S.o.t.D. - Needin’ U II – David Morales

Needin’ U II – David Morales

Hopefully your NYE involves tunes this funky.

S.o.t.D. - Changes – Distant Future

Changes – Distant Future

Not the best D&B ever, but still really damn spectacular.

S.o.t.D. - Eiszauber – Solomun & Stimming

Eiszauber – Solomun & Stimming

What constitutes fame keeps being diluted

My niece informed me that she is dating a boy. She also informed me that his dad is famous. Well. A famous person! Who could it be? A noted captain of industry? A celebrated author of books? A feted stalwart of broadcasting? A lauded performer of music? An honoured doctor of science?

“He makes videos of himself eating stuff on YouTube. He has one where he eats a jar of pickles, and another one where he eats a jar of Nutella. He makes a living from it.”

Wow! We really are living in the end times. I’m not sure what does my head in more. That someone can make a living eating a jar of something if they video tape it or that people spend their valuable time watching this or that doing this now apparently constitutes fame.

S.o.t.D. - Visions – Ritual

Visions – Ritual

Very chilled out duet. 

S.o.t.D. - sæði (ft. steffenyoshiki & kid hnrk) – drip-133

sæði (ft. steffenyoshiki & kid hnrk) – drip-133

Languid and evocative.

S.o.t.D. - In My Arms – Synkro & Manos

In My Arms – Synkro & Manos

Definitely the Yule vibe I’m having. Wow, is this ever awesome!

S.o.t.D. - A New Philosophy – Zen Mechanics

A New Philosophy – Zen Mechanics

This is Yule music in my world.

S.o.t.D. - Cafe Prague – Groovejuice

Cafe Prague – Groovejuice

I feel sorry for you if this doesn’t have you dancing around the room.

S.o.t.D. - But I Do – Poldoore

But I Do – Poldoore

Soulful.

S.o.t.D. - Nia – M.O.A.N.

Nia – M.O.A.N.

Refreshing.

S.o.t.D. - Cold Sun – CHVRN

Cold Sun – CHVRN

Panoramic Photos of the Sacred Geometry of Iran’s Mosques

Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji is a 23 year old physics student from northern Iran, interested in panoramic and architecture photography. His beautiful photos celebrate the sacred geometry of Iran’s mosques.

Nasir-Al-Mulk Mosque 

Seyyed Mosque

Vakil Mosque

http://gravity.ir/galleries/architecture/

Bibliophilia: Barbarian Lord – Matt Smith

Barbarian Lord – Matt Smith

Love the art, love the story. Take some Beowulf, some Conan, some Tolkien, throw in a good dose of Norse mythology and Icelandic sagas, and what you end up with is this thoroughly enjoyable yarn. A warrior poet, cheated out of his farm by the evil Skullmaster and his witch consort, goes on a quest to reclaim it. Along the way he encounters ghouls and trolls, berserkers and sea monsters. Much hacking, smashing, lopping and slashing takes place. Different pairs of birds observe his progress and provide commentary to fill in the gaps. Fun for kids and adults. And the good news is that it appears more is bubbling in the cauldron.

www.barbarianlord.com 

S.o.t.D. - Sempiternal – Clubroot

Sempiternal – Clubroot

While I think most “dubstep” is the hair metal of the 2010s, every once in a while I hear something cited as a defining influence, and it makes me not hate it so much.

S.o.t.D. - ARP3 – Floating Points

ARP3 – Floating Points

S.o.t.D. - The Unexpected Guest – Akufen

The Unexpected Guest – Akufen

It came out in 2001 and it still sounds fresh to me.

S.o.t.D. - Approaching Farewell (Stumbleine Remix) – Sweetheart of Kairi

Approaching Farewell (Stumbleine Remix) – Sweetheart of Kairi

Fantastic 2 minutes on the longbow.

S.o.t.D. - When They Come For Me – Linkin Park

When They Come For Me – Linkin Park

After listening to and liking Meteora over a decade ago, for whatever reason, I really haven’t checked out anything else they’ve done. Was browsing at the library and came across A Thousand Suns. This was the standout track for me.

