of space. I have far too much extraneous stuff. To live in such a small space requires precision. Precision not only on the level of how every perfectly chosen piece of furniture fits together, but precision of how you live your life. That old newspaper clipping of when you came in 5th for the state fair science competition in 3rd grade — don’t need it. We can all attest to having lots of useless stuff, but Steve Sauer definitely does not. His 182 sq. ft. space has a place for everything and everything in its place.

Inside this tiny space Sauer has all the things you need to live including two beds, a full kitchen with dishwasher, a bathroom with shower, closet and storage for two bikes. His TV is larger than mine at 37″ and he has a dining table which I don’t. And my apt is 1000 sq. ft. Where am I going wrong?

Sauer has the benefit of being able to build pieces when he can’t find what he’s looking for after hours upon hours of searching. He is an interiors engineer for Boeing and holds a master’s degree in whole-systems design. He also has a separate nearby one-bedroom condo that he deems “too large” for himself. He said his dream is to “put 300 of these in a building and not have it be a tenement.”

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There is a Chinese custom to burn paper offerings when someone passes away. This has spawned the business of making paper effigies where scaled-down versions of desirable items are rendered out in colored paper form and then burned at grave sites so that the deceased can receive them in the afterlife. These items have typically always been things such as gold watches, cars, or jewelry. But paper effigy designer, Au Yeung Ping Chi has taken that business one step farther and designs paper versions of trendy items because it “makes death seem less frightening” he said.

Au Yeung works out of a tiny shop in Hong Kong with his father who is also a paper effigy designer. After graduating design school over ten years ago he has been working with his father to make paper effigies. His first creation was a scaled-down version of a Dance Dance Revolution type machine. He has become known for making effigies of trendy items such as stilletto heels, Wiis, digital cameras, and the list goes on. These paper wonders take hours to create and burn in seconds. In his 10+ years of work he has only had one creation he couldn’t produce for a client — a retractable umbrella. He has even taken an actual umbrella apart to try and figure out how to recreate it with paper yet every time he tries to open his paper creation it breaks. He hasn’t given up and still has plans to try and make it work.

Au Yeung is part of a dying art as most paper effigies are now mass produced. There are less than 100 craftsmen left in Hong Kong who produce them by hand. But his unique art serves many people who are mourning the loss of a loved one who died young and want to pass onto them the trendy luxuries they missed out on in their young life. His creations are done on a client by client basis and can never replace the mass produced effigies out there.

[via OK Great]

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This year marked my first trip to “The Con” aka Comic-Con .  In case you hate the internet, don’t watch television or were recently in a coma, Comic-Con is the largest comic book and “popular arts” convention held.  It is based in San Diego and was attended by 125,000+ fans.  For four days crazed fans descend upon the San Diego Convention Center and surrounding Gaslamp District in search of a chance to preview new releases, attend panels with their favorite stars and creators and be totally immersed in the world of comic related and influenced entertainment. In a word it was overwhelming. In a slew of words I’d say; packed, frenzied, loud, exciting, exhausting and inspiring. As a trade show veteran, I thought I had seen it all. What follows are some observations and tips from a Comic-Con newbie…

