This morning Brian Eno and David Byrne released their first collaboration in over 25 years “Everything That Happens Will Happen Today”.  I’ve been listening to it for hours and am working on a review (that is quickly expanding into an essay on musical motifs and intention).  For now.. feel free to listen to it here:  

http://www.everythingthathappens.com/

You can buy the album in a variety of formats here:

http://www.everythingthathappens.com/ts/order.html

I’ve just stumbled across WFMU’s “On the Download” archive of ” new sounds, obscure audio, found sound, and other sonic stimulants unique to WFMU”. The first link was to this recording (real or not? I guess not.. but still..) of people being whipped. What else is there to say?

I was actually trying to re-find Record Brother, which is another interesting collection of old out of print records etc.

I could really do this all night.. There’s too much. It’s all too interesting.

The cassette image at the top of the post is from www.tapedeck.org, a project to ” showcase the amazing beauty and (sometimes) weirdness found in the designs of the common audio cassette tape”. How wonderful. As a guy who loves the aesthetics of old clipboards, and funky old digital clocks, I feel like I’ve found some of my long lost tribe. Sigh.

Something about the zen of concrete and the fleeting quality of light makes for a really neat feeling juxtaposition. This I absolutely love. I can’t wait for more of the future.

More {here}

And {more}:

So I couldn’t help myself. After listening to the Boingboing podcast discussion of the Los Angeles BSA councils ‘respecting copyright’ propaganda, I opened up Photoshop and tinkered for a while.. Lots of room for improvement..

I give you my first two ‘perfect world’ merit badges.. The “Critical Thinking Badge” (this might need a little re-working), and of course, the “iPod hacking Badge”- to be earned during the same summer camp. Might add (later) a plan for the first “WikiPatrol”.

There are clearly complexities regarding the copyright issue, but as others have already said, ‘at least teach them to think for themselves’ with more than slanted information from corporate sources.

As a former Eagle Scout, I find myself wondering about the current BSA’s cultural relevance – which is sad, because there are many rewarding lessons that could be gained from participation in the organization – if only it stuck to it’s roots a little bit more. I certainly had my differences with the BSA when I went through it all (they almost didn’t let me get my Eagle because I had a ponytail). Unfortunately the BSA seems to be slowly slipping (further) as an organization that was once ‘morally straight’ and genuinely educational, to ‘morally outdated’ and more and more out of touch..

TuneGlue is one of many interesting mechanisms for visualizing relationships. Type the name of your favorite band or artist, and it will generate similar artists, list albums etc.. all in a sleek and smooth interface.  While it is absolutely beautiful, I think these interfaces still have a long way to come. This one is definitely worth a visit (or even a bookmark). Another worthy bookmark, the music genome project Pandora could learn a thing or two from these guys – and maybe vice-versa. Come to think of it, a synthesis between the two would be a spectacular way to experience music. I would personally love to use a clever and well conceived system that would allow for both playback, commentary, and of course explanations of relationships.
Anyone want to collaborate?

This is not exactly new. I remember that there was an unofficial version of it floating around YouTube somewhere set to ‘who am I’ by Peter Kruder.

Anyway, Jeff Han, of New York University’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, has developed what he calls an ‘interface free’..err.. interface, which can be manipulated as if it were a three-dimensional interaction with synthetic* media. In other words, a revolution in how we might interact with machines.<br>

Hans’ wonderful demonstration at TED (Technology Entertainment Design) showcases his ability to intuitively navigate several different processes with his fingertips, zooming in, out, up & down almost effortlessly, without the usual constraints of what we have come to know as a standard interface, with a mouse, keyboard etc.

This technology is mind-blowing and couldn’t be on the market soon enough (as long as it was within reach economically mind you).

Han also makes brief mention of how it is ‘a shame’ that with the ‘$100 Laptop initiative’, we will be familiarizing large populations of previously un-networked people to each other with a system that is much less intuitive than it could be. Food for thought. My challenge to Jeff would be to make this very visceral ‘un-interface’ available on those $100 Dollar Laptops. That would take some truly creative thinking… But of course, my hat is way off to these guys.. They’re on to something truly remarkable.

++ I should also mention that TED is a truly fascinating gathering.. In their own words, a ‘pre-release’ of Heaven…Or.. “An opportunity to engage in conversation and dialogue with some of the most interesting and innovative thinkers of our time”. That’s pretty damn close to my definition of Heaven as well. What I wouldn’t give to participate. What I wouldn’t give to be qualified. For now I’m content to be a fly on the digital wall.

*I think the dividing line between ‘synthetic’ and ‘organic’ is becoming more and more blurred by the way.. Maybe more to come on this in the future.. Your thoughts?

In 2007, look for this new documentary by director Gary Hustwit. The films release is expected to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the existence of Helvetica – the font we all know and love (and all too often take for granted). Personally, I am thrilled that the conversation about the effects, uses, and emotional resonance of a (agan, taken for granted) tool for communication, will be out in the public forum, at least a little. How do we relate to information, and how much significance does a font carry with it?

This subject is unendingly interesting to me. And while it may not be much more than touched upon by Hustwit, it begs many questions. What is it that helps something communicate effectively? Shape? Color? Context? Mood? And what are the constraints of this kind of thinking? Do different shapes and colors evoke different ‘instinctive’ responses, depending upon evolutionary contexts? I remember somewhere reading that certain ethnic groups have built a tolerance for cows milk after generations of milk being a part of their culture, while people descended from cultures without this sort of relationship with cattle, are more predisposed to being lactose intolerant. Does visual salience relate in some way to chemical and evolutionary contexts? Or is it a matter of individual context? It is likely a combination of variables, and surely, there are certain statistics that can point to ‘what works’ & ‘what excels’ etc.. But which variables do we point to as the sources of our intuitive feelings?
Obviously, no new questions from me, but I have faith that Hustwit will have something unique and thought provoking to say about Helvetica.
Hustwit, has directed many feature length documentaries, including I am Trying to Break Your Heart (the Moog (Robert Moog), and Drive Well, Sleep Carefully (Death Cab for Cutie). I am very much looking forward to seeing his skills focused on expanding this conversation.

{the film}

This is one of the coolest garage art projects I have ever seen.
See the {video} or go {here} for more..

I have always loved this photo, so I figured I’d share it. Pigeons in downtown Bangkok, just near the palace in Dec 2001.  Choose your own analysis (none specifically intended).