S.o.t.D. - Once Again (Red Snapper Remix) – Hang Massive

Once Again (Red Snapper Remix) – Hang Massive

This utilizes a Hang drum. Fantastic piece of music!

Hitchcraft – Fenix E12 Ring Fob

My new Fenix E12 was mentioned as playing a helpful role in this happy story.

I’m sure arguments have raged for years on CandlePowerForums over which battery is the best, but I just gravitate towards lights that run on commonly available / rechargeable AA or AAA batteries. (18650 and CR123 batteries aren’t going to be found if I have to stop at a gas station along a highway in northern Ontario.) And I’m especially a fan of single AA lights. Maybe not the brightest, or the longest run time, for my needs they’re okay.

I have been a very happy user of a Fenix L1D for years, but wanted another, similar light.

I had been carrying this around in various pockets since getting it, intending to whip up a pouch for it. I also had grand schemes to take lots of photographs before I put this fobby, ringy thing on it. Like the pouch, neither idea was realized.

The fobby, ringy thing was realized this afternoon, and the pouch will be soon as well.

Details for all the flashaholics. 

Runs on one 1.5V AA battery, which powers a Cree XP-E2 LED with a 50,000 hour lifespan. Made of aircraft-grade aluminum with a Type III hard-anodized finish. It’s 90mm (3.54") long, with a 19mm (0.75") diameter, and a weight of 28.5gm (1.0 oz) without the battery. (1 AA cell can weigh between 15 g (0.81 oz) to 31 g (1.1 oz) ).Pressing the tail cap all the way down clicks the flashlight on or off. When it comes on it is at its lowest setting, 8 lumens, which will run for 40 hours on a Ni-MH and 22 hours with an alkaline battery. A tap on the tail cap, bumps it up to the mid level, 50 lumens which runs for 6½ hours on a Ni-MH and 3½ hours with an alkaline battery. Another tap bumps it up to its highest setting level, 130 lumens, which runs for 1½ hours on a Ni-MH and 1 hour with an alkaline battery. It’s digitally regulated, meaning that the the power drawn from the battery remains at a constant the whole time. No slowly waning light over a long time. Bright, even light for a given period, and then it dies. The maximum distance the light will reach out to is 88 meters (289'). It is rated to survive a drop from 1 meter (3.3'), and has an IPX-8 rating to be waterproof to a depth of 2 meters for 30 minutes.

Unlike the L1D I have, only one side of the light opens up, the bottom (light end).There is no tail cap switch out, but the, end you open to get at the battery takes care of that by rotating it slightly. No strobe or SOS function, but lightly tapping the tail switch, makes for a rudimentary strobe.

Goes for around the $30 mark.

The ring fob serves as a tactile indicator, both what it is and which end it is, to pull it from a pouch or pocket, and as a more secure way to hold it. I can grasp it to shine on something, but I can also drop it, still retain it, and do whatever I need to do with my fingers.

 8 lumens.

130 lumens.

It can be hooked over either the forefinger or thumb, although I prefer the forefinger.

Here you can see a flaw where the grey Spectra cord I used as a base shows through. Two loops worth that I sewed together side by side, since I didn’t want to have a bump from a knot in it. Covered that with neon orange micro-cord in a solomon bar or cobra knot.

Some views of several indented rings, beveled areas on the tube and areas of knurling that make it a very grippable light.

If there is a drawback to this addition, it’s that I can’t stand it up on the tail now. Not that was ever really a consideration, so the drawback is a very minor one.

If you look really closely you can see where some of the anodizing has been damaged by several weeks/months of being carried around in pockets with keys, lighters, etc. Putting the split ring on the back also marred it a little bit. I don’t mind, expect it, and if I wanted a pristine light I would leave it in the packaging in a safe. I get lights to use them and expect them to get dinged up.

So far this has been another terrific little light from Fenix. Light, as in the weight sense. Bright. Several very useful modes. Nothing it doesn’t need. Fits easily in a pocket or pouch. Good self defence item. Runs on a battery type that is utterly ubiquitous, and can be had in rechargeables. $30. Added a ring fob to it which makes it even better. Also shows off my Netherlandic pride and makes it easy to find if I drop it.

