Links for February 9th, 2014

For a bit of nostalgia, and a lot of geekiness, I present Tainted Love performed on floppy disk drives. Video

Last week I posted about the Apple ad which was filmed by 15 crews around the world on the same day. They have posted a short behind the scenes video as a follow up. Video

I'm a big fan of Mark Knopfler and his guitar work. This is a recording which has isolated just his guitar work and vocals on Sultans of Swing. If I had a tenth of his guitar playing ability, I'd quit my day job. Video

I've commented in the past on my issues with the current media. I don't believe they are doing an effective job at holding our governments accountable for what they do, yet they still present themselves as being the fourth estate (this is why I believe people like Snowden are so important to safeguarding our way of life). The Guardian casts a critical eye on the worst culprit of journalistic mediocrity, the 24 hour news channel. Article

I've spent my share of time travelling for jobs, and I became skilled at packing a week's worth of clothes in a carry on bag. This guy however, makes me look like a rank amateur. Video

Now that the Olympics have begun, the news channels need to create some sensational stories to get headlines. Of course the ones most people have been sharing this week have involved the various ways Sochi hasn't been ready to handle it's visitors (my favourite of those is the toilet which has been bisected by a wall). NBC decided that double toilets weren't going to cut it for their broadcast. They decided to tell a tale of how visitors to Sochi would have their computers and phones quickly hacked once they landed. Video. Of course the story is complete bullshit. The reporter and security expert in the story did everything they could to get hacked. In fact, everything which happened to them could happen by visiting the same sites while you sit at home. This Reddit comment goes into the details of what is wrong in the story. Article

I love these illuminated dragons.

I've been hearing Leave This Island by Maxïmo Park on XFM lately, and it's been stuck in my head. The video is a little odd, but the song has a great Depeche Mode, moodiness to it. Video

McDonalds Canada has done a few good educational videos about how their food is made. This one tests some of the myths about their chicken nuggets. Video

The Harper government here in Canada has decided to sponsor a bill designed to limit the powers of Elections Canada. We have significant issues with voter turnout, and this will only serve to have a chilling effect on future turnout. Article

The US is finally making a push to move to chip and pin credit cards. They are the last significant holdout, and their lack of support has meant limited development in readers. It's meant those us in the rest of the world using services like Square are stuck with insecure card readers. Can't wait for updated readers to hit the market. Article

Minute Earth's latest video talks about the origin of the Earth's water. I hadn't given much thought to where it came from, and the answer is surprising. Video

Along with being a talented artist, Andrew King is also keen and vocal about local Ottawa history. His latest research looks at seventieth century explorer Henry Hudson's disappearance. Article

This is a fun little story about the painting used by Columbia Pictures during the opening of their films. Article

Speaking of questionable practices at NBC, did they really think nobody would notice them editing the speech by the IOC president during the opening ceremonies? Article

Chris Breen from MacWorld is vocal about some of the horrible PR attempts directed at him as a reporter. He offers some excellent suggestions on how to go about it without pissing off the reports you're contacting. Article

I love watching skilled craftsmen working, regardless of the medium. This video shows a Japanese craftsman making veneer for boxes. Video

How do you create fresh designs for something as old as chopsticks? Article

3D printers have been a regular resident on my link lists. The latest one I've come across is for printing moulds for sand casting. Video

This is a stunning restoration and retrofit of an antique safe. Article

It's easy to dismiss simple designs as being uninteresting compared with their flashier siblings. This Blancpain watch is an exquisite example of how perfect a simple, elegant design can be. This is much harder to accomplish than most people realize. Article

In a previous list I linked to a story about the issues with contaminated olive oil. Here are tips on how to buy genuine oil. Article

I'm happy to live in a world where people spend time decrypting ancient Norse ciphers. Article

My recommendation this week for something to watch is Shakespeare Uncovered. Actors dive into the characters and history behind some great plays. Video

If you haven't watched season one of House Of Cards, you have a few days to catch up before season two is released on Friday. I know Friday will be a write off for me… Video

Previous link posts can be found here

Links for February 2nd, 2014

A round table discussion af SIHH, from leading watch journalists. Discussions include current favourites, and future trends. Article