1. It is not just about comics anymore. This year marked the new promotion “Comic-Con: Celebrating the Popular Arts”. Comic-Con is now a launch pad and forum for theatrical releases, television series, video games and more. Glee, very much original and not based on a comic, had a panel at last year’s event because the producers understood Glee’s crossover appeal and how valuable it would be to win over this audience. It worked, the Glee panel this year was one of the hottest events and the show is a huge success with this audience.
2. Hit the show floor with a partner in crime. You will need someone to take your picture when you encounter a 6 ft. tall Pickachu your favorite Pokemon or a group of fans dressed as Cylon’s (and including sound effects) marching a Battlestar Galactica Viper pilot to their leader.
3. Pick the panels you must see and go early, very early. I thought I might be able to make the True Blood panel, but there were 1000s waiting on standby as the hall was already filled. Glee fans camped out overnight for a shot at being one of the lucky to get into the panel. Bring water and pack a lunch as the lines are hours long.
4. Comic-Con is like a big mall of all your favorite entertainment branded stuff as vendors from all over the word gather to sell their wares. Plan your shopping. The show floor is like a great big store filled with everything Comic including, t-shirts, collectibles, toys, fine art, movie posters and more. Shop at the end of the day and for negotiated great deals. Wait in line earlier for limited Comic-Con edition Mattel, Lego and Hasbro items because they will run out.
5. Charge your camera batteries and bring extras. Actors are stationed at all the booths and fellow attendees in costume want their pictures taken too. Jump in, have fun. Why not? Go old school bring an autograph book too.
6. One of the coolest areas was Artists Alley where many leading artists and designers are creating real time graphics for fans paying for custom work to be produced on the fly. Think super cool street artists. I regret not getting original art this year…
7. For professionals, register early. The earlier you register, the more likely you will get to bring an adult guest. Also, go early. The best days are Wednesday night preview and the opening Thursday before the masses arrive on the weekend and the poor tradeshow workers are exhausted.
8. Where there is chaos there are stars and giveaways and the fans get rowdy. I was roughed up by a security guard when I accidentally wandered into the crowd surging toward the cast of True Blood during their autograph session. I saw people run when they heard Warner Bros was giving away free stuff.
9. Social media has made the event even more important for marketers trying to generate buzz for upcoming movie release and television series. The Scott Pilgrim movie, Glee and the new AMC series Walking Dead were generating a ton of buzz at the event with their street marketing, panel discussions, private screenings and killer parties. Twitter and Facebook buzzed with comments from attendees providing great word of mouth marketing to their target markets. There were tons of special giveaways including a special Superman flashlight from Warner Bros if you checked in on FourSquare and showed the special edition Superman FourSquare badge on your phone at the booth.
10. San Diego is a great host city for this event with excellent transit access and lots of options for hotels, food and beverage. Beware, rumor has it that Comic-Con has outgrown SD and is looking for a new venue for 2012. Book now for next year and be assured you can be there before it potentially moves to Las Vegas or Anaheim and the whole vibe changes. Seriously, book your hotel now! Everything was sold out for miles. While they do have busses that bring in people from outlier towns, it is always best to be in the epicenter.

Q:  Name?

A: Valerie Painter

Q:  Title?

A: Traffic Coordinator

Q:  What is your most special talent?

A: I’m not sure about special, but the oddest talent I have … I can wiggle my eyeballs. Like I said… ODD!

Q:  What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

A: I’ve been boxing for over 5 years now and am working to become a certified trainer! I also volunteer to help stop Human Trafficking in the U.S.

Q:  What is your favorite candy?

A: Anything with sugar, even sugar straight from the bag!

Q:  What song best describes you?

A: Lets see… song? How about a jingle?  “Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.”

Q:  Who would win in a fight a Taco, a Burrito or a Hot Dog? Why?

A: The Hot Dog, he’s crazy! No one knows what he’s made of!

Q:  Where and when would you travel to in a Time Machine?

A: I’d travel to whenever and wherever Dragons, Wizards, Princes and Princess were real! It’s possible the machine would implode.

Q:  What is your favorite invention?

A: The Snuggie. Life will never be the same.

Q:  What is the best advice you have ever received?

A: “Don’t eat yellow snow.”

If you would like more information about how Tuesday can help make your site and promotions more social media ready, please contact Diana Scott (diana.scott@tuesday.com) 818-755-2241. Whether it is boosting your share features, creating games for people to play and share or integrating user generated content from your fan pages back to your site, we can help you.

At Tuesday we are lucky to count so many cool people among our friends, supporters and partners. We want you to meet the people who inspire us to do great work and keep us on our toes.

Q:  Name?

A: Nicole Walters

Q:  Company?

A: NBC Universal

Q: Title?

A: Digital Producer, Green is Universal and Healthy at NBCU

Q:  When did you first meet Tuesday Creative?

A: March 2009, when they bravely accepted an RFP to launch an iPhone app for Earth Week with a four week timeline!

Q:  What inspires you?

A: I’ve always been inspired by Nature. I spend so much of my time in front of, thinking about, and working with technology, that more than ever, I find solace in getting outdoors and appreciating the sounds, scents and sites of what’s “real”. It helps ground me.

Q:  What was the last film you saw at the movie theater?

A: Cop Out. Kevin Smith is one of my favorite film makers and fellow New Jerseyans.

Q:  What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?

A: At first I was going to skip this question because failure would never be a reason that I wouldn’t go for something, but then it hit me. Flying. I don’t mean in an airplane or any other kind of craft. I mean just standing at the edge of a precipice and taking off. If there was no way to fail at that, I’d do it all the time!

Q:  What technology most changed your life?

A: The Internet. I’ve either been learning about it, designing for it or working in it in some capacity since the 90s and without it, I don’t even know what I’d be doing with myself right now.