S.o.t.D. - Someone – Synkro

Someone – Synkro

More new Synkro. So, so good!

S.o.t.D. - Les Pensées – The Architect

Les Pensées – The Architect

“Imagine the cranium’s shape, its thickness, its hardness. Compare the mental plan to a theater scene where characters are evolving. They are the pictures, the thoughts. Order those actors to withdraw, and keep only one picture. Install yourself in this thought and from this moment, stop doing and start being.”

S.o.t.D. - Mad World – Paul Kalkbrenner

Mad World – Paul Kalkbrenner

Loved the original by Tears for Fears, but this much beatier version is even better.

S.o.t.D. - What’s Up – Ed Rush

What’s Up – Ed Rush

While for the most part I like music that is a bit more mellow. I do however harbour a very large soft spot for the granite hard stylings of one Ed Rush and his cohorts. That mid 90’s tech step they were largely responsible for - a dark, nightmarish milieu in which to construct jaw dropping beat and bass concoctions - was so great. I can’t be in the mood for it very often, but every so often those jack hammering beats and that rumbling bass really hits the spot.

S.o.t.D. - w h i s p e r – J Δ Y E E M

w h i s p e r – J Δ Y E E M

The only thing, and I mean, the ONLY thing, wrong with this is that it is a scant 1½ minutes long.

WOW.

S.o.t.D. - yleed / kvapil (ft. kid hnrk & drew the architect) – drip-133

yleed / kvapil (ft. kid hnrk & drew the architect) – drip-133

Obscure as all get out, but what a gorgous tune. If I could find places that played this I would still go out.

S.o.t.D. - The Light House – Addex

The Light House – Addex

A lot more chillaxed than what I was expecting from these, generally, purveyors of deep grooves. But that’s not at all a bad thing. In fact, this is a very good thing.

S.o.t.D. - Infinity – Masato Hatanaka

Infinity – Masato Hatanaka

This is actually a commercial done by WOW in Japan for Citizen Watches to display in their booth at 2009’s BASELWORLD, the big international watch and jewelry trade show in Basel, Switzerland. Like the music, love the visuals.

7 Ways You Can Spot a Predator

So a new guy showed up at work and something seemed a bit off about him. Couldn’t entirely place my finger on it at first. Began to notice things, the way he interacted with women, and the check marks went up next to this list in my brain. All the boxes were checked. Multiple check marks went up beside each box.

Went to my boss. Told him point blank to get rid of him. And he did.

Please consider sharing this. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say this could save someone you love from a lot of misery. Or worse. 

Learn to recognize these signs!

7 Ways You Can Spot a Predator

In his highly recommended book “The Gift of Fear”, author Gavin De Becker offers seven ‘Survival Signals’ to help you recognize a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The technical term is PINS (Pre-Incident Indicators).

1) Forced Teaming. This is when a person implies that he has something in common with his chosen victim, acting as if they have a shared predicament when that isn’t really true. Speaking in “we” terms is a mark of this, i.e. “Oh....we missed the bus. Now what are we going to do?”

2) Charm and Niceness. This is being polite and friendly to a chosen victim in order to manipulate him or her by disarming their mistrust.

3) Too many details. If a person is lying they will add excessive details to make themselves sound more credible to their chosen victim.

4) Typecasting. An insult is used to get a chosen victim who would otherwise ignore one to engage in conversation to counteract the insult. For example: “Oh, I bet you’re too stuck-up to talk to a guy like me.” The tendency is for the chosen victim to want to prove the insult untrue.

5) Loan Sharking. Giving unsolicited help to the chosen victim and anticipating they’ll feel obliged to extend some reciprocal openness in return.

6) The Unsolicited Promise. A promise to do (or not do) something when no such promise is asked for; this usually means that such a promise will be broken. For example: an unsolicited, “I promise I’ll leave you alone after this,” usually means the chosen victim will not be left alone. Similarly, an unsolicited “I promise I won’t hurt you” usually means the person intends to hurt their chosen victim.

7) Discounting the Word “No”. Refusing to accept rejection.

Another article that delves into this a little bit more.

S.o.t.D. - The Take Down – Dabin & Koda

The Take Down – Dabin & Koda

Not big into vocals, but I have to say every time I hear Koda, I’m always really impressed.

