Three headphone cables approaches
15/03/2009 – in: Interaction Design
What is the ideal cable length? Depends on where you use the headphones. If you use them at home, you probably want quite a long cable so you can connect it to your stereo and still be able to move around. If you mainly use headphones on the move, a long cable becomes messy and requires constant effort to untie jammed-up knots… The middle headphones in the picture has a special plastic object designed to avoid knots by wrapping the cable around it. This solves one issue but creates another which is where to put this plastic object… The right headphones has a telephone-like cable which is much shorter than the others but can be stretched. The cable is quite thick but seems to solve both problems in quite an elegant way.
La Porte des Indes (close to Marble Arch)
15/03/2009 – in: Restaurants
‘La Porte des Indes’ is about the Legacy of France in Indian regional Cuisine. If you are open to this combination you are likely to enjoy it, if you are on the hunt for authentic Indian food this might not be the place for you. The place is quite huge and requires a large group of people to run it every day. The deco is tacky and overwhelming at the same time. If you come too early, go downstairs to the ‘Jungle Bar’ which is surrounded by animal paintings. You will be able to throw your peanuts shells on the floor.
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The Art Of Lost Words
08/03/2009 – in: Design
An exhibition of design, typography and illustration inspired by forgotten words. 47 participants have chosen from among the dictionary’s lost but lovely words, with an open brief to create an original work inspired by their choice. Proceeds from sales go towards the National Literacy Trust. Carefully selected artworks from a very high quality. It was a pleasure to view this and also discover that many items were sold. The visual interpretation for the word ‘diloricate’ [v. to rip open a sewn piece of clothing] by Jess Wilson was an illustration ’20 men diloricating their tops’ based on Youtube videos which was very funny and fresh idea. More details here.
An elevator which will not let you change your mind…
07/03/2009 – in: Interaction Design
Imagine you have a meeting on the 6th floor… You select the number ‘six’ from the control panel outside the elevator. You go inside and suddenly realize that you forgot your mobile on the 2nd floor… The control panel is not available anymore… You can try speaking with the elevator, but this would probably not work. Your only possibility is to go to the 6th floor, exit the elevator, select number two from the control panel and wait for the next available lift… Outrageous!
‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ by Woody Allen
02/03/2009 – in: Film
Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a fantastic film by Woody Allen who often choose the subject of fantasies in relationships like in ‘Manhattan’ (1979). It was very touching to see how the characters were dealing with their relationships, all of them suffered from very different complexities. One of them was ‘chronically dissatisfied’ and seeing herself as ungifted. Another character was just about to marry a person who could potentially bore her to death… The third character was so free to do whatever he wanted that nobody wanted to stay with him. The film has a lot to do with what do we aspire to be, acceptance of our life and is it right to try to change or just be happy with what you have got. It doesn’t matter if he is a gangster in the Cohen Brother’s Film or an artist like in this one, Javier Bardem is excellent and charismatic actor. Penélope Cruz reinvented herself in Pedro Almodóvar’s Volver and again in this one. Although the film is funny at times and entertaining, it deals with very sad and complicated moments in life.
Belgo Noord (Close to Chalk Farm tube)
01/03/2009 – in: Restaurants
This is a really good Belgian restaurant, one of four branches.
When you enter, you can see what is cooking in the kitchen which is great! Their specialty is Moules, Frites (chips…) and beers. You can find a wide range of flavored beers such as banana, raspberries , cassis as well as Chimay, Dekoninck and Duvel.
My favorite dish is the moules in Thai style. It is simply delicious and can be ordered as a starter (0.5kg) or as a main (1kg). If you order shrimps for a starter, be aware that you will have to peel them with your hands…
The food arrived really quick and the waiter was very friendly.
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HOFESH SHECHTER:IN YOUR ROOMS / UPRISING
01/03/2009 – in: Art
Hofesh Schecter’s ‘In Your Rooms’ is a captivating and original performance. It combines a live band at the top of the stage with contemporary dance. There is a really interesting relationship between the band’s music and the dancers- sometimes you can only see one drummer with the dancers and in other parts they all perform together. There were times when these two elements where competing with each other and it was difficult to focus. The dancers movements were amazing, a celebration of what the human body is capable of. Read more>>
Anam bar (close to Angel tube)
27/02/2009 – in: Bars
Anam bar is a great cocktail bar in Chapel Market. When I was there the bar tender seems very professional, taking exceptional care of what goes into your drink. They have a promotion 2 for 1 cocktails every weekday between 6-8 which means you can get a nice Mojito for around £3. And now for the main finding: the toilets… As you can see in the picture, they have an aquarium instead of a mirror and you can make a friend from your opposite sex because this aquarium is shared between the male and female toilets… Address: Anam Bar, 3 Chapel Market, Islington, London, N1 9EZ
Free newspaper anyone?
24/02/2009 – in: Services
I have recently seen this ad in free newspapers like Metro and Lite. Commuters are now being asked to recycle the newspaper they get for free. I think this is quite absurd and calling the wrong people to order. The responsibility for all this newspaper mess is on the publishers. How many free newspapers do we really need?
The publishers are now forced to pay for recycling bins and to empty them which is good but not dealing with the source of the problem. There should be a limitation on how many newspapers can be given away each day and encourage people to share them rather than recycle them. Read more>>
No Comments | Tags: commuters, environment, free newspaper, recycle, tflTracy wants her eyebrow pierced
16/02/2009 – in: Uncategorized
This is a Journey planner ad from 2003 . Tracy wants her eyebrow pierced and Journey planner helps her finding the right way… It is nice to see that Transport for London is aware of the different ways in which people use it everyday.