S.o.t.D. - Merciful (Herbert’s We Mix) – Nils Petter Molvær

Merciful (Herbert’s We Mix) – Nils Petter Molvær 

Matthew Herbert’s remixes tend to always be exceptional, and I think this may be the one I like best.

Dustman!

Disorienting his opponents by blowing a snootful of sawdust into their face and following up with 2500 RPM of 80 grit sandpaper to the face.

S.o.t.D. - The Sign – Volor Flex

The Sign – Volor Flex

Ooooohhh that bass line....

S.o.t.D. - We’re Beat Now – Boral Kibil

We’re Beat Now – Boral Kibil

Soaring melodies and beats, and a smoking hot babe. Yes please.

Swiss Room Box

Being big into modular anything, and storage solutions in particular, I really like this a lot.

It allows you to transform a large number of automobiles into a versatile travel vehicle. It is storage, food prep and cooking, washing, and sleeping, combined into one elegant package. Yet it can be removed quite easily if the trunk space is needed for something else.

All I can say is I’m impressed and intrigued.
http://www.swissroombox.com/

Bibliophilia: The Last Days of American Crime by Rick Remender & Greg Tocchini

The Last Days of American Crime – Rick Remender & Greg Tocchini

Very dark, very violent - a heist story set in the near future, where the government is about to emit a signal that will make any citizen incapable of committing an act they know to be criminal. But just before this happens a crook is hell bent on one last heist that will set him up for life. He enlists a couple to help him. Good twist at the end. Loved the line “That walk tells the whole story. Every step an instant chapter. Its own language. On its own frequency.” 

Droids Don’t Cry

Love this homage to Star Wars/Norman Rockwell.

The artist, Mark Hammermeister also did this:

Both images can be purchased from his Etsy shop as a signed, numbered, limited edition 13x19 art print on acid-free art paper, for $30 USD.

S.o.t.D. - 6:07 – Plug

6:07 – Plug

Another guise of Luke Vibert. The beats in this are mind boggling.

S.o.t.D. - Kincajou – Banco De Gaia

Kincajou – Banco De Gaia

Off the fantastic “Last Train to Lhasa.”

Artspiration – Samuel Silva

At first I was tempted to call shenanigans, and claim that it’s a photograph, but apparently this is done with ball point pens. Wow.

http://www.juxtapoz.com/Current/ballpoint-pen-drawing-by-samuel-silva 

http://vianaarts.deviantart.com/

Kayak Build pt. 3

The forms go on the strongback. Pretty fiddly job. Making sure everything is level and straight and spaced properly, takes up a good chunk of time. But given how critical that is, unavoidable.

Hank was adamant that he didn’t want to use staples to construct the kayaks. One school of thought states to use staples to hold the strips in place. Run the glue into the groove, put on the next strip, and staple it on to the forms to hold them in place to dry. When it’s all done, you remove the staples. This leaves a fairly noticeable matrix of tiny holes. Even filled in with a slurry of epoxy and saw dust, they can be spotted. I’m not necessarily dead set against their use, but had to concede that the end result would probably look better without the staple holes. The cedar strip canoe that he built years ago he did without staples, and if he was familiar with doing without them, I would happily follow his lead.

There are a few different strategies you can use to achieve a staple-less build. Canadian Canoe in Mississauga peddles a pretty slick (although some might argue a bit pricey) kit. Hank put on his thinking cap and devised what I believe is a unique system. That works really damn well.

Some views of the forms on the strongback.

What Hank devised was a system of grooved blocks that could be positioned anywhere on the forms to increase or decrease tension, with the tension being provided by shock cord.

Screws in strategic places allowed the bungee cord to be criss-crossed around the entire strongback.

Plenty of extra bungee was left at either end. If an area needed some extra attention it could be wrapped around and clamped in place. Depending on the need, the whole system could be removed or shifted without a whole lot of drama.

This system will here to fore be known as the “Nyhof Clampage System.” I decree it.

