The Temperance Movement are an explosive rock and roll band from London and Glasgow drawing on their combined influences and experience to turn heads in the music industries on both sides of the Atlantic. They are currently putting the finishing touches to their debut album which promises to be a cracker.
You can follow them on their website or on their facebook page.
You know, surfing is funny. If you ask people why they surf, you might get some deep, philosophical answers. I’ve fallen into that trap too. But at the end of the day, riding a wave is simply…well, fun.
Whatever level you are at, however big the wave, however exotic the location or however perfect (or imperfect) the conditions, it all comes down to the enjoyment factor. It is what spurs you on to paddle out again searching for another one.
So here’s to waveriding and gliding along tsunamis and aquabumps. In your face localism, pride, ignorance and talk. Just surf and enjoy it, and enjoy others enjoying it!
When the surf goes flat, surfers are at a loss. They check the surf forecast every ten minutes to see if there’s a miracle swell or to see if the 30mph onshore gales have suddenly diverted course out to sea, but you know what, it’s a lost cause. If it’s flat, well… it’s flat. GOOD! That means we have to be creative and find other things to do. Because life is more than just surfing although it’s hard to imagine, we know. Well, here’s our offering of something to do in your spare time. Grab a SUP board and head out to a lake, to the sea or to a river. It is well worth it!
Surfers from Portugal ride a river wake from a ferry heading into Lisbon. It’s all about the search!
75 years ago today, the Basque market town of Gernika was destroyed by German and Italian bombers, working alongside Spain’s General Franco. Unlike Germany did in 1997 (President Roman Herzog), Spain has neither apologised nor claimed responsibility for the massacre that killed thousands.
The bombing was immortalized in art by this painting by Pablo Picasso. After he finished the painting, it was kept in his art studio. A Nazi officer visited the studio and asked the artist, “Did you do this?” “No I didn’t” Picasso replied, “you did!”
"Guernica" by Pablo Picasso
The painting remains in the Lion’s den (the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid), despite a campaign to bring it to the Basque town of Gernika.
This following video by Basque band Audience is very powerful. The original song is by Mikel Laboa.
This is a video that was recorded toward the end of 2011 by EiTB for their Kresala show. The video is in Basque and we explain a little bit about what Christian Surfers is.
In the last decade there has been an explosion of social media websites such as facebook, youtube, twitter, tumblr, vimeo, linkedin, pinterest and so on. It is interesting how they have been categorised as ‘social’. Are they really social or are they redefining what ‘social’ really means?
When I was at school we had no internet and no mobile phones. It’s the sort of thing you’d expect to hear from your parents, but it’s true! “When I was a lad, all we had to play with was mud and if we were lucky, a stick!” If I wanted to meet up with Rob, Ben, Dave, Alex, Holder and Geordie for a game of headers and volleys, we would have to go around to each others’ house, talk to parents and neighbours and all sorts before we sneaked onto the school playing fields for a game before dinner. We only used the school grounds because they had nets and it made you feel like a pro when you scored a goal. Note to councillors – nets are much better than two jumpers and undoubtedly aid youth development as well as inspiring confidence and future employment aspirations!. Just give the kids football nets!!
Anyway, back to the point! Social interaction is no longer “in the flesh” but virtual. Surely this limits our interaction…or does it? Is someone sociable because they are on facebook 24/7? Or are they sociable because when you meet them, they are warm, open and interesting?
A friend once told me that you can always tell a fake smile. The mouth moves but the eyes remain static. When I look at our 6 month old daughter’s smile, her whole face smiles and I know that it is genuine. She reallymeans it. Social networks (and really we are only talking about one - Facebook) are our own personal branding platforms. We choose to brand ourselves depending on what we want other people to know about us. From the pictures we share on facebook, to the way we introduce ourselves on linkedin, it is all controlled… by us!
I often hear people complaining about facebook, but if I’m honest it’s usually on their status updates! It makes me wonder the extent to which social networking sites are hindering genuine social interaction and what significance that will have on society in years to come. I recently heard that most young people check their facebook within half an hour of waking up in the morning. Before even leaving the bed!
Calculate how much time you have spent on the internet today… computer, smartphones, ipads etc. Multiply it by 7 days in a week (no sabbath for facebook users). And how many hours have we spent with our wife? Or husband? Or parents? Or family? Or friends? Or neighbours?
I am as guilty as the next person, but I want to think about it and value its importance. As I type this to my blog, I have noticed that my wife is on facebook. She is sat 4 ft from me. Time to stop.
Here are the 8 finalists for the 2012 San Fermin festival poster. The festivals take place every year in Iruñea, the capital of the Basque Country, beginning 7th July. The winning poster is voted for by the citizens of Iruñea. (Vote here). Whilst the festivals are famous around the world primarily for the running of the bulls, it is a bone of contention for many Basque people. The Bull is a symbol synonnymous with Spain – car bumper stickers, t-shirts, the Osborne advertising billboards and of course bullfighting. Perhaps the second most iconic symbol of the festivals is the Saint himself (Saint Fermin) whose significance is also contested by local Basque people. He is revered by many and prior to every bull running (at 8am each morning), the runners gather around his shrine to chant to the statue and ask Saint Fermin for their blessing and protection as they are chased down the streets by very large bulls. In the Basque Country, the new generations are leaving the Catholic church in droves. Well actually, to say they are ‘leaving’ is not entirely correct, as they never went there in the first place! Spain may be very Catholic, but not so here in the Basque Country.
So we have bulls and a saint, both associated albeit subconsciously with Spain as the key symbols of the festivals in the capital city of the Basque Country.
I work as a designer. I love design. I’m not that great at it, but I know what I like. When I first started out in design nearly 10 years ago, one of my biggest inspirations was Robert Lindstrom from Sweden. He now works at North Kingdom but is perhaps better known by his personal portfolio, the Design Chapel. If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look and spend some time looking through his work.
One aspect of design that I’ve not really ever worked in is product design, but I was once again inspired by his latest concept. This ping pong or table tennis table works similarly to an iphone, using touch technology. The table remembers each bounce of the balls and records it. The scores are calculated automatically and well presented using a distinct and unique typeface especially designed for the product. The design works for the greater good, eliminating cheating(!). No more “I’m winning 13-7″.
It hasn’t been put into production (yet) and remains simply an experiment, a prototype, an idea restricted to the screen… but I can see this becoming a reality in a few years time. Hats off to you Mr Lindstrom!
