Harvesting the Ephemeral
Wednesday March 22, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
After the demise of Jane's Addiction, Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins formed Porno for Pyros.
Today's pick is from their self-titled debut, and a perfect song for these crazy times, "Pets."
"Children are innocent
A teenager's f***ed up in the head
Adults are even more f***ed up
and elderlies are like children
Will there be another race
to come along and take over for us?
Maybe martians could do
better than we've done
We'll make great pets!
My friend says we're like the dinosaurs
only we are doing ourselves in
much faster than they
ever did
We'll make great pets! ..."
Additional info:
» Tags:
Song of the day,
Music,
iTunes
Tuesday March 21, 2006
Demonstration for Cutaway Technical Illustrations ... in Artistry
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Interested in technical illustration? And do you have about 720 hours to spare? Then check out Kelvin Hulsey's demonstration on how he created an amazing cruise ship illustration from paper blueprints. Brilliant! (via Drawn!)
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Song of the Day ... in Music
Jane's Addiction managed to pull themselves together again for a time and put out Strays in 2003. Their music always painted an image of L.A street fight in progress in my mind. The song "Just Because" is no different. The song ripples with energy, and Dave Navarro's guitar gets the pulse racing. You can check out the video over at IFILM.
Perry Farrell's explanation of the song (via a VH1 interview):
The song is about doing things "just because." You’ll notice that you’ll get a card around Christmas, but never any other time of the year "just because." We wanted to plant the seed of doing little random acts of love "just because."
"If I were you
I'd better watch out
When was the last time
You did anything
Not for me
Or anyone else
Just because
Just because
Yeah
Oh, you really should have known
hey you
You really should have known
Just because
Just because
You've got the most
Ahh, but nobody loves you
Nobody has to
When we first met
And we passed around gifts
That was a long time, ago
And you're feeling fit ..."
Additional info:
» Tags:
Song of the day,
Music,
iTunes
Friday March 17, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
One final connection with The Clash ...
The Pogue's had released their Hell's Ditch album and were touring. We had tickets to their show at the Warfield and we were really looking forward to it. Then Shane MacGowan pretty much drank himself to the oblivion, and was dropped from the band. We were dismayed. But then Joe Strummer stepped in, and we were elated! The show was a rockin' affair and we were all Irish for a night.
So what better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day then to pick "Streams of Whiskey" for the Song of the Day?
"Last night as I slept
I dreamt I met with Behan
I shook him by the hand and we passed the time of day
When questioned on his views
On the crux of life's philosophies
He had but these few clear and simple words to say
I am going, I am going
Any which way the wind may be blowing
I am going, I am going
Where streams of whiskey are flowing
I have cursed, bled and sworn
Jumped bail and landed up in jail
Life has often tried to stretch me
But the rope always was slack
And now that I've a pile
I'll go down to the Chelsea
I'll walk in on my feet
But I'll leave there on my back
Because I am going, I am going
Any which way the wind may be blowing
I am going, I am going
Where streams of whiskey are flowing
Oh the words that he spoke
Seemed the wisest of philosophies
There's nothing ever gained
By a wet thing called a tear
When the world is too dark
And I need the light inside of me
I'll walk into a bar
And drink fifteen pints of beer
I am going, I am going
Any which way the wind may be blowing
I am going, I am going
Where streams of whiskey are flowing"
Additional info:
» Tags:
Song of the day,
Music,
Ireland,
St. Patrick's Day,
iTunes
Thursday March 16, 2006
Amazing Sidewalk Art ... in Artistry
Julian Beever and Kurt Wenner are artists who create 3D chalk drawings on pavement using a technique called anamorphism (a distorted projection or perspective; especially an image distorted in such a way that it becomes visible only when viewed in a special manner) that creates the illusion, or Trompe-l'oeil.
» Tags:
Anamorphism,
Trompe-l'oeil,
Sidewalk art
Song of the Day ... in Music
Well, since I mentioned Mick Jones last time, I might as well talk about The Clash. Right. And I might as well pick "London Calling" for the Song of the Day. Rolling Stone rated the song as #15 in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. So not much to add then, is there? Turn it on, turn it up. Pick up that old beat up guitar that has been collecting dust over there in the corner. Pretend you've got that mohawk, take a breath, and let it rip.
I do have a question though, what the heck was Robert De Niro talking to Joe Strummer about?
"London calling to the faraway towns
Now that war is declared and battle come down
London calling to the underworld
Come out of the cupboard, all you boys and girls
London calling, now don't look at us
Phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing
The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in
Meltdown expected the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running but I have no fear
Cos London is drowning and I live by the river
London calling to the imitation zone
Forget it brother, you can go it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holding out and draw another breath
London calling and I don't wanna shout
But while we were talking I saw you nodding out
London calling, see we ain't got no highs
Except for that one with the yellowy eyes
The ice age is coming the sun is zooming in
Engines stop running the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear error but I have no fear
Cos London is drowning and I live by the river
Now get this
London calling, yes I was there too
An' you know what they said - Well, some of it was true!
London calling at the top of the dial
an' after all this, won't you give me a smile?
London calling ...
I never felt so much a' like..."
Additional info:
» Tags:
Song of the day,
Music,
Punk,
iTunes
Monday March 13, 2006
Ask A Ninja: What Is Podcasting? ... in Distractions
The Ninja explains podcasting to people over the age of 12. He really needs to hookup with Ninjaburger. Talk about the perfect sponsorship opportunity.
