Since kicking off the Phones for Fearless campaign collection on Dec. 23rd, the phones are piling up, responses are coming in from far-flung places, and the story appearing in myriad social and traditional media outlets.

We are still accepting donations at Raincity Studios so bring your old devices down to help bridge the digital divide in a very tangible manner. While you are backing up your data and bundling your power cords, here are a few highlights and notes to bring you up to speed on the success so far.

Sun Profiles DTES Artist

Gillian Shaw's blog posts and Vancouver Sun article helped muster another round of exposure for the project. Of particular interest is the way she worked Walter Lynxleg's work into her story with a photo gallery in her 12-21-2008 blog post "Donate your cellphone".

Here's a video interview with Walter Lynxleg (who) "overcame homelessness and is now hoping to put together a book of photos of people living in the neighborhood and the people trying to help them"

Later, Ms. Shaw followed up with Walter's story in the print edition article on December 28, 2008, "Life on the streets seen through a simple lens - Walter Lynxleg, once homeless, uses a cellphone camera to record life in his Downtown Eastside community."

Walter is quoted saying, "I was homeless," said Lynxleg. "Then I got a job and managed to save enough money to get a place to live. Now I take photos of people who are helping people on the Downtown Eastside. I am planning to publish it in a book that I am calling Angels Without Wings."

Walter is now the recipient of a video camera and training from Steve Jaagger (Reached.com) who explains, "I'll give him a seat in our video class and I'll give him a video camera," said Jagger. "He can go into an Internet cafe and store his videos on YouTube. Guys like Walter are trying, all they need is a little bit of help. He is very passionate about the whole native thing. He wants to finish his Grade 12 and go back to his community and start showing the young guys -- you can do something."

Thanks Gillian for providing this sterling example of a complimentary relationship between "social" and "trad" media - (note: we really need better terms or no terms to describe these artificial differences)

To a software developer, there is nothing more gratifying than seeing your software being deployed and used in the real world. It's a cliché with awesome truth: real artists ship (mugs above!)! Over the last year and a bit, I have been involved in the Raincity SIFT Tool which is an SMS, MMS and RSS text, photo and video social media aggregator (check out the fabulous SIFT and mobile podcast recorded with the incomparable Dave Olson if you want to hear me pontificate about this in a vocal stylee!) developed for New Media BC's Mobile Muse 3 mobile cultural and artistic research platform. Over the last six months or so, SIFT has been deployed and used very very successfully in many many events by Vancouver's Fearless City and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. After the jump: highlights of those events, and more on the people and technology behind SIFT.

The Raincity Studios crew is heading south again this year to the geek-tacular spring break conference SxSW Interactive in Austin, Texas. We'll have a trade show booth, make shows at the Studio SX, and of course throw the SxNW party with our pals. More on these topics later, today is to announce the China business panel.

China Business Panel

Last year I moderated a panel called "Blame Canada" and this year I've been selected to moderate another panel. I've assembled an all-star group and planned a choice of topics which I'll get into. But first the details so you get it into your calendar now.

This year's panel is titled: "International Business for Fun, Profit and Revolution - The misconceptions and conundrums about doing web business in China" and the date is Monday, March 16 (time and place TBD).

Here's the gist: There are myriad misconceptions about doing business in China, but with a massive market, talented workbase and intriguing culture, there are also many compelling reasons for entrepreneurs to consider expanding their enterprises to Asia. A panel of experts debate and discuss the pros and cons and answer the practical questions about doing business in China.

The Roster

Panelists:

1. Christine Lu, Founder of The China Business Network & Host, The China Business Show (christinelu twitter)

2. Andrew Lih, a new media researcher and writer based in Beijing, China (fuzheado twitter)

3. Dan Harris, International Lawyer, editor of China Law Blog (danharris twitter)

4. Sage Brennan, Co-Founder, Mobile Monday Shanghai (sagebrennan twitter)

Moderator: me dammit! (Kris Krug - Raincity Studios) (kk twitter)

We're working with Fearless City on a campaign to gather phones for downtown eastside artists and residents called Phones for Fearless.

We're already awash in the blur of excitement with phones arriving, folks signing up for the pick up list and articles coming out. In the interest of efficiency, here's the details of how the pick-up fest is shaping up.

Cross-posted from Fearless City for your interest and participation:

The Phones for Fearless campaign is underway! We have a plan of action, the first phones are in hand, the bloggers are talking and we're ready for prancing through the snow with a sack of wintery libation to the good kids with extra phones to donate.

We'll be out and about Dec. 23rd from 1~-4 to gather phones and spread cheer.

A few answers to the queries:

How do we get on the pickup list?

Send a message NOW via:
Twitter: Fearless City
E-mail: info (at) fearlessmedia (dot) ca
Phone/SMS: 604.644.4349
Voice mail: 604.682.3269 xt 8320

Can i come along?

Yes you can come along to help! Bring a rucksack and your media making device to capture photos and videos of the shenangins. Meet at Raincity Studios HQ at 10:30 to head out into the wilds of Vancouver to harvest mobile phones in rag-tag bands.

Can i donate my phone without a power supply?

Sure. Coincidentally enough, Fearless City's trove includes many power supplies without phones - we'll pair them together for fun. Accessories, power supplies and batteries are all encouraged. Keep your SIM cards though we'll clear the phones first.

I am a DTES artist/resident or non-profit organization, how do i get my hands on a phone(s)?

Come to Fearless City's Wednesday meetings from 1-3 at Lori Krill Co-op, 65 W Cordova, to get peer training and find out how to get access to a phone and participate in Fearless City campaigns.

How about standard old office landline handsets?

Umm, we do like extra digital cameras but not other office equipment so much, we are hauling rucksacks so nothing heavy ;-)but if you have something great, we'l make arrangements.

I am writing a blog post, uploading Flickr photos and videos, can i get some tags?

Sure, thanks, here's a copy and paste string to get you started: fearlesscity fearless dtes homeless artists donation cellphone phonesforfearless (or with commas) fearlesscity, fearless, dtes, homeless, artists, donation, cellphone, phonesforfearless. Please add you photos to the FearlessCity Flickr group. Huzzah!