Adam Savage is best known for Mythbusters, but he was an accomplished model and prop before he started blowing thigs up on TV. In this video Adam shows off a recent birthday present he built for a friend. Video

I haven't had a chance to experiment with Archipad yet, but it looks intriguing. It allows both sketching and accurate architectural drawing, to scale, in the same document. I can see it being very useful for planning future expansions around the property. Article

I'm intrigued by these Cartier Mystery Clocks. Video

Have you ever tried working with melted chocolate and been frustrated by how it performed? King Arthur flower has a good overview of working with chocolate. Article

Brent Simmons, The Point of View of a Mouse. Article

With plenty of attention on American football this past weekend, here are some pictures of the oldest football (real football), and tennis ball. They're probably older than you expect. Article

I first saw Jason Freeny's toy anatomies as a Gelaskins for mobile devices. He's also been working on sculptures of them. Video

If you're a fan of magic, or you've seen one of countless movies with magic and sleight of hand card work, you've probably seen Ricky Jay before. Deceptive Practice is an entertaining new documentary about his history and magic. Video

A depressing look inside the insane wealth on Wall St. Article

A look at the subversive practices of a popular photo sharing twitter account. Article

The story of adulterated olive oil. Article

If you want to be cruel to your party guests.

How do trees survive the winter? Video

The death of expertise. Article

I love how far 3d printing has advanced over the past few years. This new printer can use carbon fibre to strengthen models. Article

I can't imagine how difficult it is for Dylan Farrow to go public with her story of abuse. Article

So many of the arts I practice are dying, and a large reason for that is the secrecy of companies who have practicing artists. I don't have a lot of sympathy now they are having a difficult time finding artists. Sharing knowledge and skills will increase the number of skilled artists in the world. Article

I love the panache of these guys. Video

An overdone meme, but worth it.

Thirty years ago Ridley Scott directed the famous 1984 commercial which launched the Macintosh computer. To help commemorate the anniversary, Ridley's son Jake remotely directed 15 crews to create a new commercial. The crews were sent to locations worldwide with 70 iPhones, and all footage was shot in one day. Article

Previous link posts can be found here

Links for January 26, 2014

iMore talks about how to find out what is new on Netflix. Article

Speaking of Netflix, my favourite film of 2011, Page Eight, is now available. The cast is unbelievable. Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon, Rachel Wiesz, even the "minor" characters are filled with incredible actors. On its surface it's a spy thriller, but it goes well beyond. Video

A study showing how poor children benefit from a stipend. Article

The 85 richest people in the world have as much wealth as half the workd's population. Article

"Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanly or think sanely under the influence of great fear". The use of fear to control the public. Article

10 lessons every maker should learn. Article

The Freakonomics podcast is on my regular playlist for the shop. The episode, Fear Thy Nature has some interesting discussions about humans. Article

Don't take this the wrong way, but your verbal ticks are exposing your insincerity. Article

I have no need for colour matched nail polish, but I'm sure there are plenty of other uses for this. Article

I've started using some of the apps in this article to shoot video in my shop. I can now shoot, edit, and post videos from my iPad. So much freedom. Article

I love this story of a math genius turning OK Cupid's data mining to his own search for love. Article

An 800 year old bridge was recently uncovered and still passes modern structural tests. Perhaps Quebec should study its construction and get some tips. Article

Watch The Stig race the Google street car around the Top Gear track. Video

Mark Hamill did a good AMA on Reddit this week. The whole thing is worth a read, but this question and answer were my favourite. Article

The Mac turned 30 this week. Video

Stephen Fry's essay on how the Mac changed everything for him. Article

A robotic lamp which tracks your focus and ensures the area is lit. Article

How does a Renaissance man apply for a job in 15th century Italy? Leonardo da Vinci's resume. Article

Beautiful new Toubillon from A Lange & Söhne. I've added this to my birthday wish list for those interested in getting me a little something. Article

I'm a sucker for retrograde watch hands. Love the simplicity of this Van Cleef & Arpels watch. Article

I'm fortunate to have sugar maples on my property. I make a small amount of maple syrup each year for friends and personal use (honestly officer, it's just for personal use). It looks like syrup production is about to take a huge step forward. Article

