Clever
My Painting Has Crashed from James Théophane Jnr on Vimeo.
(Thanks, Engadget.)
Already there’s imitation from competing networks. You know what they say about imitation…
My iPhone’s earbuds are crap. I suspect your iPod/iPhone buds are just as bad. They really don’t fit in my ears, the sound quality is leaving a lot to be desired, they tangle mercilessly and they aren’t particularly durable. Most of these things will be fine for the casual listener since they are free and replacements are only $19. But not for me.
It’s always been this way. Ever since I got my first portable music player back in junior high, I’ve been on a quest for the best, most affordable, longest lasting and stylish listening devices. It’s what I do.
I thought my compulsive searching had finally paid off when I chose a pair of V-Moda Vibe Duo earbuds for Xmas 2007. They were super swanky, the sound was terrific and the fabric-covered cords seemed to be ideal for preventing spaghetti. However, six months in and the cable feeding the left channel started to fray. V-Moda replaced them (though I had to pick up the shipping) and I was able to keep on listening for another few months.
Fast forward to last week and the left channel cut out on me mid-walk. No amount of futzing seemed to bring back half the music, so I contacted V-Moda to secure yet another replacement. I was informed that my earbuds were out of warranty and that, lucky me, I could instead ship them back (again, my money for shipping) and receive a 50% off coupon for the V-Moda store. Joy of joys!
Personally, I don’t think $100 earbuds should last less than a year. If you know me, you know I treat all of my stuff with kid gloves. I Scotchgard my jackets, I polish my door handles, I’ve been known to darn my socks. There’s no reason for these Vibe Duos to be falling apart this quickly.
So, the hunt was back on. And, much to my surprise, I’ve found something that I’m actually rather excited about: Pipe Headset CMYK by AIAIAI. Not only is this set of earbuds supposed to be well sound balanced (thanks to tuning by C4 Studios,) they are also delightful to look at and reviewed as durable with thick cable construction. Reviews are favorable, the price was right at $54 and the only complaint I’ve heard is that the colors are loud – which is a plus for me.
So, AIAIAI, the challenge has been set. Will you impress me? Surely only good things come from Denmark?
There have been a number of videos recently that employ an effect that can only be described as turning the artifacts of streaming buffering into something truly artistic. I saw it first with Beck’s “Youthless:”
And then again last week with Cassettes Won’t Listen’s video for “Into the Hillside:”
And finally, tonight, from the Presets. How I had never seen the video for “Are You the One?” is really beyond me:
Maybe it comes from years of surfing the internet on Venus Telephone’s blistering and never-changed-since-2000 384 kbps connection, but there’s a part of me that will always have a soft spot for these whacky pixelated messes.
Installment #9:
What is it? snowglobe with a cat in it from the Warhol Museum
What’s its deal? it’s a cat in a snowglobe – I mean, what else do you want?
Where does it live? same table as Amber’s beloved landline phone
Any notable facts? Kate might think the vacuum was our first joint house purchase (or Rigel) but it’s actually this – which speaks volumes, when you think about it.
(Thanks, io9.)
(Actually, it was yesterday, but John Allison broke his schedule.)
The newest comic from John Allison, Bad Machinery, has launched. The style seems to split the difference between old ScaryGoRound and new and the storyline feels familiar and intriguingly unfamiliar at the same time. Won’t you give it a spare moment?
I’ve also just realized that this is my 500th post (catalogued on this blog, at least.) September is the month of milestones for me, readers! Happy 500th post to all – but most especially you, Mr. Allison, since I’ve unwittingly made a donation to your cause.
As of Friday, ScaryGoRound has said goodbye to its present form. Its creator, John Allison, moves on to a new comic endeavor – can’t blame him! I get bored with my artsy activities about an hour in, so I can’t quite imagine seven years! I’m going to miss this amazing little gem of Brit-humor and quirky monster tales. My SGR fix has been a daily institution for at least the last five years and it’s going to be hard to let Amy, Shelly, Ryan, Bat-Friend, Desmond, etc go.
I’m certain, though, that whatever Mr. Allison has in store for us will be fantastic. I’m just glad I finally got around to ordering my “Nosferatu doesn’t share his toffees” t-shirt before they all ran out.
Now, what to do with the SGR link in my right sidebar? Suggestions?
Birds on the Wires from Jarbas Agnelli on Vimeo.
Then you’ve got birds creating music on wires.
Wow, if this doesn’t smack of a Douglas Adams-level of beauracracy in action, I don’t know what does. As reported by the BBC:
Blur Banksy is ruined by mistake
What a terrible waste of a fantastic piece of art. Truly shameful. Reminds me of this passage from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:
“But Mr Dent, the plans have been available in the local planning office for the last nine months.”
“Oh yes, well as soon as I heard I went straight round to see them, yesterday afternoon. You hadn’t exactly gone out of your way to call attention to them, had you? I mean, like actually telling anybody or anything.”
“But the plans were on display …”
“On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.”
“That’s the display department.”
“With a flashlight.”
“Ah, well the lights had probably gone.”
“So had the stairs.”
“But look, you found the notice didn’t you?”
“Yes,” said Arthur, “yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying ‘Beware of the Leopard’.”