This is way cool :: Lo Mob app

Lo Mob is another fab addition to my iPhone photography arsenal. It offers a selection of 39 fantastic filters that aren't offered in the other apps I have.

Options include:

• Classic Vintage
• 35mm Film Experimentation (two examples of this category are shown below)
• Through The Viewfinder (an example of an AE TTV Satuated Virage)
• Emulsions
• Instant Matic Photography (an example of a 6 x 9 Instant Emulsion)
• Contact Mask Photocards (an example of a Photocard Two)

Nice job. Well recommended. Tx

Miriam - 35mm Medium Format 1

Miriam - 35mm MF Overlapp 1

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Favourite Album of the Noughties?

What was your favourite album of the Noughties? For me it is "In Rainbows" by Radiohead... for three reasons:

1) It got me into Radiohead... who I had arrogantly ignored up until that point. I now have their whole back catalogue and they are my "most listened artist" according to Last.FM (708 as at date of post)

2) Their "pay what you want" approach to releasing their record changed the game... and redressed the balance of power in favour of the artist & the fan.

3) Its a flippin' good album! "Bodysnatchers" is a brilliant track... as are "nude" & "weird fishes / arpeggi". Oh and I love "reckoner". Yes... it is a brilliant album.

So yeah... what about you? What was you favourite album of the Noughties and why?

Tx

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More pics from my Minolta P's

I've just post another roll from my Minolta P's here. I am very impressed with this wee camera.

Check them out.

Tx

An exercise in gratitude #2 :: an Elvish love ring

Olly gave me this ring... I've been needing a decent wedding band since my fingers got too fat for my original ring. We saw this ring in Wales and I fell in love with it... Tolkien geek that I am. It is inscribed in Elvish... which is translated as:

"One ring to show our love
One ring to bind us
One ring to seal our love
And forever to entwine us"

I was over-the-moon when I received it as a gift this Christmas. I think its beautiful and I will cherish it forever. Thanks honey!

In a bizarre twist of coincidence... I bought Olly a matching necklace... with the same inscription. I guess that makes us both Tolkien geeks :-) I believe Olly is as chuffed as I am.

For me... value is imparted through the meaning of a gift. This ring is now "precious" because it was given to me with love from "my precious" Olly. It is the thought of the giver and the significance of said giver that make something truly invaluable to me. I don't need fancy labels or expensive whatevers... I just need gifts with meaning... and this is one of those.

Tx

This is way cool :: Adidas x Star Wars

I have to admit... I haven't been this excited about sneakers in a loooong time... but the Adidas x Star Wars collaboration is way cool. Personally faves include the Skywalker (above) and...

ZX8000 "Darth Vader"...

Samba "X-Wing"...

Stan Smith "Millenium Falcon"... and

ZX700 Boat "Yoda".

Some awesomesauce coming from Adidas. I think I'll use the force when I seek out my next pair of sneaks.

Tx

An unbelievable coincidence involving Google Maps...

For some reason... last night Olly looked up our house on Google Maps... and found this wonderfully unbelievable coincidence :: the satellite picture taken shows our Table Tennis table out in the back garden. Why is this a wonderful coincidence? ... because we only played ping pong in our garden ONCE in 2009. 1/365 is pretty out there odds.

Tx

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My 3,000th post :: Ubuntu

Over the next few days... I want to exercise gratitude & appreciation for the gifts I received on Christmas Day. I felt this mug would make a fitting start... AND... help me to celebrate my 3,000th post on the ol' Nanolog.

The mug... a gift from Olly... is from whateverittakes.org in collaboration with everyone's favourite Jedi Samuel L. Jackson and features the philosophy of Ubuntu which is summed up as...

"A person is a person because of other people."

He states that the "love of self leads to the love of all". I get this... albeit... I would tweak it more to "love of the God who loves you leads to the love of all".

That said... I really like how Archbishop Desmond Tutu defines it...

One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu - the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can't exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can't be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality - Ubuntu - you are known for your generosity.

We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.

I believe God... through the Trinity... demonstrates how to live in community. In this... I believe we must follow the example of the Trinity and seek to live in community too.

We are all connected. I am Thomas aka Headphonaught because of my Creator and because of YOU! So in my 3,000th post, I'd like to thank y'all for reading / contributing / participating in this wee blog. The ol' Nanolog is a record, in part, of my journey and you are all fellows in this journey.

