The Wilderness Downtown
This has to be one of the most inspiring things I’ve seen done on the web and in a browser since Flash was at its peak. This gives me a lot of hope for HTML5. Make sure when you select an address you choose an address you lived at for years. With out a real address you once lived at you loose the connection between you and the video. My first time viewing it I messed up my address and got somewhere in Mexico. You must view this film in Safari 5 or Google Chrome. I’ve played it in both browsers and Safari is most definitely the best. It plays smoother and also has a few effects that chrome doesn’t even though it says it was built for chrome.
Enjoy the not so distant future of the web.
Don’t forget to open this in Safari 5 or Google Chrome. 
“And Then There Was Salsa”
The reason I am not embedding this video is because you must see the original on Vimeo to get the full effect. This video is incredible. I don’t want to give too much away before you see it so go take a look before you read on.
The other day a friend of mine sent me a link, “check this out”. So I followed the link expecting just another cool video or website that might get a little laugh or “that’s neat!”. When I hit play I was still in lets just say robot mode, but then, what, wait a min what’s happening? The video just came out of the video. No wait what happened to Vimeo? The entire screen was video. Pieces of vegetables were flying across the screen and then just like that the video was over and we were back in Vimeo. The highly creative seamless transition from a everyday video on the web to a full screen 3D craziness was like getting splashed with a bucket of ice cold water. I will not forget this advertisement and I’ll be willing to share, blog, talk about it for a long time. I’d love to know who did this. If you have any idea post a comment. I’m sure these guys worked some crazy hours to make this happen. It might become a new standard in advertisement some day.
Embody. A Healthy Investment
Recently I made an investment for my health and comfort at the office. I spend more time in a chair then I do standing. At least 40 hours or more in front of a computer. Over the years I’ve worked in terrible chairs that caused all sorts of back, neck, elbow, and shoulder problems. I’ve also spent a healthy amount of time working in some pretty decent chairs including the Herman Miller Aeron and Mirra, but I still found myself adjusting often. None of them fit just right. Working my way into my 30s and becoming more aware of my posture and health I decided it was time to find a chair that works. Their has to be one out there right?
After a lot of research I found the Herman Miller Embody. Skipping right to it. In my opinion, this is the most comfortable computer chair you can buy. The technology in this chair is far above anything Herman Miller has done. The Embody allows the body to move naturally into the most healthful seated postures and encourages working in a reclined position, the most healthful posture for computer users. It’s a miracle. Can it really be true? After 7 years of sitting in front of a computer I feel comfortable! This chair makes sitting at a computer enjoyable. You almost forget you’re sitting. There is no pressure on your hips or legs. This overall freedom from physical constraint and discomfort means that blood circulates better, the heart slows down, and more oxygen flows to the brain, a critical advantage in an economy where ideas and innovation drive success. I love this chair. If you are in the market this chair is a must have.
I will continue to write about this chair as the days/months go by. Below are some helpful bullets I pulled from the brochure.
· Creates harmony between people and computers.
· Enables and promotes healthful movement.
· Lets blood and oxygen flow more freely, enhancing ability to stay focused.
· Conforms to body’s movements in forward through reclined positions.
Designers: Jeff Weber and Bill Stumpf
Design for the Environment:
· 95 percent recyclable and manufactured using 42 percent recyclable materials
· MBDC Cradle to CradleSM Silver certified
· GREENGUARD® certified
· levelTM 2 certified
High On Neuroscience
Recently I finished a book by Steven Johnson, called Mind Wide Open. It’s about your brain and the neuroscience of everyday life. When I started the book my progress was slow. Every time I finished a page I had to find someone to share the information with. Later learning to relax and talk about it later my progress picked up. Funny thing is later I read in this book how reading and then talking about what you just read helps you retain the information much better than if you didn’t. I’ve always been extremely fascinated by the human brain and its inner workings. This book helped me better understand what all these powerful chemicals in my brain are doing and why. I pay more attention to the pattern of chemical changes and learn from them.
“So this is your brain, in all its multiplicity. You are part reptile, part mammal, part primate, part homo sapiens. You are a twitchy amygdala; you are a dopamine fiend; you are under the spell of oxytocin. You are an unthinkably complex series of connections, of links, spun together by your genes and by your lived experiences. You are a walking assembly of patterns and waves, clusters of neurons firing in sync with one another.” — Steven Johnson, author of Mind Wide Open
Continuing my high on neuroscience I purchased two other popular books both written by Contributing Editor at Wired Jonah Lehrer, How We Decide and Proust Was a Neuroscientist. I will post about these two when I finish them.
Neurosonic Audiomedical Labs Inc.
Neurosonics Audiomedical Labs Inc. from Chris Cairns on Vimeo.
Browsing on Facebook today I came across this video. I am sucker for sick motion graphics/special effects like this. I’m still trying to figure out how they did it. Amazing!
Richie Hawtin Visits St. Louis
Richie Hawtin will be stopping by St. Louis this Independence Day and I must say this has been a highly anticipated night for anyone living in or around the St. Louis area that loves techno. To have a true legend come through here is a treat. I was lucky enough to see Richie along with fellow Minus artist Magda, Troy Pierce, Marc Houle, Hearthrob, and Gaiser in Berlin at the Kontakt party last fall. The show was incredible however I am looking forward to a more intimate setting for the Saturday’s show. I wonder what he will play… see you there!
Tickets can be purchase here.
Location of the show
The Koken Art Factory
2500 Ohio Avenue
Saint Louis, MO 63104
Music Is The Answer…
Dance n,
and prance n.
Groove n ,
keep on move n.
Fly n,
stop your cry n.
Chosen,
while your cruise n.
Music is the answer,
to your problems.
Keep on move n,
then you can solve them.
If you feel that you can’t take no more,
and your feet are headed for the door…
Gotta keep on Dance n,
and prance n.
Groove n ,
keep on move n.
Fly n,
stop your cry n.
Chosen,
while your cruise n.
Music is the answer,
to your problems.
Keep on move n,
then you can solve them.
