The 10 foot tall ( 3.048 m) work in progress Robocop statue. image: freep.com
In the 1987 the Dutch auteur film maker Paul Verhoeven created a movie unlike any other. He called it Robocop and I’m old enough to remember watching this dark comedy sci-fi masterpiece when it was brand spanking new.
This film and its sequel (humbly titled: Robocop 2) continue to resonate and influence today’s art and culture. Sometime this year or perhaps next, in the real-world city of Detroit a ten-foot tall Officer Murphy (aka Robocop himself) statue will be unveiled- 26 years after Verhoeven chose Detroit as the setting for a near future city on the brink of disaster due to the privatization of that city’s police force and its resulting corporate mismanagement.
It seems OCP, Detroit’s police force, have no choice but to create a half-man half-machine cyborg in hopes of not only a public relations coup but with an eye on a bright future of profitable policing. Enter the complicated messages stitched into Robocop.
Film like all media, has been used as a political statement before but perhaps Robocop did this unintentionally. It’s a sci-fi movie first and foremost but the personal message exists too: THIS MIGHT HAPPEN. “Dead or alive….you’re coming with me.” CP
The trendy and kitschy Owl. images/photos: Charity Blaine
Blog writers are like Indie music that’s about to become “cool”, or rather, they are the people that enjoy the Indie music before it’s “cool”, in fact, they are most likely part of the reason it eventually becomes popular. Only it’s not just music. It’s everything. Lifestyle bloggers like EVERYTHING before it’s cool. Therefore, I, as a blog reader, know about everything cool before it is cool. I, am a blog world hipster, and I’m only partly ashamed to admit it.
To clarify, it’s not just the blogs themselves that set the trends; it’s also the only shops where bloggers sell their handmade goods, such as etsy.com. Years ago, I remember searching for kitschy little polymer clay earrings shaped like foods at etsy, today, when I no longer want them, they are available for a fraction of the price at popular stores such as Clare’s and Arden’s, although truthfully, they do look cheaper. The handmade versions look more like real food than the store bought versions. You should never believe anything that doesn’t come with proof, so here are three substantial examples of bloggers, not retailers, setting the trends.
1) Owls. I really hate owls. I don’t think they’re cute. I don’t understand the obsession at all, but so many places these days sell things adorned with owls. Don’t get me wrong, I realize that owls were popular years ago, but this is a reference to the current owl obsession. Forever21.com and http://verified.codes/Forever-21sells more than a dozen owl accessories so does Clare’s. Where did I first see an obsession with owls? In the blog world, for example, blogger Elycia Watson (loveelycia.com) from Hamilton, Ontario posted regularly about owls more than three years ago. All the blogs I initially read as a blogger were full of owls.
2) Geometric Shapes. Bloggers love chevrons, triangles, lines, squares, any simple shape that can be coloured pink or gold. This isn’t the best example, but two years ago, the Sidney Crosby of blogs, A Beautiful Mess, did a ‘do- it –yourself’ project “making a geometric mobile”. It’s a clothes hanger with dangling wire triangles wrapped in yarn, basic and geometric. Most of the bedding at Urban Outfitters these days is adorned with chevrons and triangles. This also points to the ‘do- it- yourself’ trend. These crafty women have been doing it yourself way before pinterest made it popular. To sound even more hipster, I remember when pinterest first started, in those days, there were no weight loss schemes or a surplus of one direction photos, it really was mostly crafts and home décor, and bloggers used it to find inspiration for new blog posts. I love pinterest, so thanks again bloggers for being cool before it was cool.
3) Since I’ve already given four substantial examples I don’t really need a number 3, but just in case you still doubt, take a look at Faux Deer Head for your wall. Flipping through a home décor magazine lately, I found a photo of a plaster deer head, in the style of the mounted, taxidermy deer head that hunters would have on their walls. Currently, even Home Hardware sells them. Bloggers have been doing this for years. They even use old piñata heads. They give the deer head hats and jewelery. The Dainty Squid was one of the first places I really remember seeing this phenomenon. Kayla found a plastic deer head more than 3 years ago, plopped a wig on its head and called it beautiful.