Q:  Who would win in a street fight between a Blackberry, iPhone and Droid? Why?

A: Droid. I’m basing this on the idea that each of these devices would acquire the fighting acumen of their most popular user base (or the people I see using these devices the most, anyway): Blackberry would be a businessman, iPhone would be an artsy hipster and Droid would be the blue collar worker. I’m putting my money on the guy whose job requires eye-hand coordination.

Q:  What is your favorite food?

A: Home-made Italian. Preferably my mom’s.

Q:  What are you listening to right now?

A: I’m on a Black Crowes bender right now. They just released their 20th anniversary album, Croweology, which is an acoustic reimagining of a selection of their song library over the last 20 years.

Q:  What are you currently reading?

A: The Field by Lynne McTaggart. It’s about the “zero point field” where some people believe everything is in the universe is connected.

Q:  Any new and exciting news you’d like to share with us?

A: We’ve got so many exciting things in the works at Green is Universal and Healthy at NBCU! I’d love to share all the details but it would be a bit premature. I can say this: stay tuned for our fourth annual Green Week kicking off on Sunday, November 14th where we will be launching a new facebook app! For more details as they come in, like us on www.facebook.com/greenisuniversal.

One Team Tuesday summer adventure has stood out from the rest this year: Joe Breese, one of our Sr. Developers and Resident Adventurist, set out on an eight state solo motorcycle ride from LA to Minnesota. His plan was to meet up with childhood friends he connected with via Facebook for a long awaited reunion. Joe, aka #SoloMoto, hit eight states in 10 days, doing his damndest to stay off freeways and use back roads for travel, camping and getting real with nature. When Joe returned from beyond, I sat down with him to hear what he had to say about his adventure…

Q: What is SoloMoto?

A: SoloMoto is my annual solo motorcycle trip. I have no idea how the name came about exactly, but it’s catchy, I think. SoloMoto’s destination is always to return home, safely.

Q: Where did the roads take you this summer?

A: This year SoloMoto had Minneapolis, Minnesota as a waypoint for a childhood friend’s bbq, outside of that I just roamed around.  The purpose of SoloMoto is really to do what I like best: ad-hoc traveling the path less beaten outside of the air conditioned and sterile glass dome of a car, enjoying the journey as much as the destination and interacting with people along the way enjoying their stories and sharing some of my own. I planned each day’s rides around how much time I had left on my vacation and what I wanted to see.  Most of the time I made route adjustments mid-day based on advice from other riders and locals.

Q: What motorcycle did you ride?

A: Well, I have a Yamaha that I did SoloMoto 2008 on, it is not a “comfortable” ride and I only went into Nevada.  I needed a more comfortable machine with a proven track record for sport-touring, so I bought a used Honda VFR750, performed some basic maintenance, added fresh tires and full luggage.

Q: Where did you stay?

A: During the day, on the curviest back roads and smallest towns I could find, I tried to avoid the freeway as much as possible, but sometimes it’s a necessary evil to “slab” it.  At night I tried to alternate camping and motels.  Hot showers are so underrated.

Q: What were the trip highlights?

A: The whole trip… Seriously, in no particular order and I’m keeping the list short:

• Not being on a schedule, or having to conform to the needs and wants of another rider.
• Discovering most people are generally awesome to interact with, are fascinated with your motorcycle travels and want to help you.  The more trivial the reasons for your road trip, the more interested people are in hearing your story.
• Route 12 through Escalante, Utah stopping at a small hidden gem, Kiva Koffeehouse, for breakfast, just because it’s there.
• Route 61 though the grasslands of Nebraska into Hyannis is another nice road in a place where you wouldn’t normally expect it.
• Riding through the Black Hills in South Dakota was really nice, especially Route 16A over some crazy bridges.  I saw Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse from a distance, as a rider I didn’t really care about seeing those monuments up close, I was happy riding.
• Staying up until 2AM drinking beers and smoking cigars on the motel steps with another motorcycle traveler in Colorado.

Q: What was the most important thing you packed?

A: I can’t say there was one thing; however, waterproof riding gear is worth a mention.  The guy riding before me in Yellowstone National Park in jeans and t-shirt, in the rain, on a muddy road under construction, didn’t look too happy at the next gas station. The Camelback water system in my tank bag is a convenience I won’t ever go without on long trips.

Q: Any items you forgot?

A: Nothing important. I regularly forgot what day it was and was asking someone almost daily. “What day is today?” Does that count?

Q: What would you recommend to others?

