Thirteen months after the tsunami in Asia, you don’t see much coverage. Not surprising, if you understand the media news cycle, and the need to go after breaking news. The back story get’s tucked into special sections, or is occasionally picked up by NPR.

But there’s one person who’s making it her story. Take a look at Evelyn Rodriguez’s blog at Tsunami Anniversary as she winds her way through the countries affected by the tsunami. Terrific work.

Evelyn, a Silicon Valley-based writer on technology, marketing and grass roots media, is in Sri Lanka this week. As she tells me, she’s so busy swapping SIM cards, and experiencing the culture that the real writing will have to wait.

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I often take to task the role of TV advertising in this age of so many other targeted media options. But to give credit where credit is due, some commercials still do a great job of telling a story in 30 seconds, making the product stand out as hero etc.

This spot for McDonald’s from what I occasionally call ‘analog agencies’, does just that, and nicely weaves in the importance of the digital age.

The scene: An elevator. "Shaffer, says a woman dressed in business suit and pearls, just joining him in the elevator, "I’ve been considering you to head up sales." She says this while eyeing his take-out bag of McDonald’s. Shaffer looks pained (plus, there’s a hint of a heavy laptop in a bag slung on his left shoulder.) He hands over his breakfast bag to the lady without a word.

They are joined by a senior management type, who now eyes the bag in the lady’s hands and says "Hansen, I’ve been thinking of you for that new board positon." She hands him the Mcdonald’s bag without a fuss. You wonder how much higher this can go –the seniority, not the elevator. The next stop brings in a slacker type in an ill-fiting jacket and T-shirt. He glances over at the bag and says loudly: "Sure hope I can fix someone’s email today…" The bossman, thrusts the bag into his hands. Close with his cynical smile, the McD’s logo, and tagline: ‘smile.’

I suppose the unspoken line is: Clothing maketh a full man. McDonald’s, a happy man!

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Portable lectures? Just like online universities, TV lectures, and homework on Blackboard, we have to assume this is what the digital age will bring.

Six universities are working with Apple, to get their lectures available via iTunes. See story here.

Likewise, here in Arizona, the Arizona Heart Institute & Hospital, a media savvy organization, is making available video podcasts through CVMD.Org, a medical information network it has created for patient education . See story here.

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Canary Wireless has a neat hot-spot finder when you’re not sure where to go for a free Wi-Fi connection. They call it the world’s first Wi-Fi spotter with LCD.

Why is an LCD important? It tells you the signal strength, and if the hot-spot is free (‘open’) or not.

Interestingly, this product has been designed to be branded –meaning it’s a ideal giveaway item that can be ordered from the company site.

Ok, so one more gizmo for the laptop bag –beside the power cord, USB multi port, and digital camera card reader!

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If you have been wondering what the incredibly shrinking cell phone may end up being, stop guessing because this digital swiss army knife of our present era is going off int many different directions: the Movie phone, the Google phone, of course the MP3 phone, and the media phone.

Sure the screens have better resolutions, but there is an interesting trend afoot –shoting mini movies on a cell phone. Check out the finalists of something called Nokia Shorts, featured at the indie film festival, Raindance.

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