Bright Copper Kettles

I have a variety of friends. Some of them more spiritually inclined than others. With most of my friends I'm used to being the flaky one. The weird one. The one who amuses people with her strange and naive ideas. The one who has tarot readings and clears her aura. The one who says she has precognitions and feelings about things. The one who is charmingly and harmlessly a little deranged.

I am also a scientist. My scientific and logical friends will smile tolerantly here. This was going to be a scientific post about the brain-computer interface for music research being conducted at the Future Music Lab (via we make art not money). This was going to be a short and informative post with a couple of links. But I changed my mind.

I changed my mind because I had an idea. Sort of like one of those Eureka moments, but not quite as dramatic. More like an opening of a page in my brain that I've seen before.

It's times like these that I miss Matt. We used to have the coolest discussions about ideas like this one. I have seen numerous things that remind me of one or another of those discussions. This is just the most recent. If Matt had been here I probably wouldn't be writing this. But seeing as he's not, and seeing as I am short on scientific, non-judgemental, open-minded friends who love discussing abstract technological ideas, I am blogging this. I assume this is what blogs are for. Replacements for when there is no one to talk to.

Anyway. Back to the idea.

In spiritual circles people talk about and often believe in things like telepathy and global consciousness. Things that quite a lot of other people don't believe in.

But it seems to me that it is only a small step from these prototype brain-computer interfaces to telepathy and global consciousness enabled by technology. It all it really needs is a two-way interface between computers and brains.

If I could access my computer with my brain waves (preferably wireless from an isolated West Coast beach), then essentially I can access all the information on the internet and I can communicate with all my friends...telepathic emails or phonecalls or whatever you feel like calling them

Obviously there are downsides. I'd have to have a pretty good security system as I wouldn't want just anyone hacking into my brain. And I probably wouldn't get anything done (imagine del.icio.us and flickr feeds directly into my brain!!)...and I'm sure there's more...

But it will mean that even the most hardcore non-believers will be able to experience a limited form of telepathy and global consciousness. Cool huh? Continue reading...

I think I first noticed it as a random link on del.icio.us a few days ago. With a title like "totally just invented the best format for music EVER" how could I ignore it? So I followed the link, was impressed and amused by the Ghostbusters theme song in list format, toyed with the idea of trying it myself, decided against, and dutifully added it to my delicious. Then I promptly forgot about it.

However, it seems the meme has spread and mutated. Today Boing Boing reports on several different versions including:

an Outlook-calendar version of Robert Smith's "Friday I'm In Love". Others worth noting: "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" in first-order predicate logic, "Love Shack" in alphabetical order, various Beatles songs in haiku, the bears in the bed song in BASIC, and John Cage's 4' 33".

So now I'm thinking, what better way to waste my time than to dig into the Asteroid Andy/Quiver/Tinpot Guru archives and reformat everything in as many different formats as possible! I might even attempt a runninghouse song.

Here is Ryan's Ghostbusters theme song:

• Things I ain't afraid of:
  
  • no ghost
    
  
  
• Strange things in the neighbourhood (partial list):
  
  • seeing things running through head
    
  • invisible man sleeping in bed
    
  
  
• Things that make me feel good:
  
  • bustin'
    
  
  
• Who you gonna call:
  
  • Ghostbusters
    
  • I can't hear you
    
  • Louder

Continue reading...

Richard Etter seems to have found a cool GIS related thesis topic: "Implicit Navigation with Contextualized Audio Contents". In other words, listen to your choice of music to navigate.

The Melodious Walkabout System combines GPS, GIS, and an auditory display.

Regine describes how it would work:

Say you're located in an unknown town. Usually you ask people for the way and struggle with maps. With Melodious Walkabout, you just put on headphones and select your destination and favorite songs on your PDA. The music begins and audio contents reach you from a certain direction. The direction of the virtual sound source unobtrusively tells you in which direction to go.

Via we make money not art Continue reading...

Well I finally have the all clear from my doctor. I can do what I like! Yay!!! The only restrictions are to avoid dangerous activities (eg parachuting, rock-climbing, martial arts etc) for a few more weeks.

I know I should take things slowly, but am already planning to go back to work on Monday, and have a busy weekend ahead:
Friday: Art Gallery, shopping at markets, Pluto gig
Saturday: lunch with friends, a birthday dinner, and the highlight... runninghouse @ shadows!!!

I think I should probably spend Sunday recovering. Continue reading...

