Random / Things I done / Reviews

Jordan Harper

Miscellany, waffle, gratuitously stolen links, and much, much less.
Permanent link to 'marklim: Etirement Lamp Concept Looks Like An Umbrella But I Wouldn’t Suggest Using It In A Downpour - Etirement lamp viaGizmodo '
marklim: Etirement Lamp Concept Looks Like An Umbrella But I Wouldn’t Suggest Using It In A Downpour - Etirement lamp viaGizmodo

marklim:

Etirement Lamp Concept Looks Like An Umbrella But I Wouldn’t Suggest Using It In A Downpour - Etirement lamp

viaGizmodo

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It’s taken Puma — a ‘sports lifestyle’ brand — to actually create an iPhone alternative that has at least some focus on people who like their UI’s to look nice.

People talk about style over substance, but I say anyone who doesn’t want something they use several times a day to look nice and be enjoyable (not just efficient) to use is a incorrigible geek — The Puma Phone: an underdog shows everyone else what “different” means | UX Magazine

Permanent link to 'REWORK: The new business book from 37signals.'
REWORK: The new business book from 37signals.

REWORK: The new business book from 37signals.

Permanent link to 'Wired Reread'
Wired Reread

A trip down 128MB Memory Lane - Adverts from old issues of Wired (circa ‘95). Minidisc, Newton, Geocities, Flashback … thanks for the memories.

Permanent link to 'So, I was clicking around on Google Maps, and whilst cruising over Northen Mali at a rather high altitude, my eye was drawn to a dot in the middle of the Sahara. Taoudenni appears to be nothing more than a deserted fort in the middle of the desert, of which I’m sure there are many, but why — I wondered — does it get a place-name label? As always, Wikipedia holds the answer, and their entry on Taoudenni describes a fascinating place: Taoudenni (also Taoudeni, Taudenni or Taudeni) is a remote village in northern Mali known for its salt mines. The salt is mined and quarried from ancient dry lake beds, by hand, using a crude axe. The village contains hundreds if not thousands (active and inactive) of hand dug mines that are approximately 10-12 feet deep and can extend under the earth for up to 30 feet in some cases. Taoudenni is slowly migrating, as it moves to a new location on the salt pan each time a mine becomes depleted. Which would explain why it’s label marks nothing more than the mysterious looking fort, the actual ‘village’ has migrated to elsewhere on the map. It turns out that it used to be a place of exile for dissidents and criminals, and that the only water available to drink is salt-water, meaning that if you spend more than six months there you’re at risk of renal failure. Given that the temperatures reach 60 degrees Celsius, I’d say renal failure would be the least of my worries. Salt is still carried from Taoudenni to Timbuktu by camel along the ancient Azalai caravan route, one of the last still being used. Amazing stuff, I must travel with Google more often.'
So, I was clicking around on Google Maps, and whilst cruising over Northen Mali at a rather high altitude, my eye was drawn to a dot in the middle of the Sahara. Taoudenni appears to be nothing more than a deserted fort in the middle of the desert, of which I’m sure there are many, but why — I wondered — does it get a place-name label? As always, Wikipedia holds the answer, and their entry on Taoudenni describes a fascinating place: Taoudenni (also Taoudeni, Taudenni or Taudeni) is a remote village in northern Mali known for its salt mines. The salt is mined and quarried from ancient dry lake beds, by hand, using a crude axe. The village contains hundreds if not thousands (active and inactive) of hand dug mines that are approximately 10-12 feet deep and can extend under the earth for up to 30 feet in some cases. Taoudenni is slowly migrating, as it moves to a new location on the salt pan each time a mine becomes depleted. Which would explain why it’s label marks nothing more than the mysterious looking fort, the actual ‘village’ has migrated to elsewhere on the map. It turns out that it used to be a place of exile for dissidents and criminals, and that the only water available to drink is salt-water, meaning that if you spend more than six months there you’re at risk of renal failure. Given that the temperatures reach 60 degrees Celsius, I’d say renal failure would be the least of my worries. Salt is still carried from Taoudenni to Timbuktu by camel along the ancient Azalai caravan route, one of the last still being used. Amazing stuff, I must travel with Google more often.

