If we knew why, we wouldn’t be doing it [386]

Greetings from the shed...

Greetings new subscribers and those regulars who know what’s what here.

I’m Christian Payne, professional over-sharer, photographer and writer. In this weekly dispatch I seek out novelty, explore how we share, what we share and consume, plus where we might be going. Thanks for joining in.

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#TheAction

I’m not short of distractions in the shed but this week the main attraction has been the motorbike. I’m conscious that my attention to this shiny inanimate object has been above and beyond any work.

Normally I’d be out on the pushbike for local journeys and exercise. But this more environmentally friendly option has been neglected as I get my new purchase prepared for long distance trips.

So exercise and words on a page have been exchanged for miles on a dial as I run-in the bike. I needed 100 miles on the clock to move from a self imposed limit of 45mph to 65mph. The next goal is 600 miles when the bike gets its first service and I can open it up fully for some longer motorway rides.

It’s easy to forget my writing commitment when on the Triumph. Going nowhere has never been so much fun. Because right there is where it’s at. Whatever it is. Normally an empty country road with sweeping edgeless curves and a clear view ahead. Mostly way out beyond my peddle powered explorations.

But there is a place for speed. With all senses stimulated, time slows. Delivering its own kind of mindfulness.

Unframed by window or windscreen, the world moves around you. Everything happens in the moment. As you centre on the merry dance, around each bend, around each vehicle, frozen in its own timeline. It’s just you in a bubble of serenity.

Inside the helmet, the distance from external communication brings on a meditation. A focus only broken with a head nod to another rider, an attentive pause at a junction, or if I suddenly notice I’m lost.

A familiarity, the sun in the sky or if I’m lucky, a road sign will point me in the right direction. Reminding me that I was never lost. Just out finding myself.

Occasionally I’ll return home not knowing where I’ve been. With soul and mind enriched, I wheel my motorbike under cover and clock my neglected bicycle. Two machines two different worlds. My mind knows that ultimately the bicycle is best. And while my body craves for me to exercise something other than my adrenal gland, I vow to make time for some bicycle based adventure.

As soon as the Triumph is run in.

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#ThePictures

Last week when I was chatting with the Turkish guy cutting my hair we got to talking about his family home. When I asked where in Turkey it was. He told me I wouldn’t have heard of it. I said “Try me.” He smiled and said “Gaziantep.”

“Oh yes” I responded. “I spent a few days there before crossing into Syria during the war.” The look on his face was initially disbelief and then happiness.

[Here are some photos from that time.]

He said “When I tell people, no one has ever heard of it. Thankyou!”

Sadly Gaziantep is now known the world over after the high magnitude Earthquake it suffered on Monday. So strong that tremors were felt as far away as Lebanon, Greece, Israel and Cyprus. And then there is the loss of life. Some say 22,000 dead. It’s hard to quantify. Or feel useful in times like this. The Turkish authorities do seem to be struggling with resources so a donation might help.

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A vignette of photographer Dannielle Bowman.

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This pencil sharpener review was very popular with supporting subscribers.

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#TheWords

Here is another chatbot moment…

Sounds a bit spammy but i’ll answer the question.

I guess what advancements reveal about our values depends on how we choose to use our tech. As most of us prioritise convenience and instant gratification, we favour speed and efficiency over privacy and security. If we were instead to prioritise ethical considerations, we might instead value transparency and accountability in how our information is used. Personally I feel our current technological advancements (particularly in the way we communicate) are driven by individuals and corps with different values to myself. I just hope we can get things back on track.

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The linked long read below is an extract of a memoir by Félix Nadar.

But the nothingness of the human condition has no limits and the standards of eternity demand even more: These skeletons, all pell-mell, are themselves disaggregated, scattered in such a way as never to be able to be found in order to be reunited on Judgment Day.

The book is entitled Quand j’étais photographe (“When I Was a Photographer”) and you can read the whole extract here.

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#TheSound

I have been immersing myself in the podcast ‘Adventures in Nutopia’. I forget who recommended it to me, but thank you.

If it was you, or if it’s on your radar let me know in the comments.

