Patrick's electronic journal

Photo

Sat, 18 May 2013 20:50:56 +0100

bigringriding: “TO CAUSE CHAOS AND MAYHEM ISN’T THAT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON?” SAID JENS VOIGT, WHEN...

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:44:39 +0100

“TO CAUSE CHAOS AND MAYHEM ISN’T THAT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON?” SAID JENS VOIGT, WHEN ASKED WHY HE ATTACKED AND WON STAGE 6 OF THE TOUR OF CALIFORNIA. “IT WAS HARD WORK, YES, BUT NO ONE EVER SAID CYCLING WAS EASY.”

"I had this rare privilege of being able to pursue in my adult life what had been my childhood dream...."

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:59:10 +0100

“I had this rare privilege of being able to pursue in my adult life what had been my childhood dream. I know it’s a rare privilege, but if you can tackle something in adult life that means that much to you, then it’s more rewarding than anything imaginable. Having solved this problem there’s certainly a sense of loss, but at the same time there is this tremendous sense of freedom. I was so obsessed by this problem that for eight years I was thinking about it all the time - when I woke up in the morning to when I went to sleep at night. That’s a long time to think about one thing. That particular odyssey is now over. My mind is at rest.”

- Andrew Wiles, in “Fermat’s Last Theorem”, by Simon Singh, p331

Invective Against Swans: The language of water

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:34:01 +0100

Invective Against Swans: The language of water:

invectiveagainstswans:

When your writing is going well, does it feel as if words are ‘pouring’ from you? When you’re listening to someone speaking and not really grasping the meaning, do you have the sensation of words ‘washing’ over you? Why a ‘torrent of abuse’ or a ‘sea of troubles’? These watery metaphors…

"Jottings, in their spontaneity and complete absence of any craft, are often so much truer to what I..."

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:43:49 +0100

“Jottings, in their spontaneity and complete absence of any craft, are often so much truer to what I actually feel and think at any given moment.”

- Notes From Walnut Tree Farm, Roger Deakin (via typet)

When the numbers suit you...

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 13:30:58 +0100

Less than 2000 people were asked about Thatcher’s legacy in a recent YouGov poll, however when the results showed a favourable response to her tenure, Louise Mensch, the former MP for Corby tweeted;

‘A straight 52% think she was ‘good’ or ‘great’. Too bad, Kinnock et al. Britain not so “divided” after all’

With reports that “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead” may sell over 20,000 downloads, Mensch retweeted the following with a little addition of her own;

‘I had no idea it only took 20,000 sales to produce a number one song. Hardly a national statement. <~~EXACTLY’

I’m having trouble with my maths, is 20000 a bigger number than 2000 (or 1893 to be exact)? Because when the results back up your point of view they’re representative, but when a larger number disagree with you it’s not a ‘national statement’?

Photo

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 22:52:19 +0100

phiLOLZophy: Wood Heat

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 23:17:19 +0100

phiLOLZophy: Wood Heat:

philolzophy:

Wood heat is different from other kinds of heat.

Regular heat isn’t really something to consider, unless you are poor and can’t afford it or something.

Wood heat is deliberate heat.

When you heat your home with wood, you need to first locate it. You need to chop wood and place it into…

philolzophy: mediaite: Imagine A World Without...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:21:51 +0000

philolzophy:

mediaite:

Imagine A World Without Hate

Powerful.

ICPhoto: Bill Armstrong: Color Printing

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:23:10 +0000

ICPhoto: Bill Armstrong: Color Printing:

icphoto:

Bill Armstrong

Tonight at the Aperture Foundation ICP faculty member Bill Armstrong is in conversation with W. M. Hunt for “Thinking in Color.”

Taking inspiration from the book I Send You This Cadmium Red, which features correspondence between critic John Berger and artist John…

tracksterman: One-pot lentil dahl

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:57:57 +0000

tracksterman: One-pot lentil dahl:

tracksterman:

Fry chopped onion in olive oil with ground garlic for two minutes; add a mug of water, plus a 50:50 mix of red lentils/casserole mix (split peas, barley etc); bring to boil while stirring in a heaped spoon of curry powder, a stock cube, plus extra chilli powder and cumin according to taste. Put…

Photo

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:55:52 +0000

f-f-t-t: Fire Light

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:55:21 +0000

f-f-t-t:

Fire Light

Photo

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:52:44 +0000

carlosbaila: Marina Abramovic meets Ulay“Marina Abramovic and...

