The message brought to you by our sponsor Distillery No. 209, purveyors of handcrafted gin.

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In commemoration of more than 1 million copies sold, this special paperback edition of The Graveyard Book features a gorgeous metallic gold cover, new content from Neil Gaiman, and sketches by illustrator Dave McKean. (more…)

Celebrate Neil Gaiman's Newbery Medal Winner The Graveyard Book with a Two-Volume Graphic Novel Adaptation. (more…)

When it comes to storytelling, where are design and technology taking us? "Whatever is next in storytelling, design, and technology, it will always be
about rendering emotional transportation—capturing attention and converting it into intention," says Hollywood
producer Peter Guber, CEO of Mandalay Entertainment.
"Every story has a call to action." Guber is one of 14 leaders in the entertainment industry who
will decode the DNA of storytelling, design, and technology at the second annual Envision Symposium in Monterey, California.

When a group of the brightest thinkers in the entertainment industry gather at the Envision Symposium at the Steinbeck Forum in Monterey, CA (the original home
of TED), the biggest question on the table will be: where are we going in terms of technology and design when it comes to
the art of storytelling? "If you are involved in any aspect of the art and science of storytelling, please bring your ideas and passions to contribute to
the exchange of ideas shaping the future of live performance," says Bran Ferren, the technologist
head of Applied Minds, who was recently written up in Wired for the high-tech camping vehicle he is
building for his four-year-old daughter, Kira. Ferren serves as one of the creative consultants for Envision, along with video designer Bob Bonniol of Mode Studios, who notes, "help us create the fusion of old
and new, of classic narrative and wondrous new technologies. Envision how we will
all continue to make myths, share wisdom, laughter, and love in ways we haven't even begun to imagine."

For Butch Allen, a top concert designer whose clients range
from Nickelback to No Doubt, "storytelling, technology, and design are
stranded on an island. The exploration of their new, strange home begins. As one expects: a lamp is stumbled upon, rubbing ensues, a genie appears and
grants one single wish for the waylaid disciplines to share." Also part of the concert industry is director Amy Tinkham, who has worked with Madonna, The Dixie Chicks, Aerosmith, and Mötley Crüe, and who echoes the strength of storytelling as the basis of her work: "Rather than swirling in a sea of
high-tech spectacle, we now have the opportunity to use the new and exquisite paintbrushes of technology to dig deep into storytelling, and to reacquaint
ourselves with our humanity."

Considered by some to be the world's oldest profession, what then is the future of storytelling. Christopher Barreca, winner of the 2014 Tony Award for

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

for Rocky, feels that what's important is "achieving individual artistic expression in a world of
technological systems and processes." Visionary designer Surya Buchwald, aka Momo The Monster, who creates graphics
for such artists as deadmau5 and The Glitch Mob, feels that "the future
of storytelling is in the flattening of the boundaries between performers and their audience."

The audience reaction is also important to Jasmine Ellsworth, who has produced events for Disney, Comedy Central, and 20th Century Fox:
"My favorite part about building an immersive experience is finding the right way to tap into different emotional centers with different tools," she says.
"Is the key in audio? Visual? New technology? Does it support the story? Are we cutting through the clutter of the outside world effectively enough to
really connect with our audience —so they don't say 'How did they do that,' but instead say, 'Wow, did you feel that'?" Or as Sandra Tsing Loh, writer, actress, performance artist, pop-culture analyst, and radio
commentator, puts it: "Human beings—they're ba-a-ack! Viral or not!"

Alex McDowell, the British production designer and film producer who has won awards for his work in Minority Report
and The Terminal, feels that
content is the key: "The disciplines we touch when we work are becoming inextricably linked, but crucially it is clear that the engine that drives us
towards the horizon continues to be content," he asserts. "Like noisy kids in the back seat, storytelling, narrative design, and the worlds we build make
demands of technology that ultimately determine its course."

