falling down stairs

I fell down a wooden staircase today. I had an iPhone in one hand and a laptop in the other. I'm pretty amazed that I got away with a few grazes because at one point my mind told me something was broken. The only other time I've seriously fallen down stairs was once when I was 3, my oldest memory (converged with imagination I'm sure) and again when I was 7, got concussion and had a day off school.
Anyway, shortly after, I read this post from Faris about beliefs and the idea that "surfacing the serediptious is as valuable, or more valuable in some senses, then simply creating more content, it could be argued..." as he reruns some of his previous ideas... I'm looking forward to seeing whether any of his views have changed and what they may have been. The beauty of the tangibility of stories on the interweb - so easily resurfaced and reflected upon. And equally dangerous.
Personally, while a tad sore and bruised, I'm pretty relieved that I didn't break my back this morning. Perhaps I'll think twice in future when walking with my appended devices down wooden stairs in a pair of sandals. A pretty painful and quick lesson to learn.

healing your body with your mind

So basically, if you believe in something that gives your life meaning, you have a better life. Why?

the power of algorithms

I recommend watching this. Twice. It's a fascinating observation on the power of algorithms and how these complex computer programs can determine espionage tactics, stock prices, movie scripts and architecture. Most fascinating the algorithms applied to culture such as the success and value of a movie before its even released enabled by an algorithm.

"We're writing things that we can no longer read and we've rendered something illegible and lost the sense of what's actually happening in this world we've made..."



This raises the question; is maths an art? One thing that has always fascinated me is the relationship between maths and art whether historically, culturally or cognitively.

Some of the greatest artists and architects in history certainly found their own algorithms to determine perfection (the Egyptian pyramids a fine example).



Now however these algorithms are increasingly complicated and applied to the intangible world of technological communication.

Facebook-algorithms change the way we organise our social life. Amazon-algorithms influence the way we spend our money. Google's search-algorithm decides, which content we view first (or at all) and Twitter's algorithms change the way we are informed about news. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Algorithms in hospitals change the way people are treated, path-finding algorithms change the way we plan our cities and organise traffic. Scheduling algorithms influence which subjects your child will hear when it can concentrate the best, and which it will hear, when it can concentrate the worst (I'm guessing art ironically).

The opportunities are endless which is why to understand culture, we should try to understand the algorithmic confines in which they might be influenced.

learning from the masters

One day I hope all my dabbles will converge or at least make a little more sense to me. I doubt I'll have a Bill Gates moment where my calligraphy course will lead to creating differentiation in a market leading product that will subsequently make me billions (but here's to hoping). Anyway, amongst screen writing courses, mountain climbing, documentary making, visiting Shamans, a law degree, resin jewellery course and a black belt Vipassana meditation retreat; I've always maintained and pursued an interest in photography. I think this is mainly due to my being a closet creative without a canvas or perhaps looking for a story to tell... with limited barriers to entry.

Following my second photography course last night I have delved further in to the theory and practice of good photo composition and understanding the symbiotic relationship between aperture, shutter speed and depth of field (the 'Exposure Triangle'). I'll spare the details.

What I love about photography is the planned spontaneity involved and the longevity of a beautiful moment captured. It can tell so many stories and hold meaning in so many different ways. A person who did this very well was Henri Cartier-Bresson. Here is some of his inspiring work (to classical music no less).

make a bad situation less volatile

There are a lot of things to be unhappy about in London right now, amongst a backdrop of media drownings, a struggling economy and police saying to their bellies "you're under a vest" (that was a bad joke wasn't it?) there are people who are losing their jobs, their homes and change is one thing they can be certain of.

One individual in particular is willing to look on the brighter side of a bad situation. @fern_tastic from W+K London lost her job. Rather than hiding in a cupboard and smudging mascara down her face, she decided to share a rap about redundancy to encourage her co-workers to be optimistic too.

How refreshing. Although little did she know that one of the meanies from Campaign Mag would try to rain on her parade (its one thing to pass judgement on a shit campaign and another to do so to an individual who has just lost her job and is trying to keep a smile on her face and those around her).

Their comments that it was "possibly the worst white, middle-class... embarrassingly girly rap"clearly missing the point (a concern in itself) did more to embarrass themselves than Miss Fernie T as she promptly responded inviting the challenge and remaining positively optimistic.

Go Fern! I think we all could learn from Miss Trelfa.

Full disclosure: Fern is one of my favourite people in this world.

evoking an emotional response

Alfred Hitchcock explains how to inject emotional tension into a scene. A great way of explaining how to bring a story to life by bringing your audience on the journey i.e. story-telling is more than providing the knowledge, its about creating emotion...

greenpeace's rebellion

It's fascinating, and well worth taking a look at the breadth of this as a campaign Greenpeace campaign. It much more than just a couple of very nicely done videos: 

The integrated campaign includes a Poster Takeover and street stunt in London City.
Poster takeover + street stunt in Old Street, London.