On a project like this, clamps are indispensable. (And you can also see another indispensable item in the third picture, Ted Moores’ Kayakcraft.)

Go here for part 4 of the build.

S.o.t.D. - You Don't Understand Me – The Raconteurs

You Don’t Understand Me – The Raconteurs

S.o.t.D. - Freedom (Soundprank “Smashed Glass” Mix) – Arthur Deep, Shiftone

Freedom (Soundprank “Smashed Glass” Mix) – Arthur Deep, Shiftone

I probably over use the word epic, because it’s all my nephew says to describe everything, but this is a pretty epic track.

S.o.t.D. - Carbon Based Lifeforms - Refraction 1.33

Refraction 1.33 – Carbon Based Lifeforms

Epic ambientosity.

Kayak Build pt. 2

Some more crappy photos of the build.

We explored the idea of roller stands to feed the lumber (2"x10"x20' cedar) through the table saw, and then subsequently through the planer and router. Ended up devising our own system. Mounted some 2x4s to the beams in the ceiling and fastened them to the floor. Then we mounted a horizontal piece of 2x4 with some pieces of ultra-high molecular weight poyethyene atop them. Very slick, and with a chamfered edge along the side the lumber would be coming from, it worked perfectly. Rather than screwing the wood together, we just mounted it with a clamp to accommodate the different height of the different tools. If one was slighty higher or lower than the other, we could adjust and drive on.

Some UHMW tape on the surface of the table saw also helped with getting the wood across.

Ripping strips. And making sawdust. Lots of sawdust.

First cuts. These will then be down their lengths into even thinner strips.

But before that could happen they needed to be planed. Four planks side by side to make the process a little faster.

And a little more sawdust.

Then the ripping into thinner planks could begin.

And just because I love the stuff so much, we produced a bit more sawdust.

The strips were then planed again. And, yes, some more sawdust for good measure. 6 garbage bags full in one day.

Table full of strips.

Stinking hot attic, lots of sawdust....not so fun. Oh well. Just wait till the sanding portion.

Wait, let me just sweep up a little more sawdust.

Go here for part 3 of the build.

S.o.t.D. - Halcyon – Workbench

Halcyon – Workbench

Soundtrack to a really epic event in ones life.

Bob Kramer Damascus Kitchen Knives

I’ve been a happy user of Zwillings knives for 25 years. While I’m not in the market for these knives, I thought they were nonetheless very nice, and enjoyed seeing a little bit of the manufacturing process.

S.o.t.D. - Future Funk – Bill Riley

Future Funk – Bill Riley

Heard this a long time ago on a mix tape that Jarkko gave me, but never knew the name of it. Playing some random tracks recently I discovered it again. Still super duper good after all these years. Bouncy roller.

The LEGO® Story

Being the dork I am I already know the story of Lego, but for anyone not quite so obsessed, now you too can learn the story of the most bestest toy, ever!

S.o.t.D. - Tears Will Fall – Yagya (feat. Ellen Kristjánsdóttir)

Tears Will Fall – Yagya (feat. Ellen Kristjánsdóttir)

I know that in an alternate universe, this gorgeous track will be a huge hit, selling millions of records, with the creators mobbed by legions of rabid fans.....alas, in this universe, this will not transpire.

S.o.t.D. - Ice Forming On Glass – Bluetech

Ice Forming On Glass – Bluetech

Can’t even begin to describe how stupendously good this is.

S.o.t.D. -E.S.T. (Trip To The Moon) – Alien Sex Fiend

E.S.T. (Trip To The Moon) – Alien Sex Fiend

Absolutely loved this band when I was a teenager, and this song especially. There isn’t much in the way of clothes I had many years ago that I miss. My Alien Sex Fiend T-shirt is one such garment. Need to get myself another one.

S.o.t.D. - A Day Without You (Will Sonic Edit) – Osunlade

A Day Without You (Will Sonic Edit) – Osunlade

This is what house is supposed to be: funky and soulful.