Yet technology continues to evolve at breakneck speed, influencing the way audiences see and digest content. "New tools for storytelling are constantly
being developed," agrees E.M. Gimenez, a cutting-edge
sound designer whose recent work includes the site-specific opera Invisible Cities at Union Station in Los Angeles.
"The problem lies in the fact that those tools aren't created for storytelling but for some other application… Our job is to identify those emerging
technologies and synthesize the experiences that will shape the future."

An intelligent use of technology also rings true for Peter Schneider, film
and theatrical producer/director, who produced the Tony Award-winning The Lion King on Broadway. "New technologies provide us with
explosive new ways to amplify and diversify theatrical storytelling," he notes. "They offer opportunities to reinforce the variety and intensity of
emotions and to revolutionize the means through which live connections can be made. The challenge is to use sophisticated technologies to enhance the work
and still make it feel raw and urgently unplanned."

Technology then should be at the service of content and storytelling. Bora Yoon, composer, vocalist, and sound artist
who explores the connection of sound to the subliminal, agrees that the story is the anchor of any entertainment experience: "We are living in an
increasingly visual age…entertainment and performance will become more and more multisensory—and bridge the language of interactivity and experience— but
it will never get away from the anchor of storytelling," she says. "Meaningful exchange, illuminating truth, and creating connections — will always remain
the main motivation behind entertainment and performance, no matter what technology or tools are used."

For some the future is not all that clear, but they will be on hand to join in the discussion: "I don't know what is next in storytelling but I can tell
you a few things about what I have been doing!" says Neal Stephenson, the internationally best-selling author
and game designer known for his works of speculative fiction and post cyberpunk—who better to decode the DNA of storytelling?

"Whatever the digital wizardry we utilize, storytelling will always be about the ooh's and aah's, not the 0's and 1's," adds Guber. "Regardless of the delivery mechanism or the form, the DNA of successful narrative bonds
information to emotion making it resonant, memorable, and actionable."

Register Today: Help Decode The DNA Of Storytelling, Design, and Technology

SPONSORED: This post is brought to you by Best Buy.

The sounds and music of the holidays are as much a part of the experience as great food and time with your loved ones. These gifts show the ones you love that you're listening:

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SPONSORED: The following post is brought to you by Kohler.

Bathroom enhancements for the discerning restroom aficionado with a penchant for high technology, deep geekery, and wet whimsy:

• Kohler Moxie Showerhead and Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Music to accompany even the most accomplished shower-singer! This showerhead packs bluetooth connectivity to an embedded speaker!

• Crayola Bath Dropz Make bathing a bright and colorful experience, add color to your bath water!

• Adventure Time Fleece Bathrobes
Perfect for wearing around the treehouse early in the morning. Wearing one of these, you'll always turn out perfect bacon pancakes.

• Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale The Fitbit tracker gives you a wonderful idea of how much energy you burn. This wifi enabled scale syncs your weight with your activity data and makes fitness 'smarter.'

• Temperature Sensitive Color Changing Tiles Touch the tiles to make them change color!

Happy holidays!

"No one listened to it. But there it is, forever – the quintessence of articulated punk. And no one goes near it." – Lou Reed, August 2013

"Cited by nearly every group in punk's long lineage and by more than a few arty types, the Velvets defined New York rock, poised between street-level grit and literary irony, rock simplicity and minimalistic drones, clarity and noise."– The New York Times

The Velvet Underground's White Light/White Heat is one of the most confrontational and inspirational second albums ever made by a rock band. (more…)

SPONSORED: This post is brought to you by Best Buy.

Every holiday, someone spends a lot of time in the kitchen preparing all the amazing things we eat. These gifts are handpicked by us to help make spending time in the kitchen a little more joyful:

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SPONSORED: The following post is brought to you by Kohler.

