Being Here [561]
Greetings from The Borders...
I’m Christian Payne, noticer of things, enthusiast of the everyday, photographer and writer. In this weekly dispatch I seek out novelty, explore connections, how we share, what we share and consume, plus where we might be going.
Thanks for being here.
#TheAction
While the world rushed to allow malicious code to have deep access to their devices, I’ve been staring at my bedroom ceiling. [Pictured above.]
Earlier in the week I took the most amazing nap. Twenty unplanned but glorious minutes to recoup a little of the sleep stolen by a howling wind the previous night.
On waking I lay there a little longer. Blissful, rested and reflective. It was my birthday and with nothing planned till the evening, I was free to just be. Of course thoughts of the mini milestone crossed my mind.
Another year older and another opportunity to ponder what I’ve learned, what still matters, and what’s to change. There’s certainly been an accumulation of thoughts and things over the last year. The thoughts are still being processed… the things, mostly tools, have been sharpened and hung ready to use.
So rather than a physical degrading over time, I feel there’s been a honing. A letting go of what now matters less. A clawing back of attention, swapped out for a richer time spent elsewhere or in books. I have so much space and opportunity. To move, explore and observe.
I’ve enjoyed being here, in all the connotations that being here can mean.
You’re probably already aware, but sometimes the links at the bottom of my posts contain a more in-depth view of the tech, culture and political landscape. This week I point you to a piece by Carole Cadwalladr on the culling of Washington Post journalists.
Ultimately there is a glint of possibility in yet another diabolical act by Jeff Bezos. Journalism is not dying, but perhaps the corporate, billionaire owned model is starting to fail. Institutional protection, editorial independence and security in the field are no longer guaranteed.
What replaces it will be patchy and niche at first. Relying less on owners and more on reader/subscribers. But to me and many others, it’s looking more free and resilient. Which ultimately makes it harder to silence.
If you care about independent, public-interest journalism, don’t just read it. Give these people your email address, your attention ...and if you’re able, your support.
#ThePictures
Once upon a time, (in 1959) Ray Bradbury wrote a story about a high-tech children’s nursery. A sealed room that responded to the kids’ thoughts. The parents didn’t understand how it worked. Only that it kept the children occupied. And the children treated it like a toy, emotionally bonded with it… and you can probably guess how that turned out.
We watched the film F1 this week.
I’m not really into F1 or Brad Pitt. Nothing against either, I just don’t go out of my way to check them out. But I did that thing where I stand in the corner for a bit, planning to do other things. Then sit down and see the film through. It was a decent enough watch. 3/5
It looks like OpenAI is struggling to keep up with Anthropic and Sam Altman has said that they cannot rule out Ads in ChatGPT.
So Anthropic thought they’d make a few videos to show you what those adverts might look like…
#TheWords
Thanks to Dave Graham for sharing this to the Discord channel. Phantom Obligation
On a rainy day (we’ve had a few of them) I popped into The Book Loft in Berwick and bought this.
Strange News from Another Planet by Hermann Hesse is a collection of philosophical fiction. Short pieces that the more I read became increasingly humane and relevant.
Themes of war, nationalism, mass thinking and the loneliness of the individual who refuses to conform.
Originally titled ‘Strange News from Another Star’, it was written over a hundred years ago, yet feels accidentally prophetic. Though perhaps Hesse is simply diagnosing recurring human patterns.
Whimsical and profound, it’s left me pondering conscience, individuality and the quest for inner freedom. 4.5/5
Another fascinating read. It’s just a bomb.
#TheSound
My Brother, (also a fan of Kula Shaker) let me know that they have dropped a new video this week.
It’s BandCamp Friday. Go support an artist. I bought this from my cousin. Although it’s not out yet and I need to get my Nakamichi tape deck fixed.
#TheConsumed
These breakfast pots are very kindly assembled by my wife the night before we get to enjoy them.
We have a lot of jars in the cupboard filled with both bulk bought nuts and seeds, but also dried fruits and some nuts from the garden. It’s so nice to still be enjoying our apples into the following year.