Alternative Motivational Posters. I like the Focus poster the best.

Via we make money not art Continue reading...

A couple of funny things found via Dan's Horrendous Waste of Bandwidth

Flo Control Project
Image recognition software is used to control the cat door so that Flo (the cat) doesn't bring in dead or semi-dead creatures. There is even a daily record of attempted entries and exits.

IKEA WalkThrough
How to get through IKEA without losing your patience. Especially for all my male friends if/when they build one here. Hahaha!!! ;-)

IKEA is a fully immersive, 3D environmental adventure that allows you to role-play the character of someone who gives a shit about home furnishings. In traversing IKEA, you will experience a meticulously detailed alternate reality filled with garish colors, clear-lacquered birch veneer, and a host of NON-PLAYER CHARACTERS (NPCs) with the glazed looks of the recently anesthetized.

Your goal is to successfully traverse the five awesome worlds of IKEA before your patience runs out. On your first few tries this may seem like an impossible task, but with practice (and this IKEA Walkthrough!) you will soon be able to muster the sense of numb resignation necessary for victory.

Continue reading...

Could someone please explain the difference to me? I imagine there is a line somewhere. Where is it?

Somewhere in Britain someone called his car park a "porking yard". Apparently this is offensive and antisocial behaviour and he was ordered to take the sign down (for details see Clarity & Resolve).

It seems to me that whether something is offensive is very subjective and is dependent on your perspective and your attitude. I can see how you could interpret the sign as a deliberately provocative and offensive gesture. I can also see how it could just as easily be a harmless joke.

Personally I just assume that no one wants to offend me...and what do you know...no one offends me. Continue reading...

The other day Richard was telling me about turning useless old computers into music making machines.

Perhaps he was referring to this article. This may come in handy in the future. I'm sure I need a new PC.


Via MAKE Continue reading...

Boss TU-2 Tuner Originally uploaded by aoiveae.

Aside from my instruments, this is my absolute favourite piece of musical equipment.

It lets me tune easily and quickly on stage (the lights make it easy to see in the dark). It is also very solid. Unlike other tuners, I can throw it in my bag, and I can stomp on it.

I have had it for a few years now, and apart from a few scratches it is as good as new. If it was stolen I'd buy another one in an instant. Every friend I've lent it to has either bought one themselves, or has conveniently borrowed mine for extended periods (you know who you are!!!)

Continue reading...

Some of you may know that I have trying to force myself to take an interest in politics. NZ politics in particular.

There are several reasons for this:

1. I am bored. Recovering from an operation is not as exciting as I thought it would be.
   
2. I have a feeling I might find politics interesting.
3. Apparently there is an election this year. I want to be relatively well informed before voting.

My brain is still a little fried from all those drugs they fed me so I am starting slowly. Starting slowly means surfing the net (and allowing myself to get distracted and take detours) and semi-regularly reading a few political blogs.

It is interesting, but not in the way it probably should be....I'm actually finding it all rather amusing: people argue about silly things, they make personal and rude comments about each other, some people don't seem to think logically etc. It all seems vaguely childish, but I'm sure there is some deeper meaning I am missing.

The strange thing is that it seems that people interested in politics seem to be on a completely different wavelength to me. I didn't think I was that out of touch with reality (although perhaps they are the ones that are out of touch).

For example, the joke about Helen Clark's plane call sign being Broomstick One. Um. Yeah. I get how it could be hilarious to some people, but ummm...what's wrong with being a witch? A witch is a good thing to be. I want to be an Air Witch.


Air Witch Joke via Labour Scandals Continue reading...

Today is day one.

I am going to do one simple task (touching my shoulder) at the same time (7pm) every day for 40 days. If I miss a day I start again. The purpose of this exercise is to gather force, which is necessary to manifest things.

I found the exercise here. Continue reading...

Notepad Invaders!!!

Sort of like space invaders. Kind of nostalgic. Turn the sound down.

From Rob Manual

My current top score: 1,060 Continue reading...

