Breakfast @ Tiffany's Newsletter: Fall '07

Hello iTunes!

Dear Friends, Hope your summer was mellow and your fall is melodious:) In this newsletter, some great books, films, events, websites, tunes and news. We're excited to share that Apple selected The Tribe to be released on iTunes on Oct 2nd.* You're all invited to an event that The Apple Store in Downtown SF is having that night at 8pm. The Tribe is one of the first indie short docs to be released on it's own. This is a great new experiment for us and we would love your help. Our goal is both to expand the conversation sparked from the film to new audiences, and to forge new paths for distribution for other indie media makers and rabble rousers. Your participation could be instrumental. If you've seen The Tribe, please go to iTunes on Oct 2nd and gift it to a friend for $1.99. If you haven’t seen it, this is the perfect opportunity to download it for yourself. The more people who download it, the more we can extend the conversation and shake things up. Just returned from my new favorite gathering: The Idea Festival. I presented the creative ingredients for our next film and the whole experience was inspiring, challenging, and real. Speakers ranged from Ray Bradbury and Steve Wozniak to Fashion Designers, Architects and Physicists. Their ideas gave me hope for a the New Year.* L'Shana Tova, Tiffany www.tiffanyshlain.com

Table of Contents (Details all further down) EVENTS - UCBerkeley's ATC Lecture: Geert Lovink New Media Art: In Search of the Cool Obscure, Oct. 29th - SF Climate Contest, sign up before Oct. 25th - Visionfest, Film Festival at Tribeca Cinemas, New York, Sep. 22nd - iTunes Launch SF Apple Store Event Details Oct. 2nd BOOKS - True Mutations: Conversations at the Edge of Science, Technology and Consciousness by RU Sirius - Welcome to BioTech Nation by Moira Gunn - Mothers on the Fast Track: How a Generation Can Balance Family and Careers by Mary Ann Mason, Eve Mason Ekman - Vegetable, Animal, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver - The Devil, Lovers & Me: My Life in Tarot by Kimberlee Auerbach EDUCATION - The Idea Festival see video and read blogs about the talks - Teaching the Holocaust by Debbie Findling & Simone Schweber - The Crazy Wisdom of Philip K. Dick. An online course by Erik Davis FILMS - Strange Culture documentary by Lynn Hershman - Beyond the Call by Adrien Belic - No End in Sight documentary by Charles Ferguson MUSIC - Colombia! The Golden Age of Discos Fuentes WEBSITES - www.happybirthdaykatrina.com see how you can help the efforts - www.pandora.com fantastic site that streams personalized radio stations - www.sidereel.com your favorite tv shows and movies online - www.foodbuzz.com for foodies - www.facebook.com for social networking TV - HBO's Flight of the Concords - hilarious - FX Damages with Glenn Close PRIMPING Pampered Girl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EVENTS

UCB’s ATC Lecture: Geert Lovink New Media Art: In Search of the Cool Obscure Oct. 29th Geert Lovink, media theorist and net critic and activist of Amsterdam, will give a lecture on the crisis of the emerging new media arts genre. This is not to say that 'new media' are on their way out. What we're talking about here is a "luxury" problem: in what direction to grow further. Monday, Oct. 29th, 6:30-9:30pm 160 Kroeber Hall (near College and Bancroft Aves), Berkeley ATC Lectures are free and open to the public www.atc.berkeley.edu

Contest to Save Energy and the Planet, begins Oct. 25th The City of San Francisco has partnered up with the Sierra Club and a local non-profit One Atmosphere to put on a cool contest in San Francisco aimed at inspiring everyone to reduce their residential energy consumption and help combat climate change. There are $5,000 prizes for overall winners and additional prizes in various other categories. You can compete in teams with your friends. Fluorescent light bulbs will also be given away. The contest starts October 25, 2007, but you have to sign up in advance. www.sfclimatechallenge.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Visionfest, New York, Sept 19-23rd The Tribe has been selected to play at Visionfest '07 at Tribeca Cinemas in New York, September 22nd. Visionfest, dubbed "The Other Festival," is a festival designed for U.S. auteurs, and allows only domestic films. For a complete list of showtimes, visit www.visionfest.com

iTunes Releases The Tribe, SF Apple Store hosts event, Oct. 2nd Please come join us at the SF Apple Store at 8pm, Oct. 2nd The Tribe will be launching on iTunes and we'll be talking about some of the experiments we've been doing getting the film out on the Internet. It will be a fun event, and an interesting conversation about new landscapes for indie film strategies. San Francisco Apple Store Read about The Tribe and iTunes on Jewlicious.com

