Comments on: Keep the ODE Independent

By: nike urbanism duk

nike urbanism duk — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:19:10 +0000

My favorite Nike tidbit was from a Nike employee during a tour of the campus. She said “Phil Knight is just like Walt Disney except he is not dead yet.” Disney built a model masterplanned community in Florida called Celebration (featured in the Truman Show movie). Before the dust settles Nike will have its Nikeurban “village” in Fairmount to celebrate the lifestyle of the brand. We can all live the Nike way then. Betz, if you track down a copy of the book “Who’s Afraid of Niketown?” I think you will find it very interesting. I got a used copy from Powells books for $20.00. Unfortunately, The Duck junk/former bookstore refuses to carry it. There is a 50 page article posted online you will probably also find interesting. It is easy to find using Google. The title of it is Brandhubs. Digital clothing (with RFID etc.) will link to digital architecture like in the U-city now underway in Korea. The name of that place is New Songdo City.

By: Betz

Betz — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:59:08 +0000

Its true that the Mia Hamm building is where a lot of design and R&D work take place, and not many employees had access to the labs and work areas, but I just find it hard that some sinister conspiracy is taking place in those offices.

I do agree with you that Nike has evolved from just a show company to something greater … its all about how Nike (and not just Nike; many other huge companies catering to the general public are doing this, too) is selling not just their merchandise, but a “brand”. The idea is that when you buy Nike, you’re not just buying a pair of shoes or a sweatshirt or a pushup-bra, but that the transaction really takes place the moment you enter the store / website, and the entire experience, from store enter to using the product, is the experience. Personally … sounds like alot of kool-aid to me, and that businesses should focus on turning out quality products rather than trying to be “more”.

And as for digital clothing … I don’t see digital clothing as a major trend so much a personal digitization (or “nano-machines”, for all MGS fans). IBM released an article a few months ago about their predictions for the top 5 innovations of the next 5-10 years, and this was one of them. Small implantable monitors that can keep tabs on your vital statistics at all times, and alert you before a medical emergency occurs. Also in the same vein (no pun intended) was personalized genome mapping … now that scientists have successfully mapped the human genome, predictions suggest that the methods for doing this will get faster and more refined to the point where the individual can have their entire genome mapped analyzed, allowing medical doctors to pinpoint potential vulnerabilities to genetic diseases and defects BEFORE symptoms first appear, and what preventative measures you can take. I see this as much more likely than digital “clothing”.

By: nike urbanism duk

nike urbanism duk — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 02:02:19 +0000

The Commentator’s OSPIGGesque “save the Emerald” hysteria is a laugh. This Youtube character at the channel palestrapac10 has provided a more thorough analysis of this bogus crisis. He interviewed Ryan K. who explained the whole conflict of interest journalistic integrity whining is a bunch of crap…..but in a more polite way. Palestra takes the place of the Emerald for free. Old media RIP.

By: nike urbanism duk

nike urbanism duk — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:24:57 +0000

And to the paragraph police……..buzz off or have a beer already.

By: nike urbanism duk

nike urbanism duk — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:23:36 +0000

