Senses working overtime #23

1: Medium
This is a cool run down of the various things Medium.com has to offer.

2: Han Solo in carbonite
I mentioned the Han in carbonite fridge a while ago - here is the next installment: Han on pop tarts!

3: Abandoned

This is pretty cool - pictures of empty and abandoned buildings. Nice one...

4: I choose NOT to race

I include this video from vox on the myth of race for the way it's put together as much as the message (Marshall McLuhan you bloody genius!).

5 and overtime: It's the term holidays!

How can I NOT play these two songs (saving Alice Cooper for December). BTW - the Madonna version is from Live Aid in 1985 - always, always love watching this version!!

Senses working overtime #22

1 360 views
I have visited this site a few times and I always find something new that delights me. Try it if you haven't already and marvel at how great modern technology can be!

2 PLUTO!

No!! Not the Disney character...the planet. Apparently it is one again, as these stunning photos prove conclusively. It sure LOOKS like a planet. 

Again though - technology eh? Wicked!

3 Star Wars - the logo!
This week's Star Wars feature is pretty damn cool - how the logo was designed. I know, perhaps at first glance that doesn't SEEM like such an exciting thing but, believe me, this article is a veritable treasure trove for SW obsessives like me. Take a look! Go on!

4 Beach Boys - How 'bout that Carl Wilson?!
I've been listening to a lot of BB material this week. Here are two of my favourite BB songs with the mighty Carl on lead vocals. What a voice! And so good to see the three Wilson brothers playing together.




5 Bill Murray
I love Bill for the man he is and the man he doesn't want to be. This article lists a few other reasons why I love him.

Overtime: Go The All Blacks
The rugby World Cup is now on and among the many NZ products to hone in on a marketing opportunity is one of our milk companies. It's a pretty cool idea!

Senses working overtime #21

1 Writing

I've finished Murakami's Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki. It's a fantastic book. One of my all time Murakami favourites. Coincidentally I came across this quote about his writing regime. It deserves to be shared:

“When I’m in writing mode for a novel, I get up at 4:00 am and work for five to six hours. In the afternoon, I run for 10km or swim for 1500m (or do both), then I read a bit and listen to some music. I go to bed at 9:00 pm. I keep to this routine every day without variation.”

2 Speaking of morning rituals...
I read about Morning Pages recently and it made sense. I post on one of my blogs every morning before the daily grind kicks in. Since my wife gave up working nights I have had to adjust from night time writing to morning. 

Confession time - it's more of a struggle to get myself going there but I'm happy with the discipline involved.

3 London town
The current Mrs Purdzilla and I are planning a holiday back to London at Christmas this year. My juices are flowing!

The first thing we do after landing at Heathrow is grab a coffee at Costa, find that day's Guardian and plan our next move which usually involves putting on layers of clothes and heading to the Underground. 

I. Love. The. Underground!

It really opens up my senses - weird this - but I love the smell of the Underground! I also love that first moment when the train comes out of the journey into London above ground for a spell. It's like waking up in Narnia!

4 London sounds
Thought I'd throw this version of Chris Difford's immortal London tale Up The Junction into this edition on Jewels:




5 Star Wars Now

Loving this mash up style photo and link to Star Wars now photography sent to me by my favourite daughter-in-law. Cheers Ashleigh!

Overtime: I've been dipping into this article on habits all week - trying to do some self diagnosis!! It links to number two item above quite nicely!

Senses working overtime #20

1 Limitless
Before the ink was even dry on Senses Working Overtime #19 I came across this wonderful piece about designing the artwork (a.k.a. cover) to Ajaz Ahmed's new book (the Velocity wunderkind). Some initial plans are below. 

The design process is fascinating and I loved reading how the audience and other considerations are factored into a cover. Great stuff!!

2 Eatsa
I already love San Francisco but here's another reason why.

3 Mindfulness
Feel like taking a breath and looking around at your world? Me too. Here's something to read while you contemplate that idea.

4 New sounds
had a visit to JB HiFi in Palmerston North during the week. Stocked up!! Including this from Jamie xx. I'd read a Mojo review of the album (In Colour) and it was positive, plus I like XX. That helps. And YES - I still visit bricks and mortar music shops, I still browse the racks and YES I still buy CDs. I'm a freak, I know.



5 Star Wars toys
Okay, while I'm confessing - YES I would love (LOVE) some of these new Star Wars action figures that have been just released to tie in with The Force Awakens.

Overtime - Graham Brazier's death won't register much on a world scale but for kiwis of a certain age who lived through Hello Sailor in their Stonesy prime it will be sad news. My mate Greg included this on his blog - a link to the news story and a clip of Blue Lady.

Senses working overtime #19

1 Star Wars theme park
OMG - hot flushes going overtime with this news. How cool will this be? Can I live there??

2 Robert Frost
I enjoyed thinking anew about Robert Frost's famous The Road Not Taken poem thanks to this article.

3 Deep Blue
Try this as an opening paragraph to a great article on whether machines will ever replace teachers: 

In the spring of 1997 in New York City, IBM’s chess-playing computer, Deep Blue, took on Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov in a rematch of their 1996 match. In the sixth and decisive game of the match, Deep Blue unexpectedly sacrificed his knight and pulled Kasparov into a trap. Less than twenty moves into the game, Kasparov was forced to resign. 

It was a watershed moment. A machine had outsmarted the world’s greatest chess player.

4 Magazine covers
Who doesn't love an article that traces the development in magazine covers for some iconic mags? What I thought! Check out this and for the record I'm a Star Wars fan who doesn't approve of that GQ spread.

5 Earth
Ever wondered why 'Earth' is called 'Earth'? Me too. Here's the answer.

Overtime
This Jimi Hendrix clip turned up on Walrus Gumboot and I was there in the zone baby!

Senses working overtime #18

1 Star Wars
An awesome poster is keeping my juices whetted (if that's a thing)

2 Guardians Of The Galaxy

Love this great anti bullying message from the Marvel people. It's a lovely subtle image that packs a cool as message. And it features maple leaves which is, like, my thing!

3 Rogue Nation

This is a great read. I admit it - I'm a fan of the franchise and the man. This article helps you understand why.

4 WOW

These close up photos are amazing...

5 First and last

I watched this collection of first and last frames from 50 or so movies and was entranced from the start. Eerie and beautifully put together. Thanks JW.

First and Final Frames from Jacob T. Swinney on Vimeo.

Overtime: In the pink
This video explaining the way pink became associated with women is pretty cool. Who knew?

Senses working overtime #17

1 Ghost In The Gun

One of my four talented children is producing this film in San Francisco. The poster is really cool! Designed by a friend of Samantha's. Can't wait to see it!

2 Sleep
This Guardian article on sleep caught my eye. I could do with some quality sack time at the moment after an epic week of outdoor adventure.

3 Emails versus Gogol
We are mad about quizzes where I work - staff have a daily quiz at lunchtime and my students love them too if Kahoots is anything to go by. I loved this quiz: are the lines from Nikolai Gogol, a 19th century Russian writer, or an email from the writer's boss in 2015?

4 and 5 Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
Some fun loving staff, my Year 12's and I went walk 20 kilometres in the Tongariro National Park. Awesome. Epic. Here are two shots that exemplify the experience:

Overtime: Don't Stop Believing!!

I found myself thinking this a few times this week (and on Friday afternoon I turned up the volume baby!)