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Hello Current blog readers!  By now most of you are getting used to the new release and the updates to the Current.com submission tool.  There’s a lot of new ways to do things (check Mario’s blog post for a really good overview of the new goods), so today I’m gonna give a quick rundown of what I have hastily named ‘multi-clipping’ (if you have a better name for it please email me at bdorries@current.com).

What is multi-clipping?

Multi-clipping occurs when you to add multiple sources to the description field of your story. Instead of only getting to choose media from one source, you now get to browse all the media from each available source.  All you have to do is copy/paste the URL of your sources (as many as you want) into the bottom of your description text and the submission tool will do the rest.

Why so many sources?

Submitting multiple sources has two (that we’ve discovered so far) really beneficial and distinct applications.

1. Keep us updated. Let’s say a story breaks at 10:00 AM about jellyfish capsizing a Japanese fishing boat. It’s a really awesome story, it gets featured on the homepage and lots of people are commenting on it.  Two hours later at 12:00 PM another source reports that it wasn’t a Jellyfish at all but a Giant Squid – this is when you need to multi-clip.  Instead of going through all the trouble of changing the source article and finding an appropriate image, simply post the URL of the updated story in the description field.  After that just add some text updating your readers about the break in the story – and boom goes the dynamite – we’re up to date.
2. Let us know what you’re thinking (my favorite). Just like before, a jellyfish has capsized a Japanese fishing boat.  This reminds you of an article you read a couple years ago about a killer jellyfish population explosion as well as an article that gave some insight into possible causes and effects of the jellyfish population explosion. It’s time for multi-clipping.  Copy/paste the sources, choose your media and let us know what you’re thinking!

Those are just two possible applications for multi-clipping, if you find any more please let me know about them.  And as always please let us know how it’s going on our Get Satisfaction page.  We’ll have plenty more tips and tricks about the submission tool and other updates coming up in days to come – so check back often!

Thanks,

-Ben

bdorries@current.com

P.S. Here’s a great example of multi-clipping from Current online-producer Andrew Fitzgerald :

http://current.com/items/91327125_honduras-reaches-deal-zelaya-returning-to-power.htm

Stop hoarding daylight, it’s time to live in the darkness

Hey everyone!  It’s that time again; time for me to go to sleep one night and hope to god my cellphone knows what exactly fall back/spring forward means in the morning.  I always get confused whether or not I get an extra hour of sleep (drinking) or one less (cursing the sky).  Luckily for me cellphone alarm clocks are the most advanced clocks in the world as they are programmed to adjust for DST automatically.

As you should be able to guess, daylight savings time is coming for us yet again; it is predicted that it will occur this Sunday around 2 AM – consider yourself warned.

The history of daylight savings day :

Daylight savings time has existed in some form or another for over 2000 years.  The modern format of an hour just disappearing in the middle of the night (and me showing to work an hour early wondering if a disaster has claimed the lives of all my coworkers) has only been around for a little over 100 years.  There are many reasons why daylight savings time may have started – one such story describes an annoyed William Willet observing his fellow Londoners sleeping the day away.  I too observe too many of my cohorts sleeping the day away; alas, in order to correct their slumber the daylight hours would have to be adjusted about 5-7 hours forward.

Why daylight savings is good :

Generally speaking – during the Spring and Summer months daylight savings increases productivity as well as enables people to be more active and lead healthier lives.  Unless you live in Arizona or Hawaii.  If you are living in Hawaii you live on ‘island time ‘ and probably don’t even know what season it is let alone if it is 5 o’clock or 6 o’clock in the morning.  Arizona however is another story.  Arizona boasts one of the only people alive since before time existed as it’s Senator – and thus has been slow to accept the relatively modern idea of switching their clocks for no good reason. To this day I don’t know if there is any way to tell exactly what time it is in Arizona.

