3 free tech nuggets

You may know these already, but if not they are wicked useful. And free.


Switch audio file converter. For Windows or Mac. Convert audio files from many different file formats to mp3, wav or wma and more.


Audio Hijack. Record any audio. Freeware (for Mac) records for up to 10 minutes and is great for snagging movie dialogue to add to mixes etc. The old logo was much cooler...

VLC media player. Multimedia player and multimedia framework capable of reading most audio and video formats as well as DVDs, Audio CDs VCDs, and various streaming protocols. Put a copy on a USB stick and carry this free dvd player (also takes dvd screenshots).

unexpected win -hbarc shirt

No doubt about it, this is a turquoise shirt (white balance all over the place I know). Have a bunch of other HBARC's but the color here is a totally unexpected win, great for pasty skin types... Any Sanforized treatment this guy had is all gone, so now soft as an old bandana. Maybe not for everyone, but like the "echos-of-turquoise-jewellery, 70's-summer" vibe... I'm no expert on HBARC/Nudie/Turk etc but if anyone finds a definitive history give me a shout. (I have Hillbilly Hollywood but would like even more info.)

joseph mann -the chimney sweep

"The Chimney Sweep is a stop motion animation set up high on an Edinburgh roof top." By Joseph Mann, Glasgow School of Art graduating student.

The Chimney Sweep from Joseph Mann on Vimeo.

yard sale -7

narragansett (re)relaunch

[This is in no way a definitive history of the brand. Some historical sales info here, or full history via Narragansett Beer.]

Narragansett Beer was relaunched with a campaign by Duffy & Shanley in 2005 and has now been bolstered by Quaker City Mercantile who have tweaked the imagery once again (QCM also oversee Sailor Jerry and have avoided pulling an Ed Hardy)... It has been fun watching this latest process and am digging the pitch to bring a brewery back to Rhode Island. Point blank, not wild on latest redesign of the label itself, but can't have it all I guess...




Practically the face of Narragansett; Quint. More Jaws here.

penfold hearts

He looked sharply at Goldfinger. 'You play a Number One Dunlop, don't you?'

'Yes, of course.' A sixth sense of disaster wiped the triumph off Goldfinger's face. 'What is it? What's the matter?'

'Well,' said Bond apologetically. ''Fraid you've been playing with the wrong ball. Here's my Penfold Hearts and this is a Number Seven Dunlop.' He handed both balls to Goldfinger. Goldfinger tore them off his palm and examined them feverishly.

Slowly the colour flooded over Goldfinger's face. He stood, his mouth working, looking from the balls to Bond and back to the balls.

Bond said softly, 'Too bad we were playing to the rules. Afraid that means you lose the hole. And, of course, the match.' Bond's eyes observed Goldfinger impassively. -Fleming, Ian. Goldfinger. New York: Macmillan, 1959. 80.

Penfold rereleased the Heart golf ball last year to coincide with the Ian Fleming Centenary, though you can dig up 1960's Penfold Hearts on ebay every so often. Beyond that though, the novel of Goldfinger is must-read. At the absolute very least, grab a copy in the library and read the golf match chapters.

bookshelf -a hole is to dig

A Hole is to Dig (A First Book of First Definitions) is notable for the word play but also for being a first break for a young illustrator called Maurice Sendak. Written by Ruth Krauss (who also penned Carrot Seeed, another winner in our house) the definitons are perfectly sensible to the young listener and wimsical for the (assuming parent) reader.

kitchen tools -beyond the basics 5

28. Chicken bucket. This model a little overkill, but a classic Fortex pail that will resist rust/cold etc. Bucket lives under the sink for food scraps, clam shells, anything but citrus rinds and coffee grounds really. Taken out to the chickens each day. If you have a dog better bolt that lower door or he'll get into it.

29. Salad spinner. This model is a French style, has a place in MoMA. Not so great for if you can't get outdoors easily as Pete Townsend type windmilling needed to dry your washed lettuce, but a great job for the kids.

30. Ramen bowl. No way do you need to buy them from wagamama, just need a big bowl. Otherwise I end up eating out of a mixing bowl.