A: Don’t ever do this, ever.  It’s really boring and you will not have fun (laughs).  Actually some people can’t do this, one needs the ability to endure painfully loud silence while on the bike, or even in an automobile.  Off the bike you have to “read” people, some want to talk to you, but don’t want to impose; others want to go on their merry way.  Knowing this difference and making yourself approachable or opening up with some conversation can make a solo trip a great experience.

Q: Would you do it again?

A: I’m already thinking of what States I want to ride through for SoloMoto 2011.  My greatest aspiration to date is riding to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska with a few close friends. You’d have to be a crazy person to do that solo.

There was a lot of controversy when I got my G1.  Everyone insisted I get the iPhone. Seeing that I didn’t want to change carriers I went against all of my friend’s recommendations and bought the Google Phone. I haven’t regretted the decision once!!!

Here are my top 10 favorite features:

1. Google Maps! These great free features come standard on Android:
   • Assisted GPS – Navigate in real-time whether you are driving, walking or biking and it can even get you bus/metro routes!
   • Street View – Access the same panoramic street level imagery that is available on Google Maps online.
   • Compass – Pan left, right, up, down – all around. You can explore locations and destinations all over without moving a muscle!
2. The widgets are amazing! They are basically small web apps that display live data. For instance, I downloaded the Weather Channel application that comes with a widget. I can put this widget on my customizable home screen and see the current temperature at all times. No need to open the application! I can even start playing music from Pandora with a quick tap of the play button from my home screen.
3. Similar to widgets, there are also Live Folders, which display real-time data. I use mine to view upcoming events in my calendar at a quick glance.
4. My Android also comes equipped with a physical and virtual keyboard. One hand, two hands, no hands. It’s all up to me!
5. I have the option to record videos and share via email, MMS or upload directly to YouTube.
6. The G1 also has a completely customizable home screen! The possibilities are endless you can download font packs, icon packs and more.
7. There are tons of apps to choose from – many of which are free! I found things I didn’t even know I needed until I downloaded them.
8. My Android is also built to last. I’ve dropped my phone millions of times and she’s still a beauty.
9. Quick and easy built-in mobile instant messaging with Google Talk let’s me keep in touch with people on the go.
10. Last, but of course not least, is my Google search bar… Need I say more?

All these features are great, but I’ll let you in on the secret that has me dancing in the streets over my G1. I’ve got the power to send incoming calls directly to voicemail on a contact to contact basis. That technical verbiage does nothing to get across how great this feature is… so imagine that there is that one, two or possibly several people in your phonebook who won’t stop calling you (even though you never pick up their calls). That’s where this little baby comes in handy! Simply check a little box in their contact information and they will forever be sent directly to voicemail! Here’s the kicker, you can tell that they called you 100 times in a row because it still shows up in your call log, and they probably just assume your phone is off. Oh, the simple pleasures in life!

Disclaimer: I wouldn’t dream of using this feature on anyone who has, will or might read this article.

Weeplaces map of Foursquarfounder Naveen Selvadurai's activity

I love to see creative use of a public API. I’m also a sucker for maps — both the traditional geographical and those created for visualizing data. Given the ubiquity of social media, it should come as no surprise that we as individuals have become very mappable and (thanks to the people behind Weeplaces.com) in some very graphically attractive ways.

Weeplaces is straightforward — supply your Foursquare credentials and you’ll be presented with a geographic map of those areas you’ve checked in. At the bottom of the screen a playhead moves along a timeline of your activity and each check in appears on the map. What does this all add up to? Sad proof that you need to sacrifice your title as mayor of your sofa and visit some other locales.

FourSquare Visualization by WeePlaces.com from Eric Wu on Vimeo.

Telenoid R1 with Dr. Hiroshi Ishiguro (Osaka University)

Just when you thought that guy from sales couldn’t get any creepier, here comes the Telenoid R1 minimalist humanoid robot. Thought you were safe when he called in sick? Rest assured, he’ll be there — almost literally — for that conference call this afternoon. But, look on the bright side: this is still (barely) better than him video conferencing in nothing but his silk Phantom Menace boxer shorts and moth-eaten bunny slippers. Video after the jump.

From the Telenoid website:

Osaka University and Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) have collaboratively developed a new portable teleoperated android robot, “Telenoid R1,” that can effectively transfer peoples’ presence.

… unless that person’s presence usually includes arms, legs, a discernible bone structure, at least one body hair and something behind his or her eyes that puts to rest any fears you may have that something may have prematurely escaped from a secret government cloning lab.

via Pink Tentacle