Bathroom enhancements for the discerning restroom aficionado with a penchant for high technology, deep geekery, and wet whimsy:

• Kohler Moxie Showerhead and Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

• Crayola Bath Dropz

• Adventure Time Fleece Bathrobes

• Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale

• Temperature Sensitive Color Changing Tiles

Sponsored post: Brought to you by Samsung SOS Island. Click here to learn more



Can you really survive on a deserted island with only your smartphone? The 16 contestants on Samsung's interactive, online, live-stream reality series "SOS Island: Survival of the Smartest" have been giving it their best shot – and they've got the awesome footage to prove it! Trained by survival expert Les Stroud to compete on a deserted island for two weeks, the adventurers have been performing Herculean tasks and recording their efforts on Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom and GALAXY NX Cameras.

The candidates have come so far already, even if they really had no idea what they'd be in for. Take a look…

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The following is a sponsored post:

There's nothing quite right about this hilariously delirious clip from Wrong, which hits theaters throughout the country this Friday and is already available on iTunes, featuring a suspicious gardner explaining the impossible overnight transformation of an everyday Californian palm tree to an evergreen. Its one of the many, many things wrong with Wrong from director Quentin Dupieux.

After directing just a mere handful of features, Dupieux (aka international electro-musician Mr. Oizo) has already established himself as one of the modern cinema's foremost fearless surrealists who refuses to play by the rules. The Cannes Film Festival selected Rubber about a serial homicidal tire (yes, a car tire), the viral short and soon-to-be feature Wrong Cops starring Marilyn Manson and now his latest comedic brainbomb Wrong all seem to be constructs of the same wholly original and strange deadpan daymare. With a laser-sharp eye, a pranksterish wit and the airy rhythm of a ballet dancer, this filmmaker has zapped a fully-formed artistic vision into our collective space.

Wrong follows "Reno 911"'s Jack Plotnick after he loses his beloved dog and encounters a barrage of bizarro human roadblocks in his journey including a feces-hunting pet detective (Steve Little from "Eastbound And Down") and an ponytailed, face-scarred guru (a flat-out brilliant William Fichtner). This surreal comedy guides you through a fascinating and hallucinatory universe to which you'll want to book repeat accommodations. In this interview, Dupieux chats about Wrong, his unique brand of nightmarish comedy, the construction an unconscious dimension and working with Plotnick.
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This post is sponsored by LG Electronics. Discover the LG IPS Color Prime Monitor.

LG's ColorPrime IPS LED Monitor is a must-have for anyone who makes a living or has a passion for graphic design, photography video creation, or any other design-related projects. That's because the 27-inch monitor has 99 percent coverage of Adobe RGB, which is essential if color precision is a key part of your work.
 

The picture quality even goes beyond the standard HD that you're used to. In fact, the built-in Wide Quad High Definition (WQHD) is four times the resolution at 2560 x 1440, ensuring you can see all the detail necessary in everything you view.
 

The LG ColorPrime makes multitasking a breeze, too, with it's one-click 4-Screen Split feature, so you can work on multiple projects at once in various configurations without having to click back and forth.
 

Whether you're laying out design, editing video, or touching up an illustration, you can count on the LG ColorPrime Monitor for supreme color accuracy.
 

This post is sponsored by American Apparel:

Stuff those stockings with stuffies and stockings! From the American Apparel/Boing Boing Style Gift Guide:

• Scrappies: Environmentally friendly stuffed animals featuring 100% recycled stuffing, and an exterior made from reclaimed neon fabrics that, ordinarily, would have been destined for landfills.

• Calf-High Memphis Sock: Inspired by the Memphis Design Movement of the 70's and 80's.

Check out more stylish gifts for happy mutants in the American Apparel/Boing Boing Style Gift Guide!

This post is sponsored by American Apparel:

Dig the timeless timepiece and these bright beanies from the American Apparel/Boing Boing Style Gift Guide! Above, the Casio Batteryless Solar Stainless Steel Digital Watch, $78, and Unisex Cuffed Acrylic Lined Beanies, 36 colors for $20 each. Many more happy mutant gift ideas in the American Apparel/Boing Boing Style Gift Guide!

