As the title suggests, my blog has content from many sources. Being a professional nerd, there is a strong techy vibe here but my interests are varied and some will hopefully be of interest to the non-tech also.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Animated GIFS
Do you know what I mean by an animated GIF? Click the link if not. You see them all over the Internet, usally depicting something weird and wonderful scene. The guys at Twistedsifter have put together a number of compilations so you dont have to suffer the low load times of these old style visual feasts. Thsi will get you going in the morning, but please be warned that the video contains flashing images.
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Beard Film
The reason that many things I post about make it to e-clecticism is that they make me smile. The following is no exception. Vimeo user Ian Robertson's short stop animation film about beards. Enjoy!
A Beard Film (stop-motion) from Ian Robertson on Vimeo.
A Beard Film (stop-motion) from Ian Robertson on Vimeo.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Cube Dude
Angus MacLane calls himself CubeDude on Flickr and when you see his work you can see why. Angus is obviously a huge fan of Lego and his photostream includes very innovative pieces. But it is his interpreation of characters from famous movies that really caught my eye. Some of my personal favourites are below, but please see the complete collection here.
Iron Man.
The marshmallow man from Ghostbusters.
Robocop.
Jake Sully from Avatar.
Iron Man.
The marshmallow man from Ghostbusters.
Robocop.
Jake Sully from Avatar.
Monday, 27 September 2010
Rainbow Cocktail
Just a quick one today as I am a bit rushed sorry. No idea how this was done, but courtesy of Failblog (surely this is a win not a fail?), we have the amazing rainbow cocktail.
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Roger Miller
It is the second anniversary of my dad's death today. This time last year I wrote a letter to him that I needed to write. But thanks to my family and some very good friends (you know who you are) I don't feel the need to write one this year.
Instead I'd like to post about one of his favourite singer/songwriters, Roger Miller. Actually the title doesn't do him justice. Songwriter, singer, guitarist, fiddler, drummer, TV star, humourist, honky-tonk man, Broadway composer, and perhaps above all else, an awesome wit - Roger Miller was all of these and more. Dad had many Roger Miller records and whilst I was growing up he was playing constantly either in the house or in the car. I ended up loving his music and knowing many of his songs by heart. Today I have done the same to my children, who all love to hear the wonderful voice and heartfelt passion that Roger performed with.
Below are some of my favourites, but there are so many more so please look up his work, you just might fall in love as well.
I'll start with a sad but great version of the Mel Tillis song, Ruby.
A happier one now and a lovely stereotypical view of England for you. This still makes me smile.
This one is my personal favourtite. The emotion in his voice on this Bobby Russell cover never fails to give me goosebumps.
And the final word has to go to the Muppets with a great RM medley. :-)
I still miss you Dad, but I thank you for the good stuff you left me with.
Instead I'd like to post about one of his favourite singer/songwriters, Roger Miller. Actually the title doesn't do him justice. Songwriter, singer, guitarist, fiddler, drummer, TV star, humourist, honky-tonk man, Broadway composer, and perhaps above all else, an awesome wit - Roger Miller was all of these and more. Dad had many Roger Miller records and whilst I was growing up he was playing constantly either in the house or in the car. I ended up loving his music and knowing many of his songs by heart. Today I have done the same to my children, who all love to hear the wonderful voice and heartfelt passion that Roger performed with.
Below are some of my favourites, but there are so many more so please look up his work, you just might fall in love as well.
I'll start with a sad but great version of the Mel Tillis song, Ruby.
A happier one now and a lovely stereotypical view of England for you. This still makes me smile.
This one is my personal favourtite. The emotion in his voice on this Bobby Russell cover never fails to give me goosebumps.
And the final word has to go to the Muppets with a great RM medley. :-)
I still miss you Dad, but I thank you for the good stuff you left me with.
Friday, 24 September 2010
Dad Life
I guess as a father this applies to me too, but to be honest it just made me laugh. Am i really like this? Haha, yes probably. Enjoy!
Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.
Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.
Thursday, 23 September 2010
White Knuckles
Those wacky guys from OK Go are at it again. You may remember this offering. This time it is the video for their song White Knuckles. It is a good one for dog lovers this.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Work
This made me smile. A short animated film that puts life in to perspective. Work to live, do not live to work. A great ending too.
Work from Michael Rianda on Vimeo.