31. Chili oil. The base of this one is sesame oil, nice. I think this was the type used at Waga' actually.

32. Honey spoon/dipper. Wood ones look nicer but maybe less hygienic?

33. Stick/handheld blender. Many options out there, if you get a cordless even better. Essential this one.

34. Ramekin. Get a bunch. Great for nuts/olives/shrimp cocktail sauce placed in bowl of ice/dumpling dipping sauce... Winner.

clint eastwood

I try not to repost generally, but have been looking for this photo for about a year... My very cool mother (now Oma to the boys) gave me a huge framed copy of this shot at aged 10. Love it. Lost it in a move a few years later... google image search had failed. Thanks GetKempt. Lots more via GQ. Photo by Terry O'Neill.

land of nod

Land of Nod is a children's furnishing and more operation started by a couple in the late 1990's then partnered with Crate & Barrel in 2000. Something in one of their layouts inspired a felt pennant spree I went on for a while... The modern-y furniture just below is manufactured by Ecotots of birch plywood; made in USA.

second crop

Small lettuce has been ok. The red lettuce is over. Gone by. On the second planting of this Burpee mix; honestly we used another variety last year that worked out better but may have been the rain etc. The usual vinaigrette in effect.

square egg

Photo from wikipedia. Nice camping grill.What do you call this? One eyed-egyptian? Square egg?

This concoction known as "egg in a basket", "egg in a window", "egg in a frame", "square egg", "Alabama-Style Eggs" (despite not actually being commonly eaten in Alabama), "Popeye" (I am going to adopt that going forward) or a "one-eyed Egyptian". In parts of Pennsylvania it is called "spit in the eye." In Alaska it is sometimes known as "midnight sun." In parts of Massachusetts sometimes known as "gas house eggs" or "egg in toast." In the 10th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook, they are referred to as "one-eyed jacks". Also referred to as a "nest egg", "nested egg", "framed egg" (nice -ed.) or "egg in the hole". (paraphrased from the wiki entry.)

Anyway, good gimmick to get kids to eat eggs or just for a change.

untitled landscape -david von schlegell

Tucumcary on flickr
Boston Pozivivor on flickr
Photo from Boston Harbor Walk
This piece titled "Untitled Landscape" by David Von Schlegell, is located on India Wharf between the Aquarium and Rowes Wharf in Boston. These are big pieces, maybe 20' high. Prime for an urban assault after a snowstorm no??

chitty chitty bang bang

Posted about this Ian Fleming/Roald Dahl creation before, but the boy is well into this recently (it is almost 3 hours... hello electronic babysitter haha). Dick Van Dyke thankfully stays away from the cor blimey accent of his Mary Poppins appearance, and the Grandpa character (Lionel Jeffries) is quality (non-PC remarks aside). Anyway, I picked through for some yard sale scenes.

Desmond Llewelyn (Bond's Q) on left as a junkyard owner.
Scrapman on right about to give the boy a clip round the ear... too right.





Baddies disguised as typical Englishmen.

Gert Fröbe (more famous as Goldfinger) as the Baron of Vulgaria.
Unexpected combo, white and polka dot bowtie with white shirt.

that 10engines kid takes the ferry look

Jacket: Penfield*, weatherproof (on sale via Turntable Lab. Don't sleep!)
Crewneck sweatshirt: JCrew/Crewcuts twisted jersey.
Shorts: Penfield* Hadley. Almost hickory stripe material.
Helmet: Bern Nino with summer visor insert.
Orvis watch, field type. Colorful grosgrain for "the young".
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: insane pop-up book as created by Sam Ita (He is working on Frankenstein next).
Topsiders, older brother's, resurrected last weekend. Nice lacework chief.
Brooks (England) trouser strap, stolen from dad...little punk is wearing it as a wristband.

*Penfield items are not available in youth sizes, but faking it for right now...

knowledge wins

Daywrecker. Boston Public Library flickr set of war posters. The BPL (1854) was the first free library in the United States, but not the first available library per se. The Library Company, founded by Benjamin Franklin and friends in 1731 enrolled members for a fee. "Volumes were purchased with the annual contributions of shareholders, building a more comprehensive library than any individual could afford."

Is any lending institution that is not free and open to the public truly a library? Or is that more of a club... just saying...

find -egg press

No, not an egg-press (that would be messy...) this is a letterpress shop in Portland, OR. Egg Press. There are a million little letterpress shops out there but happen to like this one. Just to be clear, I don't know these people at all.