Oct 16 2008

More Shlomo

Category: Videos — ChrisM @ 11:51 pm

So, it has been a while since I posted the original Shlomo post with videos, and when I looked it up again the other night to play to a friend, I decided to see what else was around.
First off we have one of the latest projects Shlomo has become involved with – The Vocal Orchestra. I think it is primarily meant ot be a trailer for the The Beatbox Choir DVD, but still worth watching IMO.

Here we have DJ Yoda (looks like someone else I need to look up sometime soon 🙂 ) working with Shlomo. I’m particularly interested in the use of live video effects with audio, and hope to see more of this sort of thing from Shlomo in the future.

Here we have a much longer video, worth listening through properly. He is paired up with another guy (who is apparently well known in that circle) and they play off each other well.

You can hear Shlomo and some of the Vocal Orchestra on the Radio 4 program ‘Loose Ends’ on the iPlayer service.

Oh, and finally, Shlomo linked to someone else’s YouTube video, of Bert & Ernie (from Seasame Street), laid over with Ante Up. Made me laugh, anyway 🙂

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Jun 11 2008

California Dreaming

Category: In The Media — ChrisM @ 1:27 am

With a refreshing change from the normal bias UK media displays, the BBC published an article (based on a Radio 4 transmission of a From Our Own Correspondent program), where an unnamed journalist did some research into the Medicinal Marijuana scene in California (specifically Los Angeles).

Protesting

Although there were a few ignorant stray remarks (420 being a local slang term for weed itself, the irrelevant nationality of the doctor he saw, as a couple of examples), overall it was quite informative, and interesting to read about from the point of a view of an outsider, rather than the sort of info I’ve read in the past from more deeply interested people on forums. In the end, I hope a at least a few people who were previously on the fence will read the article, and realise that whilst California’s approach is open to some abuse, it certainly seems better all round that the alternative of draconian laws and wasting police time prosecuting people participating in a victimless ‘crime’.

For a bit of further reading, check out this piece, describing an amateur home grower in Britain, and how some police forces are using thermal imaging devices to try and spot where the plant is being cultivated indoors.

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Nov 15 2007

More Carry On Luggage?

Category: In The Media — ChrisM @ 3:55 am

According to a BBC article, it looks possible that more hand luggage will be allowed for airline passengers flying from Britain next January. I don’t know if this will occur before we return to Kazakhstan, but it would be good to not have to try and stuff everything into one bag… it does not matter how much space you allow for last minute purchases, magazines, coats and other items always seem to conspire against me, and I end up stuffing loads into my trouser pockets. This does not tend to lead to the comfiest of dozings during the plane journey.
Also of note within the article is Lord West’s refusal to admit that Gordon Brown persuaded him to change his mind when it came to the possibility of extending the time allowed to detain suspected terrorists without charges. Apparently Lord West is but a simple sailing man, who was not able to put his thoughts into words clearly enough on an early morning Radio 4 program. The British Prime Minister then helpfully had a quick meeting with Lord West, after which Lord West was able to ‘clarify’ his feelings on the matter.

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Sep 02 2007

Don’t Blame The Net…

Category: In The Media — ChrisM @ 2:02 am

Put simply, Vint Cerf has said that the internet is NOT the root of all evil in today’s world. Instead, it is merely a reflection of the state of society in these troubled times. Without sick or misguided people who want to read or watch sites that contain dubious content, the pages would not be created.
As an example, he argued against the Tory’s latest plea for some new support, in which they tried to suggest sites like YouTube should restrict content based on a viewer’s age. I think the best quote was “When you have a problem in the mirror you do not fix the mirror, you fix that which is reflected in the mirror.” Anyway, I believe he puts his case well, click here to listen to the interview originally broadcast back in Britain on Radio 4.

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Aug 18 2006

A Little Later Than Intended

Category: Kazakh Driving,Kazakhstan,Personal,Pictures — ChrisM @ 3:12 am

OK, as promised, here is some more info, from Mum & John’s perspective.

This is basically a cut’n’paste job from an e-mail they sent to family and friends (with permission I hasten to add ;>)

“”For those of you ancient enough to Radio 4 be familiar with Alistair Cooke’s “Letter from America” this is likely to seem a pale comparison. Certainly less erudite and not as well crafted – but hopefully it will inform and maybe even amuse, though the political comment will be markedly absent!

This is Carol’s second visit to this amazing country and my first. As we flew in at night the lack of any settlements for hundreds of miles prior to landing in Astana was perplexing. It was hard to comprehend such vast tracts of land without population. Then Astana appears on the Kazakh Steppes resembling a modern Emirate city. Disney could not have bettered it! When Carol was here last she arrived through the back door, via the old capital of Almaty, then a twenty three hour train journey across a hot and dusty terrain. She made the trip for her son (Chris) & daughter in law’s (Irina) marriage. Jokingly she had said as she left to Irina’s father that he was to have a new airport built on her return. He did – and a pretty impressive airport to boot! It is so refreshing to see architecture which is not afraid to be adventurous, particularly in the teeth of such extreme weather conditions. Thankfully on this trip it has been kind to Carol & me, between 21°C & 30°C. The temperature can famously vary between -30°C in the winter to +40°C during the short summer months.
Continue reading “A Little Later Than Intended”

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