Our Man Inside [062] Are We Out Of Our Minds? Not Yet.
Greetings from somewhere in Ironbridge [Ident]
I've just landed at the annual pilgrimage to the BritishMac meet up. This will involve beer, curry and lashings of tech talk.
There was the promise of a room for me to kip in but it looks like Will's generosity knows know bounds and I might be sleeping Anderson shelter style alongside a bunch of unknown others.
Hope their snoring doesn't clash with mine.
Looks like there are a few new subscribers. Welcome!
Add yourself to the map if you want.
#TheAction
The most adrenalin filled moment of the week was had while riding my motorbike into London. I was hit by a car trying to enter my lane on the way in. The impact happened mainly between my leg and the massive wheel of a 4x4. Luckily as we were travelling at roughly the same speed I managed to stay on the bike. The angry driver, not realising that he was in fact at fault started snapping photos on his phone. Then he pulled away. I chased him and pulled alongside indicating that he find somewhere to pull over. He said he couldn't as he was taking his kids to school. He then said it was all ok and he peeled off and away as I continued onwards. I kept repeating his numberplate to myself till I could pull over and shout it through my helmet into an encrypted message to a friend. Unfortunately at my destination all that could be heard was garbled static. If he does attempt to trump up some dodgy claim he will first need to explain what he was doing taking photos while driving.
The rest of this week has been breakfast meetings, an evening with The League Of Pragmatic Optimists. R&D with @DoddsGin coffee with @125f8, a video shoot with @UchujinPhoto and a shedload of office time.
In other news I appear to be one of the '200 Most Influential Philanthropists & Social Entrepreneurs 2017'. It's on the internet so it must be true. [LINK]
#ThePictures
@TerryMarc shared this link into the O.M.I. Backchannel on @Wire. (If you want in on the group join Wire, search for me and ask to be added.)
This video speaks to me of 'The Internet of Things' and the question as to how much it actually improves our lives.
Arthur Vs The Nutrimatic Drinks Dispenser [LINK]
Another thing that caught my eye. An animation discussing the 5 filters of the mass media machine.
Based on the 'Manufacturing Consent' by Herman & Chomsky [LINK]
The greatest war photographer you've never heard of.
A short clip (7min) from a film about Leroy
"At one point during the Tet offensive, in early 1968, she was captured by the North Vietnamese Army while with the French journalist Francois Mazure. There was a young lieutenant that they could converse with in French. They explained that they were journalists and would do no harm, so the soldiers decided to let them go. But first she persuaded them to let her take photos, saying that it was important because only one side of the story was being seen. The photos ran as a cover story in Life magazine, which she wrote herself"
Full article in the NYT [LINK]
I spotted this cartoon printed in Private Eye. I'm not sure how much it is to advertise in the UK's best selling news and current affairs mag but I figured it might be cheaper to purchase an existing domain that's listed but unused.
So I bought PretendToBeBusy.com.
If you did subscribe to this via PrivateEye please let me know.
#TheWords
I got a DM from Darcy Moore linking me to his blog saying "If everyone would read this, the world would be a better place." The post talks about Francis Fukuyama's 'The origins of political order'. I'm only a little way in but throughly enjoying it. [LINK]
#TheSound
If the US government started interring it's citizens in concentration camps on it's own soil it wouldn't be the first time. [LINK]
Episode 61 of Criminal discusses how hard it might be to fake your own death. It contains some handy tips should you be considering it. Top tip from a professional tracker is don't phone your Mum on her birthday. [LINK]
#TheConsumed
When it comes to booze I have been spoiled this week. So far it's been all about quality over quantity but tonight might turn that on it's head.
While visiting the London Distillery Company I was invited to assist in a little R&D. I was on my motorbike so asked if I could have the research to-go.
The small bottles in the photo contain:
Old Tom a limited edition rum from an old recipe made specially to order. (It might be coming back to life in September.)
The Rye was put into virgin English oak casks to help extract the tannins. It was good and now the casks are all ready to use for aging more rye.
'Rumour' is the R&D on their organic rum made with crushed sugar cane and a beautiful organic evaporated sugar cane juice. It's also made with the dunder.
Finally 'Spring Heeled Jack' is the new make Rye. Non aged and made with 100% organic rye.