» Tags:
Ninja,
Humor,
Podcasting
Song of the Day ... in Music
It's Monday, so let's start with a beat we can jump up to. "Rush" by Big Audo Dynamite II (BAD II) has got the energy to get you moving. The song features a dance-oriented heavy back beat, clever sampling ("Baba O'Riley" by The Who) and Mick Jones' minimalist guitar work.
"If I have my time again
I would do it all the same
And not change a single thing
Even when I was to blame
For the heartache and the pain
That I caused throughout the years
How I'd love to be your man
Through the laughter and the tears
Situation no win
Rush for the change of atmosphere
I can't go on so I give in
Gotta get myself right outta here
Now I'm fully grown
And I know where it's at
Somehow I stayed thin
While the other guys got fat
All the chances that are blown
And the times that I`ve been down
I didn't get too high
Kept my feet on the ground
Situation no win
Rush for the change of atmosphere
I can't go on so I give in
Gotta get myself right outta here
And of all my friends
You've been the best to m
e
Soon will be the day
When I'll pay you handsomely
Broken hearts are hard to mend
I know I've had my share
But life just carries on
Even when I'm not there"
Additional info:
» Tags: Song of the day, Music, iTunes
And Suddenly, She Spoke ... in Parenting
Saturday morning, my youngest daughter looked at me and said "dada." My heart skidded to a halt and a smile of smiles found my lips. We all clapped and cheered. 
Now we just need to work on "mama."
Friday March 10, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
Beck's album Sea Change ranks among my all time favorites. It's an absolutely fabulous album, every song getting at least a 4 star rating in my iTunes. The theme is the stages following the end of a relationship, and the album is full of emotion and ache.
Today's Song of the Day is "All In Your Mind." A song to softly fade into the weekend.
"Well it's all in you mind
It's all in you mind
Well it's all in your mind
And I wanted to be
I wanted to be
Wanted to be your good friend
Well I cannot believe
You got a devil up your sleeve
And he's talking to me
And I cannot believe
And I wanted to be
I wanted to be your good friend
You're all scared and stiff
A sick stolen gift
And the people you're with
They're all scared and stiff
And I wanted to be
Wanted to be your good friend "
Additional info:
» Tags: Song of the day, Music, iTunes
China Web 2.0 Review ... in Kewl
China Web2.0 Review is a blog dedicated to tracking and profiling the Web 2.0 development in China. Their latest article is an interview with Edwyn Chan. He is the founder of Blogku Media, the first blog network in China. Intriguing, because my first reaction was "blog network in China? No way!"
» Tags:
Web 2.0
China,
Blogging
Graffiti At Its Finest ... in Artistry
Alexandre Órion’s Metabiotics is a photographical composition and essay of graffiti paintings interacting with every day life in the streets of São Paulo. ¡Qué fabuloso!
» Tags: Metabiotics,
Graffiti,
Street Art
Thursday March 09, 2006
Dear Elena: Hope and Sadness ... in Life
"Elena was surrounded by her four grandparents in the hospital. Grandparents are not supposed to bury a beautiful six year old. Neither are parents."
Such sorrow. And sorry is never enough. And there will never be enough tears.
SunFire Fanatics: Helping you get your own SunFire ... in Work
Ian has created the SunFire Fanatics website for all of you Sun Fire T2000 "Try & Buyers." It's a place where you can ask questions and get some ideas on how to setup and run benchmarks to post on your blogs.
Ian wanted to take up Jonathan on his challenge, but knew he faced a few problems:
- His Solaris knowledge is flaky and out of date and he would probably
need a little guidance about about how to set up a box and configure
raid etc.
- He needed to figure out what to benchmark, and how best to do that.
- He needed to get his blog noticed by the Sun marketing guys.
And he knew that he wasn't the only one who was going to have these issues. So why not
create a site to help solve these issues? The site is new, but a beginning is always needed. Best of luck to Ian and everyone else!
Additional info:
» Tags: SUN,
CoolThreads,
T2000,
Servers,
Datacenter
Song of the Day ... in Music
As I held her in my arms, her fingers played with my face. Suddenly she grew still and her eyes opened wide as the sky and she leaned a little closer. She had discovered her reflection in my eyes. She stared and didn't blink. Slowly, silently her fingers tried to touch the image. A new discovery, and I was there. Her older sister started a new school. New teachers, new rules, no friends. She held me tightly with tears in her eyes. "Daddy don't go." And now there were tears in my eyes. I hugged her and tried my best to soothe her, but my best wasn't enough. And when I walked away ... her expression asked "how could you do this to me?" I shut my eyes and struggled to clear my throat. I remembered the fear and apprehension, and I ached for her. If only I could wipe those feeling away like her tears ... It's Thurday, and it's just another day.
Today's Song of the Day is Brian Eno's "Just Another Day." A nice mellow song to nod your head and hum along to.
"Oh it's just another day,
It's just another day on Earth
Oh it's just another day,
Just another day,
It's just another day on Earth
Oh it's just another day on Earth
It's just another day on Earth
One day, we will put it all behind,
We'll say, that was just another time,
We'll say, that was just another day on Earth
We'll say, that was just another time,
One day, we will put it all behind,
We'll say, that was just another day on Earth
Just another day,
It's just another day,
Oh it's just another day on Earth
It's just another day on Earth"
Additional info:
» Tags: Song of the day, Music, iTunes, Ambient