So yeah... thanks to Olly for her kind gift. The subterfuge she committed to obtain this mug without me knowing is of French Resistance quality. It is a daily reminder that I am who I am because of others... and I am grateful for this lesson.

Thank you all!

Tx

The Bible in Five Statements

My boy Jd Blundell has tagged me in a meme thing... which is to summarise the Bible in five statements. Here are the rules…

Summarize the Bible in five statements, the first one word long, the second two, the third three, the fourth four and the last five words long. Or possibly you could do this in descending order. Tag five people.

So here goes...

God
gives life
mankind turns away
Jesus brings love here
new life is now possible

Not as eloquent as JD or Stewart... but its the taking part that counts!

I'm all for keeping it simple... stripping away the verbosity and getting down to the nitty-gritty... and this exercise has really helped me to focus on what the Story is all about.

I believe the Bible is a living... breathing... story of which I am a part... and its important to remove all the guff that bogs it down... and get to the core of what it is all about.

I'm going to break with the meme... by asking anyone reading this to give it a go. Leave a comment and if you have a blog... post your five statements there too.

Tx

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!, originally uploaded by rainbowpromise.

something beautiful :: christmas nines :: 2.46

The latest episode of the Something Beautiful Podcast is another celebration of the Nativity Story.

It’s that time of year, when all our listeners are invited to join in and help us celebrate the birth of our Savior.

thanks to everyone who joined in with a reading or sharing their Christmas thoughts, reflections and wishes!

we hope you enjoy listening and are able to share it with your family and friends this holiday season.

we look forward to many more great stories and episodes to come in 2010!

Take some time out to consider the birth of a child.

Tx

Merry Christmas Everyone :)

Merry Christmas Everyone :), originally uploaded by catzi.

Albums of 2009 :: My "top ten"

It doesn't get any better than a spicy chai latte and some fab tunes... and the following 10 albums were really "up there" quality-wise for me this year.

Please Note: Links will take you to the album on Spotify... except for the Cousin Silas link.



In at number 10 is an awesome album from a band I have grown to love since their last album lit up my ears... Noah and the Whale's album "The First Days of Spring" is a wonderful progression from "Peaceful the world lays me down" - it has a denser instrumentation that is slower... more deliberate... than the previous album.

Love it.



Next up is The Mars Volta's "Octahedron" - an album that is refreshingly progressive and no-holds-barred awesome-rock-ness. This album got me into the band... big time... and reminded me that every iPod needs some prog!



If I were to say this album sounds like a wonderful netaudio release... you may get the gist. Jonsi and Alex's "Riceboy Sleeps" is wonderfully pastoral and atmospheric... its like Jonsi has taken the ambience of his band - Sigur Ros - and turned it up to ELEVEN. Beautiful!



In at number seven is possibly the best pop album I've heard in a very looooonnng time. Phoenix's "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" is simply awesome. Catchy. Quirky. Singalong-tastic!



Imogen Heap's "Ellipse" is one of those albums that just gets better and better. She has an amazingly unique voice and a refreshing approach to her craft. I really dig her obsession with sound... and the layering she uses is mesmerising. This album will be around for a very long time.



I am a big fan of Moby... especially his more ambient work. For me "Wait for me" is a return to form... a wonderful selection of downtempo soundscapes. Beautiful!



"Vectimest" by Grizzly Bear really captured my attention. Its indie aesthetic really energised me... inspiring me to seek out their back catalogue and inspiring a renewed fondness in guitar-orientated experimentation. Lovely!



2009 was a good year for So Elated... coming off the back of their fab 2008 Christmas album "The Bewildering Light" they brought out their "proper" self-titled debut "So Elated". It is a wonderfully honest album filled with heartache, inspiration, celebration and joy. It is what "Christian Music" should be... awesome music written and performed with openness and sincerity... about experience and not about "my boyfriend Jesus". I look forward to their next album with anticipation.



Cousin Silas is someone special. I find his music... the soundscapes he creates... uplifting and nutritious. They feed me and inspire me as only the best music can. His latest release - "uncertainty" - is just awesome... and is a prime example of how good netaudio music can be. Yes... I have a vested interest in this release considering a couple of my pics inspired a couple of the tracks... but I would still love this album if I didn't. This should be the dictionary definition of "ambient electronica", imho.



