NoTxt #1 posted

The first issue of the new online magazine NoTxt is now online. Great stuff. Thanks to everyone who contributed. Here.

McDonald's Interactive Division

YES! From McDonald's Interactive Division: McDonald's Interactive was formed four years ago to help the company adapt to new market conditions. "We began developing a simulation of the fast-food industry, for use by managers in developing market strategies." said Division CTO Sam Grossman. "When we added a climate simulation module, it showed those strategies helping lead to global calamity." "Management doesn't seem to care, and we can't sit back and fiddle while Rome burns, so our team has decided to break away from McDonald's and do something about it," said Grossman. Here.

UK Serious Games Conference Pranked by Anti-McDonalds Activists

The Yes Men strike again! From Gamasutra, via boing-boing: According to online reports, the UK-based International Serious Games Event, which deals with games for educational, corporate training, and other uses, this week hosted its conference in Birmingham, England, complete with a session by Andrew Shimery-Wolf, Strategic Comm. Mgr at fast food giant McDonald’s, on "McChange: Serious Games from Training to Corporate Social Responsibility." Shimery-Wolf claims to be part of an organization named McDonald's Interactive, which has apparently announced that it "is striking out on its own from parent company McDonald's." "We can no longer stand by while McDonald's corporate policies help lead the planet to ruin," said Andrew Shimery-Wolf, co-director of the former Interactive Division. However, as is clear by the apparent text of Shimery-Wolf's speech at the legitimate International Serious Games Event, someone has been hoaxed - the speech claims that McDonald's has run an elaborate 'serious game' to help work out the future of its business. Here.

Children of Polygamy - Through Their Eyes

From The Salt Lake Tribune: The photographs in this gallery were taken by the children of polygamist Winston Blackmore, who were fascinated with Tribune photographer Trent Nelson's cameras. Their play on a summer day at their home in Lister, British Columbia is easily comparable to a school recess that starts in the morning and doesn't end until it's time for bed. Dozens of brothers and sisters join for water fights, jumping on trampolines and riding bikes through the green grass and tall trees of the family's farm. Here.

Arnold Newman, Portrait Photographer Who Captured the Essence of His Subjects, Dies at 88

From the New York Times: Mr. Newman photographed so many of the world's most prominent and accomplished men and women that it sometimes seemed as if there was no public figure that his lens had left untouched. But there were subjects he generally steered clear of: actors, actresses, rock stars and anyone he considered, as he put it, "famous for being famous." "I hate the whole idea of celebrity," he said. Here.

Fat Wreck Chords Sampler 2006

From Fat Wreck Chords: Streaming and downloadable sampler, featuring Against Me!, Dead to Me, Good Riddance, Lagwagon, The Lawrence Arms, The Loved Ones, Love Equals Death, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, NOFX, None More Black, Only Crime, Randy, The Sainte Catherines, Strike Anywhere. Here.

American Idyll

From the Digital Journalist: For a more perceptive and profound patriotism immerse yourself in Burk Uzzle's latest book, A Family Named Spot. Here you will find some of the eccentricities and idiosyncrasies that make this country great, all displayed unabashedly and without apology or sentimentality. They are also portrayed without disdain but with great affection. On the lid of his camera case Uzzle has inscribed the words "Celebrate, don't incriminate," which is an indication of his affinity with his subjects, whether they are people or landscapes. Here.

On the Ground in Darfur

Mario Ruiz, from the Digital Journalist: I was told I would have five days in Iridimi. We would arrive by plane via a United Nations cargo jet on Monday and leave Friday morning, giving me only four days to shoot at the camps. I had no idea whether that would be enough time to get what I needed. With the amount of pressure I placed myself under it would prove to be enough time. Here.

Invisible in Baghdad

Christoph Bangert, from the Digital Journalist: There are maybe eight or nine foreign photographers still trying to cover this conflict from the civilian side. I am by far not the bravest, most committed, talented nor longest-serving of these photographers; I am just one of them. The majority of the pictures that are coming out of this country are taken by Iraqi photographers working for wire services or foreigners who are exclusively embedded with the military. Of course, I am one of them and am sometimes embedded with either the American, British or Iraqi military and so are most of my colleagues. I used to be the only blond guy in Baghdad. Well, at least that's what I felt like. Now I am the only blond guy in Baghdad that dyed his hair black. I look like a fool and maybe I am one. Maybe it's foolish to be here and tell oneself that it is important to do so. Maybe it actually makes sense. Here.

The Bespoke Leica

From The Online Photographer: For his limited-edition Leica, Ralph Gibson chose the MP, but with the angled rewind crank; 35, 50, and 90mm framelines, each visible singly in the finder; matte black finish to be "less conspicuous" but then some notably conspicuous red leather; and he eliminated the preview lever. (And note the absence of the ever-controversial red dot.) It's pleasing that for the $5,500 it costs (which doesn't cover the 50mm Apo-ASPH. lens he favors) it does include the braided leather lanyard camera strap of the type Ralph has always used. Here.