That is why Nike gets university engineering students to do their work for them (academic sweatshop style). You do not think all their R&D work happens at the Nike campus do you ? Additionally, I have read that the Mia Hamm building has restricted research space that very few Nike HQ staff are allowed to access. That would suggest that not all who work at Nike World know all the work underway there wouldn’t it ? Some years ago Wired magazine published a article with an interview with Ray Riley from the Nike “Techlab”. It is a easy article to find with Google and lays out some of the Nike forward looking smart/wearable computers related goals. If you look into the future nano and minaturization is likely to enable people to abandon their laptop computers and embrace clothing with embedded smart textiles. Smart textiles R&D is a business in it’s infancy but if you consider the folly of the consumer and the rapid rise of the now mandatory cell phone ownership you should not be surprised if smart clothes take off. Early, simple versions of this junk are already on the market-like Burton snowboarding jackets with buttons woven into the sleeves to control your music while you hit the slopes. Hubbins-you will be pleased that I just got some new flip flops. If you want me to wear Converse send down a pair with a gold finish and I will wear them. Tell God I would be willing to leave Eugene if PK shuts down the UO Foundation money laundromat and retracts the legacy gift. On the embedded RG Emerald board issue notice how the RG editor comments today(Saturday) fail to mention Rob Moseley’s Emerald involvement. Not a big deal but it is related to the subject matter of the column . Maybe they just forgot about his dual role ? Anyway there is plenty related to the dumb invention called “smart clothes” in the favorites section at the link I provided. I wish Nike were a shoe company……unfortunately they are a “experience” company/religion . I would categorize their goals as having some similiar interests as the movement known as the Transhumanists. The Transhumanists are a bit weird because their goals include using technology to live forever (or at least until age 250 or so) or other things like downloading themselves into a supercomputer. I have oversimplified them a bit but that is basically what they are about. The Nike “altitude house” in colorado has a certain Transhumanism-lite quality to it. If Nike athletes need that competitive edge they should get on a plane and head to the mountains instead of sleeping in weird chambers like Michael Jackson. That is my opinion. That opinion has also been shared by some in the World Anti Doping Association (WADA) too in the past. Did you see the University of Washington students report on stalkers and the Nike Ipod ? If you didn’t you might find it interesting.

By: Betz

Betz — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:03:50 +0000

Nike could only DREAM of putting gps and video / sound monitors in your shoes. Trust me … I was intern at their WHQ in 2007. While they did a very fine job of marketing and creating great shoes (I picked up 5 different pairs that summer … the most shoes I’ve ever had at any point in time), these people had a hard enough time managing their email. They were more interested in the summer wine sale and their thirsty thursday events on the soccer green than they were in some creepy fascist technocracy you describe.

Personally, while the iPod shoes (Nike +) are pretty cool, my favorites that I own are the 3.0 ’s. If you’ve never seen them before, they will blow your mind. Its a lightweight shoe designed to be as close to barefoot as possible … helps athletes in training strengthen their feet. The entire thing can be rolled up like a spicey tuna roll. Sometimes I forget that I’m wearing shoes … they feel like a thick sock.

Totally beats the pants off of socks and sandals…

By: Saint Hubbins

Saint Hubbins — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:40:22 +0000

Tis I, Saint Hubbins, patron Saint of quality footwear. Zaaaaach heaven is not so happy with you. I made it clear to the other Angels and Saints that in order to enjoy paradise your feet must be comfortable shoe. I recommend Nike and Converse, however the “big man” likes to show of in his original Air Jordan I’s. Listen here Zachary, the time has come to change your ways. Be rid of those horrible flip-flops and disgusting, dirty feet. Put on a pair of chuck taylors, Nike makes them now. Please make us all happier by shutting up and putting on some fresh kicks.

Church,

Saint Hubbins

By: Ossie

Ossie — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:45:22 +0000

Did anyone read the latest statement on the Ol’ Dirty’s website? It’s a pretty crappy rant if I’ve ever read one.

After this current tissy blows over, the ODE will go back to being a mediocre student magazine posing as a newspaper. Hopefully, the newsroom staff will take this as a sign it needs to rethink its editorial direction, provide its readers useful and important information on a consistent basis and show its board it deserves the independence it’s crying for. Freedom isn’t free.

Also, Nike is in cahoots with none other than Saint Hubbins, the patron saint of quality footwear.

By: nike urbanism duk

nike urbanism duk — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:10:13 +0000

If you have any doubts about neo fascist governance of UO they can de easily settled here: http://www.youtube.com/luddite333

By: nike urbanism duk

nike urbanism duk — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:01:09 +0000

Betz, Is it okay if I track you with GPS 24/7 with your I pod shoes ? You will always be safe that way. Your life can be recorded always . The techno-utopia dream world is within our grasp. Just buy some 200 dollars slave made smart shoes and we can all link together in a global network. It will be the next best thing since the Heavens Gate movement…..we all know what those visionaries were wearing for the pursuit of that comet don’t we ?