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Wipe the blade on your sleeve [271]

Greetings from my shed...

Documentally

Apr 23, 2021

“What have you done with your beard?” Shouted the dogwalker across the carpark.

“I put it in some Tupperwear to save for later.” I replied.

“Ha!” She responded shaking her head, thinking I was making some weird joke.

#TheAction

My bike also went this week. But someone bought that.

A small part of me didn’t want to risk going out on my Triumph Scrambler one last time. But it was just a small part and easily ignored. I’d sold it the night before and the money was already in the bank. Pretty much the same amount as the bike cost 12 years ago.

For a moment on that sunny day, with the wind in my face and nothing but an open road, I’d have gladly sent the money back.

But alas, an hour later and a few final miles on the clock, I was wiping off the dead flies and saying goodbye.

I still have the Tiger and am looking forward to us spending more time together.

All in all I’ve had a wonderfully analogue week with only a few screen based distractions. Lots of cooking, tasting, bike riding and tinkering.

In regards to getting rid of the beard, the family was in shock for a bit. But as my lack of beard grows on them, another one grows on me.

We all need a shock to the system once in a while. Or whatever the organic version of hitting the reset button is.

#ThePictures

I somehow ended up watching the film Love and Monsters.

A surprisingly fun post-apocalyptic flick dipped in a little cheese with great visual effects. Although if you’re freaked out by giant bugs you may want to give it a miss.

You cannot buy a Bob Ross painting.

I also enjoyed this lovely little film entitled The Artefact Artist.

Here is a before-and-after shave photo. But just incase I get accused of yet more over-sharing, I have put it behind this link so you have to consciously go looking for a photo of me with my top off.

#TheWords

This book is well worth having if you like tinkering with bikes.

Although it looks like it was written in the 80’s my updated edition dates from 2010. So it covers the basics including hydraulic disc break systems and I’m think it will still last me a while. There is obviously nothing on wireless gear, break and fork systems, but at the moment I’ve no inclination to invest in any system I can’t fix myself. You can find cheap second hand copies of this book both on and offline.

Getting sick for medical research.

#TheSound

This week I binge listened to the podcast West Cork. All 13 episodes. I know it’s been out for a while but it’s a great series and if you are yet to discover it, I dare you to listen to a couple of episodes. I’m pretty sure you will also be hooked.

MIT scientists translate spiderwebs into music.

I find it very difficult to believe that Mark Zuckerberg has just discovered the power of audio when most of us realised its value back in 2008. Zuckerberg is asked if he thinks it weird that social tech people build video channels before they build audio. The hesitation he has before he answers speaks volumes, as he shoves the truth out of the way before chucking out something inane and obvious. Really mark? You can multitask while listening? Jeez.

There is a new podcast on the way. It’s currently sat on a memory card awaiting my attention.

#TheConsumed

Do you drink coffee? You might need to to get your head around this fascinating study.

If you like coffee but have never made it with an AeroPress, I can highly recommend it. If you do not know what an Aeropress is you might want to watch this video first.

In regards to the best ways to use it Christian Hambly sent me down a rabbit hole by sharing this video. The guy goes into some serious detail…

I’m eagerly awaiting the next video in the series where he gets to the meat of the matter.

My Aeropress has served me well for 10 years now but the V60 Dripper is still my mainstay. He does a video for that too.

There is more to eelgrass than what Chef Ángel León calls ‘marine grain. It can also boost aquatic ecosystems.

I really must welcome Simon Devine, Adrian Cockle and David Bailey. Thank you for becoming supporting subscribers. It really does mean a lot to me.

#TheThings

This is one of the most wonder-filled gifts I have ever received.

Designer and inventor Tom Lawton is one of those friends I have never met. We connected on Twitter almost 10 years ago. This week I was out taking my bike for one last ride and after watching this video, Tom sent me a note in the box containing the Uplift 2.0. It said “I know you like British engines… This one is a little less noisy but hopefully makes you smile.”

And boy does it make us smile. Hypnotic, graceful and beautifully made. As soon as the sun arrives we are mesmerised. Thank you for your kind and inspiring gift Tom!

Check out the story of how it came about.

Apple’s AirTag is finally coming out.

My pushbike is evolving.

With the ongoing tweaks and additions it is really starting to feel ‘right’. I wonder how I’ll feel when my new bike eventually arrives. Will it be feel like a soulless off the shelf generic model? I’m certainly in no hurry for it.

Some interesting Star Wars stuff going under the hammer.

#TheWeb

More on Facebook jumping on the audio bandwagon.
Governments are using covid as an excuse to crack down on press freedom.
Looking at the Documentally community map I see quite a few of you are in cycling distance. Well, all of you are if I only had a few months off.
Surely if MI5 are to increase their transparency they will become invisible.
After reading the latest post from David Charles I’ll certainly be having a trespass over the weekend.
A fascinating mapping project showing runway direction across the world.
This Irish academic is getting his PhD in ghost whiskey.
I have put the Milton Keynes International Festival in my diary. See you there?

#TheEnd

While I can I’m choosing natural rhythms over algorithms.

There is no better time to embrace the moment. What if this is as good as it’s ever going to get?

Thanks for reading.

“Eventually, we may reach a point when it will be impossible to disconnect from this all-knowing network even for a moment. Disconnection will mean death. If medical hopes are realised, future people will incorporate into their bodies a host of biometric devices, bionic organs and nano-robots, which will monitor our health and defend us from infections, illnesses and damage. Yet these devices will have to be online 24/7, both in order to be updated with the latest medical news, and in order to protect them from the new plagues of cyberspace. Just as my home computer is constantly attacked by viruses, worms and Trojan horses, so will be my pacemaker, my hearing aid and my nanotech immune system. If I don’t update my body’s anti-virus program regularly, I will wake up one day to discover that the millions of nano-robots coursing through my veins are now controlled by a North Korean hacker.” ~ Yuval Noah Harari

Be original,

See you out there.

Over…