Eclectic Tastes

Yay

2010-03-04T09:50:00.000-08:00

I am:

Ursula K. LeGuin

Perhaps the most admired writing talent in the science fiction field.

Which science fiction writer are you?

That is all.

Psst... here's where you take the quiz.

Repost: Branch furniture etc.

2009-12-17T20:43:00.000-08:00

I've only just discovered Branch, and I am already in love with this site. They have furniture made from recycled plastics and textiles, but most importantly (for me) BAMBOO! I adore things made from bamboo. All of their designs that I've seen are really nice, minimalist affairs. Not at all reminiscent of hippies or what they were recycled from.

What would I buy? Well...

This side-table is pretty unique. [link]

Have you ever seen a more stylish bird feeder? [link]

I can't get over how cute these bowls are... and of course they're made of bamboo! [link]

If you just want to skip to bamboo products just like these, try Bambu, who made those bowls and make a lot of amazing bamboo kitchen things. Also try Ekobo, who do similar stuff, and can be bought from Entrading in Glasgow [address+map].

I will be writing a post all about bamboo at some point in the future, as it may possibly be my favourite plant in the world (or at least in the top 3).

Men are attacked more than women: why?

2009-12-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

In public places, by strangers, men are more likely to be attacked (by other men)*. Could this be because they are men and therefore some kind of threat? Is it to do with some kind of chivalry which prevents men from attacking women in the street?

I doubt that those are the main reasons. I have a hypothesis: Perhaps the reason men are more likely to be attacked when they're out and about is because they haven't got the same internalised messages about where they should walk, when they should be outside, how much they should drink etc etc. Women just don't put themselves in those situations because of a fear of being assaulted.

The flipside of this is women are more likely to be raped by a man they know than a stranger*. I think this is due to them actively avoiding interactions with strangers rather than the men they know necessarily being more likely to rape them than the men they don't. It's partly a crime of opportunity (like all crimes I guess).

Anyways it's just an idea, but so far to me it seems to make sense. From personal experience I know women are more likely to order a taxi or walk home in groups rather than randomly walk off alone in the middle of the night.

*I could add in the figures to back up what I'm saying, but I'm assuming most people already know this stuff. It's not exactly rocket science.

Etsy, I love you

2009-07-18T06:39:00.000-07:00

Seriously, have you been on Etsy yet? I know it's not exactly a niche site with only a few fans, but it has been a revelation to me. It's like eBay except a gazillion times better, and the quality is pretty damn high.

I'll just point out a couple of awesome sellers and items and leave any (possible) readers to their browsing:

Tinkerbell Ballet Flats by Spirocreations. How cute can you get? And I mean literally cute, not the way it's constantly used by teens/Americans to mean anything likable.

Layerbylayer. Really interesting sculptural objects that are made of reclaimed materials and smell nice too... kinda impossible to describe though, so just check them out to see for yourself.

Organic Cotton Poplin Dress by Dearpony. Yeah it's expensive, but... pretty!

Interesting baby blankets at Gotmeinstitches.

Really nice nature-themed jewelry at Esdesigns.

One of my prize finds - Molecularmuse - which does jewelry shaped like molecules of well-known substances (caffeine, serotonin etc).

And just for the hell of it, the shop that introduced me to Etsy and the art of the vulva: VulvaLoveLovely. What an awesome feminist shop ^_^.

So check out Etsy, have a browse, create an account (because it allows you to choose favourites and sell your own stuff) and enjoy this treasure trove of non-sweatshop labour products and great ideas!

New Discovery: The eScooter

2009-06-30T05:02:00.000-07:00

I might just lust after this product a little bit too much. I can't find a picture, so just go through the link and check it out - it's an electric scooter that actually looks classy. Nice bit of design there, and *only* £1,500... what a bargain...

New Discovery: The Secret Life of Dolls

2009-05-28T18:02:00.000-07:00

A series about posable dolls/figurines from various fantasy films/books (LotR, Twilight, His Dark Materials etc). It is genius. Check it out over at Occupation: Girl.