A scientific look at the best way to season your cast iron cookware. Article

It only took two decades to replace 13 tech gadgets worth $5000 with a single device you can carry in your pocket. Article

I've been baking a lot of bread over the past six months. Nothing is better than great, fresh bread. I'm also a big fan of pretzels, and found this good recipe. Article

I've linked to Kirby's Everything is a Remix in a previous list. His current project is This is not a Conspiracy Theory. Article

Propane shortages have led to the cost of fuel doubling in the past year. I'm glad we rely primarily on a pellet stove to heat the house. Without the recent increases our house is $4000/year to heat on propane. We'd be unable to afford these new increases. Article

Previous link posts can be found here

Inside The Studio

Having a job like mine can be both a blessing and a curse when you meet people for the first time. The blessing is I have an interesting answer for the first thing most people ask; what do you do for a living? The curse is answering what follows…

Everyone I've met asks me, in some form or another, one or more of the following questions: You can make a living making pens? How did you make that? How did you learn to make that? The first and third are easy to answer (mostly, I'm an autodidact). It's the innocent little question in the middle which causes me the most problems. How do you distill years of knowledge, hundreds of hours of experimentation, and tens of hours of making something, into a single serving answer which will leave people satisfied? The simple answer is you can't.

The third of Clarke's three laws states: any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. While that is very true, I'd also suggest combining a number of primitive technologies together is indistinguishable from magic. You see most of what I do, and the techniques I use, are very primitive. Mankind has known about them for centuries if not millennia. Sure we have fancy kilns and precision tools, but they don't fundamentally change the techniques; just make them more repeatable, and faster. Unfortunately most of this knowledge has been kept away from the general public. It's been safe guarded by the guilds who made a living off of it. So while most people have seen videos of how their car was built, they can't tell you how their wedding ring was made.

All of this is a long winded way of introducing the latest feature on my site: Inside the Studio. It is the home for some of the answers to the second question. You'll find details on the materials, techniques and tools I use to make my art. I hope it provides a useful reference to anyone who isn't satisfied with the single serving answer. It will never be complete, but I intend to add to it regularly.

Links for January 19, 2014

I've been thinking of making a set of fire tools for the house, and I really like this design. Article

Beautiful video of bags of spice exploding. If you have compulsions to clean things, don't watch this. Video

I'm always trying to find new ways to organize and display design materials. Curator on the iPad looks like it might be promising. Article

Anyone who makes physical things for a living is always concerned about someone coming along and ripping off your design. David Munson, CEO of Saddleback Leather, made a great video to teach people how to rip off his bags for less money. Video

A side by side comparison of photos of London from 1927 and 2013. Article

Vacheron Constantine are doing some truly inovative things with guilloché with their Métier d'Art series of watches. Quill and Pad has a good write up on the series so far. Article

One of the few things I miss by no longer having satellite tv is watching the Dakar rally. In Focus has a photo essay of this year's rally. Article

Love these portraits done using vintage maps. Article

The Washington Post has two articles showing the world using 40 maps. It would be fascinating to see how some of this data has changed over the past 50 years. Article

This story about $4 toast was doing the rounds this week. It's a good story, but so many were in disbelief that people would pay that much for toast. If you've never had great bread, I can understand the disbelief. The only thing as good as fresh bread with butter on it, is that bread toasted with butter on it. Article

Speaking of inovative guilloché, Roger Smith has made a unique watch for the GREAT Britain campaign. This multi-level dial looks great, and is one of the most technicaly challenging pieces of guilloché I've seen. Article

Continuing with the great watches this week, Grieb & Benzinger's tribute to St George. Article

This is one of the most depressing maps I've ever seen. Article

An amusing list of signs that Rome may be your home. Article

I've been following Le Garde Temps watch project over the past year, and their first movement just came to life. Article

Beautiful photos of bioluminescent phytoplankton in the Maldives. Article

Jeremy Cowart's tale of connecting with a client during a busy photo shoot. Article

Common myths and misconceptions about medieval knights and armour. Article

A short interview with James Earl Jones in which he reveals he once used the handle Darth, along with the Vader voice, on CB networks while driving across the country. Article