S.o.t.D. - Faded (ODESZA Remix) – ZHU

Faded (ODESZA Remix) – ZHU

I really hate the message conveyed in the vocal, but this is undeniably catchy. From 2:15 to 2:45 is an almost perfectly crafted bit of tune.

S.o.t.D. - Free – The Moody Boys

Free – The Moody Boys

From 1990. Wow. I know they sample “A Serious Thing” by Horace Andy, but I don’t know who or what the female operatic sample is.

S.o.t.D. - Transient – Synkro

Transient – Synkro

Holy moly is this ever good! Everything Synkro does is incredible. That spacey sound he gets, the funk that envelops it all, the insanely crisp beats, that booming bass drum, that sinuous bass, the perfect tempo, the distant vocal snippets, those layered sounds, those warm vinyl crackles that blend in and out that he uses as sound elements in their own random way — absolutely magical. Sound of an orgasm.

Ferrofluid 01

Well worth watching in HD and full screen. Jawdropping.

Bibliophilia - 1982 – Jian Ghomeshi

1982 – Jian Ghomeshi

Just don’t read this book.

I borrowed it a few months ago from my sister and it was an okay read. I tried to catch the author’s CBC radio show as often as I could, generally always enjoyed it, and thought I’d give this a go. The memoir of a dorky, new wave music obsessed teenager in an Ontario suburb in the early 80’s, there were a lot of cultural touchstones I identified with. He’s literally a week older than me, and I could relate to much of what he wrote about.

It isn’t a horrible book, but it certainly isn’t the best thing you’ll ever read either. If he wasn’t the host of a popular radio show, would many have read it? Likely not.

But what really compels me to say “Just don’t read this book” are the recent revelations about his behaviour off the air. In case any one reading this is unaware, the author was accused by multiple female sources of being a creep at best, and a violent rapist at worst. I can’t recall a fall from grace so shocking, so swift and so spectacular. After being fired from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, being utterly vilified everywhere, about a week ago, he was charged by Toronto Police with four counts of sexual assault, and a rarely used charge, “overcome resistance – choking”.

I have a serious hate on for rapists, and while you would be correct to say that he has been charged and not convicted, I still think no one else read his book. Don’t even borrow it from the library, don’t even buy it from the remainder bin - fuck him. Just don’t give him the satisfaction of reading it. You won’t be missing much, and shitstains that hurt women should be ostracized.

S.o.t.D. - Somewhere – F3edo

Somewhere – F3edo

S.o.t.D. - Maxi/Mun Style Remix – Tom & Jerry

Maxi/Mun Style Remix – Tom & Jerry

Tom & Jerry is none other than Dego & Marc Mac from 4Hero.

Beautiful Chemical Reactions

Well worth watching in HD and full screen. Mindblowing.

S.o.t.D. - Warning (ft Brother Culture) – Mungo’s Hi Fi

Warning (ft Brother Culture) – Mungo’s Hi Fi

S.o.t.D. - Eugenic Device – Creation Rebel & The New Age Steppers

Eugenic Device – Creation Rebel & The New Age Steppers

Classic from 1981. 

S.o.t.D. - Balcony – Jordan Klassen

Balcony – Jordan Klassen

Interesting lyrics and melodies, accompanied by unexpected instruments like a glockenspiel, omnichord and ukulele. I like what this young songwriter from Western Canada is doing.

S.o.t.D. - Carry Me Away – Calibre

Carry Me Away – Calibre

The first 45 seconds of this are exquisite. The rest isn’t shabby either, but I prefer the beatless part.

S.o.t.D. - Reaching The End – Phole

Reaching The End – Phole

An unexpected gem that sneaks up and gets inside you. Subtle, reserved, and just a beautiful track.

S.o.t.D. - Everybody’s Beautiful – Amir Alexander

Everybody’s Beautiful – Amir Alexander

Not that I would know anything about this sort of thing, but I think this song might be about being high on Ecstasy on the dance floor. 

The point at about the 3 minute mark, when that second drum line kicks in....mmmmhhhh.

