This is cool :: Splitting the atom

Massive Attack-Splitting the Atom-directed by Edouard Salier from edouard salier on Vimeo.

I am loving the new Massive Attack album and this song... Splitting the atom... is already one of my faves... and this video is just brilliant. More later. Tx

(via notcot #28,234)

Scanned... The Drought

J.G.Ballard is a writer whose canon of work I would love to have read but haven't. I picked up this book in a charity shop for 59p (which wasn't far off the 80p it cost new back in 1978)... as a result of the cover picture, the compelling blurb on the back and a genuine desire to read more of his sci-fi stuff.

I find the main theme of the book - the ramifications that come from a lack of water - to be wonderfully up-to-date for now, especially when you consider "the great Pacific garbage patch"... and acknowledge the need to make the time to read it.

Tx

Inspirational stubbornness...

From time to time I have a blether with a chap from Lanark. He's a big fan of the Newton and was "checking his emails" when i sat down beside him on Friday.

Why did I find this inspirational? Well... you and I probably can and do check our email on a number of devices... predominately on a PC or Mac... and our phone.

My friend was checking his mail on his Apple Newton Messagepad... and this was no ordinary feat - his Newton was connected via a wireless card to a mifi device (the mifi device is a 3g dongle with a router).

I am fascinated with this kind of stubbornness... I find it a very creative and inspirational state of mind... and something I can be inspired by.

Its about seeing the intrinsic value and worth in something... and making it work regardless of the obstacles that are faced.

The Newton, from my friend's raving, was an awesome device lightyears ahead of its time... and is something that, with a bit of care and bloodymindedness, can still add value 17 years after it was released.

I suppose its like me and my 35mm film cameras...



I recently received this camera : the Voigtlander Vito CL : from an elderly couple in church. They knew of my love of photography and figured I would appreciate their cherished camera. Whilst I was delighted... I was also a little sad - their son had refused the camera... because it was film.

There is a sense of the counter-cultural in all this... rejecting the consumeristic notion of obsolescence... and deciding for yourself when something is "passed it".

There is also a sense of contentment... in the acceptance of something for what it is and... by hook or by crook... making it do what you need it to.

As change continues to intensify... I wonder if we will see more of this... see more people accepting what they have and being creative in how they adapt for their current needs.

I am an advocate of the "its not what you have but what you do with it that counts" - I see this stubbornness as an extension of this idea. Its not the Newton but the fact my friend can use it to email that counts... using an ingenious method that mixes old and new tech. Similarly, its not the camera but the pictures that count... afterall, your megapixels mean squat when your composure is lousy.

I see a day coming when I'll need to start shooting in black and white... and developing the films myself. When that day comes... I will welcome it for the opportunity it is.

Creativity is about new ideas, new technologies and the freedom of being a pioneer... but it is also about working within constraints... within the limitations and making the lemonade from the lemon.

Long may there be people prepared to make lemonade!

Tx

This is cool :: eye'em

eye'em are...

a young international team of creatives, designers, developers and thinkers located in Berlin, Germany.

...who...

love beautiful places, people, moments and pancakes (especially pancakes!).

...and...

love capturing those things with their mobile phone cameras.

Well worth checking out... Tx

This looks way cool :: Yummyfun Kooking

Does anyone know if this show is on in the UK? Just found out about it... and the cool host Clare Crespo from The Urban Grocer.

Read more about Clare and here obsession with cupcakes at The Urban Grocer and Gothamist.

Sweet!

Tx

Scanned... round the world in eight dishes

I found this book in a charityshop last Saturday. I snapped it up immediately because of its quirky illustrations and content. It is a cookbook / travel journal from 1955 (the edition I have is from 1962) by the wonderfully charismatic Lesley Blanch.



In addition to writing the book... she illustrated it too. The Golem above is to illustrate "Gollum's Dumplings" from the Ukraine... and her picture below is to bring a flavour to the roast lamb dish from "all the Arab countries".



It was an awesome find... and one that I treasure.

Tx

BTW... Olly and I were given a Canon Pixma MP490 printer/scanner for our Christmas from my folks. The scanner is particularly useful... and I intend to use if to share some of the glorious books I have. As such... I have started a new label - "scanned". Enjoy.

My first 36 of Project365:2010

My first 36 of Project365:2010, originally uploaded by Headphonaught.

I wrote a poem : "open fire"

I haven't written poetry in ages... years, in fact. But in some weird turn of events... I was given these words last night as I walked from the station to meet Olly. Tx

Posted via email from headphonaught's posterous

My next challenge...

I think portraiture will be my next challenge... thankfully, I have a very photogenic family.



What is your next challenge?

Tx

Sorry for being quiet...

Hey everyone... sorry I've been quiet on the ol' blog front. Been busy doing stuff... taking pics... watching "Supernatural" with Olly... reading an essay... that kind of thing.

Thought I'd touch base... say "hiya"... and see how you all are doing. I've three things for you:

1) Here's a live recording of a Radiohead concert... that's available to download for free :: Radiohead live @ the Henry Fonda Theatre. The band have put this concert online to raise money for Haiti... so drop some cash in when you pick up the mp3.

"The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life.”

Jessica Hische

2) The above quote is taken from a fab wee blog called distractivity... that is well worth a home in your rss reader. Their attitude is refreshingly inspirational:

"Distractivity is what you’re doing when you get distracted from what you should be doing. It’s generally what you want to do, often what you need to do, and arguably, what you’ll do best."

My thanks to swiss-miss for the pointer.

3) Watch this video... then ask yourself the following question:

"Are you being the real "you" or are you a parody..?"

Sure... parodies are funny... but will they be remembered or still relevant... in the long run?



Will be back soon...

Tx