Why daylight savings time is bad:

When daylight savings time was first put into effect I can only imagine that all hell broke loose.  That being said, we’ve all come to terms with the idea since then. I have no counter argument for daylight savings time, other than the fact that simps like me have a really hard time wrapping their mind around the concept and always get confused exactly what ‘falling back’ or ’springing forward’ means (so do I go forward in time? Or does time go forward and I stay in the same place? It gets really meta and existential if i think about it too long).  Perhaps one solution for the problem of the intangible essence of time shifting is to just sound some sort of really loud alarm clock at 7 AM combined with over-saturation of the media warning us that the sun will be rising a little bit later than usual (I’m trying to do my part right now).

Say good-bye to the tans you worked oh so hard to get over the Summer, box up all your sunglasses and shed a single tear, for this Sunday we say goodbye to the Sun.  I pray to Zeus that it comes back next Spring and is bigger and better than ever (besides the fact that we could benefit from it being a little cooler than it has been as of late).

-Ben

Hey all,

Sorry I haven’t posted in a couple weeks – I’m back with some new featured groups.

First up – and my personal favorite :

FOODIES: UNITE

From lolitanimatronic, an awesome group that deals with favorite thing – good food.  FOODIES: UNITE is a lot more than just a bunch of people getting together and talking about their local restaurants and eateries – it’s a group where the benefits of eating smart (locally, organically) are shown at the production level and at the consumption level (check this out for some advice on what’s in season this fall) . The FOODIES: UNITE group is also a great place to visit right before lunch.

The Science Club

Are you into science?   Current user wirehedd has created the group for you.  Are you not that into science but enjoy vaguely describing something scientific (this me BTW) at dinners and parties? THIS ALSO IS THE CLUB FOR YOU.  All things science, from theories to proofs, failed inventions to working inventions – tons of interesting stuff in here, check it out.

Anti-Xenophobia

Found_Avenue has created a really positive (well, anti-negative) club that has a lot of merit in today’s society.  This is a club for people are pro-acceptance and anti-prejudice.  The group supports awareness of xenophobic activity as well as stories of people overcoming xenophobia.  A good mix of positivity and knowledge about some of the problems facing the different cultures/beliefs of the world.

That’s it for this week’s featured groups – please feel free to let me know if you have any groups that you think should be featured.

Thanks,

-Ben

bdorries@current.com

Featured_groups

Hello everybody, It’s time for featured groups!

Hackers

The Hackers group was recently created by hunzedog and covers A LOT of ground when it comes to ‘hacking.’  Hackers deals with cyber-security, cyber-pranks and hacking the gibson – content ranges from totally hilarious and cute to downright ultra-scary.

The Future

Cue technology beeps and droning sounds.  The Future group is awesome – newfangled techno-whatsits and far-out space doo-hickeys are littered all over the place.  The Future group also covers problems of today and how they may effect us tomorrow.

Tuff E Nuff

Pretty straightforward – this is all about being tough, kicking ass and taking names.  Tuff E Nuff honors those among us who have overcome challenges and beaten the odds. Thanks for the awesome group eldamon!

That about wraps it up for this weeks featured groups – as always – if you have a group that you’d like to see featured please drop me a line at bdorries@current.com !

Thanks,

-Ben

Hey all!  It’s that time again – time for…

Featured groups!!!!

(I accidentally type gropus about 75% of the time)

Zombies

ZomBelle has created a wonderful haven for zombies and zombie lovers alike.  There’s previews for up coming video games and movies, information about zombie events and instructions about how to bite through a human skull and eat the brains (jk about that one).  Personally, I would love to read a poem about the woes of zombie life; should you happen to write one be sure to post it both in ‘Zombies’ and in…

Creative Writing

Created by DeliaTheArtist, the Creative Writing group is a wonderful place for community members to share poems, short stories… Heck even long stories.  If you’ve got some ideas bouncing around in the old brain bucket (and zombies haven’t gotten in there first) write em and clip em into the Creative Writing group – you’ll be sure to get some feedback (hopefully not too scathing) and maybe even some praise.  If you’re struggling for an idea about to what to write about be sure to head over to the next group for tons of great ideas.