You are blessed with FAERY wings. Beauty,
laughter, life, magic...that's what you are all
about. You are refreshingly innocent and happy
with your life of purity and play. Life's a
game and it's a good one. In your eyes there's
no way to lose! You can be very mischeivous and
have been known to cause trouble, but it's all
in the name of fun and not meant to really harm
anyone. You like to play tricks on people who
aren't quite as bright or clever as you - which
is almost everyone. Nature is the setting you
prefer to be in - Always. Barefoot and wild you
can't be tamed. You're probably a restless
spirit who loves to travel, and quite a
dreamer. Your creativity is astounding and your
art (of whatever media - from writing to
painting to drama) is like something from
another world - ethereal and often very
fantasy-oriented. You can either be a social
butterfly or a loner with their head in the
clouds - but rarely inbetween. You stubbornly
refuse to accept responsibility or to give in
to the wishes of others - unless you feel like
it. You have a strong passion for music and
can't imagine life without it. You'll grow up
someday, but you'll always be a child at heart.
You are adventurous and love to take risks, and
feel a deep connection with the weather,
plants, and animals. You prefer sunshine to
thunder or snow, the warmth of summer to
autumn's chill, and quiet forests to suburban
backyards. Magic through and through, you are
far more powerful than you seem, and are
capable of being extremely passionate. Though
you can be childish, naive, stubborn, and
self-absorbed, one thing is certain - life with
you will never be boring!

Image copyright Sheila Wolk (prints available
through treefreegreetings.com), words added by
myself.


*~*~*Claim Your Wings - Pics and Long Answers*~*~*
brought to you by Quizilla Continue reading...

You think I am extremely sheltered, and although you didn't say it I suspect you also think I am very naive. My first reaction was offence...most people seem to use the term "sheltered" and "naive" in a derogatory manner. But I am not easily offended and no matter how sheltered and naive I may be I have always been honest with myself and willing to face my shortcomings.

So here goes.


Sheltered means "protected", "secure".
So, yes, I have lived a very sheltered life. I can't help it. For as long as I can remember people have always looked after me. Although I didn't really have friends at school and wasn't popular, everyone was always nice to me and looked out for me. Even the popular and bad boys/girls who were very cruel to various other outcasts were considerate of me. This same pattern has continued in all aspects of my life. Even now, when I am independent and grown up, I am protected and relatively secure. People still look out for me. I don't ask them to, and it's not like I can't look after myself....yet people seem to treat me like I am a lot younger and a lot less mature than I am. They treat me like I am vulnerable and sheltered and naive. Why is that?


Naive. Lacking sophistication. Lacking experience of life. Artless. Unsuspecting. Credulous. Lacking understanding.

Am I naive?
You might think I lack experience of life. I might agree with you, or I might not. Perhaps I lack guile. If you think so, that is good, I won't dissuade you otherwise. And perhaps I am ignorant and lacking understanding....

hmmm... I think I see why you might think I am sheltered and naive. You think you know all of my life experiences. You think I lack experience. You are probably right.

Perhaps you think that understanding is directly correlated with experience. Perhaps you think my relative lack of experience has left me ignorant of the world. I guess the way I behave and talk supports that impression: I ignore the news, I don't care about politics, I am sometimes childlike and idealistic, I am focused on having fun and not being serious, I seemingly have no goals, I seem to be unassertive, I seem to be drifting in fairyland, and I rarely bother thinking things through.

Perhaps other people share a similar view to you, perhaps that is why they are always looking out for me. Continue reading...

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Bourbon Congratulations! You're 118 proof, with specific scores in beer (40) , wine (66), and liquor (104).

Screw all that namby-pamby chick stuff, you're going straight for the bottle and a shot glass! It'll take more than a few shots of Wild Turkey or 99 Bananas before you start seeing pink elephants. You know how to handle your alcohol, and yourself at parties.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 37% on proof You scored higher than 83% on beer index You scored higher than 86% on wine index You scored higher than 96% on liquor index

Link: The Alcohol Knowledge Test written by hoppersplit on Ok Cupid

Continue reading...

Artist Kelly Heaton has been skinning Tickle-Me Elmos to make giggling fur coats! (Warning: skinning is not all that has been done to Elmos.There have been other more gruesome activities in the name of art and fashion).

Where do I get one? Or should I make my own? Or should I save the Elmos?

Exhibited at Ronald Feldman Gallery. Via Dan's Horrendous Waste of Bandwidth. Continue reading...

I have been a bit slow on the new music thing recently so I have only just discovered A Perfect Circle's new album Emotive. It's full of protest songs. The songs are mostly interpretations of existing songs, but there are a couple of originals (Passive is beautiful).

I think it's ironic and synchronous that I come across this album now when I am trying to make myself interested in politics.

I haven't listened to all of the album yet, but the version of John Lennon's Imagine is stunning and a bit disconcerting. Imagine is one of my all-time favourite songs. A Perfect Circle's version is nothing like the original. It is dark and haunting and I love it. I think, however, that a lot of people would not love it. Probably a lot of people would hate it.