Last up is possibly one of the most beautiful albums I've heard in a while... Animal Collective's "Merriweather Post Pavilion". I have been listening to it almost constantly since its release. Its swirling post-rock psychedelic soundscapes have provided the soundtrack to my life throughout 2009. I haven't gotten sick of it... and find something new everytime I listen to it. Its my definition of awesomeness.

So yeah... that's me. My thanks to each of the artists / bands listed.

Now... over to you... what albums made your "top ten"? Have I missed any of worth? Let me know.

Tx

Albums of 2009 :: Runners Up :: Second 15

Here are the next 15 albums that touched me in some way... I was particularly pleased with the netaudio output this year:































I'll post my "top ten" later... but its kind of a pointless exercise because all forty albums have meant something to me and will take a considerable bettering before they'll be shifted from my iPhone.

Tx

Albums of 2009 :: Runners Up :: First 15

from "weheartit.com"

Its that time of the year again... where I ramble on about the music that I liked during 2009.

Here are the first 15 "runners up" ... in no particular order::































My thanks to these musicians for making such awesome music that has enhanced my life in some way or another in 2009.

The second 15 then the "top ten" to come...

Tx

A sad day

Today was a sad day. Today saw Borders on Buchanan Street close. Whilst I mourn the loss of the shop that I got all my magazines from... and a ton of music when the sale was just right... what I am traumatised about is the loss of my third space.

The Starbucks in Borders had become a sacred middle ground for me. It was a place where friendships were formed and developed... where podcasts were recorded and books read... where dreams were dreamt and then coaxed into existence. It was my special place.

I never got a chance to say goodbye to the Starbucks in the Borders in the Fort. It was a similar space. I did, however, get a chance to say "cheerio" to the one on Buchanan.

I thanked the Baristas... and was given a used venti mug as a keepsake. I would have taken "my chair" if I could have too.

I then had a fab conversation with my colleague Steven... our friendship being one of those developed in this hallowed environment.

I know no one has died... and all the Baristas have other jobs to go to... but still... it is a sad day for me.

I need to find my new space... and that's going to be harder than you would think.

Anyway... in the meantime... here are some pics :: link.

Tx

Something Beautiful :: goosebumps & justice (advent reflections) :: 2.45

If you don't already listen to the something beautiful podcast then you may want to tune into this episode... where we (JD, Stewart & I...) plus our wives (Laurie, Avril & Olly) contribute to an awesome Advent reflection... with some fab tunes thrown in for good measure.

Please check it out :: something beautiful

This is way cool :: Hipstamatic

I have nearly 3 full pages on my iPhone of photo apps... and wasn't really looking for another one. That is until I saw Hipstamatic and was bowled over.

The app provides a number of choices to create the perfect lo-fi photo.



First off... you can choose the lens you want to use. The app itself comes with two lenses - the "John S" and the "Jimmy". If you buy the "Williamsburg" add-on then you get the "Helga Viking" lens (which is my current fave) and the "Lucifer VI" lens is available if you buy the "Portland" add-on. The lenses offer different vibes... very much in the toycamera aesthetic.



Next up... you can choose the film you want to use. "Ina's 1969" and "Kodot Verichrome" (my current fave) come as standard and recreate their respective films nicely. With "Portland" comes the "Blackeys b+w" film and the raw "Pistil" film comes with the "Williamsburg" pack.



You can then choose a flash, if you need one - The "Standard" comes as standard with "Cadet Blue", "Redeye" and "Laser Lemon" gel flashes included in the "Williamsburg" pack.



Once you are ready to take the pic... you basically point and click. The viewfinder isn't ideal... so it takes a wee bit of getting used to... but once you do its all systems go. It shows you, via a series of lights, the progress of "developing" the pic which is a nice touch. That said... this is where I have noticed a few crashes.



I am very impressed with this app... and have gotten very snap-happy over the last few days. Go here to see a wee set of the pics I have taken with it to date.

The developers need to work on the app's stability... but otherwise, its a fab app. I love the User Interface and look forward to new add-ons. Well recommended if you have an iPhone and love taking lo-fi pics.

Seth Godin has a new ebook out... What Matters Now

Seth Godin has a new ebook out entitled What Matters Now that brings together the thoughts on 70 innovative thinkers.

I've downloaded it and intend to read it over the next few weeks. Check it out.

(via psfk.com with thanks)