Clever way to combine the analog book with the fancy pants iBook sort of thingy that I have absolutely no experience with (wish I had an iPod! Argh!).

It’s actually analog AND digital. Clever. Cute too. And interactive…

(seen on Quipsologies)

What are kids? “Drunk Midgets”

Can’t get enough of Gorillaz’ Plastic Beach.
I want to see this as a movie, or to be able to visit the actual model.

I have a sneaking feeling I might find myself trying to fashion my own Plastic Beach on the kitchen table, out of mashed potatoes, kids crying…

I have a new form of excercise these days. Daughter Tilja stretches her arms up to me, saying, “On the shoulders, Pappa!”, I turn on the stereo so we can here Feist sing “1234″ and we start dancing around the apartment, ducking door frames and ceiling lights. Usually Tilja sings so loud we can’t hear the stereo anymore – then she orders me to run and spin. This can go on for quite a while:)

In celebration of that – here’s Steve Zissou, with a kid on his shoulders. One for the toque-wearers. Half way through, it turns into “one for the uniforms”;)

Tilja and I caught this animated series on SVT this morning – both of us stopped playing and were mesmerized by the music, figures, and that crazy movement of Pulpo (the red figure).

Nice stuff! Looks like Finland meets Barcelona=)

Stor Fisk made them, Veronica Lassenius drew the pictures.

Saari TV

Funny:)

I came across “The Making of The Dunhill Double Document Case” this morning, on Selecticism, and was immediately struck by the tactile nature of this production. The sounds, in particular, are very good.

I know leather work is tactile, and cozy. My father’s friend, Flemming, still pounds out leather bags and belts – as far as I know. I remember getting one of his belts as a kid, and being happily struck by the smells in his cool, woody shop. They stayed in the belt. Decades later, while handing it down to my son, it still smelled like that first summer I had with it.

Watching this makes me want to pick up a similiar trade. Something tactile. Something where I’d need a workshop to do it. Something I could do that wouldn’t sound like “tappity-tap-tap-tap”, and more like “glonk, swish and woosh”.

That might not be why Dunhill made the film. I’m sure they want me to buy the bag, rather than yearn for my own workshop.

You win some, and you lose some=)

I ran across this stylish (and old) animated video on treehugger this morning – a cheeky Lloyd Alter post, “Secret Video of Government Highway Spending Plans Hacked and Exposed”

Not only is the film very good looking, the ideas in it are just as exciting as the pictures. Some are way out there, some downright ridiculous, and others strangely optimistic about using new technologies (the gas-turbine car, the speedier jet propulsed vehicle, the inexhaustable atom, and the sun-powered electro suspension car(!)), fantastical modern architecture, and conveniences such as video conferencing in a auto-piloted mobility pod, or highly specialized pleasure vehicles (furnished with lounge and fireplace, and which can also travel on water as a hydrofoil) directed by punch cards to a holiday destinations, moving sidewalks, door to door assisted parking… it goes on and on… “heated highways”- that’s a good one.

It looks as if it was made in the 50′s- maybe 60′s? Full of optimism and confidence in our ability to carve out a brave new world for ourselves, it nonetheless leaves a bitter taste in my mouth – we didn’t do anything this film says we would. A lot of that is good. Who needs heated highways?
Well… we did get the moving sidewalk. But the rest?

We still do the same crap we did at the time the film was made. Only – we do it poorly. Cars are starting to become “intelligent”, helping you park, talk on a phone, not fall asleep at the wheel, all while cradling you in a livingroom environment filled with music, tv, video games and food. No room for luggage though, because you aren’t travelling anywhere, merely driving around. Alternative energies are coming to the table again (after 50 years?)
- but instead of being met with wide eyed optimism, they are met with snail paced skepticism? What is wrong with us?

The filmmakers obviously assumed the modern person would stay in good shape eventhough they wouldn’t have to stand on two feet, walk or move themselves anymore.

But – it looks so good. So sleek and clean and streamlined. Just hearing the soundtrack reminds me of good times. Carefree. Nice. Like being a kid again.

What’s not to like?

Oiy… so much to gripe about the subject of these sequences, but it’s late, and I’m going to just appreciate the work. Nice.

H2oil animated sequences from Dale Hayward on Vimeo.

RT @zefrank wonderful animation on procrastination : http://bit.ly/2AfOaW