So far I've sampled the Old Tom and it's amazing. That is mine... all mine. I'd like to save the others till I get to the 10th Thinking Digital conference. Something to share with the small unofficial whisky club that gathers in a secret corner.
#TheThings
I was so excited to have this arrive this week. I saw the BoardUp on Kickstartera while back. Listed as the worlds first self-folding longboard it's something I have been waiting for. In reality it's more the size of a large cruiser. This is perfect for me. I'm an A to B boarder and often lucky just to make it to 'B'. I was much better 29 years ago honest. [LINK]
I can't tell you how much fun I'm having with this right now. And it's only made me bleed the once. There is some video. Not had time to edit it yet. I'll drop it on my blog when I do.
Alan, (Writer, enviromentalist and newsletter reader @TontoWilliams) Kindly sent me this box of blank tapes. I said I would make him a mixtape in return. OMIT-OPM001 (Our Man Inside Tape Original Pirate Material 001) will soon be ready.
I'm hoping to make some more mixes but with music that doesn't exist anywhere on the web. If you have a track you would like to donate please let me know.
Five minutes after reading 'A guide to the best portable cassette players' I was on eBay. Then 2 hours and £7 later and I was the new owner of a Sony WM EX194S. One of the last Walkmans to be built.
Why?...
I have over a hundred original cassettes and mixtapes I have yet to hear and I can only really listen to them in my shed. This now means I can explore my hoard anywhere. All the tapes and this player cost less than a three month Spotify subscription and the tapes (believe it or not) are an investment!
#TheMind
Our we out of our minds? Not yet.
"It's only the beginning for our ability to create virtual models in our heads" ~ Ray Kurzweil [LINK]
Prepare yourself for the internet of everything. The point at which our networked connections, processes, things, data and people intertwine. Where this hyper connectivity delivers more relevant, richer experiences than ever before.
As much as I would like to be a tech-utopian, corporations and governments are in our computers right now. What will happen when we are the computer?
The internet of everything will demand more than our shared data. We will become one with the network. If 'they' can't get into the pipes they get into the apps. If they can't get into the apps they get into the hardware. It's only a matter of time before they are also in our minds. But will we be in theirs?
Intelligence everywhere, cognition everywhere, surveillance everywhere. Can we trust them? Perhaps should have that encryption discussion again.
#TheWeb
Facebook now lets you take donations. [LINK]
I'm back to running a few times a week and feeling smarter for it. 'A neuroscientist says there’s a powerful benefit to exercise that is rarely discussed.' [LINK]
I've been asked to do a few social audio, interview techniques and podcasting workshops and thought I'd share some of the gear I carry every day.
This little headphone case is packed with:
2x Rode Smart Lav+'s. A great quality mic for the money. [LINK]
2x Rode Minifur-Lav. For recording in winds environments. [LINK]
The Rode SC6. For connecting two mics to the phone and monitoring the audio if needed. [LINK]
A TRRS extension cable. This ensures you can step back in audio/video interviews and have enough lead. [LINK]
Lightning headphone jack adapter. I use this as my iPhone 7 does not have a headphone jack. [LINK]
There are other adapters in there but they are not really needed for audio or video interviews. There is also a SmartLav interview kit but I think it's a little over priced.
Periscope has added an activity tab on iOS and Android. Possibly interesting if you have been asked to stream on behalf of a company hooked on analytics. [LINK]
The number of women who lose their jobs for getting pregnant has almost doubled in the last 10 years.
'Pregnant then screwed' is a project run by a friend of mine. They are approaching halfway with their crowdfunding. If you can help out it means they get to continue to fight against pregnancy and maternity discrimination. [LINK]
SpaceX continues to amaze. [LINK]
Damn these shiny shiny toys. GoPro’s Karma drone is now available in Europe [LINK]
A reporter in rural India broadcasts local news with WhatsApp and has over 8000 paying subscribers. [LINK]
#TheEnd
Thanks for reading. This was rushed on a strangers sofa. Apologise for the mistakes.
I'll be in Newcastle/Gateshead Tuesday/Wednesday with the BBC and Market Harborough on Thursday if you are close by.
“My two favourite things in life are libraries and bicycles. They both move people forward without wasting anything. The perfect day: riding a bike to the library.” ~ Peter Golkin
If you enjoyed this please pass it on...
Are we out of out minds yet?
Soon.
See you out there.
Over...
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