S.o.t.D. - Eva – Ishome

Eva – Ishome

Another impressive track from Ishome. Video is really interesting too.

S.o.t.D. - Flicking Pages – The Timewriter

Flicking Pages – The Timewriter

While Timewriter will always be associated with house music, I think this broadens out quite a bit.

Bibliophilia: The Manhattan Projects – Jonathan Hickman & Nick Pitarra

The Manhattan Projects Vol. 1 – Jonathan Hickman & Nick Pitarra

The Manhattan Projects Vol. 2 – Jonathan Hickman & Nick Pitarra 

Here in this graphic novel adaptation of the story of the Manhattan Project, we meet some of the players involved in this pivotal chapter of history.

We meet Joseph Oppenheimer who is the evil twin brother of Robert, and who eats the brain of an alien he’s just killed to gain the knowledge of space travel. We meet Enrico Fermi, who is really an alien disguised as a human. We meet Harry Daghlian, who after dying from radiation poisoning, has become a floating, irradiated skeleton in a special suit. We meet Albrecht Einstein, an alcoholic German physicist and Albert Einstein’s evil doppelganger. We meet artificial reality President F.D. Roosevelt. We meet President Harry F. Truman who spends his time engaged in Freemason rituals. We meet a very bellicose US Army lieutenant general Leslie Groves. We meet Wernher von Braun, who betrayed the Nazis and has a robotic left arm. We meet Yuri Gagarin, the Russian cosmonaut. We meet Laika, the Russian space dog can speak, and is smarter than anyone gives it credit for. 

What the hell is going on here?

This shit is completely gonzo. Weird but fun. If you like your alternate history really bent, this is for you.

Bibliophilia: Siegfried – Alex Alice

Siegfried Volume 1 – Alex Alice

Siegfried Volume 2, The Valkyrie – Alex Alice

I have only a very passing knowledge of Wagner. I was drawn to these not because of any fondness for his bombastic opera, The Ring of the Nibelung, which this is based on, but because of the gorgeous art work. The appendix’ with artwork the artist found inspiring and the making of are also terrific.

Just a visually stunning work, with a solid story behind it.

The worst part is having to wait for the third and final installment.

The artist is also working on an animated version.

S.o.t.D. - After Rain Comes Sun – Solomun

After Rain Comes Sun – Solomun

Hopefully, more tracks by Solomun come after this song.

Bibliophilia: The Order Of Things – Barbara Ann Kipfer

The Order of Things: How Everything in the World is Organized into Hierarchies, Structures, and Pecking Orders – Barbara Ann Kipfer

The other day I mentioned that natural history books are ones I frequently gravitate towards. But something sits above that in my hierarchy of books I love — reference books. I have a full set of Encyclopedia Brittanicas and quite often pull a random one down, open it to any page and read. One day I’ll read about a Swedish admiral from the 1700s, a town in Indiana and a type of beetle. Another day it will be a region in Chile, a battle in the Spanish Civil War, and a Norman king in the 1100s. There’s a reason everyone tells me I should go on Jeopardy and why you shouldn’t play Trivial Pursuit against me for money.

So this little gem was right up my alley. Random stuff I can cram into my memory.

Kipfer, (who has written 50 books and holds a PhD and MPhil in Linguistics from the University of Exeter, a PhD in Archaeology from Greenwich University, an MA and a PhD in Buddhist Studies from Akamai University, and a BS in Physical Education from Valparaiso University – stop being such a slacker lady!) has compiled a very entertaining and educational book of neatly organized lists of everything and anything you can imagine in this world.

Want to know what languages are spoken by the most people, what the ranks are in the Italian army, or who the leader in Mexico was in 1838? Can’t remember how many successful moon missions there were, whether a Baron ranks higher than a Marquis in French nobility, or what the boxing weight divisions are? Need to know what the size grading scale is for olives, eggs and stones? Curious about the specifics of the Torino Scale of asteroid impact hazards, the Mercali Scale for measuring earthquakes, or the Mohs Scale for measuring mineral hardness?

And this is just a fraction of the information it contains.

A physically small book, 6" by 4" by 1½", it is nonetheless bursting with over 600 pages of information.

