sxsw

visualizing our future: space, media & web exploration. a minitalk event of four 20 minute presentations on diverse topics related to data-visualization and web-based visual media with panel-style q&a/audience interaction at the end. the panel includes everything for everyone, NASA/JPL keynote, TACC/ACES Vizlab openhouse with live realtime demos!

big brother in your brain: neuroscience & marketing. this appeals to the greater geek inside of us, but it looks fascinating! the expert panel will focus on the concept of using MRIs to analyze brain activity when exposed to different marketing stimuli with a discussion of the battle of math (analytics) vs. creativity.

how digital media drives international collaboration in music! the house of songs is an austin, tx based project focusing on musical creativity through international collaboration. they've been in operation since september 2009 and they provide that integral piece of creative collaboration between some of the strongest austin and scandinavian songwriters. this panel focuses on digital media and how it influences these collaboration efforts in the past and future. sounds quite interesting!how ditia

blake mycoskie, the mastermind behind those oh-so-adorable-yet-still-the-most-comfortable-pair-of-shoes-you-own toms shoe company. we love the premise behind the venture (buy a pair of shoes and a pair of shoes goes to a child in need), and the fact that it has been so wildly successful speaks to mycoskie's business and philanthropic savvy. get your tickets for this one!

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pbs & friends speakeasy featuring pbs, npr, storycorps and others. under new budget restrictions, the federal government is looking at defunding public broadcasting. as avid listeners to kcrw here in los angeles, we are less than thrilled by this proposal. this interactive event should be interesting, and we stand in solidarity with our friends in public broadcasting. long live public radio and television!

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hesher has been gaining festival buzz for some time now, and it is easy to understand why. the cast is outstanding. you've got soon-to-be oscar winner natalie portman and personal favorite joseph gordon-levitt. the movie centers around a non-traditional family, fronted by gordon-levitt in the most badass performance of his career thus far. can't wait to see it!

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page one: a year inside the new york times. this documentary chronicles the media industry's transformation and assesses the high stakes for democracy if in-depth investigative reporting becomes extinct. its narrative directly follows its title, as the documentary crew spends a year following the new york times, one of the enduring print papers in a period of increased media digitalization.

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cave of forgotten dreams by werner herzog. werner herzog goes 3d with this adventure into the world's most beautiful, unexplored areas. not to make any guarantees over whether this will be good or not, but herzog's work speaks for itself. if there is one man that could wow you with 3d, chances are it is werner herzog.

presspauseplay, directed by david dworsky. this documentary is all about the digital revolution and whether this democratized culture that has emerged has created better work or simply just a vast ocean of mediocrity. if that doesn't sell you, it has moby!

super by james gunn. described as a "outlandish dark comedy," this film details the lives of self-reflexive superheroes. starring rainn wilson (of the office), ellen page, liv tyler, kevin bacon (who we have been loving lately with those great logitech ads: www.moving-pictur...), and michael rooker.

plan b, tbd at esther's follies (525 east 6th street). plan b brings the more pop feel with serious motown undertones. this brit raps, sings, he even acts and directs! check out the "love goes down" video. it is fantastic!

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computer magic, tbd at the victorian room at the driskill (604 brazos street). the solo project of danz, maybe the coolest 21-year-old you know, cm has developed a truly magical repertoire. she's based out of brooklyn, so we were thrilled to discover she's playing sxsw this year. give "electronic fences" a listen. for the scifi fans, it was inspired by philip k. dick's "do androids dream of electric sheep?" (also the inspiration for the movie blade runner).COMPUTER a

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little dragon, 5:00 pm at the adam mickiewicz institute. little dragon is among the amazing electronic music showcased at sxsw this year. fronted by yukimi nagano, the swedish band combines the sultry voice of nagano with fluid and fun beats. this one is a don't-miss!

yoko ono, 11:00 am at the austin convention center, 18 abc (500 e cesar chavez st). yoko ono requires no explanation. she is iconic and fascinating. this is perhaps the most sought after show of sxsw, and we hope to be there to see this legend of music and style.

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sharon van etten, 12:00 am at the swan dive (615 red river street). her cd entitled epic lives up to its bold title. all seven tracks are representative of her unequivocally infectious style. we can't wait to see her at sxsw this year!