nate.mook

Video with some clips from the many interviews we shot in...

Sun, 20 May 2012 12:27:26 -0400

Video with some clips from the many interviews we shot in Mogadishu before TEDxMogadishu.

"Like many others who had only followed Iraq’s recent history on television or newspapers, my family..."

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:49:21 -0500

“Like many others who had only followed Iraq’s recent history on television or newspapers, my family and friends feared for my safety. But in the words of one of the TEDx speakers: “If you come with good intentions to do good, you will be welcomed as one of their own.” Her insight was indeed true as together, we made the impossible, possible. A galvanising force, bringing TEDx to Baghdad demonstrated beyond a doubt that infinite possibilities can be achieved when the Iraqi diaspora re-engages with the people of the country. By spurning preconceived notions of pessimism and fear, we were able to forge an unequivocal bond of solidarity and instill a sense of hope and promise in the lives of those we met on the ground.”

- Hamada Zahawi, in his article, TEDxBaghdad: Iraq is Infinity from AlJazeera

ourpresidents: John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie October 21, 1917 -...

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:44:59 -0400

ourpresidents:

John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie

October 21, 1917 - January 6, 1993

It’s the birthday of jazz giant Dizzy Gillespie. What better occasion to put on some bebop and look at a very cool picture of Dizzy blowing his horn at the White House. June 8, 1979, Jazz Concert on the South Lawn with President Jimmy Carter.

"I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every..."

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:07:04 -0400

“I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn’t quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.”

- Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar, Chapter 7

We’re all in the dance.

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:11:00 -0400

We’re all in the dance.

Photo Essay: Trekking to Everest Base Camp

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 02:59:00 -0400

It all starts with a flight into the mountains. Lukla airport sits on the edge of a cliff with a runway that appears too short to be real. If the clouds come in, the pilots navigate using a Garmin GPS, which turns bright red for incoming mountains (center of photo).

Lukla is where nearly all trekkers and climbers begin their ascent to Mount Everest. The town seemingly exists solely to support the tiny airport. Because flights into the mountains can be unpredictable (some days the visibility is so low no planes can land), guesthouses, restaurants and a few bars serve those temporarily stranded or waiting to depart back to Kathmandu the next morning.

Shortly after arriving in Lukla we made our way down into the valley, spending the first night at a teahouse in Phakding. Bridges crossed glacial waters flowing as fast rivers between steep cliffs and idyllic views. It should have been an easy and calm start to our adventure. But one of our Nepali guides was accosted and punched by a Maoist, who was upset because our group was not employing or giving bribes to the Maoists in the area. Although political tensions have dissipated since Nepal’s King gave up his power, situations like this are not uncommon. What ensued was hours of tense debate, with our British leader Valerie and 4 Nepalese guides and porters arguing about why we would not support the Maoists. Nepali police were on hand to keep the peace. The photo below was taken in a town called Bhaktapur outside Kathmandu, remnants of Maoist propaganda.

The first (and arguably only) major waypoint on the journey is a village called Namche Bazaar, which resides at around 12,000 feet. It basically forms a horseshoe on the side of a hill and is famous for its markets — both a weekly Saturday market and daily Tibetan market. Smaller than I had imagined, it’s here where you should eat meat for the last time and pick up any items you may have forgotten to bring from home. Namche also has the last decent Internet connection on the trail up to Everest. Our guide Hari snapped this shot of me upon arrival.

Many groups heading up the mountain stay an extra night in Namche Bazaar to acclimatize, but we continued climbing the next day to a town called Khumjung, where we visited a school established by Edmund Hillary, before dropping back down in elevation to Kanjoma, which consists of a couple teahouses overlooking the valley. Along the way we stopped at a monastery to see the famed Yeti skull. It was this day we began to see the stark beauty of the Himalaya appear all around us.

After Kanjoma, we had a long, steep climb up to Tengboche. 3 of our group were not doing well and took horses up the mountain. I hooked up a mini-speaker to my iPod and let the music push me forward; I was feeling really great. I woke for sunrise the next morning and glimpsed Everest for the first time, as the valley slowly lit up in the crisp morning air.

From Tengboche we climbed to Dingboche through a brief snowstorm. Something I ate was not agreeing with me, but thankfully we had an acclimatization day in Dingboche, so I could relax and get my health back. A few antibiotics did the trick and by the time we left Dingboche I was feeling great. The trail out of Dingboche was breathtaking. Surrounded by Himalayan peaks and above the tree line, it felt like completely different world.