Video of the Day: Lindy Hopping

2009-05-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Racialicious, I now know what lindy hopping is. And all I can say is... wow. How talented can one group of dancers be? The sheer athleticism is awe-inspiring.

(Yeah I wrote this post a while ago and forgot to publish it. Oops.)

Swine Flu

2009-05-06T05:11:00.000-07:00

I don't think it's all hype. I like this video about it though:

The advice given in the video is:

1. Don't touch things (eg bannisters on escalators, doorhandles) or people unnecessarily.
2. Wash your hands.
3. Avoid large groups of people in confined spaces (eg planes).
4. If you have a virus, try not to spread it (so don't go out if possible while it's active, wash your hands all the time).
5. Stay away from sick people (maybe he says this in another video on the same topic, I can't remember).

Seriously, wash your hands. Any building that has a toilet - go and wash your hands there. Wash your hands before leaving the house, and again as soon as you arrive anywhere. Wash your hands before and after touching people, especially the sick, babies, the elderly or other people with compromised immune systems. You do not need to use antibacterial soap, as it makes no difference unless you leave it on for over 2 mins. Make sure you know how to wash your hands (pdf), as you have to make sure to do it properly. Here's the website for the Scottish government handwashing campaign. I think hand-washing is the single most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of infections/disease (that and using a condom).

If you wish, you can use a hand sanitiser. Ones with alcohol, though still effective, will dry out your skin. Vicks claim that theirs is the only one that works for 3 hours after putting it on your hands (without rinsing during those 3 hours), and theirs does not contain alcohol, so that's the one that I use (for public transport etc). If you do use hand sanitiser don't eat with your hands or bite your nails - it tastes disgusting! (Do remember that it's not a replacement for washing your hands though.) Oh yeah, and those dry soap sheets that you can fit in your purse/wallet wouldn't be a bad idea either, as some public bathrooms either have disgusting bars of soap or empty dispensers (and you can take them on planes).

And here's another video about it by the same guy:

(In case you were wondering: no, I'm not too worried about swine flu. I just think it's always good to be prepared, and any chance I can get to push my hand-washing agenda will be leapt upon with glee!)

Video Of The Day: Playing For Change

2009-04-30T12:20:00.001-07:00

If this doesn't cheer you up, nothing will.

Via Shakesville (as ever).

May I Draw Your Attention To... Made By Survivors

2009-04-24T18:10:00.001-07:00

Made By Survivors is a shop that sells handicrafts made by survivors of, and those at high risk of slavery. It sells jewelry, bags, scarves, cards - that kind of thing. I thought I would spotlight some of the products and the shop itself.

First up is this silver dragonfly bracelet. Ok, it is $120 but it's silver and gorgeous.

I like these glass bead earrings ($14). I don't have my 'lobes pierced, but if I did I'd get the blue ones.

In the bags section, I like the look of these clutches ($50, not suitable for veggies), and I love this French Market Bag ($20).

I like the designs on these napkins ($20 set of 4), and I would definitely go for these pashminas ($60 each) if they came in more colours (currently only pink or light blue)... since they don't I would definitely go for one of these Batik scarves ($25 each) which come in orange, natural, light blue, navy and pink (I'm unclear as to what 'natural' means).

I must say, silk trousers for $6 is not to be sniffed at, though it's unclear from the picture exactly what they'll look like (and importantly - how they do up).

There are other lovely things on the site, so do give it a look. I think some of the paper crafts would make wonderful gifts, and it's great to know that you're really making a difference (just by shopping). It's American, so all the prices are in dollars and you do have to pay for shipping. The price is fixed at $10 (p&p), but it's sometimes lower (in which case they will refund the difference) and sometimes higher (in which case they will warn you before shipping). Some of the products are available in the UK at Hatti Trading, which also sells some different products (fair trade, eco-friendly, made by survivors, organic - usually more than one).