Tall Meets Small

You all might not know this about me, but I am huge.  I am 6′5″ and around 240 pounds.  Thus, almost everything in my day to day life is small.  This group, created by dlinder, caters to me perfectly – I also imagine that this group caters to those who are particularly small as well (though I can’t be sure).  This group catalogs the peculiarities which occur when really small things meet really tall things.  It’s adorable.

That wraps it up for this week, if you have any suggestions for gropus be sure to send them my way at : bdorries@current.com

Thanks,

-B

Hello again everyone,

First off, I would like to send a big thank you to Nettle for suggesting this weeks featured groups.  If anyone else has some groups they’d like me to check out – please email me at bdorries@current.com .

Now for the groups :

Cooking:

I was pleasantly surprised after checking this group out – there’s actually some pretty good recipes as well as interesting food facts and eating tips.  If you’re looking for a place to spill your dad’s top secret chili recipe – this is it (if you do I’ll try to make it and tell you if it’s better than mine, maybe we could have a chili cook off?).

The Art Gallery:

A great place for Current members to showcase their brain children.  DeliaTheArtist recognized the need for a place for artists to show off their work, and began this group. She’s even hosting a monthly challenge to get those creative ideas in gear. This month’s theme is Eco-Art – art that’s good for the environment (think reduce, reuse, recycle when choosing your mediums).  Most of what I own is garbage so I already have a head start :p

Interspecies-Mingling:

For some reason I got really confused about what this was at first.  What it actually is is INTENSE CUTENESS.  JonnyS offers us a little salvation in a group that reminds you that if animals can get along with each other maybe there is still hope for humanity.  If you still need a little clarity as to what I’m talking about check out these tigers saying goodbye to the dog that raised them: it’ll get you all teary eyed – in a good way.

That’s all for this week – now go forth and group!

-Ben

P.S. – Please email me group suggestions at bdorries@current.com !!!! K THX BAI

Hello all!  I’m going to be reviewing and featuring a few groups each week from around the Current community.  If any of you start a group that you would like to get a little bit more attention feel free to send me a message at bdorries@current.com with your groups you’d like me to check out.

Myths

Started by JimmyJamesJamers the myths group examines many urban (and sometimes gross) myths as well disproves (busts?) some commonly believed myths.  Questions that could be addressed in Myths include:  ”Do vaginas sometimes have teeth?” or “Does cold weather actually make you sick?”

Bees

BEES!  AHHHH! The Bees group (started by retro_Syl) deals with the current epidemic of bees disappearing around the world.  The bees group also is about bee stuff – like honey – or an alien wasp swarm that’s devouring birds and bugs in Hawaii.  A lot of really interesting information in the Bees group.

Conspiracy Theories

Do you have a chalk board, a map, thumb tacks, a mountain of newspaper clippings and a desire to sleep less than 2 hours a day?  Than this may be the group for you.  From Michael Jackson conspiracies to Michael Jackson conspiracy skeptics – Conspiracy Theories has it all.  My personal favorite is about a California man who has launched a lawsuit against Apple for – of course – conspiring with the mafia to track him using his Ipod.

That wraps it up for this weeks featured groups – again – if you have a group you’d like featured on the Current.com blog send me an email at bdorries@current.com and I’d be more than happy to take a look at it.

Thanks,

-Ben

wow! first and foremost, thank you for the votes. as many of you may already know, current was up for three people’s voice webby awards in three different categories: #hackthedebate was nominated in “Best Use of Interactive Video” and “Events and Live Webcasts” while Obama’s Army was nominated in “News & Politics: Individual Episodes.”

Current Vanguard presents Obama’s Army

as it turns out, Current Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller scored a people’s voice webby for Obama’s Army, and #hackthedebate scored a double-whammy, the webby award AND the people’s voice in “Best Use of Interactive Video!”

Current + Twitter = #hackthedebate 2008 presidential debate coverage

what an honor, and we owe it all to you guys. so, thanks! we couldn’t have done it without you! take a look back at some of our behind-the-scenes photos from #hackthedebate:

from the current TV flickr group

thanks again,

- mario