Virtual Beachcombing March 11, 2008
Posted by CamdenKiwi in : Miscellany , 2 commentsThe last couple of hours have disappeared down the broadband pipe, and I collected some interesting flotsam on the way.
First, a serious, if light-hearted, take on the use of web 2.0 technologies by political activists, and why it may not be such a bad thing that so many people use so much technology just to swap pictures of cute cats.
I’m starting to get worried about Phorm, a new ad-serving mechanism where your ISP logs all your traffic and uses it to let participating sites decide which ads you get to see. I don’t mind targetted advertising, but I don’t expect the pipe seller to be looking at what goes through the pipes. Sticky paws off my data, Virgin Media! I first saw this story in The Register (see related links at the end) last week, and it hit the Guardian a couple of days ago.
If you’re in the UK, and haven’t been watching The Last Enemy, download it on iplayer, and watch the latest episode now. And then worry about where the surveillance society is taking us, and whether Robert Carlyle will be the new Doctor Who. Anamaria Marinca, last seen in Sex Traffic on Channel 4, is extremely good.
Keeping an eye on sites which regularly debunk pseudo-scientific silliness is a favourite hobby. Real Climate expects you to read some maths, but rewards the effort. Ben Goldacre, writer of the Bad Science column in the Guardian is a lot more accessible, and pointed me to Phun. Just download it and watch the hours slip away.
And Phun led me over to YouTube, where I’ve been meaning to watch Sigur Ros’ film Heima. I seem to be accumulating a vast collection of 80s music videos and clips of favourite actors over there, which you can see on my YouTube profile.
Ethereal Icelanders October 21, 2007
Posted by CamdenKiwi in : Miscellany , add a commentI was astounded when a friend paid £225 for tickets to see the UK premier of Sigur Ros’ new documentary at Cecil House this week. There is a short gig as well, but it’s a ridiculous amount for a FILM! I’d never even heard of them, embarrassing to admit.
For rather less than that, I bought their 2002 album () to see what all the fuss was about, and am definitely impressed. Not £225 impressed, but I’d happily pay the original ticket price. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anything like it - ethereal, haunting, evocative of wide open spaces disappearing into eerie twilight. Perhaps a little Enya, something of the Cocteau Twins, maybe some Eno. No, I’m making that up. Listen for yourself.