Cross-posted at Ramblings of Today's Yoof, because buying fair trade products made by survivors is a feminist action. And of course I have added both Made By Survivors and Hatti Trading to the sidebar.

Video of the Day: Infomania Earth Daze Special

2009-04-24T16:36:00.000-07:00

If you don't watch it already, do because Sarah Haskins is a genius. Sergio's still my favourite though, but that may be because he talks about music. This week's Infomania introduces its viewers to the joys of High Times magazine. Now that's what I call awesome.

Here's Sergio's most recent video:

And one of the recent Sarah Haskins Target: Women videos:

Enjoy!

Current (and recurring) Earworm: The Fugees

2009-04-22T17:57:00.000-07:00

I think this song is genius, and The Score was pretty much my introduction to the hippety hoppety brigade*, so it holds a special place in my heart.

Just thought I would blog my earworm to (hopefully) make it go away, as I need to sleep and it's too awesome to let me do that.

*Stephen Fry reference, not making fun of the music/musicians. Remember the 11th commandment: "thou shalt not question Stephen Fry"? No? Well now you know.

Video of the Day: Giant Gay-Repellent Umbrella

2009-04-21T17:33:00.000-07:00

A Gaythering Storm from Jane Lynch

Found at Shakesville. I wanna be part of a gay rain army!

New Discovery: Nellie McKay

2009-03-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

A vegan feminist singer with the voice of an angel and biting wit... gorgeous ^_^. Here's her site, and her myspace.

Found over at Female Impersonator.

WHY ISN'T THIS OUT YET???

2009-03-26T01:03:00.000-07:00

October??? Seriously, I have to wait that long?

*sigh*

I Love: Barefoot Shoes!

2009-03-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

Did you walk barefoot when you were young?

I did - everywhere. Up until I was 16 I also liked to wear sandals all through the Scottish winter, and swim in the North Sea. Maybe I had a strange childhood, whatever.

But my point is THESE SHOES! (shown in my favourite colour combination from the selection)

Look at how awesome they are! You can go 'barefoot', but without the dirty soles, and without the pain of hot tarmac/sand, and without the risk of stepping on glass/dog shit/hypodermic needles/wasps*/sharp rocks/shells. I hope they're as good as they look, otherwise I'll be really disappointed (if I can ever afford to buy them, that is).

Well I already walk around barefoot whenever and wherever I can (I do have slippers, but I don't even know where they are...), but with these I could be fake-barefoot anytime the mood takes me!

Wait wait wait... I didn't tell you the most awesome (and perhaps terribly mundane) part: they're machine-washable. That means not only will my feet not get dirty, but I can just chuck them in the washing machine after a trip and be done with them, unlike my hiking boots which need careful cleaning then reconditioning everytime (though I do love them to bits).

This is, of course, conveniently forgetting the fact that they're pretty hideous. Shhhh....

*I might have something personal against wasps, because the only two times they've stung me was on the soles of my feet! What's up with that?

P.S. Just to add to how cool they are: you can also go climbing in them!

New Discovery: Sean Lennon & Cibo Matto

2009-03-21T10:21:00.000-07:00

Yeah Sean Lennon - the son of Yoko Ono and John Lennon. And you can really tell - he looks exactly how I'd imagine a child of theirs would look, and he has Lennon's voice. It's quite disconcerting actually.

Here's the video for his song 'Home':

I really like it. It's kinda floaty grungy 90s fare. Through him I also found out about this band called Cibo Matto, who are also pretty interesting. Yet again, very 90s. Give this song a chance, and you might find you like it too:

Song is 'Sugarwater'. Yes that's Sean Lennon in the pink wig.

Honestly I've never really liked 90s music. I've always preferred to look to the 60s/70s/80s, and electronic music from the last decade or so (I realise that includes some of the 90s, but it's the 90s in general that I didn't like). It might have something to do with the 90s being my childhood, so I was quite out of the musical 'loop'. All I remember of the 90s was The Spice Girls, (vs.) All Saints, boybands (e.g. Five, Boyzone, Backstreet Boys, A1 etc etc) and these. fucking. songs. (No, the videos don't make any sense to me either) Those songs were played at every school disco, and children loved them.