I also think the lyrics of Imagine are worth thinking about, at least a little. On most days I agree with the lyrics. Perhaps you think I am too idealistic and irrational. That I am flaky and hippy-like and that is a bad thing. Or perhaps you think my liking such a dark version of the song means that I am negative and weird and that is a bad thing.

Well, I know what I am, and it is not always what I seem, and I think most people don't see me as I really am. I think the world needs more people like me.

Continue reading...

In my bag... Originally uploaded by aoiveae.

I love the flickr group "What's in your bag".

This is a photo of my current bag contents. It's pretty typical, although I often also carry a cd wallet with both music and blank cds.

Continue reading...

This is fun. You are shown photos of random people, and have to guess their age.

Age Project

Although maybe "fun" isn't quite the right word. I'm pretty bad at guessing people's ages, so maybe this is good practice.

Via del.icio.us Continue reading...

Here are a couple of cool applications of geo-spatial technology:

1. we make money not art's recent post about a geo-spatial gesture interface that recognises gestures and dialogue. Like in the Minority Report.
2. Make's not quite so recent post about location-based dog video.

Continue reading...

I have a pretty random (I think) collection of blogs that I visit regularly. Why did I visit them in the first place?

These are the ways that I arrive at blogs (ordered from most to least frequent blog discovery technique):

1. Randomly. Usually this is through del.icio.us. Yes, I browse the most popular tags, but I also usually look at del.icio.us and click on random links that look interesting. Sometimes I' m influenced by the number of other people that have bookmarked something, but often it is the title and/or description that grabs me. I also use my inbox a lot, subscribing to tags and friends and random people with interesting bookmark collections.

2. Vague Recommendations. In other words links from other pages. These other pages are not necessarily pages I visit more than once. They could possibly be links from a page that I randomly jumped to, which I hate and am trying to escape from but don't want to back out of. However, if there is a link on my favourite blogs or friend blogs, then I will most likely visit it at some point in time.

3. Specific Recommendations. If a friend recommends a blog I will almost always visit it. It is easier if the recommendation is by email, but it is more effective if the recommendation is verbal and the result of an interesting conversation.

4. Search Engines. Maybe it's just me, but I rarely arrive at a blog through a search engine. I don't know why. I'll think about it and let you know.

Friend blogs. I don't think this counts as a discovery technique, but I always regularly read blogs written by friends. Fortunately I don't have that many blogging friends. Continue reading...

cocktail light Originally uploaded by aoiveae.

I didn't make it so I don't know the relative quantities, but I do know it contains vodka, apple juice, and red bull.

Very yummy. Plus it looks cool. I will experiment with quantities etc.

Continue reading...

Main Divide Riesling Originally uploaded by aoiveae.

Orion introduced me to this particularly yummy wine. It is a riesling with a "different" taste and it's not too sweet.

I will definitely buy this. Actually...I should probably say I would buy this if I didn't already have such a large wine collection that needs drinking and a bank balance that needs increasing.

**** suze stars

Main Divide

Continue reading...

Today's little excursion involved a trip to several optometrists. A friend is looking for new glasses frames, and wanted someone to give her an opinion so I went along. While I was watching her try on frames I decided I might as well try some on too. After all I really do need glasses if I want to see things.

Now I always have problems finding suitable frames for my face, but today it was even more difficult. My face is lopsided! I'm sure it is far more lopsided than it used to be. I think my left eye/eyebrow is a different shape from my right eye/eyebrow. Which I'm fine with me, except now when I'm finally thinking about buying glasses. How annoying!

Does anyone know how I can fix face lopsidedness? Perhaps it is just that I always tilt my head. Or maybe my spine is misaligned.

Anyway...assuming that I can't fix my face...what are your opinions on suitable frame shapes/sizes for me? What shape do you think my face is? Here are some pics to help you. Feedback is most welcome.


another shape


trying on glasses in reality


trying on glasses virtually Continue reading...

I have my first Bead Club meeting tonight. It's at The Bead Hold, which is the cool new bead shop in Pt Chev that I've been raving about. I'm not quite sure what to expect.

Apparently I am supposed to bring a good thing that I've been working on and a bad thing that I've been working on. I don't have any bad pieces. Not because I never make bad pieces, but because if I make something bad, I almost always pull it apart and use the beads in something less bad.