BOOKS

True Mutations: Conversations at the Edge of Science, Technology and Consciousness True Mutations: Interviews on the Edge of Science, Technology, and Consciousness looks at the wild changes that may be coming to the human species during the 21st Century. In a series of interviews, author/host RU Sirius explores a series of (r)evolutions in disciplines ranging from the evolution of clean energy to the possibilities of endless neurological ecstasy; from open-source free access to nearly everything under the sun to self-directed biotechnological evolution; from psychedelic culture mash-ups to the possibilities of a technological singularity that alters not only humanity but the entire universe. Buy on Amazon

Welcome to the BioTech Nation by Dr. Moira Gunn Welcome to the Biotech Nation: My Unexpected Odyssey into the Land of Small Molecules, Lean Genes, and Big Ideas goes behind the science and business of biotech. The book rides along with Dr. Gunn as she interviews an interesting and colorful cast of characters from the industry, including a DNA scientist with ego to burn and a pharmaceutical exec with a penchant for Viagra. Filled with compelling stories of everything from the genetically modified food fight to the reasons why the presidential stem lines are dying, the book explores the fascinating theories and breakthroughs in this exciting field. Buy on Amazon

Mothers on the Fast Track: How a New Generation Can Balance Family and Careers by Mary Ann Mason & Eve Mason Ekman Mothers on the Fast Track takes a hard look at the career paths of the first and second generation of women who entered the fast-track professions of academia, law, medicine, business, and the media in large numbers in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. With data and interviews, it reveals the impact of motherhood in each of these professions, telling us why and when women leave the fast track, and what allows some to succeed. * I'm interviewed in this book. It's a really interesting look at working women in the 21st century. More information and sample chapters

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver * I'm reading this book right now. It's terrific. Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, this book tells the story of Kingsolver's family living and eating deliberately for one year on food from their own land. A fascinating account of the ecology of local food and the toxic logic of industrial agriculture, laced with poetic stories of a family's farm and kitchen, seasonal recipes, and a quest to eat in line with our politics. www.animalvegetablemiracle.com

The Devil, The Lovers & Me: My Life in Tarot, by Kimberlee Auerbach Kimberlee Auerbach has tried everything. She's been in therapy. She's seen a Reiki Master. She's even given hypnosis a try. Nobody can give her want she wants... to know her future is going to be bright, that everything will be okay. So she makes an appointment with Iris Goldblatt, "tarot card reader and mirror of the soul." Instead of predicting the future, each card sparks a memory: like the time Kimberlee tried to be wild, and caught crabs from an Argentine painter; or the night her father "proposed" at Morton's Steakhouse (presenting her with an engagement ring for her boyfriend to use); or the moment Kimberlee found the strength to kick out her freeloading ex. In a Wizard of Oz-like twist of fate, Kimberlee realizes she had the answers all along-that's it's not about looking to the future, it's about trusting yourself along the way. www.kimmiland.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDUCATION

Check out talks from the Idea Festival Bloggers gave good summaries of the talks by people including Ray Bradbury, Steve Wozniak, Fashion Designer Karen Walker, Physicists, Architects and more. I gave a talk on our new film in development, A Declaration of Interdependence. You can check out the festival and the blogs of all the talks at: www.ideafestival.com and some blogs on my talk here... Daily EM My Heart's in Accra

Teaching the Holocaust by Debbie Findling & Simone Schweber With this book, Simone Schweber and Debbie Findling provide invaluable support and insight to educators who teach about the Holocaust, whether in Jewish schools or in other contexts. In clear, accessible prose, Schweber and Findling provide summaries to help educators navigate the wealth of research and personal accounts available on the Holocaust. They also offer morally meaningful teaching activities, materials and ideas that purposefully avoid easy answers and that engage students in the hard questions that weave throughout this history. Buy on Amazon

The Crazy Wisdom of Philip K. Dick. An online course by Erik Davis Once a purely cult figure, Philip K. Dick ( 1928-1982) is now widely recognized as a pulp visionary of the highest order. This course will approach his work not so much as science fiction but as crazy wisdom. We’ll explore how his texts seem designed to illuminate our posthuman problems and our most ancient philosophical questions — and to then scramble those insights with a cheap ray gun. We will read two of Dick’s major novels, _The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch_ and _VALIS_, both chosen for their heavy gnostic themes. We will discuss drugs and archons and machines that break down, including, possibly, yourself. We will also explore the two greatest examples of the many PKD movies to date, the "new" _Blade Runner_ version and _A Scanner Darkly_—further evidence that Dick’s spirit will only continue to permeate the culture at large. www.maybelogic.org/erikcrs.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FILMS