I wouldn't say I love Sean Lennon or Cibo Matto, but I'm definitely intrigued. Now I'm curious about the rest of the 90s music - was it really not as bad as I thought? I mean Leftfield, Primal Scream, Nirvana, The Fugees and Björk came out of the 90s... how bad could it have been?

*investigates*

*head explodes*

........................................... NEVER AGAIN!

New Discovery: Crib Fashion

2009-03-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

So I was doing some browsing, trying to research chairs for my product design project (if you're interested, I'm trying to make the most multipurpose, accessible, comfy, simple, eco-friendly chair possible), and I came across this blog.

The post that I came across (in a search for decorative chairs) was this one, which really impressed me, so I checked out the rest of the blog. First of all here's an image of the chair that drew me to the blog:

For reference, that is the pick chair by Dror Benshetrit [site]. That pic, while a good closeup of the chair itself, doesn't show its other function very well: it's also a decorative wall hanging. To see it as a wall hanging, check out the blog post on it at Crib Fashion, or check out the designer's site (both linked above).

I know, crazy right? But I want one (or three) because I actually think they make really attractive wall hangings, as well as useful guest chairs (though I doubt their stability and durability... and what about scratching the bottom panel???).

I thought it was an innovative, though not necessarily practical design, and decided to explore the site further... Yeah, about 22 pages further.

Then I came across a design that actually made my jaw drop. No joke, I would give my right arm to own one of these, as they might be the best design I've come across all year. It is the round table to end all round tables. Presenting... the Fletcher Capstan Table. [company site]

DID YOU SEE THAT???

DID YOU SEE THE WAY IT MOVED???

What do you mean it costs over £10,000? Credit crunch? PAH! If I was one of those yacht-owners I would leap at the opportunity to buy one! LEAP I TELL YOU!

I could watch that video all day. It almost brings a tear to my eye. That is beauty incarnate. That mechanism, those perfectly interlocking shapes, the twisting action... I think I'm in love!

*sigh*

May I Direct Your Attention...

2009-03-18T11:16:00.000-07:00

... Here? *WARNING - You may die of cute*

Yeah, exploring that site is hella fun. Found via Shakesville.

P.S. This. And also I am now in love with Pallas' Cats.

Video of the Day: Beardyman

2009-03-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

The awesome Beardyman performing "Monkey Jazz". He's a UK beatboxer who I think has the edge over a lot of the competition because of his very eclectic tastes* and sense of the absurd. And he is insanely good [vid] of course.

And for those of you who may not have seen his stuff before, check this out:

I would just like to add that I want the Korg Kaoss looping gadgety thing that he demonstrates so much skill with. Not that it'll make me skilled at anything, but it is the coolest thing ever invented!

*Ok, yes I realise mentioning the title of the blog in a post may seem a bit weird, but I love the word "eclectic"! Also I know I am entitling these posts Video of the Day, but I shan't be posting them every day... only when I feel like it.

New discovery: Fuck You, Penguin

2009-03-09T21:28:00.000-07:00

Yeah, that's what it's called.

This post in particular made me laugh... fucking hamsters... *shakes fist*

Female-owned, Vivid, Bismuth-oxychloride-free Mineral Makeup?

2009-03-03T14:37:00.000-08:00

Say it isn't so!

I'm already happy with the big selection over at Lily Lolo for my basic mineral makeup needs, but I must say that finding out about Aromaleigh was a big eye-opener!

