Month: July 2009

Pyramid of Geezer

So, I have a proposition I’d like to make publicly to Ben (of Vanishing Point fame)…

The title of this post would make a good shirt wouldn’t it? A cool cartoon about grumpy old men… something like this media pyramid but about growing old and dividing your time between telling stories about the good old days, complaining about the youth of today, etc, etc…

I reckon Ben could draw something awesome… something in this vein…

But I digress, this pyramid was really the reason for this post. It’s from Wired.

July 18, 2009

Lightbulb Moment

You may not realise it, but that picture is probably the cleverest reading lamp ever.

Book goes on, lamp goes off… beautiful. Designed by a team of four designers – found at the home of Jun Yasumoto – via DVICE.

July 18, 2009

Bummer

Yes, this is what the world needs. The iBum. A chair that photocopies your bum. From this Japanese designer – Tomomi Sayuda – who says:

"The arse is the window of the soul."

Honestly? What’s wrong with sitting on the photocopier? Back in my day if you wanted a picture of your bum you sat in front of one of those charcoal drawers at the markets – now it’s all new fangled camera phones and mirrors, or chairs that take all the hard work out of things…

July 18, 2009

Sensible Reading

As mentioned this morning – you can now get Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters the book… here’s the cover – and here’s where you can buy it (when it’s in stock).

July 18, 2009

Something’s afoot(er)

You may have noticed a lack of posts today. I have an excuse – scroll to the bottom of the page and check out the new, improved, footer.

I’ll be playing with it a little more as time allows (and I’m still trying to get archived pages to actually work).

I’m watching the cricket tonight. It’s the first night of cricket that I haven’t had something on the next day. It’s nice. Robyn’s asleep on the couch, the fish tank is bubbling away… so much serenity.

July 18, 2009

Rubbish Art

Art made from rubbish. How droll.

Actually, this is exceptionally clever…

“Six months’ worth of household waste plus a pair of dead seagulls comprise the heap of refuse. It’s no accident that it took the couple a further six months to make the piece, during which time they were eating and consuming – as you do. On the wall, the shadow figure self-portraits of the artists take a break with a cigarette and a glass of wine.”

There are a few more amazing shadow pieces at that link.

These photos of piles of rubbish are also pretty amazing… more for the vast quantity than for clever creative endeavour.

July 18, 2009

Still life

This print pretty much sums up two of my favourite things (not my only favourite things – just things I like). You can buy it as a print. Here.

July 17, 2009

A bunch of links – July 17, 2009

July 17, 2009

It’s what’s inside that counts

Red Bull gives you wings. Apparently. If you believe all the hype. If you’ve ever wondered what’s in it DesignFriendship has the answer… via LovelyPackage…

July 17, 2009

Austentatious 2 – Sense, Sensibility and Sea Monsters

 

From the team who brought you Pride and Prejudice and Zombies…

July 17, 2009

Coffee by the Numbers

One of the perks of my job is the quantity of industry publications that land on my desk for me to read. This month’s FoodService – a journal for hospitality businesses – includes some facts and figures about coffee. I thought I’d share them with you… they’re from BIS Shrapnel’s Coffee in Australia 2009 – whatever that is…

  • 64% of Australians aged 11 and above drink coffee.
  • 65% of coffee drinkers drink instant.
  • 31% drink a cappuccino
  • 21% drink a flat white
  • 20% drink a latte
  • 10% drink a short black
  • The “food service” coffee market in Australia is worth $435 million – this is the value of the market that the food service market buys it for – I assume that’s not including dedicated coffee houses.
  • The “fully automatic” coffee machine market is worth $270 million a year – which seems odd given the market itself is only worth $435 million.

Milk Facts

  • 52% of consumers drink full cream
  • 19% drink semi skim
  • 22% drink skim
  • 3% drink soy
  • 14% are hardcore and don’t have milk

Purchasing Rationale

  • 70% purchase coffee for pleasure
  • 51% purchase on the basis of flavour

July 17, 2009

Taxing time

Did my tax last night. I should get a refund… huzzah.

eTax is awesome – but I wonder how much I miss out on in terms of things I could be deducting. I’ve taken heaps of work photos on my camera so I deducted a portion of that… but I think perhaps an accountant might be the order of the day next time round.

I’m not too worried about paying tax though. I think as a general rule tax is a good thing. I like being able to drive on roads and give poor people money for having babies. And I’m looking forward to the Government giving me money when next I study.

July 17, 2009

They call him Dr Paul

It’s pretty lame when you have to reference a They Might Be Giants song to come up with a title… but what can you do. Two last phone calls from Dr Paul – more emails will be posted tomorrow.

July 16, 2009

A bunch of links – July 16, 2009

July 16, 2009

Phone phonies

Hopefully there’ll be an MP3 player there I had to embed this as a YouTube video – if there’s not, here’s a link to download the phone call that ended my relationship with Dr Paul.

He called me twice more last night, the calls were equally funny and will be posted here soon.

July 15, 2009