Users are rewarded for signing up and passing on the campaign on their website . In their VW Report  reveals that while VW claim to be Green and efficient, they have failed to deliver on their promises, even with the technical capabilities to do so and the bulk of the VW fleet continue to be amongst the most polluting in Europe.



"Despite the green image it likes to portray, VW is at the heart of a group of companies lobbying against new laws which we need to cut CO2 emissions, reduce our oil use and protect places like the Arctic from climate change." Greenpeace explain, "Only a rebellion can stop them – a mass of people from all across the globe –demanding that they change. We need you to be part of that rebellion."

Politicians across Europe are currently debating whether to raise our target for CO2 cuts from 20 to 30% (based on 1990 levels) by 2020. It’s such a necessary increase that many people and organisations - from the UK government to Google, from Ikea to Unilever - agree that we should do it.

But not Volkswagen. Along with spending millions on groups lobbying against the 30 per cent target, VW is also opposing new fuel efficiency targets. These would cut CO2 emissions, save drivers money and reduce our dependence on oil... 


Hence, Greenpeace are stepping in with their latest campaign.

who's the ultimate victim of hacking?

Stuxnet: Anatomy of a Computer Virus from Patrick Clair on Vimeo.

Food for thought. As our lives are getting more dependant on ubiquitous technology, it would be remiss to not consider what the dangers these dependencies may create.

Computer hacking has been very much on the agenda recently. In simple terms, there are three kinds of hacking taking place. "Hacktivism" is the most prominent: raids by amateur groups such as Lulz (who took down sites belonging to the CIA, the Senate, and the Spanish police) or Anonymous (PayPal, PlayStation, MasterCard, and Visa), either for fun, "for the lulz" - or, increasingly, as an act of political protest. Then there's the criminal kind - professionals hunting for credit card details, or email address directories, with the aim of selling them on for profit. While the PlayStation systems were first hacked by hactivists, a second breach was made by cyber criminals who had more commercial ends. And finally, there's state-sponsored espionage, or even cyber-warfare...

via Patrick Clair

a journey to the mountains

 

Recently I decided to go to Nepal and trek the Himalayas to raise funds and awareness for WWF's Tiger Conservation. Why? It was on the bucket list. Along with seeing polar bears in the wild, running a marathon and writing a children's book, trekking the Himalayas was a wish I have wanted to fulfil for a big part of my life and I was fortunate enough to recently do so.

Myself and best friend (and musician) Stephanie Reynard embarked on this adventure together. We collectively raised over $3000 as we set to embark on a journey to Everest Basecamp (which we funded ourselves of course). Now having returned I can tell you that we actually didn't make it to Basecamp. Not because we weren't fit enough, neither because we were lazy, in fact practically it would've been achievable - albeit challenging no doubt - however our venture was side tracked along the way. The story is a long one but I can give you some highlights and share some videos of the incredible journey we went on nevertheless.

