Greetings.
I’m not really typing in the GIF. But you knew that. Typing hurts at the moment.
Last night was fraught with sleeplessness. I love writing this email to you, but it’s rare that I’ll start with a totally blank page. Like now. At least I have some photos on my phone, some thoughts in my head and very soon… wine in my glass.
#TheAction
The parts of this week that felt the most productive were when I was doing something physical. Mostly in the garden. Although they were also the most dangerous moments. Like when I drilled into my right thumbnail.
I’m reminded of it every time I hit the spacebar.
I have to be thankful for a few things though. Firstly I’m glad that the 2.5mm drill bit that made the entry hole in my nail wasn’t any bigger. A bigger bit would have made a bigger mess. The drill bit snapped on clearing a broken screw and slipped. It was the jagged end that entered my thumb. I doubt a sharper bit would have stopped at the bone. It also bled so profusely I think the flow might have pushed out any contaminants. So days later, although still sore there’s no infection. Also lucky was that it was my right hand and I was able to finish the job as soon as the painkillers kicked in. So, it could have been worse. I’ll show you below what I was doing below.
#ThePictures
Finally got round to watching the documentary Dark Waters. Gripping, disturbing and another must watch.
It’s hard to find any videos involving the study of EMF and EMR’s effect on the eco system without hitting a wall of conspiracy rants. Some videos keep my attention for longer though. This little watched video starts in Norwegian but quickly switches to English with ‘The Insect Inspector’, Michael Chapman Pincher. Michael is a friend of a friend and has a hypothesis that electromagnetic radiation is affecting the world’s insect population.
As he says in the video. “You can’t believe what you want to believe, cause that makes you a fool. You have to prove it.” If you don’t have the 30 mins to watch the video there is more info here, here and here.
Love this video of Banksy in action. You might need to turn on your VPN to view it as I think it’s blocked in the UK…
In an emergency it’s handy to know how to make dirty water safe to drink. This system is so simple you can watch this once and forever be equipped with the knowledge.
#TheWords
One stand-out sentence I heard this week popped up when I was chatting late into the night, on some obscure frequency, with a bunch of old timers. The conversation of course got onto radio gear. For some, buying new equipment is an obsession. When I asked one guy why he had so many radios he responded…
“There ain’t no pockets in a coffin.”
No radio seems too expensive for these guys. Because if they didn’t indulge themselves now, then when will they get the chance?
It reminded me of the book my Wife has just finished reading. ‘Die with Zero.’
Personally, as someone who has spent a good chunk of their youth accumulating far more memorable experiences than money, it feels like common sense. Why wait for your ‘Golden Years’ to do all the things you want to do. I had my ‘Golden Years’ in the 90’s and would not change it for anything. Although it does now mean that as well as creating similar experiences for the kids, I’m also keen to earn enough to give them the financial head start I never had. How much longer? Who knows? Let’s just hope old age will be much cheaper than middle age.
An interesting read covering the environmental issues of digital distribution in the CryptoArt market.
Remember those 150 friends you are currently not allowed to hang out with? Perhaps they would appreciate a call, an email, a letter, or a copy or Robin Dunbar’s new book.
Great books and the people who write them.
#TheSound
I’m thinking of recording a few podcasts with you guys. I’ve no format in mind. I just thought it would be an interesting way for us all to get to know each other better.
I’d just arrange a good time to phone you and we could capture the conversation. Reply to this email if you’re up for it.
Been listening to The Byline Times Podcast. If you are easily angered by repeated stories of cronyism and corruption then listen in. We need more anger (or at least action) and less lethargy.
A musical interlude courtesy of Geo.
Ericsson released a podcast documenting the human rights risks and impacts associated with the rollout of 5G.
These browser based music experiments offer hours of fun. I find the Spectrogram to be the most visually pleasing.
#TheConsumed
Sixty percent of food waste happens in the home. With more then 50% of adults obese in the UK, US and Italy, perhaps it’s not about clearing our plate. Perhaps it’s better that we buy less. I do my best to not throw food away. Having a dog helps. Although pets are also piling on the pounds in the pandemic. This week I made mashed potato with some cream that was weeks out of date. It tasted great and we’re all still alive. That’s a start right?
#TheThings
The thumb injury I mentioned at the top of the email happened during some up-cycling. In order to paint a long wooden pergola walkway I removed some old electric garden lighting that has not worked since we moved here.
Rather than bin them, I stripped out the broken halogen bulbs and fittings, took the lanterns apart, rubbed them down and resprayed them. They now look like new.
I plan to remove a glass pane on each in order to have them hold some hand-moulded citronella candles. Citronella I find is effective at keeping biting insects away and hand moulded because I can’t find any the right size. I’ve not made candles before but I’ve managed to get hold of the ingredients and it doesn’t look that hard.
Thanks to Taras I’m now coveting this cool little end-of-the-world computer.
My good friend Christian has one of these crazy smart mugs. And he loves it. He knows it’s ridiculous yet he still loves it. Watch the video and I will explain how I can see that some folks might love it, but how I’m struggling to appreciate its features.
Ok. The reviewer James is pretty convincing in his argument stating that it’s ok to be angry at this thing but that he also still loves it. Let’s face it, who would not love to enjoy a cup of coffee at the perfect temperature all the way to the bottom.
There are a few things that get in the way for me though. I can buy cool a mug from a charity shop for a quid. I can even make a mug. I have made a mug, out of clay. And I did so without the need for complicated tech and app developers. The manufacturing hours and environmental impact just to maintain this mug’s required infrastructure is insane. Some might say unnecessary.
If I drop my mug (and I will) it breaks. If I were to drop this mug it will also break. But on top of this, if the infrastructure or my phone is missing, or broken, then the smart mug returns to being a dumb £80 mug not much bigger than a cup.
I have an insulated mug that not only filters the coffee, it is drop proof and also slows the temperature loss. Would I like to have a cup that regulated the temperature? Hell yes. But then I’d be subscribing to a culture where it’s normal to make a cup of coffee you don’t want to pay attention to.
If I could justify an overly complicated piece of tech like this, (which let’s face it, as an amateur radio operator is just another source of RF interference) it would be for my occasionally neglected cup of tea.
You see, I only have one cup of coffee a day and it’s a treasured ritual. A deliciously savoured moment. I pour my just-off-the-boil water through the grounds which sit in the filter. As it drips through, the gathering inky liquid reaches the perfect sipping temperature. I then sit for a few moments cradling the my fragrant mug, contemplating the day, present, as every drop of coffee passes my lips.
Celebs and their digital artworks.
I don’t need the Sony FX3 Full Frame Cinema Camera but this video test of it makes me want it.
I’d be interested in this if it logged most of my current fitness stats and if I could mod it to display my nearest repeater station as well as show my grid locator.
#TheWeb
An incredible landing and then a spectacular explosion.
Greetings new people on the community map. Nice photo West ;-)
Looking for somewhere interesting to squat? Try Antartica. Amazon don’t deliver directly but you can get stuff forwarded.
Some hopeful news regarding new Malaria vaccines.
A Twitter undo button might be coming.
Twenty four inspiring women who are changing the world.
#TheEnd
We made it! Thanks for reading.
Next week my daughter goes back to school. Not my lad, he’s in big school and has to be tested and told when to return. We are getting closer to something happening. At least it’s getting warmer, brighter later and everything will soon be in bloom. Nature and the weather don’t stop for anyone. Life goes on.
“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” ~ Robert A. Heinlein
Peace.
See you out there.
Over…
Petition to call smart mugs… smugs.