Warsaw climate talks expected to end without progress

Clashes and walk-outs have marred the final hours of United Nations talks on addressing the threat posed by climate change.

Every country has agreed that it's vital to prevent the planet from warming by more than two degrees, but the political will to achieve that goal seems out of reach. Campaigners walked out of talks on 21 November, saying that the meeting would deliver "virtually nothing".

By: Duncan Geere,

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via Wired.co.uk http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-11/23/cop19

London’s cycling culture is developing in a dangerous direction | John M Morrison

The capital’s cycling campaigners seem to be outraged by suggestions that cyclists should start taking more responsibility for their safety

John M Morrison

via Environment: Bike blog | theguardian.com http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/21/londons-cycling-culture-dangerous

6 sugru Hacks for Hikers and Ramblers

sugru loves the great outdoors and is great for preparing your kit for your next adventure - it's strong, durable and can stand up to anything the weather throws at it, wet or dry, hot or cold. If you're a hiker or a walker, here's six ways sugru can help you.

1. Add Ergonomic Grips to a walking pole

Personalise your walking pole to make it suit your grip when tackling the more challenging trails. Watch our fencing sword grip tutorial to learn how to make really professional ergonomic grips.

2. Add a reflective strip to your wellies

Add reflective strips to your wellies like this sugruer, and improve your visibility on evening strolls. This would also work to add reflectors to jackets, poles or even the heels of walking boots.

3. Fix up your hiking boots nice and proper

Patch up leaks and put a stop to fraying shoelaces to keep your hiking boots going for longer. Stop them rubbing and improve fit too by setting some sugru into the heel, or wherever it's needed.

We also really like sugruer Happy's use of a stamp on his sugru patch to personally brand his boots!

4. Keep your waterproofs... waterproof

You can have the best spangling high-tech rain mac out there, but a little snag by a passing branch and suddenly you've got an unrelenting damp elbow every time it rains. Patch up little rips and tears before they become a bigger problem.

5. Turn a Walking Pole into a MonoPod

We love sugru-er Mark Langford's ingenious use of a walking pole - an instant monopod for when you reach that hilltop and find that breathtaking view.

6. Fix a zip on a backpack

Make your zips zippy again for quicker access to your well-earned sandwiches, once you've found that perfect lunch spot. Mmm.

via sugru http://sugru.com/blog/6-sugru-hacks-for-hikers-and-ramblers

Dialogues | Audiovision

Thursday 28th November 2013, 8pm.

Inspace, 1 Crichton Street, Edinburgh EH8 9AB

Christos Michalakos a composer and performer who works with combinations of bespoke software, acoustic percussion and live electronics. His practice explores new strategies for electronic performance by investigating modes of interaction between the acoustic and electronic sound worlds.

Chris Watson is one of the world's leading recorders of wildlife and natural phenomena. The unearthly groaning of ice in an Icelandic glacier is a classic example of, in Watson's words, putting a microphone where you can't put your ears.

For guest list reservations click here.

read more

via New Media Scotland http://www.mediascot.org/dialogues/audiovision

LitteBits and Korg Release Synthesizer Kit

Combine snap-together electronics gurus littleBits with Korg's synthesizer mastery and you get an impressive kit for creating modular synths.

Read more on MAKE

via MAKE http://makezine.com/2013/11/12/littebits-and-korg-release-synthesizer-kit/

Jazz breaking news: Polar Bear go Black and White on vinyl-only EP ahead of fifth album release in 2014

Polar Bear, one of Brit jazz’s most forward-thinking ensembles are set to return with a limited edition Black and White EP featuring new music taken from their long-awaited fifth album that’s scheduled for release in March 2014. The first new music to be released by the band since their 2010 album, Peepers, this vinyl-only 10” EP features hand-printed artwork by Craig Keenan, with each copy hand numbered by the band’s influential drummer Seb Rochford. The music includes two tracks taken from the sessions for the band’s fifth, as yet untitled, album and won’t be available anywhere else, either on the album or as a digital download. Released in five different coloured screen-printed sleeves, the EP will only be available through the Polar Bear Bandcamp page – polarbearmusic.bandcamp.com – their gigs, or Rough Trade record shops.

Nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2005 for their album Held On Tips Of Fingers, the band continues to feature its core line up of bassist Tom Herbert, electronics/laptopist Leafcutter John, drummer Rochford and saxophonists Pete Wareham and Mark Lockheart. The group previewed some of the new material at their Bishopsgate Institute gig in October and are set to head out on an extensive series of gigs in spring 2014 at the following venues: Band On The Wall, Manchester (20 Mar); Wardrobe, Leeds (21 Mar); Thekla, Bristol (22 Mar); Komedia, Brighton (26 Mar); Hare & Hounds, Birmingham (27 March); XOYO, London (2 Apr); SJE Arts, Oxford (3 April) and Sage, Gateshead Jazz Festival (6 Apr).

– Mike Flynn

For more info go to www.polarbearmusic.com

via Jazzwise Magazine http://jazzwisemagazine.com/news-mainmenu-139/70-2013/12891-jazz-breaking-news-polar-bear-go-black-and-white-on-vinyl-only-ep-ahead-of-fifth-album-release-in-2014

Rhythm by Matt McConnell

A massive sculpture constructed out of 166 drum cymbals that reflects the rhythm of musical beats.

















via Design Milk http://design-milk.com/rhythm-matt-mcconnell/