Nature?

I'm intrigued by this and slightly discombobulated. On the one hand I find it calming, just as when I am under stress I am innately driven to sit by/on/in water to let the gentle lapping of waves and the reflection of light ease my burden. Or I seek out a spot under old trees, scan for patches of blue sky between the branches, and listen to the soughing of the wind and bird songs and lazing buzzing of the bees. So here is a machine which mimics nature, the sounds and patterns, and while I'm fascinated, I'm also uncomfortable. I'm guessing that if I worked in a big office tower nearby, I'd probably seek out this installation during my lunch hour, and I bet if someone measured my blood pressure it would be significantly lower as I hovered over this ribbon of electronic nature and just let the experience wash over me. But it also makes me conscious of the fact that we are moving ever closer to replacing the natural world with machines and bricks and concrete. See my dilemma? I picture a future where we are living in space and we have these installations to remind us what we gave up. It kind of chills me. What do you think? Love it or loathe it? Am I nuts to fret so much?

Patterned by Nature from Sosolimited on Vimeo.

50 Shades of Grey

In case any of you have been living under a rock (hey, hi there, pull up a chair, join me for a cup of tea) and have not heard the buzz surrounding this book called 50 Shades of Grey, let me explain.
This is a New York Times best-selling erotic ebook and paperback written by E.L.James. It is called, in some circles, "mommy porn" as if that clears up the confusion. (I always thought mommy porn was the HGTV channel or REAL HOUSEWIVES series.) The story describes a relationship between a young graduate student named Ana and a moody, demanding billionaire with a penchant for bondage named Christian Grey (oh, the symbolism is as subtle as a shovel to the side of the head, innit?) He is described as unable to love and "charismatic" because nothing screams charm like someone who's humorless and slap-happy. It has been described as The Story of O meets a Harlequin Romance meets Bridget Jones Diary. So Ana meets up with Mr. Grey and her inner voice of reason dukes it out with her secret desires to submit to his hanky panky. The setting is Seattle, just like Twilight and Frasier, which is the only thing they have in common (there are no vampires in 50 Shades as far as I know, but there may be the odd "tossed salad and scrambled eggs" in his "red room of pain" if you follow my drift.) Some say it started as Twilight fan fiction, which makes me even less inclined to read it. Especially when most agree it's poorly written, with a "cheeseball narrative" and "corny" dialogue. Maybe it's a statement about woman's submission and gender equality, how modern women who have economic and political power can only be turned on by being tied up, but it also sounds like regular old porn to me. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But like the saying goes, if it quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck, don't call it a great work of art. It's a fricking duck. Will you read it? Have you read it? Here's a clip of Ellen recording the audio book:

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy

The past 24 years have gone by in a flash. How did this happen?

 

Happy Birthday, sweet son of mine.

Jetman is Back

I am up to my eyeballs in packing and purging, so I will continue to post random stuff until I find my way into the clear again. Thanks for bearing with me.

I stumbled across this today via devour.

I don't know about you, but I used to dream about doing this when I was a kid. I jumped off our roof twice in an attempt to fly, once with a garbage bag parachute (inspired by the tiny action paratroopers in Cracker Jacks) and once clutching a patio umbrella. Both were epic fails and I was saved by the fact that we had just laid fresh sod underneath, so it made for a soft and springy landing.

Now Swiss pilot "Jetman" Yves Rossy is flying in a new and improved jet pack. Would you have the guts to leap into the blue like Jetman?

Warms my heart, it does

Cockles and all...

Trust.

Beautiful People Don't Just Happen

found right here

You know what they say

Tulips are better than Juan.

Cool Chicks

Just in time for Easter, some live streams of mothers and chicks via web cams.



Live streaming by Ustream



Live Video app for Facebook by Ustream



Streaming Live by Ustream