It’s not necessarily something I would have just spotted and listened to, as there are no end of spiritual-ish podcasts which are a ‘little too fluffy’ for me to get into. But this one is different. It calls itself…

“a documentary-style series exploring radical ideas, new myths and social movements for a positive future shaped by community, re-enchantment, sustainability, ecology, creativity, magic and compassion. Don’t worry about poe-faced beard-stroking, there’s plenty of mischief, weirdness and fun to be had.”

And there is. I’ve learned a lot in this short series and miss it enough to hope there is another one the way.

You can find the podcast in most aggregators but as it’s sponsored by Druidry.org I will link to their page.

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Monitor and analyse birdsong 24/7 with this Pi project. And visit Bird Weather to hear the device in action. Thanks to Brad Smith for sharing these links.

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Here is some audio I recorded almost 10 years ago as I was leaving the city of Gazientep and heading into Syria.

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Ever wonder why sound travels further in cold weather?

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#TheConsumed

I feel very lucky to have been gifted some Cascatelli. Thanks CJ!

It took three years for Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful food podcast, to create CASCATELLI (Italian for “waterfalls”). A new pasta shape designed to maximise the three qualities:

• Sauceability: How readily sauce adheres to the shape

• Forkability: How easy it is to get the shape on your fork and keep it there

• Toothsinkability: How satisfying it is to sink your teeth into it

I knocked up a sauce in order to test there pasta and I think it does a very good job in all three areas. If it wasn’t so hard to get hold of i’d make it a kitchen staple.

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#TheThings

Understandably, most of my purchases this week have been motorbike related. I have added red valve caps. (top left easy job ;-), an Evotech radiator guard to protect it from impact damage (middle). I’m really impressed with the quality and their customer service. I’ve extended my mudguard, (top right) to stop crap covering the engine in the wet.

My quad lock with vibration dampening is installed (bottom left) but I’m looking to improve on this as there might be something dedicated for my bike. I’ve added some engine protection. (Nightmare job). And finally some little bobbins to the rear forks so I can lift the rear wheel for oiling. I think that will do for now.

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As I don’t have a backbox on the Triumph I need to cary my helmet around with me. Unless I’m not straying too far from the bike in which case I’ll use this.

You may remember me sharing the key version of this HipLok in an earlier issue. This is the HipLok Z Lok Combo ← (Amazon links). It has a little combination lock and obviously won’t stop an equipped thief. But it might keep the opportunist one off my motorbike helmet should I lock to the bike for a few mins.

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#TheThanks

I must thank those that pay $5/month to keep things going and get all the content I share into this feed. If you are able, please upgrade to become a paid supporter.

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#TheWeb

• 40 AI apps to streamline each stage of the product lifecycle

• SNP MP Stewart McDonald's emails were hacked by Russian group Another reminder that you should enable two factor authentication.

• Trying to find some cheap accommodation in Paris for October. Not many Parisians on the Documentally community map …otherwise I’d ask them.

• Perhaps MyPlace.co is an option.

• How to make up for lost years.

• I’ve stumbled upon a few apps recently that want my phone number alongside an email. No idea why this is insisted upon but if I really need to use the app I use Quackr.io temporary phone number generator. It gets me a number and then shows me the verification sent to that number. Be warned though that the verification text pops up on a page viewable by anyone.

• The Watershed has some audio focused residential weeks coming up.

• I have an amateur radio focused newsletter here, or search Documentally@octodon.social to find me on Mastodon. I’m still @Documentally on birdsite but visit less regularly. If you like you can buy me a coffee here or send a tip via PayPal.

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#TheEnd

Thank you for reading. I’m now off to put up shelves, build a bed and help finish the renovation of my son’s bedroom. Just in time for the school holidays next week.

What are you up to? Please comment and/or like if you have the time. Comments are open and there is no reason why this can’t be a two way street.

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“You look at where you're going and where you are and it never makes sense, but then you look back at where you've been and a pattern seems to emerge.” ~ Robert M. Pirsig

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Find the patterns.

See you out there.

Over…

Via futurecrunch