First of all I'd like to point out that Aromaleigh, like Lily Lolo, don't use fillers or nasty bismuth oxychloride or any of that rubbish. Secondly I would like to direct your attention to a few key features that make Aromaleigh stand out from the other mineral makeup brands that I have checked out:

1. Their MASSIVE selection of eye colours (399 or so they claim).
2. They specialise in pale skin, which is definitely useful for sun-starved Scots like me!
3. They do really bright, vivid colours along the lines of Barry M's Dazzle Dust (although this really bright range, called Rocks! aren't pure minerals like the rest of their range).
4. They do a proper selection of lip colours - lipsticks, tinted balms and lipstains.
5. They do a huge range of sparkly/shimmering/illuminating powders to go over and under foundation, for anything between a healthy glow and full-on Twilight SPARKLE-PEEN! (personally I'd go for the latter, but since I actually enjoyed Twilight *SHOCK HORROR* I guess no one can trust my judgement)(for clarification, I enjoyed it in a semi-serious trashy novel kinda way, where you know it's stupid but you just can't stop)(and yes, the sparkly powders are actually called the Twilight Supernatural Range)

*ahem*

6. They do samples of EVERYTHING. (which Lily Lolo, unfortunately, stopped doing a while ago)
7. They do a very reasonably-priced overnight mineral treatment, which sounds awesome.

My only complaints:

1. Everything is shipped from America, so it will cost me and other non-US residents quite a bit to get our makeup, even just samples.
2. As a non-US resident I can only pay via PayPal instant transfer - no credit cards, cheques or anything else.
3. $10.00 minimum purchase (not including shipping) - though I will quite likely be able to fill that quickly enough.

Here is the international shipping information.

Personally I am definitely considering a lot of the eye colours in their Rocks! range, some of the lipstains/tinted balms (I'm not so into lip colours), the night treatment and... you guessed it... some of their Twilight SPARKLE-DUST. Even if I never wear it outside the house, at least for one day I will sparkle, hah!

So definitely check them out. I've also added them to the sidebar to make them easier to find. I shall post updates when I can afford to have samples shipped to me.

The Princess Bride: My thoughts exactly

2009-02-27T17:42:00.000-08:00

...
If you haven't heard of it: it's a book and a film. But then again, if you haven't heard of it then you haven't lived.

Today I discovered...

2009-02-24T15:39:00.000-08:00

That my cat eats moisturiser.

That is all.

Artist: Yayoi Kusama

2009-02-19T20:32:00.000-08:00

Yayoi Kusama is a female Japanese artist whose work has been heavily influenced by the mental illness and hallucinations she experienced and continues to experience. Her 'trademark' motif is polka dots, and some of her most famous work consists of surfaces - people, trees, animals, rooms etc - covered in polka dots. Her work is unique, and I have only just discovered her for myself, so I can't give much in-depth critique of it. I can say that I find it very interesting, and can see how she could have inspired Yoko Ono (which she did by the way).

If find her interesting because: 1. I took an immediate liking to her work; 2. She is a female artist in Japan, which is a sexist country; 3. She is a female artist in Japan living with mental illness, and I have heard that mental illness is very stigmatised in Japan (giving her the triple whammy of: female, mental illness and artist, which I do think can stigmatise you in as much as people think it's not a 'proper' job all too often); 4. I am currently researching the 1960s for a design project; 5. I like polka dots.

Her work is still being sold, and commanding very high prices despite the recession. She currently lives in Tokyo in a mental hospital, with her studio nearby, and still creates art at the age of 80.

Designer: Peter Opsvik

2009-02-19T19:50:00.000-08:00

Peter Opsvik is a Norwegian designer who creates ergonomic chairs which I love. Movement is the uniting theme in all his work, and his chairs certainly allow for that - most of them are made of bendy layers of plywood which allow you to lean back and bounce around (gently) and generally fidget to your heart's content. I would imagine (having never actually sat in one) that this would prove especially useful for people who stay seated for long periods of time - those working in an office perhaps, or people with disabilities - as it gives a wide range of movement whilst seated, and stops muscles from seizing up and pressure from building up in one area.