So the conclusion is- if you really want to be ahead of the wave, read blogs, small, crafty, lifestyle blogs. By the time any of that stuff hits the mainstream, you’ll be really sick of it and you can officially embrace your inner hipster and tell everyone, while sporting an ironic moustache, that you liked all those things, including ironic moustaches, before they were cool. For the Silo, Charity Blaine.
A group of Malawi farmers. image: ruralpovertyportal.org
Like many of us, he has a vision of a better world – one where babies are born healthy no matter where they live. One where farmers in Malawi earn enough to support their families. One where land is being reforested to support communities and protect the environment. One where everyone has access to affordable, lifesaving medicine.
What makes President Clinton different is his uncanny ability to bring together people from all walks of life and help them see that a better world isn’t just a nice idea. It’s really, actually achievable.
Of course, President Clinton can’t do it alone – and that’s why he needs people like me and you! If you’re someone who finds his vision as infectious as I do, please donate to the Clinton Foundation today and get your gift matched, dollar for dollar, before this opportunity ends June 27.
I may not be an expert on these issues. But I recognize life-changing work when I see it. The bottom line is that Clinton Foundation programs improve lives in measurable, lasting ways.
President Bill Clinton and Goldie Hawn.
If you’re a farmer in Malawi, for example, the size and health of your crop has a huge impact on how much money you can make for your family and whether you can feed your community. The Clinton Foundation is giving farmers the tools to revolutionize their crop yields, from good fertilizer and seeds to training on up-to-date farming techniques. 21,000 farmers have participated already – and they’ve since become five times more profitable.
That’s 21,000 farmers who can now ensure that their families always have enough to eat, even in times of drought. They can send their children to school. They can really invest in their communities.
And that’s just one program, in one area. In reality, the Clinton Foundation is improving lives and changing communities all over the world! Isn’t that something you want to be a part of?
President Clinton is personally matching all gifts that you make between now and June 27.
New York City, US – Global Release. Last month, botObjects began taking advanced orders on the world’s first Full Color 3D Desktop Printer – at aggressive prices aimed at enabling most customers from home users, business professionals to educational institutions the opportunity to buy the ProDesk3D.
While some observers pegged the launch price at $3000 or more, the firm decided to launch an early order price at $2,849 for the standard edition – hoping to make it an easier decision for customers as it is highly competitive with its contemporaries, yet significantly more advanced, and in a more mature stunning case. [ To keep things in historical perspective- “The first laser printer success was the Hewlett-Packard (HP) LaserJet, released in 1984. The HP LaserJet bacame the de facto standard for the personal computer industry. By 1987, HP and clone laser printers could be purchased for about $2,500 and 2005 prices were under $1,000. ” Xerox Corporation u-s-history.com CP ]
The company also recently announced its next generation website, and along with it, released significant information that future customers wanted, such as 3D full color print samples created on the ProDesk3D. botObjects aims to show how advanced the ProDesk3D is, with color 3D printed samples never seen before in the 3D Desktop Printing category. Also, the firm announced technical information about the ProDesk3D, confirming an advanced specification aimed at delivering the first real 3D desktop printer for the mass market – with features aimed to deliver higher quality with color range, all-round ease of use, and printing speed. The firm also confirmed that the ProDesk3D will print at 25 microns – some 4 times more accurate than its competitors, and at a maximum speed of 175mm per second – delivering industry leading speed for an FDM 3D Desktop Printer.