1. Kathmandu. Its crazy. Like many Asian capital's the relentless traffic, people and movement create chaos amongst its streets. That said the place had charm. Arriving there reaffirmed to us that we were a long way from home and offered us some beautiful opportunities to immerse ourselves in the Buddhist temple rituals such as pilgrimages, purchase some souvenirs and get tattoos (shhh don't tell mum).
2. The mountains. Sure that's a given but what is so incredible about the mountains is the scale. One leaves ego at the airport upon arriving at this vast expansive place. There's no way you can feel big in this remote area. Its amazing how flat Sydney feels now. Every corner we turned was met with a "Wow". Nature rules.
3. Mountaineering. Walking is under-rated. I used to think it a tad dull. Witnessing a culture that's primary mode of transport is merely a couple limbs to scale heights and travel distance, brings an appreciation for the innate ability to get by without any need for a vehicle. We trekked up to 7 hours a day at pretty steep climbs and it was pretty damn invigorating.
   For the first time in my life I didn't see a single car for 2 weeks. Imagine!
4. Sustainability. The Sherpa's live a life reliant on the elements. The winters are fierce. Access to water is challenging and energy is all dependant on renewable energy such as solar panels and hydro. Yak dung is dried and re-used to burn fires and human waste is used as manure (urm... that sounds horrid but it's actually very clever). 
5. Buddhist Philosophy. The Buddhist way of life is remnant in the practices of the people of these mountains. The Sherpa's come from the oldest sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Seeing how connected they are with the land and one another is humbling and equally grounding.
   We were fortunate to make really good friends with a kind monk from the Tengboche monastery and learn more about his life, beliefs and the world he is a part of. Sitting in an old monastery, meditating to the sound of monks chanting Sanskrit mantras is one of the most beautiful experiences I've ever had.
6. Children. The Nepalese children are a far cry from those I am so familiar with at home. While of course the cheekiness and playfulness is seen in most children, the respect for elders and their generosity was really surprising. Staying at a family lodge we saw 14 year old Sinam help his mother in the kitchen cooking, making tea and kindly showing us how to eat Nepali style (with our hands no less!). He was so happy and considerate. It was so moving to see a child with few needs and demands demonstrating such kindness.
   We were frequently given sweets by the children on the mountain and sometimes accompanied on the walk with kids working as porters along the trail.
7. Running at altitude. Instead of meeting Everest Basecamp, we chose to exert ourselves in a 9km Trail Run at 4000 metres at a local school's Jubilee. It took us over 3 hours to complete. We were the only foreign contestants. We pushed our bodies, heart rates and lungs to new found limits as we appreciated the challenge of minimal oxygen.  We got handshakes and high fives for the remainder of the trip so I imagine there was a degree of risk with the endeavour. It was a great accomplishment and certainly one I'll not forget.
8. Dancing in the rain with a couple of monks. I don't think I can explain this. It was incredible to party outside, listening to Shakira (Nepal loves Shakira!?), high on altitude and learning to Sherpa dance with a couple of kind monks from the Tengboche temple, Pasang and Mingma. With a grand stupa in the background, the rains of the imminent monsoon season and our big grins keeping our feet moving and hearts warm.
9. Sir Edmund Hillary & all he inspires. Rather than Basecamp we went to Khumjung School and hospital set up by Hillary 50 years ago for their Jubilee. There we met many inspiring people, those who had committed their lives to creating positive change and shared their stories with us, such as the founders of the Dream Flag Project, wife of Mingma Norbu Sherpa (a famous conservationist sponsored by Hillary) Phurba who now runs The Greater Himalayas Foundation in his memory, writer Frances Klatzel who helped to create a museum of Sherpa culture and has written many books on their beautiful culture, Dawa Steven Sherpa who is a WWF Climate Ambassador and many others involved with the Himalayan Trust that Hillary originally founded. The list is long but they all are worthy of a mention as they certainly brought a deeper layer to our experience.

Being back is very strange. Two weeks passed like a whirlwind and suddenly I am plunged back in to the life I left with a little more wisdom perhaps. 

There's no doubt we both learned a lot from the experience. Mindfulness. Respect for nature. Appreciation for the fortunate world we are a part of. Along with the practicalities of combatting blisters, altitude sickness and facing challenging climbs. I cannot recommend it enough.

Please feel free to enjoy some of videos of our escapade, I don't think they'll do it justice but they may provide some amusement.

More images here.
Flickr snaps here.
Itinerary & kit-list here.

Jess & Stephs' tips for trekkers



Kathmandu



Dramas at the airport



Insight in to our terrible sense of humour


High altitude running

where do you think most of google's searches come from?

Every day, people come to Google Search to ask questions. Through Google, questions become answers, and answers lead to the next set of questions. These people come from around the world and all walks of life, speaking hundreds of different languages, typing in search queries every single day. Today Google share the Search Globe, a new visual display representing one day of Google searches around the world—visualizing the curiosity of people around the globe.

The Search Globe visualizes searches from one day, and shows the language of the majority of queries in an area in different colors. You’ll see a bright landscape of queries across Europe, and parts of Asia for instance, but unfortunately we see many fewer searches from parts of the world lacking Internet access—and often electricity as well—like Africa.

why would we think social media is revolutionary?

Check out this podcast feature from Clay Shirky's on "Why Would We Think Social Media Is Revolutionary?"

In this podcast, Shirky discusses the most recent examples of effective use of the Internet and social media to effect political change in authoritarian countries from the Green Wave protests during the 2009 Iranian presidential election to Tunisian insurgents' recent ouster of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Learn how revolutionaries and reformers have always used the most effective communication tools to distribute their message to the masses, going as far back as the printing press. For example looking at how the equilibrium state moved to freedom of expression when the printing press evolved and the first Bibles were created and how the printing press acted as a political medium.

Shirky talks about what we can do to help promote worthy causes by paying attention to and volunteering remotely for the regions of the world you care about most. Social media is another distributer of messages and information. It's almost global and has the power to create accountability.



In the same breath it worth watching Wadah Khanfar, the head of Al Jazeera, who shares a profoundly optimistic view of what's happening in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and beyond - at this powerful moment when people realised they could step out of their houses and ask for change and the impact his reporters had on being present and distributing their news story to the rest of the world.

advertising buzzword bingo

Because saying them isn't fun enough.

storytelling at the heart of what we do

The Stories We Construct

View more presentations from Stephen Anderson

Great presentation. A nice reminder of the power of storytelling and understanding how these stories are translated and the value they bring when experienced.

going to nepal

My new gym membership - Tokyo

I've been rather productive recently. Finally bought a bike. Got a decent coffee machine and took a photography course. More importantly I signed myself up for a half marathon and bought my flights to Nepal.

