What's the cost of an Olympic medal? Dr James Connor reckons we shell out around $49 million per bauble http://ow.ly/cvs1B
Warhol & Friends
5 minutes ago
Thursday 26 July 2012
Sea Shepherd founder skips bail and flees Germany
The head of the marine conservation group left Germany "for an unspecified destination", his lawyer told a Frankfurt court on Wednesday, prompting an arrest warrant to be re-issued.
Earlier this year Costa Rica filed an extradition request on charges stemming from a high-seas confrontation between a Sea Shepherd ship and a Costa Rican vessel over alleged illegal shark finning in 2002.
Watson, a Canadian national whose organisation is known for disrupting Japanese whalers, was accused of "putting a ship's crew in danger".
The 61-year-old was arrested at Frankfurt airport in May and detained for a week before being released on bail after paying 250,000 euros ($A296,000) and being ordered to appear before police twice a day.
Susan Hartland, Sea Shepherd's administrative director, on Thursday confirmed he had fled, but said she did not know where.
"We have reason to believe from a reliable source that, once in Costa Rica, the Japanese government may have sought extradition of Captain Watson to Japan to answer charges related to obstructing their illegal whaling activities," she said.
"We have no further information and are not in touch with him. We will do our best to provide more details as we learn more."
Watson, who was tweeting as recently as Tuesday but made no mention of where he was or what he planned to do, has previously suggested that Japan might be "putting pressure" on Germany to carry out the extradition order.
Sea Shepherd is best known for its annual pursuit of the Japanese whaling fleet in Antarctica, using increasingly militant methods to halt the hunt, including the boarding of vessels.
This year, after setting off from Australia, the group hurled stink bombs at the boats on the high seas and used ropes to try to tangle their propellers in a series of exchanges which saw the whalers retaliate with water cannon.
The whaling fleet killed less than a third of the animals it planned to.
@'SBS'
Anaheim Police Shooting Protest Turns Violent
“Five people were arrested in the protest and ensuing melee, and one person was injured and taken to hospital, Dunn said. Dozens of officers wielding night sticks faced off against the demonstrators, who at one point threw water bottles and rocks toward the line.
“The tensions flared after police shot and killed a man on Saturday afternoon.
“Two officers had tried to approach three men in an alley, who fled, Dunn said earlier this week. The officers followed on foot and one caught up to one suspect, police said.
“The officer shot the man, who police said they later identified as Manuel Diaz, a known gang member. Diaz was not found to have been carrying a gun, police said.”
@The Christian Science Monitor
Wednesday 25 July 2012
Digital Enhancement
“Digital Enhancement” is an interactive sound
installation consisting of an electrified Symphonion Brevet No. 28, a
synthesizer, an amplifier and four headphones. The Symphonion musical
box dates back to the beginning of the last century and its mechanical
workings are combined with digital technology to convert it into a MIDI
sequencer. The original music, embossed on steel plates, can be played
on the synthesizer, which is programmed to mimic the sounds of the
Symphonion. In order to operate the sequencer, a hand-cranked dynamo
serves as a remote control.
Additional Information:2011, interactive sound installation, hand-cranked dynamo, micro-controller, custom electronic circuit, hardware of antique musical box, embossed steel plate, antique wooden cassette, stepper motor, hardware synthesizer, headphone amplifier, headphones, misc cables.
Project website: mar.li/digital_enhancement.php
Facebook: facebook.com/Bircher.Martin
Tuesday 24 July 2012
Hollie Cook - Vieilles Charrues 20/07/2012 (Full Concert)
With Sex Pistols and one-time Slits drummer Paul Cook for a father, it comes as quite a surprise that West London vocalist Hollie Cook's self-titled debut album completely abandons her punk past in favor of an old-school reggae vibe, self-described as "tropical pop". Produced by Prince Fatty and featuring the likes of Dennis Bovell, and Omar & the Pioneers ' George Dekker, its ten tracks certainly come equipped with a pretty authentic pedigree but luckily, Cook's musical upbringing ensures that she's never overshadowed by the impressive roll call of guest musicians. Blessed with an enchantingly sweet voice which sits somewhere between the laissez faire attitude of Lily Allen and the softly spoken, melancholic tones of Morcheeba's Skye, particularly on the trip-hop-tinged cover of Rachel Sweet's "It's So Different Here," her laid-back delivery effortlessly recalls the lover's rock of Janet Kay and Phyllis Dillon which inspired the change in direction. But while the optimistic rendition of the Shangri-Las' "Walking in the Sand," which layers the doo wop classic with baritone brass hooks and roots reggae riddims, and the dreamy ska-pop of "Milk and Honey," a collaboration with Prince Fatty which previously appeared on Grey's Anatomy, are the perfect foil for Cook, the original material is just a little too repetitive to provide the same spark. Indeed, only the slightly psychedelic "Shadow Kissing" and the echo-laden dub of "Sugar Water (Look at My Face)" deviate from the album's formula of Hammond organs, brass riffs, and skank guitars, which makes it hard to distinguish between the likes of "That Very Night," "Cry," and "Used to Be." But despite its samey nature, Hollie Cook still heralds the arrival of a hugely promising reggae talent, who should have no problem in outlasting the short-lived '70s career of her father's iconic band.
(Jon O'Brien - allmusic)
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