I hope this is the start of a trend towards not photoshopping models for ads. Article

Numberphile has a good video about The Knight's tour and magic squares. Video

What do ultra marathons do to the human body? Article

Psychology Today takes a look at why boys and girls with the same levels of intelligence approach challenging problems differently. Article

This project has so many hurdles to overcome, but could lead to an interesting alternative to living in the US. Article

Are you in PR? Do you follow up sending material to a journalist with a phone call? You might want to stop doing that… Article

I still use Standard Written English everywhere, but its stricter cousin is quickly becoming obsolete online. Article

Online dating sounds like absolute hell as a man. I can't even imagine how much worse it is for women. Article

Veritasium looks at the problems with Facebook. Video

Everyone knows that water expands as it turns to ice. What happens if you freeze water in a container which prevents it from expanding? Article

Previous link posts can be found here

Inside the Studio: The Mechanical Apprentice

Today we think of the lone artist working in his or her shop, crafting a piece of art. But this is a very modern idea of how art is made. Even into the twentieth century, a master craftsman would have a shop of journeymen and apprentices working away. Most of the mundane work, and work which could be trusted to unsteady hands, would be done by less skilled people trying to learn the trade. Traditional apprenticeships are not possible in today's labour market, so the modern artist must rely on new forms of cheap labour…

In my shop I employ CNC tools to help me out. They do the mundane, repetitive work I don't want to do, and which they excel at. Below is a short video of my CNC mill hard at work milling the wax for a Gothic overlay.

The Mechanical Apprentice

Links for Jan 12, 2014

Lots of good reasons to exercise. Turns out it's good for the brain as well as the body. Video

Eating and weight loss is one of those subjects surrounded by a lot of BS. With respect to weight loss, how much you put in and how much you burn is what's important (the quality of food and nutritional value is a totally different conversation…). If you eat more than you burn, you gain weight. A science teacher decided to test out the theory eating McDonalds every day for three months. Article

It's disgusting what people are willing to say and do when they think they are anonymous. In particular, the attacks online against women is just unbelievable to me. Current police services are incapable, and disinterested in dealing with these threats. Perhaps we should stop spending so much money on the failed war on drugs, and start spending resources on hunting these assholes down. Article

I'm sure like me, you've often had friends tell you to check out their [brother/sister/friend/grandmother/cat]'s band. I'm all for supporting friends in their creative endeavours, but often times they're not very good. And I'm not suggesting people shouldn't make music (I'm a below average guitarist who still enjoys playing because it's fun. I just don't subject anyone to it…). But every once in a while someone/ says, hey, my sister's band has a new video on YouTube, and you find out, damn, she has a great voice. Video

Bonnie Raines was part of the group who broke into FBI offices back in the 70s and uncovered documents showing FBI wrong doing. She wrote a great op-ed piece this week about the importance of whistleblowers in a democracy. Article

A short list of some of the memerable anniversaries in history this year. Article

An introduction to the British Museum's online catalogue of medieval manuscripts. Article

The destruction of the Death Star was an inside job. Article

The Limbourg Brothers are some of the most famous master calligrapher and illuminators in history. Recently a new manuscript surfaced from them, and sold at auction for €2.5million. Article

Minute Physics explains why the solar system is flat. Video

Wonder Pens is a new pen and stationary store in Toronto. I've had great dealings with them so far, as have a number of clients and friends. They recently got some great press. Article

Many tools these days make use of tags to help organize information. Here's a good article on one way to make better use of tags. Article

How do porcupines mate? The old joke says, very carefully, but the truth is a bit stranger than that. Article

There are few truly important life skills that everyone should know, regardless of who they are. How to remove the cork from a bottle without using a corkscrew is one of those skills. Article

We've known for decades that open concept offices don't work, so why do we continue to use them them? Article

I can't imagine who thought it would be a good idea to allow Senators to file expenses on the honour system. It should be interesting to see what kinds of abuses the Auditor General finds. Article

Log out of the Internet right now. Article

I have a whole other post I'm writing about the poor state of movies, and this look at movie posters is a great companion to it. Video

We need this in Ottawa for the winter months.

