Thursday 31 October 2013

“Millions of lines of code”

Lots of talk of “millions of lines of code” circulating. The abortive new healthcare.gov website apparently comprises over “500 million lines” of the stuff – symbolic for some of bloated top-heavy government. Still, 500 **M I L L I O N** sounds like an awful lot. Is it? Take a look for yourself: Codebases – [...]



via Information Is Beautiful http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/2013/millions-of-lines-of-code/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=millions-of-lines-of-code

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via Bad Blueprints... http://badblueprints.tumblr.com/post/64802080668

Minifigs

The LEGO Group is already the world's largest tire manufacturer.



via xkcd.com http://xkcd.com/1281/

A certain slant of light

My goodness me, it’s been nine whole months since I flew back to London from Japan. This was not my plan. I was supposed to be in Mexico by now. But as you’ll probably have noticed, if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, my life quite frequently deviates from the plans I make [...]



via That Emily Chappell http://thatemilychappell.com/2013/10/a-certain-slant-of-light/

Friday 18 October 2013

Original Grand Theft Auto getting a 3D makeover

GTA 3D

One of the creators of the original Grand Theft Auto game has been reworking Liberty City in 3D thanks to GameMaker Studio.


Michael Dailly and David Jones created GTA while working at DMA Design -- the studio which became Rockstar North. Dailly is now head of development at YoYo Games which, amongst other things, develops the GameMaker game creation system.


By: Philippa Warr,


Continue reading...



via Wired.co.uk http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-10/18/gta-3d

Wednesday 16 October 2013

The Alphabet of Damián Ortega

A breathtaking installation, full of twisted and suspended forms, that requires a triple take: do you see it? Look closer.

















via Design Milk http://design-milk.com/alphabet-damian-ortega/

The Bicycle Academy: learn how to build a frame by making a bike for charity - video

The Bicycle Academy, a Somerset-based company, teaches beginners everything they need to make a bike frame from scratch








via Environment: Bike blog | theguardian.com http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/video/2013/oct/16/bicycle-academy-frame-making-bike-charity-video


My First 5 Jobs: John Cavanagh

John Cavanagh explains his eclectic and varied working life



via Central Station http://thisiscentralstation.com/my-first-5-jobs/my-first-5-jobs-john-cavanagh/

Glasgow Visual Art and Craft Award Scheme 2013/2014

Artists and makers based or resident in Glasgow are invited to apply for this award



via Central Station http://thisiscentralstation.com/featured-opportunity/glasgow-visual-art-and-craft-award-scheme-20132014/

Don't cross the line? But sometimes a cyclist has to to stay safe


Alex Paxton was fined when he stopped beyond an advanced stop line. He is challenging the fixed penalty notice in a case that could have important implications for UK cyclists


When Alex Paxton was cycling down the road, he came to an advanced stop line (ASL). Even if the words don't ring a bell, you'll know an ASL, or cycle box, when you see it: typically an area marked by green tarmac and white lines, set aside to allow cyclists to safely position themselves at the front of a queue at traffic lights.


Paxton claims that because the ASL was already occupied by a car which had stopped illegally inside the area, he was unable to stop within it. As he was on a three-lane road and didn't want to have to cross several lanes of moving traffic in order to turn right when the light changed to green, he positioned himself ahead of the car and in front of the ASL.


A police officer who noticed what had happened radioed ahead to a colleague further along the road in Fulham, London, who issued Paxton with a fixed penalty notice (FPN). Although Paxton argued at the time that the car that blocked the ASL meant he wouldn't have been able to obey the law without putting himself in danger, he received an FPN regardless. Paxton claims that because the second police officer didn't actually see what happened, he was unable to assess the greater risk that Paxton would have faced had he remained behind the ASL.


After receiving advice from the Cyclists' Defence Fund (CDF), set up by the national cycling charity, CTC, to fight legal cases involving cycling, Paxton decided to contest the fine in court. The CDF hopes the case will set a precedent around the enforcement of ASLs. The CDF set up a fundraising page to assist him with his legal costs, which quickly exceeded its target of £2,000. The case is due to be heard at Lavender Hill magistrates court on Wednesday 16 October.


According to CDF's Rhia Weston:


"When the first FPNs for cyclists (targeting those who cycled on footways) were first introduced, the CTC sought assurance that fines would only be given out when a cyclist's actions were reckless and would endanger pedestrians – not, for example, when a cyclist uses an empty pavement to avoid a dangerous section of road. It's important that the same sensible enforcement is applied to cyclists who don't use ASLs when it's unsafe to do so, especially given how frequently ASLs are blocked by illegally positioned vehicles."

Transport for London (TfL) pledged to enforce rules that prohibit drivers from stopping in ASLs more strictly in April 2013, after Andrew Gilligan, London's cycling commissioner, announced plans to use CCTV cameras to catch wayward motorists.


Weston continued:


"ASLs are there for a good reason: around 70% of cyclists' collisions occur at or near junctions. They're by no means perfect, but when used properly, we do believe that they have the potential to save lives. We understand that the Department for Transport is planning to update regulation around ASLs to overcome the considerable problems with their access, which does give us some hope for the future."