S.o.t.D. - Drama Around The Corner – Andrés

Drama Around The Corner – Andrés

As one commenter put it very succinctly “Goddamn! Those drums!” Indeed! Plus the low key horn, the creamy bass line, subtle vocal parts, and just the beat itself. Sexy tune.

S.o.t.D. - Winter In Sardinia – Arpxp

Winter In Sardinia – Arpxp

The idea of a winter in Sardinia sounds appealing, and if this is the soundtrack, I’m sold.

S.o.t.D. - Schwindelig (Ian O’Donovan Remix) – Kollektiv Turmstraße

Schwindelig (Ian O’Donovan Remix) – Kollektiv Turmstraße

Smooth.

S.o.t.D. - Voiceprint (808 Mix1) – Jon Hassell vs 808State

Voiceprint (808 Mix1) – Jon Hassell vs 808State

From 1990 or so, but I was totally unaware of this. And I listened to quite a bit of 808 State around that time period.

S.o.t.D. - What About Me – Nihilist Spasm Band

What About Me – Nihilist Spasm Band

Seeing as I just mentioned them here, I thought it only appropriate to include one of their more popular numbers, demonstrating the vocal stylings of the afore mentioned Bill Exley.

Bibliophilia: David and Goliath – Malcolm Gladwell

David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants – Malcolm Gladwell

I fully admit to being a fan of Mr. Gladwells’s oeuvre. I waited with eager anticipation for this latest book of his, and enjoyed it. As always, it’s an engaging read that makes you consider things in a different light and makes you want to learn more.

The book explores the perceived notion that some have advantages and some have disadvantages is looked at in a different light. Could it be that people who are born without a silver spoon end up better off in some ways. Life may not be easy for them, but having the odds stacked against them, makes them adapt. Those adaptations sometimes give them skills and abilities that those born “normal” might envy.

I do have to say that while I liked the book, I wasn’t entirely convinced by his arguments. Correlation is not causation. A few anecdotes isn’t necessarily proof that privation early in life will necessarily make the person so resilient that they can surmount any obstacle. They’re interesting examples, but are any of them ironclad evidence that someone else with dyslexia can become a brilliant trial lawyer?

(On a slightly tangential note: about a year ago, I was surprised to see a photo in the Toronto Star of Malcolm Gladwell standing beside a man I had known for a long time: Bill Exley. 

I knew him as the lead singer of London, Ontario’s finest experimental noise band, The Nihilist Spasm Band. Having grown up with the kids of Greg Curnoe, I had known him for decades. A likeable oddball, who never stopped looking like a button down English teacher - which is exactly what he was - even when performing a classic like Destroy the Nations. Slacks, collared shirt, tie, sweater vest, proper haircut. And his deep stentorian voice - whether belting out What About Me? - or controlling a class full of teenagers - was a formidable thing. 

It turns that Mr. Exley was the high school english teacher of Malcolm Gladwell. And he credits him with being a looming inspiration.

Malcolm Gladwell’s high school teacher inspired many other greats )

Bibliophilia: The Fish in the Forest: Salmon and the Web of Life – Dale Stokes

The Fish in the Forest: Salmon and the Web of Life – Dale Stokes

If I was forced to choose just one section of the Dewey Decimal System that I could take with me to a deserted island, I think the natural history section might well be it. Some of my most cherished books are my modest collection of nature guides, and books about various aspects of nature. 

Having just finished Wolves in the Land of Salmon, seeing this at the library was perfect timing. Both deal with a keystone species in the north western part of North America. There is a little bit of overlap between the two books, and it’s really great to read both perspectives on the impact they have on eco-systems.

Salmon are fascinating.

And I get to read great obscure words like kype (the pronounced hook on the jaw of spawning stage male salmons), parr (the stage of a salmons life between fry and smolt), redd (a spawning nest dug by the female salmons tail), anadromy (migration from salt water to fresh water), semalparity (a single reproductive episode before death).

I just love books that allow me to learn a little more about how entire systems work - not just info about a given species. When effort is made to present what is known and how it all plays a part in a bigger picture scenario – I really appreciate that.

