MadeStuff

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the trauma of peas The last post was so traumatic to write, it took about a dozen attempts, that I blacked it out of my mind. 

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on the nature of man

on the nature of man

… British monarchs, who are kept so busy with state visits to military institutions or the laying of wreaths on the tombs of soldiers known and unknown, did not get around to visiting the birthplace of Shakespeare, their greatest dramatic poet, until 1950.

Leopold Kohr, The Breakdown of Nations, 2001

For clarity Shakespeare died in 1616 and by 1800 he was firmly enshrined as the national poetof…

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the role of the few

How the few effect the many.

The French writer, André Gide (1869 – 1951) once wrote:

I believe in the virtue of small nations.  I believe in the virtue of small numbers.  The world will be saved by the few.

Or as I have recently been reading, individuals can change the world.  I think that saying changeis probably more accurate since those self-same few, that Gide refers to, may equally well doom the world to effective…

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the Kershaw 110 folding camera - a slightly belated review ...

the Kershaw 110 folding camera - a slightly belated review ... #lomo

… and by belated I mean by around 62 years.

The Kershaw 110 was a basic, but well-made folding camera made by G B Kershaw of Leeds in England, introduced in 1954. Images were 6x6cm on 120 film. It had a simple shutter, I & B with flash synch, and a fixed-focus lens with a choice of two apertures, f/11 & f/16.

camerapedia

I have to admit that the main thing that drew me to this camera was the rea…

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admiral fallow - tiny rewards

admiral fallow – tiny rewards

If I were to eat it it’d definitely go well with a nice full-bodied red.

Admiral Fallow – Tiny Rewards

This is far from an unpleasant album to listen to, the vocals are outstanding, smooth and silky.  Well paced, with lush harmonisation, and some nice instrumental touches that, whilst over the top in places – I feel – really add to the overall effect.

I don’t know whether I’m surprised or not by…

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getting there with diana f+

getting there with diana f+

If I say that I’m delighted with these shots then you’ll know I’m making something of an understatement, not least of all given the state of my previous efforts!

Diana F+, Spring 2016, Kodak Ektar 100 film

Diana F+, Spring 2016, Kodak Ektar 100 film

The images here were taken on a wee stroll down the tracks with the kids, we’re really just hobo’s at heart, Bridget (below) really just dreams of…

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on going too far

on going too far

as the late Welsh anthropologist Alwyn Rees used to put: “When you have reached the edge of the abyss, the only thing that makes sense is to step back.”

Alwyn Jones via Leopold Kohr, The Breakdown of Nations, 2001

Descent into the abyss – Daniel Knoblich

It certainly makes sense and I would defy anyone to argue the point!  And yet time and again we – and I include myself in this – carry on as if…

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on being a crank

on being a crank

Some people call me a crank.  I don’t mind at all.  A crank is a low-cost, low-capital tool.  It can be used on a moderate small-scale.  It is non-violent.  And it makes revolutions.

Leopold Kohr, The Breakdown of Nations, 2001

It’s easy to dismiss those who exist on the fringes of mainstream thought.  The lovers and the dreamers, the anarchists, the conspiracy theorists, the radical thinkers. …

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Lomography Film of the Day - Fuji Velvia 50