Martin Warner, CEO & Co-founder said, “We are delighted to be ahead of our plan, and release information that customers want to see, such as our own 3D print samples, so they can see the quality of finish and the gorgeous color range in the samples. We also released the technical specification, the available price and much more. Now customers can order today!”
botObjects [ and The Silo btw CP ] believes that the 3D Desktop Printing revolution, is the next great technology wave, much like the PC revolution, and will no doubt dramatically change the rate of innovation at home and in the workplace, while influencing the approach to education both in school and in industry. Areas such as product design, rapid proto-typing, many forms of engineering, architecture, precision-based manufacturing, home utility replacement, gaming & art and much more will dramatically change as a result of 3D Desktop Printers. As software becomes easier for people to create 3D models, the ProDesk3D aims to make this a reality, announcing its own easy-to-use ProModel Software, coupled with the ProDesk3D to enable customers to create the models of their choice very quickly and efficiently.
Examples of full colour 3d printed BotObjects. To make real consumer and home inroads- practical objects at reasonable prices will need to happen, but these are a pretty cool start. CP
Speaking on the announcement, Mike Duma, CTO & Co-founder said, “We know that people are extremely excited about the ProDesk3D, and we thank everyone for their patience. We have had over 100,000 enquiries, and numerous countries interested in distributing the ProDesk3D. We have announced a great deal of information so that our customers can learn more and evaluate whether to purchase the ProDesk3D. We also added something special – our new limited edition ProDesk3D Blue – we know that customers will love this design just like the ProDesk3D.”
botObjects announced it can now take early orders by telephone today, and expects to take early orders on its website soon. [ now happening at http://botobjects.com/ CP ] The firm confirmed that the first early order batch expect to ship 1st October 2013.
Toronto, ON – A group of artists is setting out on a ten-day poetry and music tour by canoe down the Grand River in southwestern Ontario. For the fourth year running, the group, calling itself Fish Quill Poetry Boat, will be paddling from Elora to the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and performing their work in cafés, arts centres, and heritage sites along the way. Fish Quill Poetry Boat in 2013 is comprised of poets David Seymour, Gillian Savigny, Leigh Kotsilidis, Linda Besner, and Stewart Cole, with London musician Grey Kingdom.
Fish Quill Poetry Boat will kick off the tour with a performance in Toronto on June 13th at 8pm at the TRANZAC Club. Scheduled stops for Fish Quill Poetry Boat are the Elora’s Beaver House on June 15th, West Montrose Kissing Bridge on June 16th, Waterloo’s Words Worth Books on June 17th, Cambridge’s Wired Up Pugs Café on June 19th, Paris’ Cedar House Martini Bar & Grill on June 20th, Brantford’s Station Coffee House & Gallery on June 21st, and Six Nation’s Chiefswood National Historic Site on June 23rd. With the exception of Toronto (8pm) and Elora (2pm) all performances are at 7pm. Cambridge’s performance has a $10 cover charge, and all other performances are free.
One notable stop on the tour is Chiefswood National Historic Site on June 23rd. Chiefswood is the only surviving pre-Confederation Native mansion in Ontario, and is the birthplace and childhood home of celebrated writer and performer
Tekahionwake, E. Pauline Johnson, best known for her iconic canoeing poem, “The Song My Paddle Sings.” The year 2013 marks the 150th anniversary of Pauline Johnson’s birth. Curator Karen Dearlove says, “We believe that the Fish Quill Poetry Tour is a great way to feature contemporary poetry and creativity at a site known historically for fostering literary creative dreams.” Fish Quill Poetry Boat will be sharing the stage at Chiefswood with local Six Nations writers and performers.
Fish Quill Poetry Boat is in its fourth year, and canoes are once again being lent free of charge by Paris-based outdoor adventure company Treks in the Wild. “A very cool idea,” says Andy Tonkin, canoeing guide and co-owner of Treks in the Wild, who will be coming along for the ride. The Grand River Conservation Authority and rare Charitable Research Reserve also sponsor the tour and will be giving presentations at select venues.
This year Fish Quill Poetry Boat has also put together an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. You can watch a video of Leigh Kotsilidis and Linda Besner explaining how the tour works-
As a reward for contributions made, donors to the campaign can receive perks, such an anthology of past and present Fish Quill Poetry Boat participants. So far, that’s fifty poets and musicians! CP