Following a brief stop at what may be the most disgusting toilet in the world, we had a very steep climb to a plateau with memorials for those who lost their lives on Everest. Although we had yet to see the mountain up close, its impact was already affecting our emotions. I took the following photo at the memorial site.

Our next stop was Lobuche, which is tiny and very, very cold. Our leader Valerie, who had summited Everest in 2009 and lost the toes on her left foot in the process, was not a fan of Lobuche. She told us about the rumored ghost who chokes people at night - although having trouble breathing is probably simply a sign of the altitude. It was here we crossed the 16,000 feet mark. The stars were beautiful and the night absolutely freezing.

The final waypoint before Everest Base Camp is Gorak Shep at 17,000 feet. It has the highest Internet cafe in the world, although it’s slow to the point of unusable. Almost immediately after arrival we began our ascent of Kala Pattar, which stands across the valley from Everest and offers the best views of the mountain. It was a long slong up and dangerously windy up top, but the view did not disappoint. This was at 18,500 feet.

What looks to be a cloud behind the black Everest rock below is not: snow is blowing off the peak at around 100 miles per hour. Climbers won’t begin their summit push until the jet stream rises higher.

The next day we continued our trek down the Khumbu Glacier towards Base Camp. From atop Kala Pattar, it seems so close. In reality, it’s a good four hour hike along questionably stable rock that covers the ice. I was awestruck by Base Camp once it came into view. Tents scattered on the rocky landscape, it was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It felt like being on the moon. Yet despite the harsh surroundings, Base Camp was filled with energy as climbers prepared and waited for the 3 week window in which they could attempt to stand on the highest point in the world. It was a mini-city that exists for only two months each year.

Our tents were perched right on the edge of the Ice Fall, the most dangerous part of climbing Mount Everest. The picture below doesn’t do justice to how immense the Ice Fall really is; if you look closely, you can see climbers in the center. It’s a daunting 12-hour trek through the Ice Fall up to Camp One, crossing 300-foot deep crevasses on precarious ladders. You can only hope an avalanche doesn’t come down before you reach the next camp. We witnessed about two avalanches each day, but none directly hitting the Ice Fall.

This photo I snapped of Graham does a good job at emphasizing what it feels like being in the Ice Fall - and we only went a little ways out. To go further requires proper ropes, crampons and a permit that costs around $10,000. Maybe next time.

On our second day, a storm rolled in, completely obscuring the surrounding mountains and leaving a beautiful white covering over Base Camp. A snowstorm in April is pretty uncommon, but the Sherpas say the weather becomes stranger every year. Part of me was hoping we’d be trapped for a few days, but it let up after dumping about six inches. Sleeping in a tent at Base Camp was quite cold at below -10C, but the snow added a nice layer of insulation that night.

The next day, on the way out of the valley, I took this picture. The snow had completely changed the landscape.

It was an incredibly lucky experience to spend time at Everest Base Camp, interacting with the summiting teams and getting a feel for what it’s really like. I only wish I could have stayed longer. Most people never go past here, a rock that sits a good 45 minutes away from the tents, which reads “5634m”. Our group, all from the UK but Galen and me, was wonderful and I am honored I got to spend nearly three weeks with them.

As is tradition for those going up to Everest, we left a Yeti foot at the Rum Doodle restaurant in Kathmandu memorializing our expedition.

Off we go.

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 11:37:27 -0400

Off we go.

With about 36 hours before my flight to Nepal departs (with a...

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:54:18 -0400

With about 36 hours before my flight to Nepal departs (with a stop to check out Seoul for 12 hours), I’m getting everything prepared to go in my pack. I decided to take a 50L backpack - the waterproof Arcteryx Arrakis 50, which is slightly heavier than alternatives but it’s also, well, waterproof and built like a tank. If I were going somewhere warm, I could probably easily get by on a 30-40L pack, but Mount Everest necessitates extra gear. Most people take at least 65L packs, so I’m not doing too badly.

For reference, I’ll post a list of what gear I’m taking to Everest Base Camp after I get everything finalized.

As I complete final preparations for Nepal, I felt it...

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

As I complete final preparations for Nepal, I felt it appropriate to re-watch this TED Talk from Stefan Sagmeister.

This is the group I led during the TEDx Workshop at TEDActive....

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 02:30:50 -0400

This is the group I led during the TEDx Workshop at TEDActive. The Middle East group, meanwhile, had 4 people. We came up with a lot of collaboration ideas and have begun working on an initiative to bring musical performances from TEDx events into a free compilation that can be distributed via iTunes.

