nFold

Gesture input device using transducer.

A simple video on the use of gesture as input device through transducers on walls, tables, clothing. Here's the link or:

Jeff Buckley: Interview About Working

I was not aware of Jeff Buckley's work until today. I found him unexpectedly, somehow, as described in an earlier post I wrote today. Tonight I found this interview with him. It is brief, and well worth the time. He describes in simple terms, his way of approaching creative work. It is so clear, it rings. His was a great loss.

Here is another version, with more live music:

Jeff Buckley epk

Comparing Leonard Cohen and Jeff Buckley Versions

While watching news footage on the death of Michael Jackson, I came across Jeff Buckley singing Leonard Cohen's song, Hallelujah. I was intrigued by Jeff Buckley, as he was drawn to and died in Memphis. YouTube lead me to this live version of Leonard Cohen singing Hallelujah, recently in London. I am mesmerized by Cohen's presense in this video. His aged body provides only positive reflections of his strength and the beauty of his song. But after comparing both versions, I find myself listening to Buckley's more often. Why? He seems to be exploring the music as he creates it; it feels less compartmentalized. Cohen is a master, but his approaches start to seem predictable. Buckley's lack of predictability carry you along, as if travelling into uncharted waters. Adventure is always more desirable...

Bill Ackman is Human

On Thursday, Bill Ackman's long fought proxy battle with Target, ($TGT), ended, and he did not reach his goal of obtaining a seat on the board. I was a little surprised, as I have learned to expect him to always succeed. After the vote, he addressed the audience. It was reported on CNBC that he cried. I know many people laughed at this, but I only gained more respect for him, as he can still show his humaness. He is not yet salt; this takes courage for someone in his position. I look forward to his future endeavors. I still think he is the bellwether of our economy; far ahead of the pack, because of his abilitiy to overlay ideas and perceive change. I think he won a bigger battle this week than anyone understands.

It is not the architecture.

Marcy Frantom is a scholar, who researches cemetery material culture and has a masters degree in English with a Folklore emphasis. She lives in northern Louisiana. She created this audio piece in 2003, about finding a bone of an astronaut in her garden, after the explosion of the space shuttle Columbia:

Marcy Frantom reading

Her sister, Sylvia Frantom, (or Sylvan Frantom), is an artist, whose work I admired long ago, when I was in school with her in Chicago. I see now how her work was informed by her sister. Both were from Louisiana, and Sylvan treated materials, as if dust, which turned into words so complete, and instantaneous, that they appeared as if compelled by the authority of nature. I don't know if she still does work as an artist; if so, I can not find any mention of it; though she did seem to lead a very private life, so it may be she does, just not publicly.