Biorhythm Exhibition @ Science Gallery

The Science Gallery tonight hosted the official opening of this fascinating and insightful exhibition which explores how music affects us in our everyday lives whether we’re aware of it or not.

A multitude of overwhelming sights and sounds greeted me upon arrival with the crowds adding their own brand of music. However, this was the opening night and things were bound to become a little crowded. I ducked and weaved my way through the throng to see such things as an instrument that is so sensitive to the pressure and movement of the musicians fingers that only one person in the world can play it. A participatory experiment that seeks to gather raw data concerning how music affects our biology and brain activity – the first comprehensive study of its kind -  was clearly the most popular of the night. Unfortunately, the crowds once again got the better of me.

The exhibit seems like a great way to spend a couple of hours both from a scientific and an entertainment point of view. Biorhythm opens its doors to the public on the 2nd of July and runs right up until the 1st of October.

Entertainment, Tech

July 1, 2010

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Impulsiveness And Indecision Do Not Good Bedfellows Make

A monstrous amount of ridiculously mundane impulses govern our everyday lives. Foot go on ground. Hand go in pocket. Head twitch. Buy pencils. Lose keys. Weep uncontrollably. All of these fleeting little thoughts are naught without the fascinating mechanism of cause and effect. You decide to run and you go faster. You put the key in the lock, the door opens. You disrobe in public, you attract reproachful stares. However, if you’re the kind of person that’s like me – but not actually me because that would be bloody ridiculous – then you are subject to an incessant buzzing of thoughts on an hourly basis.

Much of these little impulses don’t make much sense. In fact it’s generally considered good practice not to give me too much to do at any one point lest I come back wondering why you just asked me to throw sods of turf at a cat. It’s a good thing to be impulsive but when it’s coupled with a tendency to go into a sort of mental feedback loop when given a simple choice between fried rice or chips it get’s a little old.

Imagine the scenario: You’re standing in front of two equally delicious fast food restaurants. BAM! The impulse hits you! You want some food – now. Walk towards fast food outlet. Wait! Which one? This one has good sauce on the burgers but that one has a security guard who intentionally scares children. Hilariously inappropriate or tasty burger? How do I choose?!

This is my life and I’m living it one day at a time…

Life

April 29, 2010

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21st Century Blues

My Man-Nest does the trick. A decent computer, screen at the end of the bed for watching movies and late night browsing, functional desk, plenty of storage. All that’s missing is a kitchen but I have one of those downstairs. I could probably bring the kettle up here so half hourly tea trips aren’t required but that would undoubtedly piss off my housemates.

And so we come to the crux of this concept: what’s missing from my fortress of solitude? Plenty. That’s what’s missing. As a shamelessly consumerist fanboy I need unnecessary things in my life. I am without HD anything. I am Playstation-less as much I am sans Xbox. Blu-ray for me is Mr. Romano in the Antarctic. I, like everyone else, blame the economy. And the banks. And George Bush.

I ask you: what the hell is wrong with my generation? The other day I helped my young cousin set up his iPod touch and his iTunes account. Despite my hatred of all things Apple I found myself yearning, no, lusting for one of these shiny devices. Apple you are the high-class hooker of the consumer electronics world and I almost fell prey to your sweet honey trap. Steve Jobs, I’m going to continue using my humble Creative Zen until it turns to dust (most likely because I will have to keep tapping away to get through it’s awful shuffle function that plays the same song three times in one hour).

So readers tell me of your impulsive buys and the shame you felt when you realised that rather than needing what you just bought you were succumbing to some counter-evolutionary compulsion that will see us all with LCD screens in our teeth in ten years time. I have mine on pre-order…

Tech

March 29, 2010

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A Little Introduction

By my last count this is my fourth consecutive blog. The previous three have been under different monikers but what they all have in common is they’re all in the big blogosphere in the sky now. Victims of my persistent indecision. Now that my bloody names on this one their isn’t much backing out I can do now. At least that’s the idea.

In a bold surge of faux-professionalism I’ve gone all minimal and new age with the layout and theme. The double semi-colons flanking my John Hancock up there really give it that digital flare don’t you think? Ooh you can smell the biting self-deprecation can’t you! This is irony wrapped in sarcasm wrapped in more irony and even I’m confused…

That’s it for the introduction now here’s the serious bit. This is basically a mini-showcase of my writing, be it humourous, observational, insightful, discursive, satirical or just for the hell of it. I hope you enjoy reading it and give me a shout if you do. I’m actually a nice guy when I want to be.

Miscellaneous

March 28, 2010

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