That's right. I'm going to trek Everest. Alone...

UPDATE: My best friend from Uni, Steph Reynard decided to come on this journey with me.

No, of course, I will not summit, aside from only recently pealing myself out of a perpetual state of sofa comatose through yoga revival and "yogging with a silent g" - I am also fearful that my distinct lack of climbing experience will cause hazard to my health and those who have to put up with me.

Nike Frees make your feet feel lighter!

Still, I have 8 weeks to get damn fit. My commute to work is now a ride on a sexy Tokyo bicycle. Do you know that big hill getting out of Bondi? That's where my quads cry.

I've kitted myself out with my favourite client's gear and joined Nike + to track my rather amateur runs along the coastline. I've even shared these on my Facebook page so that I can publicly humiliate myself in to motivation.

My diet is still missing meat but I have also cast out the desserts and chocolates that have frequented my plates. Time for project health kick. I need all the nutritional help I can get.

Very importantly I am reading, thanks to the advice of my favourite friend Fern, "Born to Run" By Christopher McDougall.

So far an addictive and incredible read. It makes me want to run and love it at the same time. Did you know that humans can outrun almost every other animal on the planet? Neither did I. Apparently its what humans do best. Which is reassuring, as at the moment, I totally suck at it.

Anyway. I'll share my latest feats and escapades as I head towards my next adventure... Everest... Wish me luck!

my shamanic encounter

In January this year I went to a Thai yoga retreat where essentially you fast, do yoga and meditate for 10 days. Now I do have my 'alternative' tendencies, and while ever keen to keep feet securely on the ground, I also recognise the amazing rewards you can get out of a bit of health, exercise and peace of mind. Namely, in my case 6 kilos, toe-touching and the ability to be surprisingly zen in the company of mi Venezuelan madre (who came with me) for a whole month.

While I was there I met some pretty interesting folk. Documentary producers, chefs, teachers, events folk, advertising peeps and peace-n-loving hippies. It was such a mix bag. One minute you're talking about the weather in the UK, the next you're taking a deep dive in to the world of Quantum Physics.

On day 7 of my fast, some 4 kilos down and reaching that point where the head rushes were intensifying and my yoga was at a stage where I could nearly kiss my knee without bending it  - I decided to investigate some of the other abstract "healings" that were taking place at The Sanctuary.

That is when I met Vinod, a Shaman from the UK, who owned a gorgeous wooden hut in the mountains overlooking the ocean. My consultation was to begin with a conversation about me. Why am I hear? Well I guess I'm just curious. What are you looking to achieve? Insight perhaps (although secretly I may have wanted to experience one of those far-out Shamanic rituals which included vomiting and hallucinations that Bruce Parry had in his BBC series, Tribes). What do you know about Shamans? They worship the earth. And so on... Until it was my turn...

What do Shaman's believe? There's no such thing as right or wrong. No polarised opposites like heaven and hell. What rules do they follow? The "natural laws" of the universe. That there are "layers" of other-worlds that they can connect with in their minds, like new dimensions... This is interesting I thought, so what can I do? You can find you're power animal, he said. Cool...

And so Vinod proceeded to begin the ritual. My job was easy. Lie down, breathe, relax and follow his lead while he played drums, chanted, burnt woody incense and asked me to "let go". The process was simple, in a state of relaxation I would go in to "other dimension" by visualising a beautiful place, falling down a hole and then coming out the other end where, potentially, I'd hang out with some animals until I found my "power" one... OK I'm losing you aren't I?

While ceremonious (and arguably sacred), the experience was more an exercise in imagination. Which is precisely the point. Vinod later explained that the Shamans believe you connect using the right-side of your brains to these "other dimensions". That these imaginings and visualisations are where you can attain insight. And he's right. Like how, apparently, Nobel prize winner Francis Crick discovered the structure for DNA while high on LSD. Not that I would advocate trying it yourself. I never have. But then again I've never discovered double helix molecular structures either...

Now I'm ever skeptical although equally open to new experiences and ancient rituals, they fascinate me, but regardless of whether Shamanism is a farce or not - the creative exercise is what keeps human-beings alive and progressing; finding solutions to problems and propelling us forwards through the manifestation of ideas.

And as for my Shamanic ritual, perhaps I did attain a bit of insight, I discovered that you should not have one in the jungle without wearing insect repellent and that my Shamanic Power animal is an Elephant...

and a Monkey....

Hey, no one said you can't have more than one ;)