If successful, the case could have important implications for UK cyclists: it would compel police officers to use their discretion when issuing FPNs to cyclists who, in order to stay safe, must occasionally act contrary to the law, and press the DfT to clarify the law governing what cyclists should do if an ASL is illegally occupied by a vehicle.


Contrary to the belief of some, ASLs are provided for cycles only, and motorcyclists are specifically prohibited from using them (Highway Code rule 178).


It's worth noting, though, that there is some leeway for drivers: if the light turns red as the driver's vehicle is already within the ASL, the driver must wait within the ASL until the light turns green.






theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds





via Environment: Bike blog | theguardian.com http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2013/oct/15/cross-the-line-cyclist-safe


London cycling census mapped: where do cyclists outnumber drivers?

Using newly released data from TFL's cycle traffic census, UCL Research Associate Oliver O'Brien has created an interactive map showing traffic flows on key routes in central London. See the routes on which cyclists outnumber car drivers









via Environment: Bike blog | theguardian.com http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/interactive/2013/oct/15/london-cycling-census-map-cyclists-drivers-tfl


Tuesday 15 October 2013

N is for NILK

Are you going to Nilk? This was a question I asked a number of people this summer and on the most part the response was resoundingly YES! With just a few queries of – what is Nilk? So for the uninitiated – Nilk is a micro music festival that combines music, film and art and [...]



via Accept Chaos http://94.136.40.103/~acceptchaos.co.uk/2013/10/n-is-for-nilk/

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via Bad Blueprints... http://badblueprints.tumblr.com/post/64052071765

Thursday 10 October 2013

Ototo





via Dentaku's Portfolio Feed http://dentakulondon.com/work/ototo/

Ototo





via Dentaku's Portfolio Feed http://dentakulondon.com/work/ototo/

My Creative Scene: Stavanger

Norwegian graphic design student, Kristian Hjorth Berge tells us about his hometown



via Central Station http://thisiscentralstation.com/my-creative-scene/my-creative-scene-stavanger/

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via Bad Blueprints... http://badblueprints.tumblr.com/post/63584384001

Wednesday 9 October 2013

Takuro

Vis Com Des person James Bettney has set up Takuro as a vehicle to work with widows in Nepal, who can be ostracised from society following the death of their husbands, assisting them in establishing sustainable employment. 2 products are ready to launch on Kickstarter at the end of this month; a waxed canvas roll-top […]



via Visual Communication http://gsavis.com/blog/2013/10/09/takuro/

On fewer handles and more system bending

Thought 1: Shaping Design Education at LEAP Symposium may have been very good. A few too many post-it notes, a few too many kooky documentary illustrations, but that aside, it may have been a well considered, far-thinking event. I’ve read the article, looked at the pictures, and of course broadly agree with the summary, it [...]



via OffBrand. http://www.afterthenews.co.uk/wordpress/2013/10/09/on-fewer-handles-and-more-system-bending/

I feel, therefore I am by Paul Spooner

Made in the robotics division of P. Spooner Stithians following their catastrophic failure to produce Artificial Intelligence. Having recorded dismal scores in innumerable Turing tests, it was decided that Artificial Emotion might be an easier target to aim at. Confidence is growing that, after some development, one of these machines will be able to slip [...]



via Cabaret Mechanical Theatre http://www.cabaret.co.uk/i-feel-therefore-i-am-by-paul-spooner/

Monday 7 October 2013

How to Make and Use Retroreflectors

Mims_Fig_D_MAKE_35_IMG_8502 They're everywhere — in car taillights, traffic signs, and reflective tape on clothing. Unlike an ordinary mirror, a retroreflector bounces an oncoming beam of light straight back to its source, no matter the angle.

Read more on MAKE








via MAKE http://makezine.com/projects/make-35/how-to-make-and-use-retroreflectors/

Sunday 6 October 2013

Crowdsourcing Prosthetics

robohand It takes a global village. Companies, non-profits organizations and individuals get together to crowdsource prosthetics by sharing innovation, 3D print manufacturing and funding with the Make The World: Prosthetics program Oct.

Read more on MAKE








via MAKE http://makezine.com/2013/10/04/crowdsourcing-prosthetics/

Tall Infographics

'Big Data' doesn't just mean increasing the font size.



via xkcd.com http://xkcd.com/1273/

Crowdsourcing Prosthetics

robohand It takes a global village. Companies, non-profits organizations and individuals get together to crowdsource prosthetics by sharing innovation, 3D print manufacturing and funding with the Make The World: Prosthetics program Oct.

Read more on MAKE








via MAKE http://makezine.com/2013/10/04/crowdsourcing-prosthetics/

Thursday 3 October 2013

Arduino Announces new Boards and Collaboration with Intel and T.I.

Just before the launch of Maker Faire Rome, the Arduino team made a big splash by announcing two new Linux boards, each in collaboration with a different semiconductor company: Intel and Texas Instruments.

Read more on MAKE








via MAKE http://makezine.com/2013/10/03/arduino-announces-two-new-linux-boards/

Arduino Announces new Boards and Collaboration with Intel and T.I.

Just before the launch of Maker Faire Rome, the Arduino team made a big splash by announcing two new Linux boards, each in collaboration with a different semiconductor company: Intel and Texas Instruments.

Read more on MAKE








via MAKE http://makezine.com/2013/10/03/arduino-announces-two-new-linux-boards/