Work from Michael Rianda on Vimeo.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Tempus
I have posted films like this before but this one is particularly good. Tempus is a Vimeo project by Philip Heron whereby a films things hitting other things at high-speed and then slows the film to normal speed to give perfect slow motion. Enjoy Tempus II below but be sure to check out the original.
Tempus II from Philip Heron on Vimeo.
Tempus II from Philip Heron on Vimeo.
Monday, 20 September 2010
Why?
Image via WikipediaCanada's Science Creative Quarterly recently published an article entitled A dialogue with Sarah, aged 3: In which it is shown that if your dad is a chemistry professor, asking “Why” can be dangerous.Stephen McNeil is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of British Columbia Okanagan in Kelowna, British Columbia. To date, he has been interviewed on the radio four times: twice he was talking about chemistry, and twice he was talking about pirates. His favourite element is the element of surprise.I thought you might like it...
SARAH: Daddy, were you in the shower?
DAD: Yes, I was in the shower.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: I was dirty. The shower gets me clean.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why does the shower get me clean?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: Because the water washes the dirt away when I use soap.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why do I use soap?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: Because the soap grabs the dirt and lets the water wash it off.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why does the soap grab the dirt?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: Because soap is a surfactant.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why is soap a surfactant?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: That is an EXCELLENT question. Soap is a surfactant because it forms water-soluble micelles that trap the otherwise insoluble dirt and oil particles.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why does soap form micelles?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: Soap molecules are long chains with a polar, hydrophilic head and a non-polar, hydrophobic tail. Can you say ‘hydrophilic’?
SARAH: Aidrofawwic
DAD: And can you say ‘hydrophobic’?
SARAH: Aidrofawwic
DAD: Excellent! The word ‘hydrophobic’ means that it avoids water.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why does it mean that?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: It’s Greek! ‘Hydro’ means water and ‘phobic’ means ‘fear of’. ‘Phobos’ is fear. So ‘hydrophobic’ means ‘afraid of water’.
SARAH: Like a monster?
DAD: You mean, like being afraid of a monster?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: A scary monster, sure. If you were afraid of a monster, a Greek person would say you were gorgophobic.
(pause)
SARAH: (rolls her eyes) I thought we were talking about soap.
DAD: We are talking about soap.
(longish pause)
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why do the molecules have a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: Because the C-O bonds in the head are highly polar, and the C-H bonds in the tail are effectively non-polar.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Because while carbon and hydrogen have almost the same electronegativity, oxygen is far more electronegative, thereby polarizing the C-O bonds.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why is oxygen more electronegative than carbon and hydrogen?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: That’s complicated. There are different answers to that question, depending on whether you’re talking about the Pauling or Mulliken electronegativity scales. The Pauling scale is based on homo- versus heteronuclear bond strength differences, while the Mulliken scale is based on the atomic properties of electron affinity and ionization energy. But it really all comes down to effective nuclear charge. The valence electrons in an oxygen atom have a lower energy than those of a carbon atom, and electrons shared between them are held more tightly to the oxygen, because electrons in an oxygen atom experience a greater nuclear charge and therefore a stronger attraction to the atomic nucleus! Cool, huh?
(pause)
SARAH: I don’t get it.
DAD: That’s OK. Neither do most of my students.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Old Rock Stars
If you like your comedy funny and edgy but clean and fit for the family, you can't really go wrong with Tim Hawkins. In the following video he performs some classic songs as if the artists were all old and over the hill. I hope you enjoy it.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Rachel's Birthday Video
I warn you, you may want to get some Kleenex ready before you watch this one. I won't spoil it by saying too much, except to wonder how he got the prime minister of New Zealand and Hugh Jackman to make cameos.
Rachel's Birthday Video from Kristian Anderson on Vimeo.
Rachel's Birthday Video from Kristian Anderson on Vimeo.
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Mari Kasurinen
I'm just a big kid really and have fond memories of many toys from my youth. Scalextric, Action Man, Lego, the list goes on. But Mari Kasurinen from Finland has revamped a toy that I was never interested in, yet she has done a fantastic job.
She takes the My Little Pony dolls and customises them into icons from popular culture. I have posted a few below but be sure to check out her Flickr page and her website.
She takes the My Little Pony dolls and customises them into icons from popular culture. I have posted a few below but be sure to check out her Flickr page and her website.
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Ark
A great animated short film.
Watch more cool animation and creative cartoons at Aniboom
An unknown virus has destroyed almost the entire human population. Oblivious to the true nature of the disease, the only remaining survivors escape to the sea. In great ships, they set off in search of uninhabited land. So begins the exodus, led by one man ...