My two favourite chairs by him are the Gravity Balans and the Hag Swing:

The Gravity Balans I like because it stops at three perfect angles for different activities: sitting fairly upright, lounging and lying down. It doesn't have curved runners, which means that when you rock it to the position you want it in, it will stay there while you complete whichever activity you are doing. The positioning of the headrest, backrest, seat, armrests and footrests look very comfortable, and I particularly like the angle of them for the lying down position, as they don't require straight legs, but don't force them into an uncomfortable (and cramp-inducing) bend. It looks like it is sturdy, and made of quite flexible plywood, so I would imagine that it accomodates movement very well, and stays balanced easily. When lying down it would probably feel as if you're floating, which appeals to me, although it might be a bit unnerving not being able to see your supports. In terms of aesthetics - I like the minimalist Scandinavian look, so I'm already biased towards it. I think (depending on colour and material of cushions) it could look at home both somewhere modern and somewhere more traditional.

The Hag Swing I like because... well because it's a swing! I like to rock back and forth on a chair, and I would definitely enjoy a chair that gives me the freedom to do that easily. I also like that its legs are outside of where your feet go, so you don't end up kicking them (happens to me all the time). It's whimsical yet functional, and looks incredibly comfortable. I think it shows the perfect blend of those characteristics, and I would certainly love to sit at my desk in one. (On a purely nostalgic note - it mentions on the page I linked to that it looks like a teepee. Well I would simply love to actually wrap some cloth around it to make it into a makeshift 'den'! Call me childish but that's what comes to mind when I see it.)

Video of the Day: Eartha Kitt

2009-02-19T19:28:00.000-08:00

"I Want To Be Evil" - Eartha Kitt

I love the mischievous glint in her eye when she talks about the 'evil' things she wants to do, and her genuine smile. I love her distinctive voice and her beautiful delivery. I love this song!

Now Eartha Kitt is a name I have heard and read many a time, but have never had the time (or memory capacity) to check her out for myself. I must say she's not at all what I expected. First of all I thought she would perform music more in the soul genre, and second I didn't know she was making music earlier than the seventies (I don't know why I assumed this; I just did), and thirdly... her voice was completely unexpected. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't the voice quality that she shows in this video (and by quality I do not mean 'better/worse' quality, I mean 'type of' or 'tonal' quality).

I can't believe I've gotten through my high school education and into university without ever really knowing who she was: The woman was a legend!

She was a talented singer, Broadway performer, actor and voice actor - a great all-round performer. I'm not going to give a full biography, but it sounds like she was a fascinating and charismatic woman.

I must check out more of her stuff.

I found the video at fem.men.ist (specific post: Some Love For A Revolutionary Diva: Eartha Kitt).

EDIT: Some really interesting information about Eartha Kitt can be found in this article at News From Indian Country. I found this through an awesome blog which I discovered through Womanist Musings, called Ojibway Migisi Bineshii. (I try to post the route that got me from site A to site B because I don't want to be credited with 'discovering' sites just because I followed some links in a blog's roundup or blogroll, but I really do want to share everything worthwhile that I stumble across.)

First post - the whys and wherefores.

2009-02-18T16:08:00.001-08:00

Right, I have decided to set up this blog as a more personal counterpart to my previous blog, Ramblings of Today's Yoof, as that is now a group blog. I don't feel that constantly posting about my personal likes and dislikes on a group blog is very appropriate, and I'd like to keep that one more about feminist/serious issues. There is also the issue of monopolising the posting on a group blog, which I obviously don't want to do.

This blog will be used by me to blog about whatever I feel. It may be music, art, design, books, films, cosmetics, feminism, science, the environment, sociology, learning Japanese, or anything I feel is worthy of blogging about. It is a place for me to express myself and let off steam.

It is also a place to talk about whatever you're currently interested in, be it a new band, an exhibition, an awful awful book that you just have to laugh about, or whatever.

It may also morph into a group blog, but always with a focus on opinion.

Be warned: there will quite likely be flagrant misuse of ellipses and constant spelling/grammar/punctuation pedantry. I'm afraid I'm just like that. Not to mention potentially enraging opinions expressed, and a lot of fluff posts.