Anyway, inspiration has been lacking, so I consulted Eno's Oblique Strategies which said Use your own ideas. Not overly helpful! So I decided to do something contrasty. This is what I have so far:


A work in progress Originally uploaded by aoiveae.

I don't know if it's "good" or bad". I don't even know what it is. I think it might be a necklace, not sure though...we'll see how it progresses.

Continue reading...

This is a cool quiz. I especially like the fact that you can choose as many answers as you like even though they are contradictory! I am one of two things: a Light Cycle or a Breakout Bat. I am a Light Cycle. I drive fast, I turn fast, I do everything fast. I even breakfast. I tend to confuse people with my sudden changes of heart. Sometimes I even confuse myself, which tends to cause problems. What Video Game Character Are You?

I am a Breakout Bat. I am an abstract sort of creature, who dislikes any sort of restraint. If you try to pigeonhole me, I'll break the box, and come back for more. I don't have any particular ambitions, I just drift, but I am adept at keeping life going along. What Video Game Character Are You?

Continue reading...

Blogging is my new exciting thing, and like most new and exciting things I tend to go overboard. In my enthusiasm I start 6 blogs all at once.

I tell Cam about my blog collection because he was the person who (re-) introduced me to blogs. Cam thinks that one blog is more than enough. I am an open-minded person, so I am willing to consider he might have a point. Maybe I don't really need half a dozen blogs. After all, what could I possibly write in them.

So I take my six newly created blogger blogs and merge them into two. I am quite proud of myself. I am not good at having so few things. This penchant for variety and choice is evidenced in my liquor cabinet, my perfume collection, my photography, my wardrobe, and pretty much all other aspects of my life. I mean...even in quizzes I need to choose several answers and have several results (see above, which has been saved from one of my dead baby blogs).

I show Cam the 2 blogs. I want to know if he still thinks I have too many. He does. There should be only one apparently. So now...I am rationalising even further. This is the one. This is my one blog....

...although to be strictly accurate this is my one blogger blog under this name. The others don't count do they? Continue reading...

So I bought the Fly My Pretties cd based soley on Darren playing me one song: Let's Roll. It is one of the few songs that I have fallen in love with straight away. Love at first listen.

None of the other songs on the cd are anything like "Let's Roll". None of the other songs rock out like "Let's Roll". Still, I like them all.

The cd was recorded live at the Bats over two nights. It features various guests including Nato from Paselode. Remember them Dr Black?

You can buy the cd from the green room, smokecds, or real groovy. Or, you can visit me and listen to it here. Continue reading...

Karekare Originally uploaded by aoiveae.

I love all West Coast beaches, but I think Karekare is my favourite.

This is one of the photos from a series I took. Sitting on the beach and watching the sky change as the sun is setting is one of my favourite things to do. Changes in light are fascinating. Perhaps that's why I really like Monet.

Continue reading...

Amber Originally uploaded by aoiveae.

Yes. It's a car. And, no, I don't drive.

I don't even really like cars...but like with everything else, there are exceptions. I love this particular car. I love Amber.

I suppose it is fitting that the first of my favourite things is the most recently departed. If all has gone well Amber has been sold and has a very lucky new owner.

ps she is a Datsun 260z and she's older than me.

Continue reading...

I am more than a little bored at the moment and still in a little pain. So I am going to write myself some instructions.

How to get rid of pain

1. Is there any pain? If No, go to the END. If Yes, continue...
2. Do you want to get rid of the pain? If No, go to the END. If Yes, continue...
3. Can you move? If No, then YELL for HELP. If Yes, continue...
4. Are you dying or critically ill? If Yes, then GET HELP. If No, continue....
5. Breathe. Deep breaths. Concentrate on breathing. Still in pain? If No, then go to the END. If Yes, continue...
6. Is the pain stopping you from doing anything? If No, then IGNORE it and go to the END. If Yes, continue...
7. Take some pain killers and wait for them to work. Still in pain? If No, then go to the END. If Yes, continue...
8. Move around. Go for a walk. Stretch. Get a massage...etc. Still in pain? If No, then go to the END. If Yes, then continue...
9. Distract youself. Stimulate as many of your senses as possible (eg smell, touch, hearing, sight etc). Still in pain? If No, then go to the END. If Yes, then continue...
   
10. Focus on the pain and try to figure out what it is exactly. This almost always works for me. Still in pain? If No, then go to then END. If Yes, then GET HELP. something is wrong and/or you need stronger pain relief.

END Continue reading...