Copyright was designed to help protect artists and convince them to make more art. The system is now so broken that the Vatican is copyrighting 1000 year old manuscripts. Do they know something we don't about the original artists? Perhaps this will convince them to rise from the dead and make more art… Article

This is a funny story about an author showing up at a book club meeting while they discussed his novel. Article

Regex occasionally haunts my dreams, even five years after leaving IT. Article

The story of a thirty year old woman who had a stroke on Christmas Eve. Article

What is the difference between a kid who is vaccinated, and one who isn't. Article

I've not been a big fan of the logos and branding of recent Olympic Games. The new logos for Rio look good though. Article

If you're like me and you enjoy making things, especially out of wood, eventually you'll want to make a folding stool. Here's how to make the tri-bolt you need for the legs. Article

Will over at Tested voices many of my feelings about the BS of CES. Article

I love he look of this book stand. I may have to make something similar for my iPad. Article

Marco Arment has done some good testing and research on the various LED bulbs out on the market. This post was timely as I'm currently considering lighting options for my show reno. Article

Previous link posts can be found here

First link list for 2014

Happy New Year everyone (and happy Twelfth Night to those who are so inclined).

This is an amazing story of survival. I've read a few of these stories over the years. I do wonder why these guys don't use the GPS survival locators which are out on the market. Article

The mechanical watch industry suffered a real blow with the introduction of quartz movements. Quartz movements were cheap to make, and very accurate. There has been a revival of the accuracy trials within the mechanical watch industry. The new Quill and Pad site has a good post on why those trials are important. Article

These clay sculptures are rather clever, and extremely well executed. Article

Anyone who has a cat know how much of a menace they can be while you're working. Looks like it was an issue for this medieval scribe as well… Article

If you've ever had any interest in blacksmithing, you should seriously consider taking one of Darrel Markewitz's classes. He's experienced as a blacksmith and instructor, and his classes are an excellent way to learn the basics of the craft. His 2014 schedule is now online. Article

This accoustic manipulation is amazing. I'm not sure if it'll allow for the invention of the suggested hover boards, but I'm sure someone will do something interesting with it. Article

Frederico's best of app lists are worth looking at if you're a Mac or iOS user. Article

The current state of news is a sad thing. Esquire looks at how broken the breaking news cycle is once mixed with the Internet. Article

Men's fashion, and how to dress in the year ahead. Article

The more the US becomes a police state, the less inclined I am to travel there. Borders are weird places legally, and warrantless searches make them scarey. Article

Running a small business is difficult. Here's an all too common story that is rarely told. Article

Great post from Sam Sykes on bullying. Article

I'm always amazed at the amount of meta data Netflix has managed to acquire about movies. The Atlantic explores the story behind some of the weird sub-genres you find there. Article

Today we think of metals like platinum and gold as being valuable, but not that long ago, aluminum was the most expensive metal around. Article

This makes me sad.

It looks like there will be a Toronto Pen show this year, and unlike past years, it's in a great location. I'm planning on attending as an exhibitor. Article

Gun control is a difficult topic to debate. Mostly because the issue is poorly understood by most people, and the debate has devolved into factions digging their heels in. There is little room in the middle for reasonable conversation. This story about a moderate being forced out of journalism is very unfortunate to hear. Article

King Arthur Flour has a good cooking blog. This article takes a look at the various muffin options from England. Article

Previous link posts can be found here.

Last link list of 2013

Links for December 29, 2013

This is my last set of links for the year. I hope you've been enjoying them. If you have links you think I might enjoy, please feel free to send me an email. Enjoy your New Year's celebrations.