So, I was clicking around on Google Maps, and whilst cruising over Northen Mali at a rather high altitude, my eye was drawn to a dot in the middle of the Sahara.

Taoudenni appears to be nothing more than a deserted fort in the middle of the desert, of which I’m sure there are many, but why — I wondered — does it get a place-name label? As always, Wikipedia holds the answer, and their entry on Taoudenni describes a fascinating place:

Taoudenni (also Taoudeni, Taudenni or Taudeni) is a remote village in northern Mali known for its salt mines. The salt is mined and quarried from ancient dry lake beds, by hand, using a crude axe. The village contains hundreds if not thousands (active and inactive) of hand dug mines that are approximately 10-12 feet deep and can extend under the earth for up to 30 feet in some cases. Taoudenni is slowly migrating, as it moves to a new location on the salt pan each time a mine becomes depleted.

Which would explain why it’s label marks nothing more than the mysterious looking fort, the actual ‘village’ has migrated to elsewhere on the map. It turns out that it used to be a place of exile for dissidents and criminals, and that the only water available to drink is salt-water, meaning that if you spend more than six months there you’re at risk of renal failure.

Given that the temperatures reach 60 degrees Celsius, I’d say renal failure would be the least of my worries.

Salt is still carried from Taoudenni to Timbuktu by camel along the ancient Azalai caravan route, one of the last still being used.

Amazing stuff, I must travel with Google more often.

Permanent link to 'not the dead nor the dark can hurt you'
not the dead nor the dark can hurt you

not the dead nor the dark can hurt you

Permanent link to 'THE LONG TAKE'
THE LONG TAKE

A compilation of the best long takes/tracking shots in cinematic history. I have to say my personal favourites are Frenzy (for the cinematic effect of the shot), The Protector (for the sheer insanity of attempting a four minute fight scene with about 60 stunt-men and a spiral staircase), Goodfellas (outside to inside, through a narrow corridor, kitchen — where even Ray Liotta bumps into a counter — and into a crowded club, incredible), and of course Orsen Welles’ Touch of Evil, where technical and narrative brilliance combine.

(via 37signals)

Permanent link to 'The League of Moveable Type - a collection of free, open-source, high-quality and @font-face ready fonts. Some really nice stuff here, too.'
The League of Moveable Type - a collection of free, open-source, high-quality and @font-face ready fonts. Some really nice stuff here, too.

The League of Moveable Type - a collection of free, open-source, high-quality and @font-face ready fonts. Some really nice stuff here, too.

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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Shuffle those shoulders, glide along the pavements: it’s Syd Dale, ladies and gentlemen.

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Great new (ish) track from LotP, cracking video too.

Permanent link to 'Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.'

“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”

— Albert Einstein (via #johannal) (via quote-book)

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Yacht - Psychic City (Classixx Remix) - Great track that I’ve somehow only just discovered.

Permanent link to 'Shawcross and Ramsey an interesting study into the emotions of the UK football family '
Shawcross and Ramsey an interesting study into the emotions of the UK football family

‘On one hand we have a promising 19 year-old footballer with a career-threatening injury, on the other a player whose international call-up has been “overshadowed”. So where do sympathies lie?’ — I’m not surprised, but I am appalled, disgusted and generally more angry than usual at the hypocrisy and idiocy of the UK media, and football fans in general.

Permanent link to 'Well done is better than well said.'

“Well done is better than well said.”

— Benjamin Franklin (via Thinking for a Living)

Permanent link to 'Why Tumblr Is Kicking Posterous's Ass'
Why Tumblr Is Kicking Posterous's Ass

Posterous may have the technological advantage, but it’s the love and care given by Tumblr to it’s design that has made it four times more popular. I know it’s what won me over.