Kickshaw's Blog

D. Flash Interview with Brian Eno.

kickshaw — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:03:51 +0000

Overall, this really made me smile, and smiles haven’t been as common as they should be for me lately, so . . . hope it gives anyone reading this a bittersweet-lull in their storm too. Now, off to my new work placement (wish me luck?) ^_^/

http://www.youtube.com/v/kwFry159gZw?fs=1&hl=en_GB

Do You Fake It?

kickshaw — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 08:41:28 +0000

Objects and Exhibitions Group Project Report, Group One.

Group Members: Shahram Agha-Kasiri‎, Jennifer Chow, Elizabeth Cooper, Kristin Hussey‎, K.A. James, ‎Tania ‎Moore, Sally Thelwell‎, Meng Zou‎.

Location: Mansfield Cooper, ground floor, behind a café, in front of the elevators.

Exhibition Schedule: 15 November, 2010 to 21 November, 2010.

Display Title: Do You Fake It?

Our group is interested in the notion of tolerance; the extent to which society accepts fakes, copies, and forgeries, in what contexts it accepts these fakes, and why. Our goal is to raise awareness of the visitor concerning the impact of the knock offs industry with regards to social justice. We will be using six to ten objects, including bags, belts, a pair of earrings, two watches, and DVDs, all of which are examples of popular knockoffs.

Our approach is functionalist and analytic; we are using the objects to make a point about the social implications of the knockoff industry. By using the design theme of a shop front window, and very popular, frequently copied objects, juxtaposed with the cost in human terms, we hope to create a link between the purchase of counterfeit goods and various forms of violence. The approach is primarily maieutic; by posing the title question “Do You Fake It” and supporting that question with sales signs representing how much money is made and what the money funds, the visitor’s own experience will draw forth a better understanding of the social dynamics, rather than imposing upon the visitor an overt directive as to what they should think and feel.

We have chosen an emphatic organisation—to place objects in juxtaposition to images of where the money goes, and the conditions that the production of knockoffs fosters. We are also choosing a typological taxonomy, clustering the objects together as “accessories,” “jewelry,” and “technology”. The overall aesthetic is the impression of a shop front, employing multiple levels of display support, and strategically placed ‘sales/bargain’ signs.

We have all had input into various parts of the process, each member simultaneously contributing in the way(s) that they best can, given their primary interests and/or strengths, while also contributing to a group decision making process. In addtion to the display itself, we have created an online blog with related social media options. Though there was not sufficient time to ‘create a buzz’ we were/are able to use these digtial ancilliaries as a means of providing the visiting public with further information regarding the topic of our display, as well as citation for resources and research that inspired us in the design process. We have also posted meeting minutes, photos of our efforts, and examples of text drafting.

Blog/Website URL: www.dyfiproject.wordpress.com

Exclusive New Fragrance: “Angst” by Coldplay.

kickshaw — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:18:53 +0000

http://www.coldplay.com/newsdetail.php?id=618

We’re very pleased to announce that Coldplay have today launched their own exclusive fragrance, Angst by Coldplay.

“This is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said the band’s frontman, Chris Martin. “People like to smell nice and we thought we could help them out.”

Martin was quick to point out that there are bigger and better scents available, but that the band are simply trying to make the best aroma they can, for their own pleasure. “If anyone else likes it,” he explained, “then that’s a bonus”.

The core ingredients of the scent are listed on the Brian Eno-designed bottles as sangre, sudor and lágrimas, all of which have been sourced from Fairtrade suppliers.

Angst by Coldplay is available from today, April 1st, in the Coldplay official store, priced at £42.

Author’s Note: I especially like the “Angst” ingredients list of blood, sweat, and tears!

Banksy vs. Bristol

kickshaw — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:40:21 +0000

*^_^*

Coachella 2010 April 16, 17, 18

kickshaw — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:56:56 +0000

http://www.coachella.com/

This year is going to be spectacular! On the maybe less “spectacular” side of things, festival accommodations are pretty much already sold out, except for those prepared to either genuinely “rough it” (camping),

or afford the um, “life is rough it” option (5000.00 safari tent rental).

Only 33 days away . . . where did I put that ad for the solar-powered straightening-iron . . . Good luck everybody! ^_^/

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Nail-Biting Suspense!

kickshaw — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:16:40 +0000

Very sorry I haven’t been around much everyone! Been obsessed with “suspenseful” coverage of the Olympic Games Curling Competition. Out for now, but I’ll be back a after a bit. ^_^/

Going . . . Going . . .

kickshaw — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:10:25 +0000

Valentine’s Day almost gone? Here are a few Valentine’s Day iPod Apps you might have (almost) missed:

Be My Valentine

(a concentration game): Remember playing concentration as a kid? One of the first card games I ever learned. This is a set of heart symbols that is laid out like the traditional concentration game. You match the symbols. Fun to play while waiting for a bus, train, or plane.

Valentine Radio: This is a selection of online radio stations that play various types of music, all centered around romance. Okay, what radio station can you think of that doesn’t do this! All the same, if you are bored with all your own playlists and music, this can be a nice change of pace. Besides, the nice thing about radio, is if those around you don’t like the music, you can blame the DJ/station, rather than having to take the heat for yourself.

