This dispatch was added by one of our Nonprofit Neighbors. It does not represent the editorial voice of The Rapidian or Community Media Center.
Matthew Altena (right) /Photo provided by Matthew Altena
Catalyst Radio is a weekly radio show with hosts Linda Gellasch and Denise Cheng that looks at the behind-the-scenes of Rapidian reporting as well as grassroots and nonprofit efforts around the community. The show comprises a media analysis and developments portion, interview segment and calendar of events. You can catch it on air at noon every Friday on WYCE 88.1 FM or streaming on the Grand Rapids Community Media Center Website.
This week on Catalyst Radio, Matthew Altena is joining us in the studio. Matt covers the amateur boxing beat in Grand Rapids with regular blow-by-blow descriptions and profiles from the boxing community. To read Matt's stories, check out his Rapidian profile. Music featured this week is Boxer's Fracture by Liquid Soul off the One-Two Punch album.
MEDIA ANALYSIS
BP oil spill interactive infographic has its roots in Michigan
A popular site that visualizes the BP oil spill has been making the rounds online. The site was created by a software programmer from Royal Oak, MI. The programmer said the idea came when his wife was reading the New York Times and saw an image of the oil spill laid over New York City. With some coding knowledge, he was able to take the image of the oil spill and lay it over any city in the U.S. entered on the site, starting with Michigan. You can check it out for yourself at IfItWasMyHome.com.
[Read more]
iPhone 4 debuts at the Worldwide Developers Conference
Steve Jobs presented the much anticipated iPhone 4 at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco earlier this week. The iPhone had previously stirred up controversy when Gizmodo purchased a test version left behind at a bar. There is already much speculation about how the iPhone will affect media industries with its new features, such as video recording and editing capability and better eReader features.
[Read more]
The New York Times threatens Apple, company pulls aggregation app for the iPad
The news industry has been developing furiously for the iPad in the last couple of months. One of them was pulled this week when NYT threatened Apple with a lawsuit if it continued to sell "Pulse," a news aggregation app that uses The New York Times' RSS feed and also displays NYT content in their entirety in their app. There is speculation that NYT is prepping for its paywall, to launch in January 2011.
[Read more: GigaOm, Wired, All Things Digital]
AT&T goes after the data hogs
AT&T has announced plans to curtail data usage on their smartphones. Data downloading occurs when a subscriber uses the Internet. Those who view more Web pages need more data. AT&T claims that data hogs are slowing down the network for less intensive smartphone users. Many phone companies see data plans, not calling plans, as the future of the phone industry. There is speculation that AT&T is priming the pump for data size plans in the future.
[Read more]
More online video viewers watch comedy than news
The Pew Research Center recently released a study that shows funny videos have surpassed news as the most watched online video category. All categories have increased viewership, and there is a possible correlation to increasing Internet speeds.
[Read more]
CALENDAR
[ARTS] Opening reception for new exhibits at UICA
6-9 p.m. on Friday, June 11 at UICA (41 Sheldon)
This is the UICA's final exhibition opening on Sheldon Boulevard. Enjoy hors d'oevres and refreshments as you experience artwork by Justin Webb, Bryan Leister and Rebecca Murtaugh.
[More info]
[ENTERTAINMENT + BUSINESS] Seventh Annual Local First Street Party
4 p.m. - midnight on Saturday, June 12 at Bistro Bella Vita (44 Grandville SW)
The event will take place outside of Bistro Bella Vita. There will be local food, beer, vendors and live music. Over 10,000 people attended the event last year.
[More info]
[ARTS + BUSINESS + EDUCATION] Not Your Average Speaker Series: Good Business is the Best Art
6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16 at Wealthy Theatre (1130 Wealthy SE)
This installment of Rapid Growth's speaker series focuses on the business of creative services in West Michigan. Panelists will discuss the value of artists, the risks and consequences of donating creative services, the downside of evading taxes, prospects for an artists guild in Grand Rapids, why artists are asked to donate services to events when other professionals are not, how ArtPrize affects local artists (and vice versa) and generally how artists can agree to certain guidelines as a community and whether this approach would benefit the community.
[More info]
[FILM + DINING] Blood into Wine
6:30 p.m. wine tasting, 7:30 movie screening on Thursday, June 17 at Wealthy Theatre (1130 Wealthy SE)
Movie only $7.50 in advance, $9 at the door | Movie & Wine tasting: $17 in advance, $20 at the door
A widely anticipated documentary that shares the story of Maynard James Keenan (Tool / A Perfect Circle) and his mentor Eric Glomski as they pioneer winemaking in the hostile deserts of Arizona. This is the story of an epic challenge in sustainable agriculture, making the desert produce some of the finest wines east of Napa Valley.
[More info]
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