+ all of the above

via Lost at E Minor

via Scott Belcastro

BOBBY? SUZY!
via Boing Boing

This video investigates a question which I’m sure a lot of people have wondered about, ‘What would a personal HUD look like?’ A very enjoyable display of techno-graphic-wizardry.

via Fresh Creation

These were given to me by my very good friend George as part of a birthday present.

Now I know that I may as well just post all of the TED talks and be done with it, but I found this one to be very interesting. This is for all the futurists out there.

via Fresh Creation

A bit of a change in topic compared to my usual fare, but I thought that this was interesting enough to warrant it. While this is a post about Australian politics I will attempt to keep my personal bias as far removed as possible. For the benefit of non-Australians, the Australian Liberal Party is comparable to the US Republicans and the Australian Labor Party is comparable to the US Democrats.

You can watch the 13 minute Vodcast which I am discussing by clicking here and selecting the Tony Abbott interview or you can hit it directly here.

What has happened to the Australian Liberal Party is frankly jaw-dropping. I doubt that anyone would have disagreed that two years ago it appeared to be the very strongest party in Australian history. What I found most impressive was that it was a party that seemed to have an iron-clad solidarity, it functioned as a whole and all of it’s members were always careful to reinforce that in both word and action. That was before the election.

Nowadays, it is a very different story. It is always a tall order to rebound from an election defeat however the Liberals appear to have completely fallen apart, some but not all of which is discussed in the interview with Tony Abbott on Lateline which I have posted a link to above. It is well worth watching. Tony Abbott who was one of the stalwarts of the Howard era appears to be at a complete loss in the interview. I’ve watched him many times, in parliament, the press club and on various television and radio programs and while I intensely dislike the man’s belligerent, steamroller approach to a debate or a speech (sorry, trying to keep the bias in check), I would have to agree that he is very successful at maintaining his points while scuttling his opponents. So it is all the more damning to see him at such a loss in this interview. This is the moment, mid-interview, that perfectly sums up the post-election state of the Liberals. It is the moment when Abbott resigns himself to the thought that Brendan Nelson is the best that they can do currently.

That is of course until the wind changes and Turnbull, Costello, or a whole host of others or even Tony Abbott himself challenges for the leadership.

Or else maybe it was the part about the tradition of ‘knifing their leaders?’ It certainly looks like that is the future that is in store for Dr. Nelson.

I had a thought that it could be a ploy to lump up all of the post-election bad-will onto one figure and then usher in a new leader when the going gets a easier versus Rudd. It certainly is not an easy task to go up against Rudd right now, however the Liberals are going to be damaged severely in the long term if they do not get their act together soon, as in this week. Some people (as is mentioned in the interview) are speaking about the possibility that the Liberals have already lost the next election. While I do think that is going a little too far, I don’t think that it is too much to say that Peter Costello is doing both the country and the Liberal party a huge disservice by being unclear about his intentions.

Tony Abbot’s discomfort is palpable. He shifts and moves constantly and perhaps most tellingly are his audible grumbles of admission and frustrated breaths of resignation while being asked the questions. Listen for them, I’ve never seen Mr Abbott seemingly so emotional and frustrated.

Tony Abbott

Tony Jones

The Interview

Meanwhile, has anyone else noticed how brutal Virginia Trioli can be in an interview? Do not try and skirt the issue with her. I’m a big fan, but don’t worry Tony Jones you’re still my favourite (opening an interview with a question about political knifing… yes!).

Check out the large version here and visit their website for plenty more.

via Ruguru

Just got my tickets. Can’t wait till the 30th!

I had to share this. HEAVY SMOKIN’
via LP Cover Lover

Kavinsky wonders if you can take it back.

via Designboom

via Lifelounge

via My Love For You

The paintings speak of information explosions, where an entire environment can be physically contained in a seamlessly presented two-dimensional world. It is a reaction to the age of technology we find ourselves living in. The way we look at, perceive, and process ideas has changed, and because of that, because of what the viewer brings to the experience, these painting could not have been created in any other time. This is not so much a comment on myself as it is the viewer.
- Mark Schoening

As an update to my previous post on Omer Fast, I realise that I did actually see one of his works, titled ‘The Casting’ at the most recent Whitney Biennial. It was a very exciting piece of video art and I’m glad I came across the video below because in it he is able to explain the piece quite well. It’s often quite ridiculous to try and relate to someone who hasn’t seen a particular work of video art exactly how it was set up and how it has impacted you, but this video does a very good job of explaining things. I also enjoyed his observation about the myriad of decisions that are made when speaking about a memory.

What? Obama’s favorite song is the Fugees ‘Ready or Not’? Will we just hurry up and give him the presidency! I want an election promise from him though, the first item of business directly after being sworn in? A presidential order for the Fugees to reunite and record a new album.

and check Hushie out for internet music search goodness.

Source is BBC News

This is an excerpt from an 18 minute work by Omer Fast called ‘CNN Concatenated’. It’s very schizophrenic but it works because of it, it’s incredibly shocking and disconcerting to have so many different voices speaking together in such a clear manner. I find it to be very powerful but before I let myself decide on it completely, I should do it the fairness of seeking out the full length version first. via The Triumph of Bullsh*t which was via Remix America

…and yes, the breaths are the best part.

If you’re in or nearby Brooklyn then I invite you to come out on Tuesday evening for the opening of the group photographic exhibition ‘Face First.’

This is exciting as it marks the first time I’ve had my work on display in NYC.
The flyer is here: Face First 03
And the details are:
Goodman Gallery
Tuesday August 12th
6pm to 9pm
311 Columbia Street, Brooklyn.

I’ve heard many people express reservations about Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming film ‘The Wrestler.’ However he is one of the few directors who I’ve always been surprised and delighted by, so I eagerly await his latest. It will be debuting at the Venice Film Festival on September 5th.

Aronofsky editing ‘The Wrestler’

In other Aronofsky news, a Robocop remake. This is all kinds of awesome.

The original Robocop trailer:
(my hot tip for the updated version? Robocop gets an upgrade and can now speed walk. You heard it here first)