Flash mobs are spontaneous gatherings that instantaneously converge and disperse in public spaces. The meaning of the mobs is deliberately ambiguous; participants talk variously of their artistic, political and social implications but agree on one thing: flash mobs are intended to be fun. Invitations are sent by e-mail or text message to a core group who are asked to invite others. Meeting times are communicated along with instructions such as the roles participants should play in the gathering. An early flash mob occurred in upmarket New York department store Macy's in June. A bewildered carpet salesman was confronted by 200 strangers claiming to be interested in a love rug for their commune. Six flash mobs have now taken place in the city, each co-ordinatated by a man known only as Bill. Recent weeks have seen autonomous flash mobs occur in cities as far afield as Berlin and Birmingham. The idea has captured the imagination of the world's media as much as mob participants, with reports from the BBC, CNN, Wired and the Guardian. As NYC blog Gawker knowingly observed, "It's almost like one journalist at every major media publication conspired to write a story in a seemingly spontaneous collective effort". The first London flash mob is planned for August 7th in Soho. Sign up to e-mail alerts at www.geocities.com/londonmobs for more information.