The Innovate or Die contest run by Google and the bike company, Specialized, challenged people to change the world by rethinking the humble bike. The contest started out with the idea of a pedal powered laptop and it sought new ways to transform pedalling energy into useful, innovative and inspiring purposes. Amongst the 102 creative entries, the grand prize went to a Californian team who invented the Aquaduct. It is a pedal powered vehicle that stores, filters and transports water and is targeted at improving health in developing countries. If bikes can change the world, then our cities have some catching up to do to become more bike-friendly places.
Monthly Archive for January, 2008
innovate or die
Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program recycles old shoes to make material that is turned into sports surfaces like outdoor courts and tracks. It’s been happening in the US for a while and in recent years has expanded to Australia, UK and Japan. As I discovered at Harbour Town on the Gold Coast, you can take your old sneakers to any of Nike’s four factory stores around the country. They accept all brands, not just Nike shoes.
Sydney. Lauren and I had been driving since 8:30 the morning of January 18, swapping the wheel for an uncomfortable but welcome short nap every two hours. Conversation was thus smothered in either the beginnings or after affects of sleep snatched from the humming and vibrations of passing traffic. When Sydney came within double-digit distance, thick clouds began moving in and as far as the eye could see, the colour grey obscured any blue, object or horizon. Flanked by national park on both sides, the New England Highway introduces visitors to Sydney from the North in a most relaxing and inspiring manner. Continue reading ‘and the winner is…’
All urban designers would tell you it is pedestrians who give life and energy to our city streets. It is in this fascinating world of footpaths where German artist Florian Böhm explores human nature and celebrates the great diversity that define cities. In his “Wait for Walk” series, he photographs people waiting to cross at traffic lights on various Manhattan streets. A signalised crossing might not seem like the most inspiring urban place, but his photographs are quite intriguing. Clothing, facial expressions, and posture reveal an astonishing wealth of information about each individual, and it sparks a curiosity about these random people - who are they are and where they are they going? Continue reading ‘wait for walk’
bloodthirsty opera
Contemporary pop culture has become a dynamic fusion of creative endeavours for those who inhabit its upper echelons. Writers dabble in directing, musicians dabble in acting, models dabble in fashion design, fashion designers dabble in architecture, architects dabble in celebrity, and so on. One of the latest creative fusions takes the form of Tim Burton’s latest movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – a compelling and original vision based on the award-winning musical sensation by legendary lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim.
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I approached this festive season armed with a firm, virtuous, anti-consumer resolution to give experiences as gifts for Christmas. I mostly succeeded. For the parents, my sisters and I pooled our resources and bought tickets to The Outback Spectacular. For my sisters and brother-in-law, in a bid to aid family bonding, I gave vouchers for us all to embark on a tobogganing safari on our annual family holiday at Moreton Island. Tangalooma Resort is a hive of activity at this time of the year; even with the recent bad weather moving across the coast, inciting rainy, grey days. Continue reading ‘a happy, sandy Christmas present’
good is good
GOOD Magazine describes itself as “a magazine for people who give a damn” and I think you might enjoy this fun browse of thought-provoking and creative material. I especially like their “Transparency” section which is a fascinating exploration of issues and facts through clever graphics and animations. In this section you can learn about all sorts of interesting topics, that can be both serious or rather obsure. It covers everything from the situation in Dafur to public toilet ratios in major cities and from global water issues to the history of the metre measurement. Have a read and if you like it enough to subscribe, 100% of your subscription fees goes directly to chosen charities.
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