Life

As an interesting mind/attitude exercise, for the next week, I plan to note down one awesome thing that I saw, heard or experienced that day. You should do the same. It’ll be interesting to see what tickles you and makes you go “yeah that was great!”. To look over a week’s worth of things that made you smile might reveal things about yourself you might not have otherwise found out! ...

A couple of days ago, I was reading Mittani’s article on TenTonHammer about the Glorious Internet Spaceship Game, EVE Online. It was concerned with the concept of a crisis of choice as faced by people in a position of limitless possibilities. Essentially, when faced with limitless choices, people are unable to choose anything or choose wisely because the opportunity cost of choosing a path is not choosing any of the others. ...

Thanks to the antics of the questionably sane National Express coach drivers on the 12-hour ride down from Aberdeen – namely putting the air conditioning on ‘cold’ when it was sub zero outside – I now have some horrendous viral infection. It could be bird flu or Ebola or AIDS for all I know! There is no possible chance it’s the Common Cold. That’s too easy. Thanks, National Express. I hope you’re happy. ...

So I’ve been thinking about our government – the UK that is – and the ways of policymakers in general of late.. It strikes me that we’re now stuck in an age where the old guard who ‘survived the [crisis of your choice] in [the 19xx’s]’ claim to know what is best for the country because in their opinion, environment and mindset, age equals experience. While in some cases it’s true and age can certainly mean greater experience in life and so forth, it’s no use if the experience is wrong or, worse still, outdated. ...

I’ve been turned on to this rather excellent blog on all things fun, exciting and non-traditional by a wonderful friend of mine. One of the articles I came across resonates particularly with me as I’m in the process of exploring communication and how it can be a great force for good in relationships. I mean that in every sense of the word, not just romantic, stars-in-the-eyes, oh-god-my-stomach-is-a-flutter way. Here’s a quick excerpt: ...

Watch these two videos. They are incredibly insightful and enlightening. I honestly cannot say any more in their praise!

Take good care of my baby Oh don’t you ever make her cry Just let your love surround her Paint a rainbow all around her Don’t let her see a cloudy sky This tune popped into my head a couple of days ago and I’ve been thinking about it. The whole ‘care’ thing – fine. Caring for one’s child and loving your offspring is what makes us human and it’s perfectly natural. ...

October’s garden party was magical, crazy and exciting! Also, there was fire and pretty lights and awesome people. Skins shot some pictures – check them out here: Skins’ Blog. Here’s a sampler! Opposite 3-petal antispins!We all wore “Carpe Awesome” tshirts to celebrate Burning Dan’s awesomeness too! Videos will undoubtedly come soon!

TEDTalks has a rather fascinating talk on how the Internet is driving innovation in communities that span continents. Well worth a look

Burning Dan, a man of great kindness, boundless optimism and unbridled Awesome joined with the Force on the night of the 4th/5th of October. He was a friend to many around the world, a mentor to many more and an inspiration to still more. Here’s a video of him explaining some things about the world we live in. He also helped found hitRECord.org with his brother, Joe. It’s hit Joe pretty hard, as well as Tea Faerie and Thom who are all very close. ...

So Kat and I shot a bunch of footage at the last Epic Garden Party and haven’t had a chance to edit it. We recently got together and did some hardcore Premiere sessions in which she taught me a bunch of awesome things. I did some tweaking and post-production of my own and we ended up with this: Pretty nifty, I feel! Watch this space for more!

https://knanacademy.org/ This is awesome. Check it out!

“Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit…what a ride!’” ~Hunter S. Thompson

Right. Now that I actually have time to post a real entry about SL, here goes. To begin with, I wasn’t going to go to Southern Lights as I was quite simply too poor to afford a ticket. Thankfully, the gorgeous Safire stepped in and offered me one of hers in exchange for hugs on demand. A fair trade. The festival kicked off on Friday the 11th, but I was booked that day to celebrate a friend finishing exams. ...

A couple of weeks ago, I travelled up to Aberdeen in sunny Scotland to catch up with (and meet) my friend Cat, whom (or is it who) I initially got to know through the Playpoi Bali retreat, and a bunch of other disparate strangers all of the flow arts persuasion. Since I could ill afford to travel by rail or air, coach was the only option. A 12-hour overnight one. With screaming babies. ...

In the wise words of Baudelaire: One should always be drunk. That is all that matters; That’s our imperative need. So as not to feel time’s horrible burden One which breaks your shoulders and bows you down You must get drunk without cease But with what? Wine, poetry or virtue as you choose. But get drunk. It’s a gorgeous day and I’m off to play in the sun.