Bibliophilia: Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites by Evan Dorkin & Jill Thompson

Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites – Evan Dorkin & Jill Thompson

Terrific read! A cast of dogs (and a cat) investigating and battling nefarious, supernatural goings on in the sleepy town of Burden Hill. Geared towards kids in some respects, but maybe more for kids a bit older. Liked the art, liked the stories.

S.o.t.D. - Boxing Day – Lojik

Boxing Day – Lojik

Smooth as silk.

S.o.t.D. - Experience – Textural Being

Experience – Textural Being

If this track doesn’t make you move there is something wrong with you. Sublimely awesome.

S.o.t.D. - La Mer – Lemongrass

La Mer – Lemongrass

Image suits the music perfectly. Babe lying in a hammock on a beach.

Bibliophilia: The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

The Forever War – Joe Haldeman

Allegorical tale about Vietnam, and an interesting counterpoint to Starship Troopers by Heinlein. A war that because of jumps through temporal portals, lasts for hundreds, thousands of years. Presents an interesting conundrum in that the main character is fighting for a people and a culture that have changed so drastically that none of the motivations seem to make much sense any more. Kind of spoiled for me by the knowledge that now a country has a hard time mustering up public support and resources for a low intensity conflict that lasts a decade, let alone an interstellar conflict that lasts for millenia.

S.o.t.D. - The World (Is Going Up In Flames) – Charles Bradley Feat. Menahan Street Band

The World (Is Going Up In Flames) – Charles Bradley Feat. Menahan Street Band

On the great Daptones label. This whole record, No Time For Dreaming, is worth checking out if you’re at all into funk and soul from the 60s and 70s.

Speed Archery

Either we have to ban high capacity quivers, and deadly automatic assault bows....or I am completely smitten by this lass.

S.o.t.D. - Marbles – Plastikman

Marbles – Plastikman

For all those who claim that techno is soul-less and boring, a track like this proves them wrong. This totally takes you on a journey.

S.o.t.D. - Escape – Bluetech

Escape – Bluetech

More sublime perfection from Bluetech.

S.o.t.D. - Jeep Sex – Akufen

Jeep Sex – Akufen

Oddly random, but the picture of Meneer de Uil from the Dutch kids show De Fabeltjes Krant made me smile.

S.o.t.D. - Twist Another – Alkahest

Twist Another – Alkahest

A tight little groover from Burlington Ontario’s finest, Legion of Green Men, in their techno guise.

Bibliophilia: Information is Beautiful – David McCandless

Information is Beautiful – David McCandless

Yes it is, and not only were there lots of inspiring examples of data visualization and information graphics, but I also learned a bunch of neat little factoids from it.

Kayak Build pt. 1

I guess it has officially begun........

We got CNC cut molds - saves a lot of time and probably more accurate than we could do. But they were made from particle board - easily damaged, especially if bending stems around them. Using some ½" plywood we copied them, cut them out and shaped them with a sander. Rather than risk damaging something that we’ll need for two builds right out of the gate, it was worth the effort to make a copy to bend the stems over. The size and the outer curve was the only part we needed to be persnickety about. The holes are for the clamps, and those could be as rough as they are. This is the bow mold. 

Stern mold copy.

Bow mold copy.

Stern mold copy.

Planed very thin cedar. Bear Mountain was kind enough to give us a pair of stems for free, but we needed more than one set.

We didn’t use steam to bend them either. The piece with the knot hole was left till the last. If we needed it we could use it and fix the hole with epoxy and cedar saw dust paste. But since it was the stem that would go inside, it didn’t matter much. We achieved the thickness we needed without it, so it was put aside.

Work table at just the right height.

Dampen one side of the cedar slats, Gorilla Glue on the other side of the next slat, form a laminate and then bend and clamp. Worked very well.

 Stern mold all clamped up.

You can never have too many clamps.

Clampification.

Kayak attic as we’ve taken to calling it. With the most important piece of equipment of all - a rotating fan. Makes it somewhat bearable in this heat.

Go here for part 2 of the build.