Coldewey's Curiosities

Yu Chengyao - A song in the clear river

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:17:38 -0700

Yu Chengyao - A song in the clear river

Brambles - “Salt Photographs”Charcoal Another...

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:43:14 -0700

Brambles - “Salt Photographs”
Charcoal

Another subdued album of what might be called ‘enhanced chamber music’ from the label that owns that space, Serein. This song, the longest on Charcoal, combines atmospheric noise and percussion with delicate and precisely-placed strings and keyboards. I love the transition and slow build, like a cross between early A Silver Mt Zion and label-mates Nest — a nearly flawless ambient work.

Rare double Einstein ring found by Hubble

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:10:26 -0700

Rare double Einstein ring found by Hubble

Ligurian ex-votos praising the Virgin for miraculous survival of...

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:57:03 -0700

Ligurian ex-votos praising the Virgin for miraculous survival of falls

"Never did men wear greater breeches or carry less in them of any mettle whatsoever."

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:45:00 -0700

“Never did men wear greater breeches or carry less in them of any mettle whatsoever.”

- Women’s Petition Against Coffee (Anonymous 1674 pamphlet)

Some of the more awkward illustrations from an old Chinese book...

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:43:41 -0700

Some of the more awkward illustrations from an old Chinese book of animals

"One sometimes gets the impression that deconstruction is a kind of game that anyone can play. One..."

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:30:00 -0700

“One sometimes gets the impression that deconstruction is a kind of game that anyone can play. One could, for example, invent a deconstruction of deconstructionism as follows: In the hierarchical opposition, deconstruction/logocentrism (phono-phallo-logocentrism), the privileged term “deconstruction” is in fact subordinate to the devalued term “logocentrism,” for, in order to establish the hierarchical superiority of deconstruction, the deconstructionist is forced to attempt to represent its superiority, its axiological primacy, by argument and persuasion, by appealing to the logocentric values he tries to devalue. But his efforts to do this are doomed to failure because of the internal inconsistency in the concept of deconstructionism itself, because of its very self-referential dependence on the authority of a prior logic. By an aporetical Aufhebung, deconstruction deconstructs itself.”

- John Searle, On Deconstruction

Laser-cut wooden record

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:49:50 -0700

Laser-cut wooden record

Bach - “Ei! wie schmeckt der Coffee süße”BWV 211,...

Thu, 02 May 2013 17:22:00 -0700

Bach - “Ei! wie schmeckt der Coffee süße”
BWV 211, the “Coffee Cantata”

Ei! wie schmeckt der Coffee süße, / Ah! how sweet coffee tastes!
Lieblicher als tausend Küsse, / Lovelier than a thousand kisses,
Milder als Muskatenwein. / smoother than sweet muscatel.
Coffee, Coffee muss ich haben, / Coffee, I must have coffee,
Und wenn jemand mich will laben, / and if someone wants to treat me,
Ach, so schenkt mir Coffee ein! / ah! my cup with coffee fill! (wiki)

Bergen to Oslo; original quarter-terabyte 7-hour movie here

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:51:25 -0700

Bergen to Oslo; original quarter-terabyte 7-hour movie here

"I would like to believe that hashish persuades nature to permit us — for less egoistic purposes —..."

Thu, 02 May 2013 15:59:51 -0700

“I would like to believe that hashish persuades nature to permit us — for less egoistic purposes — that squandering of our existence that we know in love. For if, when we love, our existence runs through nature’s fingers like golden coins that she cannot hold and lets fall so that they can thus purchase new birth, she now throws us, without hoping or expecting anything, in ample handfuls, toward existence.”

- Walter Benjamin, Hashish in Marseilles

Saturn’s Polar Hexagon

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:57:20 -0700

Saturn’s Polar Hexagon

Interesting breakdown of Facebook data by Stephen Wolfram

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:10:00 -0700

Interesting breakdown of Facebook data by Stephen Wolfram

WWI slides found in an antique Verascope (more Found Film here)

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:54:59 -0700

WWI slides found in an antique Verascope (more Found Film here)

Enhanced and stabilized footage of early 20th century London

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:02:54 -0700

Enhanced and stabilized footage of early 20th century London

Black Moth Super Rainbow - “Forever Heavy”Dandelion...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:53:03 -0700

Black Moth Super Rainbow - “Forever Heavy”
Dandelion Gum

I wrote off BMSR long before this album came out, finding much of their output only partially accomplishing what it sets out to. Looks like they got their ducks in a row, because this excellent opener is a truly glorious combination of wah-wah synth, UFO noise, and the guy’s distorted voice. If a robot did mushrooms, this is what it would hum. (insound)

"He had the appearance of a caryatid on vacation; he was supporting nothing but his reverie."

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:51:55 -0700

“He had the appearance of a caryatid on vacation; he was supporting nothing but his reverie.”

- Les Miserables

Transparent brain (Nature)

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:09:32 -0700

Transparent brain (Nature)

"What is this, Alcibiades? Are we to have neither conversation nor singing over our cups; but simply..."

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:00:54 -0700

“What is this, Alcibiades? Are we to have neither conversation nor singing over our cups; but simply to drink as if we were thirsty?”

- Plato, The Symposium

Angles Mirror - Daniel Rozin

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:26:00 -0700

Angles Mirror - Daniel Rozin