Archive for the ‘diy’ Category

Digital Design Sensations

Decode: Digital Design Sensations from Victoria and Albert Museum on Vimeo.

Brainwashed: Seven Ways to Reinvent

"Years ago, when you were about four years old, the system set out to persuade you of something that isn't true.

Not just persuade, but drill, practice, reinforce, and yes, brainwash.

The mission: to teach you that you're average. That compliant work is the best way to a reliable living. That creating average stuff for average people, again and again, is a safe and easy way to get what you want.

Step out of line and the system would nudge (or push) you back to the center. Show signs of real creativity, originality or even genius, and well-meaning parents, teachers and authority figures would eagerly line up to get you back in line.

Our culture needed compliant workers, people who would contribute without complaint, and we set out to create as many of them as we could.

And so generations of students turned into generations of cogs, factory workers in search of a sinecure. We were brainwashed into fitting in, and then discovered that the economy wanted people who stood out instead.

When exactly were we brainwashed into believing that the best way to earn a living is to have a job?

I think each one of us needs to start with that."

.:View this manifesto at changethis.com->

Staple Art

Yes - that was done with staples! Pretty feckin’ dope.

The piece is by French artist Baptiste Debombourg - more of his work here.

.:via->Make

Kurt Vonnegut Motivational Posters

You can resolve to change your life in 2010, or just follow Kurt Vonnegut’s advice. One in a series of great Kurt Vonnegut Motivational posters from Sloshpot.

D.I.Y. or Die: Burn this DVD

This is "What Is DIY?", the first DVD chapter (chapter 1 of 8) of the DVD "D.I.Y. OR DIE: Burn This DVD" (The DVD release of "D.I.Y. OR DIE: How To Survive as an Independent Artist").

This film is a celebration of the artistic underdog! FEATURING interviews and performances from:

Lydia Lunch, Ian MacKaye (Fugazi), J Mascis (Dinosaur jr.), Jim Rose (Jim Rose Sideshow), J.G.Thirlwell (Foetus), Mike Watt (Minutemen), Richard Kern (Filmmaker), Ron Asheton (Stooges), Madigan Shive (Bonfire Madigan), Dave Brockie (Gwar) and more.

Below are the 8 Chapters that make up this DVD.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Thanks to Mike for the link!

MakerBeam

Over on Kickstarter there’s a project called MakerBeam to make an open-source building kit. Something like Meccano, but open-source, and based on a T-slot aluminum profile. They promise us it will be good for robots. Open-source fire-breathing robot spiders? We can only hope.

On the Kickstarter project site you can view in an informative video of the kit.

As they say, "We’ve never seen a hammer company go broke because hammers aren’t patented; we think we’ll do okay."

They aim to go public with kits at Maker Faire 2010.

Check it out.

::all text and images courtesy of Sam Putman at Makerbeam

The Man in a Van Project

The beat-up 1989 Dodge van carries a sign with a question: "How has the recession affected you?" Along the side, a request: "Tell me your story."

Scrawled in marker across the orange paint are hard-luck tales: "My grandma lost her house and my dad is working less hours," signed Peoria, AZ. "I lost my job, my home, my car & was homeless for 6 months. This was the first time in 27 yrs I was out of work," signed Sue W.

The man behind the wheel is Aaron Heideman, 29, an artist from Grants Pass, Ore., who in the past year began sleeping in the van on a mattress he bought for a six-pack of beer and lost his job at a paint store. He hit the road July 1 with what he calls "The Man in a Van Project," angling for a $250,000 prize at an art fair.

"I just want to give people a voice," he said during a stop in Rhode Island, the 20th state he stopped in during what he calls a nationwide conceptual art piece. His media, as he describes it: a 50-yard roll of Tyvek, a Dodge van, and a homeless man (himself). His final destination is Grand Rapids, Mich., home of ArtPrize, where he plans to display his project in September and October.

During Heideman’s stops, he unscrolls several feet of the roll, lays it in front of the van with a couple of Sharpie markers, and encourages passers-by to pause for a minute and add their thoughts.

.:: continue reading the article ->

Star Wars: uncut

Star Wars Uncut - Scene 046 from BaronMunchausen on Vimeo.

What’s better than watching Star Wars? Reenacting it, of course! Star Wars: uncut allows you to sign up to reenact a 15 second scene from Sar Wars episode IV. When all the scenes have been completed, they’ll be stitch together to make one hell of a ridiculous looking movie…should be great.

If you’re interested, sign up for a scene now - there aren’t many left!

Those of you who aren’t moved to film something yourselves, I sugest you still go check out the scenes that are already finished - some are pretty feckin’ hilarious.

.:Star Wars: uncut->

My Ninja Please! 6.30.09 : DIY Soccer Ball

Firstly you look for old clothes or blankets. Then you put a few condoms around, which you blow up with your mouth, but not with too much air. Just so ita€™s the same size as a soccer ball. After this you put either a plastic bag or a piece of old clothing over the condom. Then to make it strong, you tear up the old clothing or blanket into long strips and tie the strips all around the condom to strengthen the shape of the ball and make it heavier. Once you can feel it bounces well, you take a strong plastic bag and wrap it around the ball. Lastly you reinforce it by wrapping strong rope or tire wire around it.

AAcontinue reading at afrigadget