Strange Culture by Lynn Hershman The surreal nightmare of internationally-acclaimed artist and professor Steve Kurtz began when his wife Hope died in her sleep of heart failure. Police who responded to Kurtz’s 911 call deemed Kurtz’s art suspicious and called the FBI. Within hours the artist was detained as a suspected "bioterrorist" as dozens of federal agents in Hazmat suits sifted through his work and impounded his computers, manuscripts, books, his cat, and even his wife’s body. Today Kurtz and his long-time collaborator Dr. Robert Ferrell, Professor of Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, await a trial date. *For show dates around the country, go to: www.strangeculture.net

Beyond the Call by Adrien Belic In an Indiana Jones meets Mother Teresa adventure, three eccentric middle-aged men - former soldiers and modern-day knights - travel the world delivering life-saving humanitarian aid directly into the hands of civilians and doctors. Ed Artis, James Laws, and Walt Ratterman inspire through deeds, not words, in some of the most dangerous, yet beautiful places on Earth, the front lines of war. Playing around the country in the coming months. Check out festivals and screenings at www.beyondthecallthemovie.com

No End in Sight by Charles Ferguson The first film of its kind to chronicle the reasons behind Iraq’s descent into guerilla war, warlord rule, criminality and anarchy, NO END IN SIGHT is a jaw-dropping, insider’s tale of wholesale incompetence, recklessness and venality. Based on over 200 hours of footage, the film provides a candid retelling of the events following the fall of Baghdad in 2003 by high ranking officials such as former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, Ambassador Barbara Bodine (in charge of Baghdad during the Spring of 2003), Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff to Colin Powell, and General Jay Garner (in charge of the occupation of Iraq through May 2003) as well as Iraqi civilians, American soldiers, and prominent analysts. www.noendinsightmovie.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MUSIC

Colombia! The Golden Age of Discos Fuentes Discos Fuentes (Fuentes Records) has since 1934 been the largest label in the vast country of Colombia, a place where music is impossible to escape. This collection concentrates on the golden years of 1960-1976 and is hand-picked by Soundway from a huge catalogue of hot, tropical music styles. Cumbia, Gaita, Fandango, Salsa and Champeta all feature in our selection from one of the world's best Latin music archives. Order or listen --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WEBSITES

happybirthdaykatrina.com In an effort to raise awareness for the ongoing situation in the Gulf, www.happybirthdaykatrina.com has been created. The site reminds us just how little effort it takes for us to make a difference, and how much there is still to be done in an area still crying out with need, to ears that are no longer listening. The site features: a poignant public service announcement using footage shot this past May, highlighting the devastation still facing the Gulf region; a video depicting what life is really like in the rural areas hardest hit by Katrina, as seen through the eyes of a local reverend whose strength and hope reaches beyond the screen; a list of 10 things YOU can do to make a difference in as little as five minutes; links to recent, ground-breaking, articles that paint a clear picture of what is happening—and not happening—two years after the initial crisis. www.happybirthdaykatrina.com

pandora.com I've been putting this on every day while I work and it's fantastic: a site that streams personalized radio stations, for free. Type in an artist or a song you're into and it does the rest. www.pandora.com

sidereel.com A new search engine and community for entertainment. Find full length episodes of your favorite TV shows, movies, and a growing source of entertainment. With the benefit of automated search functionality (like Google) and community features (like Wikipedia) for users to add information and content. www.sidereel.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

foodbuzz.com A community devoted exclusively to food and dining. Thousands of restaurants worldwide, reviews written by other foodies in the community, and for the perfect recipe. Check out lists of favorites submitted by Foodbuzz users, tales of food and dining, and news and articles from the culinary world. Share pictures from your latest dining escapade, your favorite recipes, and thoughts on Foodbuzz content and other members' musings. www.foodbuzz.com

Facebook.com, my new obsession I have to admit my new addiction is Facebook. If you're already a member, let's connect. We also just started a Tribe The Film group. I know many of you are thinking, I have no time for a social networking site..but it really does give a context to your social world. Check it out. www.facebook.com

TV

HBO's Flight of the Conchords *Ken and I have been watching this show which is often hilarious. It's all about Jemaine. He's the man. "It's business, it's business time." Bret and Jemaine have moved to New York in the hope of forging a successful music career. So far they've managed to find a manager (whose "other" job is at the New Zealand Consulate), one fan (a married obsessive) and one friend (who owns the local pawn shop) -- but not much else. www.hbo/conchords

FX "Damages" with Glenn Close Great new show on FX. This is one of those shows where you check your suspension of disbelief at the door because things are going by so fast. Glenn Close is brilliant.