I didn’t want to change society. I wanted to give society a chance to determine if it should change itself. Article

Normally I hate slide shows on the Internet (they're mostly just page view grabs), but this is worth checking out. The new Mac Pro which was released recently is an impressive piece of kit, but the size of it is astounding. Article

We seem to be in a Rennaisance of independent watch making. I love the innovation and designs coming out. Watches by SJX is a great site to follow for all watch news. Article

Levenger has a sale on lots of their goods, including some nice pen cases. Article

CGP Grey has a new video out on the noceibo effect. I've linked to his stuff before, and if you're not already watching his videos, you really should start. Video

Speaking of great watch sites, Hodinkee put together a video year in review. Video

Mihkail Kalashnikov passed away this week at the age of 94. Article

A wonderful collection of hi-res images of medieval manuscripts. Article

It's disgusting it took this long for Alan Turing to get a pardon. Article

Wiltshire church sells medieval chalice to help pay for renovations.Article

Creating a balance between the professional self, and the unprofessional, more human self, is difficult. As more people read what I write, I think about it more. Allen Pike has a good blog entry on being more human. Article

The Globe and Mail has a good article on why cufflinks are making a come back. (I'll be adding cufflinks to my site early in the new year if this is your cup of tea.) Article

I'm not one for Christmas music (years of working in a mall at Christmas is enough to drive anyone a bit mad), but The Pogues' Fairytale of New York is worth a link. Video

A look at how reading affects the brain days after. Article

If you've been reading along the last few months, you already know I'm in love with Phillipe Dufour and his work. Another great interview with him. Video

It's getting difficult to trust anything secret to technology. Article

Pixar's rules for good story telling. Article

Previous link posts can be found here.

Links for the week of December 22nd, 2013

Links for Dec 22nd, 2013

I didn't realize how many songs I like from White Lies until I heard them play at the Winter Wonderland concert last week. Here are a few of their videos to try out. Farewell to the Fairground Video
To Lose My Life Video
There Goes Our Love Again Video

For those of you who don't know about Kerby Ferguson's Everything is a Remix, stop reading this and go watch it. The original is hardly news, however, he's made a new one about the iPhone. Video

ADHD is a very real problem for a few people I know. Recent studies are showing that it is being over used as an excuse to medicate kids and adults. Article

A mesmerising computer model, updated every three hours, of the Earth's wind patterns. Article

I hope it doesn't take decades for the world to realize how important the Snowden leaks are. A US Federal judge has now ruled that some of the wiretapping the NSA has been caught doing is unconstitutional. Article

So you're trying to find the perfect gift for the hard to buy for, and money is no object? This gift guide is for you. Article

XKCD: Undocumented feature. Article

This skywalk in the Swiss Alps is not for people who fear heights. Article

The next guest in Adam Savage's The Talking a Room series is Damon Lindelof. Video

The Food Lab tackles the most important issue this holiday, how to make the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Article

This experimental cube is very impressive. Using three wheels connected to micro controllers allows the cube to stand itself up on and edge, or even a point. Video

If you have any interest in watches, you need to be reading Hodinkee. They posted a roundup of their best reviews and articles of the year. My particular favourite is the interview with Phillipe Dufour. Article

Good video from the Salon QP event featuring a Roger Smith discussing the lessons learned by sifting through George Daniels' workshop. Video

The British Library has uploaded more than a million images to Flickr. Part of the exercise is to get the public' shell in categorising the images. Article

Many have proposed reforms to the current calendar to correct various issues and irregularities. Here is why they're all wrong. Article

A great side by side comparison of driving the Nordschleife in real life and GT6. Video

Minute Physics explains why full moons in the winter are so incredible. Video

I regularly work with machines which could rip off my hand if I do something stupid, so this story makes me feel a bit better about my prospects if that happens. Article

A great story about why David Sparks became a lawyer, and some what he's learned over 20 years of doing it. Article

Jonathon Snook wrote a good post about writing a book and self publishing it. It's something I've been meaning to do for a while. Article

Forbes examines sex in marketing and what the future might hold. Article

How do you stack up on twitter? I was surprised to see I'm in the 90% based on number of followers. Article

RSA has been a trusted source of cryptographic tools for years. Some recent revelations from the Snowdon leaks means they are probably dead in the water. Article

I'm not a fan of the diamond industry and they're price manipulation tactics, so I wasn't too surprised to read about some of their other shady dealings. Article

These flower shells are just odd. Sort of a 21stC swords to plowshares. I would recommend using them in the city though. You'd likely end up with a SWAT team on your doorstep. Article

After the mess US banks got us into with credit default swaps, I can't see this ending well. Article

Numberphile takes a look at the mathematics behind how the NSA has been decrypting information on the Internet. Video

Previous link posts can be found here