Cherry 

Best of the past week

Hey , I browsed around looking for interesting stories for this week, and this long form one about the history, culture and changes of Venice Beach, Los Angeles was fascinating to read.I visited Venice, California for the first time last year just before checking out Chicago for the first time. For some reason this seems to be a good time to have come across this article from a couple of years ago.It's a long read, I just pulled this quote I loved the most, even though it doesn't do justice to the whole piece:

“One of the cool things we’ve been involved in this past year is launching the first-ever virtual reality film festival,†Alex says. “We did a 10-city tour across North America with 30 filmmakers and crowds of around 400 people for each event.â€I stop Alex because I want to understand something. “So you had 400 people in a room wearing headsets, all watching their own virtual reality movie.â€â€œThat’s right.â€â€œIf they’re watching it on headsets, couldn’t they just watch it from anywhere? Why do they even need to be in the same place?â€â€œVery few people have the headsets right now,†Alex says by way of explanation.A room with 400 people, all exploring their own worlds inside their headsets and headphones, unable to see or hear one another, potentially unaware of one another’s existence. “You call that bringing people together?†I ask.Silicon is just sand

 Sprinkles What's the GIF? 

Celebrating Venice Beach! 

Whipped Cream

The best thing I watched this week was Louis CK's Netflix 2016 Comedy Special, if you have Netflix I hilghly recommend checking it out.

If you don't, then I was reminded of this HBO Special also available on Youtube, an hour long conversation about comedy featuring Louis CK, Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais, and Jerry Seinfeld. 

Caramel Fudge

What's sticky in the communications industry?

One of the largest consumer packaged brand holding group announced this week they were planning to cut another $2Bn from their annual marketing budget across a variety of brands.As I'm getting in contact with a variety of people to talk shop with in Chicago, the United States and anywhere people are happy talking with me I am more surprised at people asking what my dream job would be. Reading this kind of article I wonder what jobs will be left in the traditional advertising and marketing industry so I'm more interesting in what is coming next.P&G Will Cut $2Bn in Marketing but Spend Some Back to Become "Irresistible"

Chocolate

What's going on in gaming?

Scoundrels is a pirate game where each player is doing their best to pillage ports, loot treasure and win more infamy than their opponent pirates. I may well have a conversation with the game designer in the n

Vanilla

What else is interesting this week?

I am French and we're in the middle of presidential elections. I'm not voting. I decided to move to the US quite late in the process and things ended up working in such a way that I'm just not voting this time, not out of any kind of conviction, but admin, practicality and travel costs to vote from London where I'm registered at the moment.I'd also have a tough time deciding who to vote for on the first round. I know who I'd vote for on the second round though I kind of understand my friends and family wanting abstain on the second round, even though many media outlets urge to vote, and against Marine Le Pen. I voted against her father in 2002. While I agree with the sentiment of the article below, I'm not going to vote against her now, nor will I vote for anyone at the moment for reasons mentioned.When the Very Idea of France is Threatened, Everybody Should Vote.Thanks,Willem