Valentine Photo: This is an app that allows you to turn your own photos into standardly sweet, Valentine-themed ecard/photo. Very simple to use.

Cookie Doodle: Make and send virtual cookies! Great for those on wheat-free, low cal diet plans.

Candy Hearts: Create personalized candy heart images, and send as ecards, or do what I did, and make a nice little stop-motion vid to send to friends and loved ones! Very user-friendly app.

Love Poems: Okay, the options are limited, but let’s say you have a friend, and you want them to know how you feel and you’ve got the world’s worst cold and can’t think of a THING –then this might save your day. Flip through the message options, click the email send key and boom, there it is: instant love letter! Here is an example of one I made:

My love,

You are always on my mind
Ever since meeting you my feelings are in a whirlwind

I think we are the perfect match
For you I am willing to stretch

Our life together has just begun
We fit together, like the moon and the sun

My gift is for you, I hope you will like it
Hoping to capture your heart, bit by bit

Sent from my iPod

You get the idea. You can of course, modify this more, add in additional quotes etc. Hmm. Wonder if I could make a whole album of song lyrics based upon a random generator like this . . .

Locket: This is a virtual locket. You can choose what image from your photo library goes into the locket, and whenever you open it, there is your loved one. This is very simple, and very sweet. There is also stop-motion potential in this one I think, but how and if I manage that will have to wait till I’m feeling better (blast)!

“Magnificent Seven: 80′s Romance Flims” & Welcome to the Longest Annual 24 Hours in Human History.

kickshaw — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:40:46 +0000

Wecome to the longest annual 24 hours in human history: VALENTINE’S DAY.

I know, you were thinking “Isn’t the Summer Solstice the longest day?” but you are, sadly, mistaken. In my experience, more people, single or not, HATE slogging through Valentine’s Day, than they do any other holiday or indeed, any day of the year. It’s weird, isn’t it? A day dedicated to “love” and it is for most people the most disappointing and depressing calendar day of the year. Why? Well . . . for myself I suppose it has something to do with impossible expectations . . . about which I’m not going to elaborate on.

It isn’t that I HATE Valentine’s Day, exactly . . . But I sort of do. I loved it a lot more before I realized a need to be socially responsible about the chocolate I consume! I used to love the day after Valentine’s Day, stocking up on discounted heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, dressing up in ridiculous 20′s style bohemia, lounging on the couch, taking one bite out of each chocolate in the box, and tossing the rest . . . *sigh*

Those days are so gone forever. Ah well.

Here are seven just-for-fun and “because” films, from ancient times immemorial (the 1980s) . . .

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension — because this wasn’t like anything else going at the time, and still remains an interesting iconic representation of pop culture of the day. Also, Jeff Goldblum in dude gear — what’s not to love?!

Raiders of the Lost Ark –because it simultaneously honors and lampoons the whole “Golden Age of Hollywood” adventure genre, is brilliantly scripted, acted, and paced (edited).

Back to the Future I –because I’ve always harbored a secret infatuation for Emmett Brown *^_^* . . . uh, which is no longer secret now . . . >.<

Romancing the Stone –because it turns traditional storybook romance on its ear.

Peggy Sue Got Married –because of the scene where Peggy gets drunk and is going to go off to discover “The Beatles” –oh no. Now I’ve spoiled it!

Some Kind of Wonderful –because you can’t have a list of 80′s love-flix without listing this one.

Adventures in Babysitting –just because.

1 Cor 13:4-7 According to Margo Channing.

kickshaw — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:46:12 +0000

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.” ~1 Cor 13:4–7

. . . Or in the words of Margo Channing (as portrayed by Bette Davis):

“Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Another “Magnificent Sevens” List.

kickshaw — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:46:49 +0000

Yes, it’s yet another “Magnificent Seven List” of iPod apps:

….

1. iQuarium is a virtual fish tank that rewards you with increasingly interesting environments the longer you maintain the tank. Careful, though. If you ignore your fish too long, you will return to find it dead…..

2. Ghost Radar supposedly scans for paranormal presences, translating their energy into words etc…..

3. Thereminator imitates a Theremin! Could take practice to control the sounds, but very interesting. The program shows where the notes and/or frequencies and volume are on a graphic screen. You can also alter the type of wave and echo settings you are using as well…..

4. Creative Whack Pack –technically what they call a “productivity” app, its purpose is to get the mind thinking outside of typical patterns. It does have useful writing/thinking exercises to alter perspective. ….

5. Kaleidoscope is the virtual version of its namesake, only the user can change the color and spatial patterns viewed, as well as the speed of the shifting design. ….

6. Zoltan is an animated fortuneteller, fashioned after the traditional animatronic arcade prognostication machines of the past. I have a soft spot for “Zoltan,” as the first fortune I received from him complimented me upon what a charming person I am. ….

7. 3D Brain shows a three dimensional model of the brain that can be flipped around to view different sections, shows labels for various parts of the brain, and provides information about what the function of these different portions of the brain are…..