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:42:05 +0000

carlosbaila:

Marina Abramovic meets Ulay

“Marina Abramovic and Ulay started an intense love story in the 70s, performing art out of the van they lived in. When they felt the relationship had run its course, they decided to walk the Great Wall of China, each from one end, meeting for one last big hug in the middle and never seeing each other again. at her 2010 MoMa retrospective Marina performed ‘The Artist Is Present’ as part of the show, a minute of silence with each stranger who sat in front of her. Ulay arrived without her knowing it and this is what happened.”

“En los años 70, Marina Abramovic mantuvo una intensa historia de amor con Ulay. Pasaron 5 años viviendo en una furgoneta realizando toda clase de performances. En 1988, cuando su relación ya no daba para más, decidieron recorrer la Gran Muralla China, empezando cada uno de un lado, para encontrarse en el medio, abrazarse y no volver a verse nunca más. En 2010 el MoMa de Nueva York dedicó una retrospectiva a su obra. Dentro de la misma, Marina compartía un minuto en silencio con cada extraño que se sentaba frente a ella. Ulay llegó sin que ella lo supiera, y esto fue lo que pasó”

These GIFs made me cry

Stars & Beetles

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 21:14:57 +0000

Loved this quote from the most recent episode of “Wonders of Life”, thanks Brian Cox!

“The biologist JBS Haldane said that ‘if one could conclude as to the nature of the Creator from a study of creation then it would appear that God has an inordinate fondness for stars and beetles.’”

thebicycle: Acquire a racing bike frame made by Dario Pegoretti...

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:22:26 +0000

thebicycle:

Acquire a racing bike frame made by Dario Pegoretti and help children suffering from cancer. What’s not to like? An auction is running from February 22nd until March 3rd.

Here’s some blurb…“Dario Pegoretti’s frames carried Miguel Indurain, Marco Pantani and Stephen Roche from one triumph to the next. Today everyone can acquire one of these masterpieces of frame design. Pegoretti has been selling his thin-walled, high-volume Columbus steel frames under his own name since 1999. Recently this raw material has been experiencing a renaissance. These bikes are perfectly finished down to the finest detail and present an elegant silhouette. Nevertheless, Pegoretti is one of the most controversial frame builders of our time. His bikes are unique because of their outstanding paintwork, inspired by contemporary aesthetics. While his work has been celebrated in a major exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, it is rejected by traditionalists.

Pegoretti recently collaborated with students of the Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design to create three frames – resulting in a spectacular symbiosis of Italian craftsmanship and outstanding design. The frames are based on the Duende model and are each available for purchase at auction. The money received for these three art frames will be donated to help children suffering from cancer. Three works of art for a very special cause. You can help to help. “

More info can be found here: mano-nella-mano.com

While the poor, old and disabled are told to tighten their belts for the good of the economy, the ministry of Defence plans a 160 billion pound spending spree.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:11:53 +0000

While the poor, old and disabled are told to tighten their belts for the good of the economy, the ministry of Defence plans a 160 billion pound spending spree.:

£35.8bn will be spent on submarines, including seven Astute class attack submarines and a new fleet of Vanguard nuclear ballistic missile submarines.

£18.5bn will be spent on aircraft, including US Joint Strike Fighters due to land on two large carriers being built for the navy, Typhoon jets, and unmanned drones.

£17.4bn will be spent on ships, including the two Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, six new Type 45 destroyers, and the development of a Type 26 “global combat ship”.

£13.9bn will be allocated to a fleet of air-to-air refuelling aircraft, and transport planes, including ,the European A400M.

£12.3bn will be spent on armoured fighting vehicles, including Warrior, Scout and other equipment for the army.

£12.1bn will go on helicopters, including the Chinook, Apache, Puma and Wildcat.

£11.4bn will be spent on weapons, including missiles, torpedoes, and guided bombs.

Nickerblog: Tricks to Successful Internetting

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:52:18 +0000

Nickerblog: Tricks to Successful Internetting:

wilwheaton:

Just go read it. It’ll only take a moment, and you’ll be glad you did.

Andre Agassi: ‘I think tennis has always led the way in anti-doping.’ 2011 out-of-comp...

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Andre Agassi: ‘I think tennis has always led the way in anti-doping.’ 2011 out-of-comp blood tests in tennis: 21. In cycling: 4613.

via Daniel Friebe @friebos