Nicely designed with lots of photos.

http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520269200

S.o.t.D. - Jade – Hokusai

Jade – Hokusai

Another guise of the always fantastic Source Direct.

Bibliophilia: Plastiki – David de Rothschild

Plastiki: Across the Pacific on Plastic - An Adventure to Save Our Oceans – David de Rothschild

I’ve mentioned taking part in cleanups in the Cootes watershed area. A lot of what we have to deal with is plastic detritus. Just in this relatively small area there is a lot of it. And it will eventually flow out into the ocean.

What I and many other conservation minded volunteers do though, while valuable, isn’t as imagination inspiring as this event was. While admittedly no plastic was removed from the Pacific, as a way to generate awareness of the issue, and a practical exploration of what can be done with recycled plastic, it had a value.

For me the most interesting part of the book wasn’t so much the activism or the voyage itself, but what went into making the boat. This wasn’t a half hearted effort, and a lot of time and money went into it. (A personal net worth $10 Billion {yes, he’s one of those Rothschilds} helps pay for the extensive R&D involved.) Nut-Gu, a polymer made from cashew nut oil and molasses sludge, and Seretex, a plastic from recycled plastic, were two of the items created to help build the boat.

Filled with lots of photos, sidebars, and infographics, it’s a surprisingly fun book about an unbelievably depressing subject. And hopefully one that inspires people to consume less plastic or come out in their area to clean this shit up.

• Every square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of floating plastic.
• One estimate states that in the Eastern Garbage Patch, a gyre in the NorthPacific that’s approximately twice the size of Texas, every pound of plankton is outmatched by 6 pounds of plastic litter.
• Almost 75 % of the world’s fish stocks are already fished up to or beyond their sustainable limit.
• For every 1 ton of plastic that is recycled, we save almost 2,000 pounds of oil.
• 17 million barrels of oil are used to make the 29 billion plastic bottles Americans consume each year.
• More than 28 million plastic bottles are used every minute.
• Five out of every six plastic bottles are not recycled.
• A plastic bottle can take 450 years to degrade.

If I have a gripe, and it’s a minor one, there is a total lack of photos showing the inside of the cabin. Sure there are a very few shots taken inside, but they’re closeups and show nothing of the living arrangements, layout, etc.

Some infographics from the time of the voyage describing the boat. (Clicking on the images should bring up much larger versions – right clicking and opening in a new tab will bring up an image that ins some cases can be clicked on for a much larger version.) Take note in the first picture, inside the circle on the centre right - that is the cabin, which was cut and scored from one very large and very rare sheet of Seretex. It had to be perfect the first time they did it. Talk about pressure.

And some infographics about the issue.

Good for anyone interested in sailing / boat design /environmental causes.

S.o.t.D. - Flora – Rocket Science

Flora – Rocket Science

It really is rocket science. Nice track - ambient elements, but with great beats.

S.o.t.D. - Your Drums, Your Love (Duke Dumont Remix) – AlunaGeorge

Your Drums, Your Love (Duke Dumont Remix) – AlunaGeorge

All music should be this fun and upbeat.

S.o.t.D. - Second Quarter – Deadbeat

Second Quarter – Deadbeat

Love the way this very slowly builds. Majestic dub.

S.o.t.D. - Uneins (Of Norway Version) – Kollektiv Turmstraße

Uneins (Of Norway Version) – Kollektiv Turmstraße

So sorry about the scantily clad babe in the video photo, but the track is so smoking hot it can be overlooked.

S.o.t.D. - Blind – Swans

Blind – Swans

This seemed somehow appropriate today.

S.o.t.D. - Big Love – Pete Heller

Big Love – Pete Heller

Can’t not be totally grooving to this about half a minute in. Timeless classic.

S.o.t.D. - Seven Samurai – Photek

Seven Samurai – Photek

Photek was years ahead of his time.

S.o.t.D. - Supreme Moment – Boral Kibil

Supreme Moment – Boral Kibil

A Boral Kibil track is pretty well guaranteed to be accompanied by a photo of a foxy babe.

S.o.t.D. - Upward Over The Mountain – Iron And Wine

Upward Over The Mountain – Iron And Wine

Bryce was playing this at the shop yesterday. Beautiful song.