This post sponsored by American Apparel:

Seeking stylish gifts for the happy mutants in your life? American Apparel has moved way, WAY beyond t-shirts and hoodies. Here's a fine selection of sweatshop-free items from the USA's most colorful and comfortable vertically-integrated manufacturer, along with some classic products from other iconic brands:

• Casio Batteryless Solar Stainless Steel Digital Watch: A twenty-year old design that remains, er, timeless.

• Quilted Laptop Bag: Nylon, front pocket, 10 1/8" x 14 3/8," durable.

• Unisex Fisherman's Pullover: 100% cotton, choice of 21 (!) colors and patterns.

• Calf-High Memphis Sock: Inspired by the Memphis Design Movement of the 70's and 80's.

• Red Wing Chukka Boot: An American Heritage product, Red Wing Shoes have been handcrafted in the US for more than 100 years.

• Nylon Cordura® School Bag: Adjustable straps, choice of 29 (!) color ways.

• Unisex Cuffed Acrylic Lined Beanie: Available in 36 (!) colors and patterns

• Scrappies: Environmentally friendly stuffed animals featuring 100% recycled stuffing, and an exterior made from reclaimed neon fabrics that, ordinarily, would have been destined for landfills.

This post is brought to you by The New Santa Fe from Hyundai. Think your family rocks? Show us by uploading a photo of your family rocking out. Enter now for a chance to win great prizes.

Do your family values include kindness, sharing, and hard work? That's nice, but boring. How about loud music, pranks, epic adventures, and intergenerational rabble-rousing? In short, does your family rock? If so, you should enter the Hyundai and Rolling Stone My Family Rocks Contest. All you need to do is upload a photo of you and your kin at your most rocking, along with 500 words or less about you and your family. Prizes include a photo shoot in Rolling Stone, a trip to the Grammy Awards, and a sweet Hyundai Santa Fe "Custom Rock 'N' Roller" complete with a flaming paint job!

Hyundai and Rolling Stone My Family Rocks Contest

This post sponsored by MASS EFFECT TRILOGY. Own the award-winning saga. Out now.

Once you're immersed in the Mass Effect Trilogy, you'll come to know Mordin Solus, seen above center. A Salarian from the planet Sur'Kesh, Solus is a professor and geneticist who was formerly an operative in the Special Tasks Group. "Lots of ways to help people," Solus famously said. "Sometimes heal patients; sometimes execute dangerous people. Either way helps."

Of course, Solus, featured in Mass Effect 2 and 3 of the Mass Effect Trilogy, is only the latest otherworldly celebrity in a long line of excellent on-screen extraterrestrials. Here are some other ETs we've known and loved… (more…)

This post is sponsored by Best Buy. What will your gift do?

You don't take a photograph, you make it. – Ansel Adams

With that in mind, here is a fine collection of tools to make beautiful photographs. The rest is in the eye of the beholder.

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This post sponsored by Timothy Ferriss's The 4-Hour Chef:

Timothy Ferriss's new book The 4-Hour Chef isn't just a cookbook. It's a choose-your-own-adventure guide to the world of rapid learning. Here's an excerpt:

CHEAT SHEETS FOR EVERYTHING

Any subject can be overwhelming. Magazines have to fill editorial space month after month with "new" recommendations and the result is predictable: clashing recommendations, uncertainty, information deluge, and opting out.

To stem the tide, I have a constant checkpoint posted over the walkway into my atrium: Simplify.

Above the sign rests the beautiful and brutal Nepalese khukuri, a curved knife symbolic of the legendary Gurkha military regiments. Field marshal Sam Manekshaw, a former chief of staff of the Indian Army, was quoted as saying: "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or a Gurkha." The blade is in my home to remind me of the importance of decision. The word decision, closely related to incision, derives from the meaning "a cutting off."

Making effective decisions—and learning effectively—requires massive elimination and the removal of options.

The easiest way to avoid being overwhelmed is to create positive constraints: Put walls that dramatically restrict whatever it is that you're trying to do. (more…)