The ingredients are not an exact science, but the pots I tend to choose are apple based and contain:
Chia seeds – 1 tbsp (12g)
Oats – 2 tbsp (20g)
Cinnamon – 1 tsp (2g)
Raisins – 10 raisins (5g)
Oat milk – 150 ml (unsweetened)
Dried apple – 6 slices (20 g)
If I know i’m off out on a big dog walk I’ll probably add a handful or ground nuts on top. But this little pot alongside a banana mid morning usually sees me through till lunch.
If you eat meat, specifically bacon, you may (or may not) have pondered the dry curing techniques of medieval times to the fakery in today’s salt water injecting meat processing plants. It’s another example of trading resilience for convenience. I’d share some of the videos i’ve been trawling through but most appear to be AI. I say appear… as they use stock footage and a very realistic AI voice.
So instead I’ll share this video made by a human of how you can use a wine fridge to make salami.
I love me some condiments, and that’s just what my Mother In Law got me for my Birthday.
Two of the five jars have been cracked and i’m looking forward to finding an opportunity to open the others.
#TheBody
Between sleep and wakefulness.
Posted without comment.
#TheFound
Every day I pass one of the fields I have permission to metal detect on and wonder when the weather will let up and the ground dry out a bit. I’d love to get back out with the detector and spade. As I was thinking this, my boots were clogged with earth and I was slipping down a muddy path that had become a stream.
Of course I detect just as much to relax and be surrounded by nature, which is the only guaranteed win. Still, reading about others finding interesting stuff also excites me. Like this Spanish treasure found off the Florida coast.
#TheThings
Why won’t people buy these tiny electric cars?
This birthday present from my daughter is my favourite.
A metal trowel she made at school. It will either accompany me out detecting or in the garden.
#TheThanks
Many thanks to the supporting subscribers who keep this dispatch going. You and I know who you are. Much love♥️
If you also value these words, ideas and curation, please consider hitting the red button…
Either way… Thank you for reading, sharing, liking and supporting a human doing manual work with their brain.
#TheWeb
If you didn’t click the link up top about Bezos getting rid of over 300 journalists at the Washington Post, you can still read the piece by Carole Cadwalladr here.
Mic Wright is another Journalist worth supporting.
How to cary more than your own bodyweight.
‘Every secure communication happening right now exists in an odd state: simultaneously secret and already compromised, private and already stolen, safe and already sold.’
This important link dropped into one of the dispatch backchannels this week. Reasons To Stay.
If you are not sure how to add yourself to the Documentally community map, I can do it for you.
How a homeless man built an underground bunker in Hampstead Heath.
England and Wales has hit a 50 year low for homicides. The headline got my thinking “What about Scotland?” Thankfully Scotland has the same trend which is linked to in the article, but was probably not included because the data is from a different source. England and Wales figures come from the Office for National Statistics. Scotland’s data was announced earlier and came from Scottish Government and Police Scotland.
Some of my other places include these…
Understanding neural networks visually.
If you have the kind of job where nefarious governments or agencies might be trying to get access to your device, try Apple’s Lockdown Mode.
This lady was really old and very good at it.
#TheEnd
All I had to go on today was a photo of my bedroom ceiling and a bunch of bookmarked webpages. 1600 words later and we’re at the bottom of the page.
Thanks for reading. And being here.
Please comment if you feel the need. Our just want to say hi.
Same time next week?
“Once you have reached a certain level of consciousness, (and if you are reading this, you almost certainly have), you are able to decide what kind of a relationship you want to have with the present moment. Do I want the present moment to be my friend or my enemy? The present moment is inseparable from life, so you are really deciding what kind of a relationship you want to have with life. Once you have decided you want the present moment to be your friend, it is up to you to make the first move: Become friendly toward it, welcome it no matter what disguise it comes, and soon you will see the results. Life becomes friendly toward you; people become helpful, circumstances cooperative. One decision changes your entire reality. But that one decision you have to make again and again and again—until it becomes natural to live in such a way.” ― Eckhart Tolle
You are here.
See you out there.
Over…
Just read this. Another great post. So many link to work through so that will be this evening s job.
That blooming meme made me realise I say “ please can I grab….” Arghhhhh and now I change it. Lol