The ash cloud that shut down British airspace, stranding thousands of people has produced an unlikely creative connection; a collaborative magazine.

The as yet nameless publication was the brain child of writer and editor Andrew Losowsky, who found himself stranded in Dublin.

Stuck with very little to do for work, Andrew put a call out online for editors, illustrators, designers, photographers and other creative people who were grounded in similar circumstances to take part in the project.

“To create a website would be something continually updated for a while but eventually it would wither away and die in a corner of the internet.

“To make a physical product means that it exists on your bookshelf that you can pick up and read and remember. It happens in a more serendipitous way in your life; it brings back the emotional resonance again.”

One must once again ask: Is print really dead?

As long as there is “emotional resonance,” print will have a long life!

The magazine will be produced using HP’s Magcloud publishing on demand service.

Read the entire story on BBC News.

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May 3, 2010, was the first day of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons first paperless annual meeting. Each of the roughly 3,000 medical attendees received a free iPod Touch in place of what used to be a 165-page program book and briefcase-size bag.

With the Touch, medical attendees were able to prep for the meeting in the months leading up to it via podcasts and use their iPod Touches to access every aspect of the AANS meeting, from social events and seminars to maps and social networking with other attendees.

Could have been an iPad instead! After all a third-gen iPod Touch (32GB) runs about $300 (the 64GB is $400) and the iPad starts at only $500. Then again, I imagine there were 3,000 deeply discounted iPod Touches available but Apple is certainly not going to discount the iPad when they’ve sold a million in the first month!

After all, the iPad has been documented as easy for any one from 2 1/2 to 100 years old!

We won’t even begin to discuss if the iPods/iPads are “greener” than a 165-page program book and bag!

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In a parody on the “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” ads, the American Advertising Federation of Greenville SC (AAF Greenville) as put together a great little promo for the ADDY^® Awards. Listen carefully for the punch line!

Enjoy…
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The ADDYs are the world’s largest advertising competition, generating more than 60,000 entries. The American Advertising Federation, a not-for-profit industry association, conducts the ADDY^® Awards through its 200 member advertising clubs and 15 districts.

A tip of the hat to Katherine O’Brien, editor of American Printer, for uncovering this goody! Follow Katherine on Twitter @APKOB.

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