Drifting Ocean

Drifting - composed and played by Andy McKee
Myspace, Label: Candyrat

(link via bloggingheadstv)

For the those who think their "oh my god, utter guitar genius" level cannot go any higher, prepare to realize your former belief system was ruinously corrupted. Welcoming Mr. John Butler.

Ocean - composed and played by John Butler
Tour Dates

(thanks Westy!)

Refined Design

I visited an Amsterdam design studio last week and got my aesthetic schooled by some serious pro's. The pic above is a perfectly understated little piece;

a vase, textured in braille, with a poem about flowers.

Big City Life

"The Linguist across
the seas and the oceans
A permanent Itinerant
is what I`ve chosen
I find myself in Big City prison
arisen from the vision
of mankind"

-Big City Life, Mattafix

Compiling Poets Forever Young

How many golden roads end at The Samarkand,
When midnight chokes the disquieted soul
And history finds another fall from grace?

Those who with songs beguile the pilgrimage.
And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die
For lust of knowing what should not be known.
Who sing to find your hearts, we know not why,
Of ships and stars and isles where good men rest.

The thief speaks now to many here
But none level on this line
We, bare-foot servant-princes feel
The cold distance they will find


James Elroy Flecker, (November 5, 1884- January 3, 1915)
Jimi Hendrix, (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970)

Zeitgeist Tech Ninja

Johnny Lee demos his amazing Wii Remote hacks, bending the $40 game part so it powers a digital whiteboard, a multitouch display and a head-mounted 3-D viewer.

This completely blew my mind. Technology is at its best when it functionality is unlocked on an existing system, i.e. figuring out that regular phone lines could carry high-speed internet. Johnny Lee deserves some form of life sized golden statue. Rest assured the world is going to give this guy whatever he needs to keep inventing in his lab- money, recognition, tenure, unbridled power...

Check out his Wii project page for more, including how the Wii Remote hack can be use to make your laptop screen a touch screen- without an LCD projector.

My Sister Liases with Dignitaries in Foreign Lands

Yesterday, I wrote of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd speaking truth to power while on a diplomatic visit to Beijing. Well it turns out that last night, my very own sister ran a media conference for him in fair Peking! Proof? I shall supply weighty evidence!

My sister, Alethea (or Ti-li in mandarin) moved to Beijing two months ago to begin a traineeship in public relations. How awesome is this? Answer: Totally awesome. Congratulations Ti-li!

Speak Truth to Power

Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd "is the highest-profile western leader to visit China since unrest erupted in Tibet last month. Speaking in fluent Mandarin to students at Beijing University, he began by defying his hosts and voicing concern over human rights in the Himalayan region.

“Australia like most other countries recognises China’s sovereignty over Tibet. But we also believe it is necessary to recognise there are significant human rights problem in Tibet. The current situation in Tibet is of concern to Australians.

We recognise the need for all parties to avoid violence and find a solution through dialogue. As a long-standing friend of China I intend to have a straightforward discussion with China’s leaders on this.

We wish to see the year 2008 as one of harmony, and celebration – not one of conflict and contention. "

The Australian, April 09, 2008

Below, The Prime Minister apologises that his Mandarin was not as good as it had been, and cited a Chinese saying: "We don't fear anything in heaven or earth except for a laowai, a foreigner, speaking Chinese.". Awesome.