My favorite picture I took of JR, when he came to TEDActive to...

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 02:25:00 -0400

My favorite picture I took of JR, when he came to TEDActive to visit and talk about his TED Prize.

More photos from TEDActive 2011 here

TEDActive 2011 was an incredible experience (this is the main...

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 02:20:00 -0400

TEDActive 2011 was an incredible experience (this is the main room where we watched the talks streamed live from Long Beach). A lot of people asked me why anyone would spend money to watch a simulcast of a conference, even if it was TED, but that misses the point.

The thing I learned at TEDGlobal last year was that although the talks were fascinating (and it was great having discussions with speakers), the most important takeaway was the relationships I formed with other attendees. TED is what it is because the attendees are just as incredible as the speakers, and with a little effort, you can meet and truly connect with amazing people that could have a tremendous impact on you, now or in the future. TEDActive in Palm Springs focuses on that aspect of TED. It draws in a younger generation of attendees than Long Beach, and much of the time is spent engaged in activities with others, such as the five TEDActive Projects. The talks are almost secondary and that’s okay. By the end of the week, you’ve really gotten to know a wide variety of people and learned from each other in the process. As the name implies, it’s more “active” than the main TED.

This year, TEDActive was also very TEDx heavy, with over 160 TEDx organizers from around the world coming together, which led to some great collaboration and sharing of ideas. Now it’s our job to continue the conversations and follow-through on what we discussed.

That said, there were a few things I missed at TEDActive:

1. The TEDFellows. I woke up at 6am to drive to Long Beach on the day before TED to see the Fellows talks. The Fellows were one of my favorite parts of TEDGlobal and although a few were at TEDActive, most were in Long Beach.

2. Having discussions with speakers after their talks. While it was great to go in-depth with other TEDActive attendees about this year’s talks, I definitely missed being able to personally meet and ask questions of the speakers themselves.

3. Compared to TEDGlobal, I found TEDActive to be a little more clique-ish and not quite as open. I suppose this is because it’s been going on a few years and people naturally form groups, but not everyone was as eager to meet others as at TEDGlobal. Because I already knew so many people and TEDx was such a huge group, this didn’t really affect me, but it was noticeable.

Will I return next year? Absolutely. Although it’s possible I may try out Long Beach.

Scary.

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 01:58:34 -0500

Scary.

A poster for Blair Witch 2 (2000) still lingers on a derelict...

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 23:52:00 -0500

A poster for Blair Witch 2 (2000) still lingers on a derelict building in Baltimore - b free daily: Instant Baltimore

Louis Armstrong playing for his wife in Giza, Egypt Love this.

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:52:00 -0500

Louis Armstrong playing for his wife in Giza, Egypt

Love this.

Okay, that’s depressing.

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:43:07 -0500

Okay, that’s depressing.

Our digital personas have become so intricately embedded with our physical being, that it’s...

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:47:38 -0500

Our digital personas have become so intricately embedded with our physical being, that it’s increasingly difficult to truly comprehend loss. For even if we lose someone, it is only a part of them that goes away. It’s not clear they are no longer reading our Facebook or Twitter posts, nor is it clear that our instant messages or email no longer reaches them. We as humans are only beginning to adapt to a world where our existence and relationships are so virtual. Death is being redefined in this generation.

This is how holiday music should be done.

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 16:18:10 -0500

This is how holiday music should be done.

Marco.org: Kindle 3 first impressions

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:17:03 -0400

Marco.org: Kindle 3 first impressions:

Best review of the Kindle 3 I’ve read so far. Just ordered mine. When I first started playing with my iPad, I thought I’d never go back to the Kindle. But extended reading on the iPad is too difficult, especially if you’re not in perfect light conditions. The iPad is a great device for traveling, watching Netflix in bed, or browsing the web on a lazy Sunday, but it’s not as multi-functional as I had once hoped.

marco:

I got a Kindle 3 for Instapaper testing. Impressions so far:

It is noticeably smaller and lighter than the Kindle 2, but it’s still the same size class. (The screen’s the same size, and it still has a keyboard, so there’s only so far they can go.) Most people who pick up a naked Kindle 3 for the…

Three weeks later, my panographs from Mareen arrived! They were...

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:07:40 -0400

Three weeks later, my panographs from Mareen arrived! They were too big to take on a plane or ship via UPS/DHL/etc. so we had to use air cargo. A surprisingly painless process, even with customs. Will post some pictures once they are on the walls.