Watch more cool animation and creative cartoons at Aniboom
Monday, 13 September 2010
Kimba Or Simba
Disney says The Lion King's similarities to a 1960's Japanese anime series called Kimba are a total coincidence. Watch the following video and you be the judge.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Cliff Trampoline
So bored skiers still need to practise when there is no snow. So what to do? Well attaching a trampoline to the side of a cliff is one option I guess. Shot in Whistler, British Columbia by Dan Carr, the following video is rather spectacular.
Cliff Trampoline - Whistler from Dan Carr on Vimeo.
Cliff Trampoline - Whistler from Dan Carr on Vimeo.
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Tic Tac Micha
OK, so I realise this is sponsored by Tic Tac as a way to sell more sweets. I also realise it probably didn't sound nearly as good as this before it was enhanced in the post-production suite. But despite all that, I love this. Allegedly this is Micha Albacow, a sixteen year old boy from Uzbekistan who discovered he is a bit of a whizz at playing Tic Tac boxes. Ferrero then signed him up for a world tour and are filming him in different cities. More information from the website.
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Racer
This looks great fun. Do you remember the 90's video game Pole Position? Well a German designer by the name of Malte Jehmlich has produced an "analog" version by way of a remote controlled car, an old arcade game cabinet and a wireless camera...Oh and lots of cardboard. I'd really like a go of this.
RACER DEMO 0.1 - video game mashup from sputnic on Vimeo.
RACER DEMO 0.1 - video game mashup from sputnic on Vimeo.
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
One Man...
Image via WikipediaAn advert in our local paper for a show caught my eye recently and last Saturday night I went to see an absolutely cracking performance that I would recommend to anyone. Charlie Ross is a Canadian playwright, actor and geek who has written and stars in a one man production of the Lord Of The Rings movies. Yes, you heard me. He uses no props or scenery, just 3600 seconds of your time and his uncanny ability with voices and sound effects. With generous helpings of humour and "in-jokes" the soft-spoken Ross had the packed house at the Forum Theatre Malvern, enthralled as he raced through Tolkein's masterpiece at an exhausting pace. Apparently even Sir Ian McKellan is a fan.Ross started out performing a one man version of the original Star Wars trilogy which, with Lucasfilm's approval, he still touring nine years later. If the LOTR version is anything to go by, I would dearly love to see that too. At the time of writing Ross has 27 more UK dates and then it is back to Canada, so you need to hurry if you can.
In the meantime, visit Ross' sites for both The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.
Monday, 6 September 2010
BoRhapAcapella
This is a rather nice rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. A song that features great harmonies anyway and it really lends itself to this style of performance. Enjoy!
Saturday, 4 September 2010
Creepy Cat
A friend sent me this video and it made me howl with laughter. Next time you think you're being watched...Perhaps you aren't being paranoid. Creepy Cat works for the KGB and he has is eye on you. :-)
Friday, 3 September 2010
The Wilderness Downtown
Image via WikipediaComedian Phill Jupitus tweeted about this the other day (follow him if you like) and I have been raving about it since. The Wilderness Downtown is an interactive video by Chris Milk. Using HTML5 and a soundtrack of "We Used To Wait" by Arcade Fire it cleverly features elements of Google Earth and Streetview to offer a stunningly beautiful piece of work.Enter details of your hometown and draw your own postcard and watch as multiple browser windows give you a very personalised experience. Be warned though that has Google helped out, it works best in Chrome but other browsers do seem OK. However it is processor intensive so close other applications before you give it a try.
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Steve Hanks
Steve Hanks is recognised as one of the best watercolour artists working today. Steve is from California and his art often features the sea, coastal themes and sunlight and are sometimes hard to tell from photographs. I have chosen some of my favourites below but please visit his website for more fantastic examples.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Fire Tornado
I can't really explain this one any better than The Telegraph, so I will quote them directly.
Severe drought and strong dry winds in Sao Paolo have caused a rare fire tornado in the northwest city of Aracatuba.
A three month drought in the region has led to brush fires across Brazil, creating the conditions for the fire tornado.
Fire tornados, also known colloquially as fire devils, happen when a fire acquires a vertical rotating column of air. Some can be more than a half a mile tall and contain winds over 100 mph.
In 1923, Great Kanto earthquake in Japan, ignited a firestorm that raged through the city and produced a gigantic fire tornado that killed 38,000 in 15 minutes in the Hifukusho-Ato region of Tokyo.
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