Review of "The Way Up Tour - Toronto” - Pat Metheny Group

c h a n d r a s u t r a has superb reviews of Pat Metheny Group’s "The Way Up Tour -  Toronto” and the CD. While you are there, or if not a PMG fan, check out the other content and photo albums. It’s a lovely blog.

c h a n d r a s u t r a: Pat Metheny Group takes Toronto all The Way Up

“Even James Joyce, music lover that he was, couldn't help me come up with the adjectives to describe the experience of seeing Pat Metheny Group, on tour”

c h a n d r a s u t r a: Going all The Way Up with Pat Metheny Group

“For those of us who love jazz as a living thing, as an organic and vital form, TWU represents an epic achievement in jazz form”

The Way Up tour is extensive but, unfortunately, comes nowhere near New Zealand. Tokyo is the closest however 8,809km is a long way to go for a concert. The only way I’ve seen PMG perform to date is on DVD & I hope there will be one of this tour. Experiencing PMG Live is high on my “Must do before I die” list but arranging to be on the other side of the world at the right time is tricky.

PS: This post is green with envy

NZ Telco news

Some interesting stuff from computerworld.co.nz

Telecom keeping a wary eye on Skype
A third of NZ broadband users have Skype, telco says

But thats only 40,000! There are still only 120,000 broadband users in NZ?

Kiwis being used as guinea pigs…

Vodafone tries to trump 3G
NZ is 'renowned' as a testbed, carrier says

In 2000 the government gave a charitable trust $5 million to set up a 3rd mobile phone network (after Telecom, Vodaphone). Not much return so far other than “research”. It will be interesting to see how ACT MP Deborah Coddington gets on trying to follow this up…

Little action from $5m loan: 
'I think we can probably kiss that money goodbye,' says MP

 

World-first digital encyclopedia goes live online: Te Ara: the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

World-first digital encyclopedia goes live online: Te Ara: the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Prime Minister and Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark has launched Te Ara: the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, the first original, official, digital, national encyclopedia in the world.

[Via govt.nz News]

Te Ara is online at www.TeAra.govt.nz

‘Te ara’ in Maori means ‘the pathway’. Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand offers many pathways to understanding New Zealand. When complete, it will be a comprehensive guide to the country’s peoples, natural environment, history, culture, economy, institutions and society.

---

Te Ara consists of 9 themes, appearing progressively:

2005: New Zealanders – the arrival and settlement of the people.

2005: Earth, Sea and Sky – shaping forces such as geology, tides and climate.

2006: The Bush – New Zealand’s landforms, fauna and flora.

2007: The Settled Landscape – how people live in, use and change their environment.

2008: Trade and Exchange – the economy, business and city life.

2009: Connections – social groups, families and communities.

2010: Nation – systems of government and symbols of national identity.

2011: Daily Life – the customs, leisure activities and beliefs that make New Zealand unique.

2012: Creativity – arts, culture, invention and innovation.

In addition, between 2005 and 2008 there will be features on:

• 22 major geographic regions
• 50 iconic places such as Cape Reinga and Milford Sound.

NEW Hamilton to Auckland Road Cycling event

Event Promotions, who run the very successful 100 K Flyer (Rotorua to Taupo), are going to stage a road cycling event from Hamilton to Auckland on 11th September 2005.

Cycling News FLASH:
New and exciting Hamilton to Auckland Road Cycle event to cater for all!

It’s going to be a real beauty! This exhilarating ride starts at the renowned Te Rapa Race course, Hamilton, on Sir Tristram Avenue at 10am.  The majority of the 95 km distance is on peaceful country roads and travels on the west side of the Waikato River and finishes at the A&P grounds in Pukekohe.
For the comfort of riders, all support vehicles will travel up State Highway One.  Entry forms will be available from the middle of June. More information to come – watch this space!

If you still want to enter the Rotorua to Taupo 100 K Flyer – 2nd April 2005 – registration details are available on the website with late entry possible up to race day. They are expecting 3500 – 4000 riders this year. I did the ride in 2003 and its a great event. Mostly gentle rolling country and avoiding the main highway for the majority of the route. I missed last year as was on holiday in the South Island but hope to be there this year.

New CAD Blog aims to teach IntelliCAD

This arrived in the in-box, I’ve never been on a “press” mailing list before. I haven't used IntelliCAD but if you want to start this should help.

-----Original Message-----
From: ProgeSOFT

To: Press
Subject: New CAD Blog launched: "Learning IntelliCAD" powered by ProgeSOFT

 

A new CAD Blog to learn IntelliCAD (ProgeSOFT IntelliCAD) has just been launched.

Blog address is : http://news.progesoft.com/intellicad/

"Learning IntelliCAD" is the first blog 100% dedicated to learn the CAD (Computer Aided Design Software) software IntelliCAD. Every day tips and tricks are posted on the blog and users can actively participate with comments and opinions.

1 terabyte on Holographic disc?

Could 1 terrabyte on Holographic disc make the Blu-ray vs HD-DVD debate irrelevant?

Six firms form the HVD Alliance around 1TB disc - Engadget - www.engadget.com

While Sony and Toshiba (among others) are squabbling over Blu-ray and HD-DVD, CMC Fuji Photo, CMC Magnetics, and three other companies have rallied around Optware’s HVD technology—that’s Holographic Versatile Disc…

Optware

Holographic recording technology records data on discs in the form of laser interference fringes, enabling existing discs the same size as today's DVDs to store more than one terabyte of data (200 times the capacity of a single layer DVD), with a transfer rate of over one gigabit per second (40 times the speed of DVD). This approach is rapidly gaining attention as a high-capacity, high-speed data storage technology for the age of broadband…

 

Ouch: A Ferrari Enzo fender bender costs

If you see a Ferrari Enzo on the road make sure you don’t hit it!

Ferrari Enzo fender bender costs $120,000 - Autoblog - www.autoblog.com

In an interesting article on State Farm’s secret research lab we learn that carbon fibre cars are very expensive to fix…

CAD tutorial blog ~ ObjectARX® for Dummies

It’s really great when people are prepared to share knowledge and here is a great example.

The ObjectARX® for Dummies Blog was created by Fernando Malard to share his knowledge on the world of ObjectARX. I know nothing about it so will be reading every post - Thanks Fernando!

 ObjectARX® for Dummies Blog:

“I have decided to create this Blog to allow AutoCAD advanced users and AutoLISP / VBA programmers to get into ObjectARX world. As it is a very complex environment I will try to be brief and clear on my explanations and present it step by step. Hope you enjoy!”

via Between the Lines

Birdbrain Is Not Stupid Argue Scientists

And I thought the wild ducks trying to get through the cat door were dumb...
Technology: Tech News: Birdbrain Is Not Stupid Argue Scientists: "Birdbrain Is Not Stupid Argue Scientists"

Archibald McIndoe's "Guinea Pig Club"

Just watched a fascinating documentary on the work of plastic surgeon Archibald McIndoe. He pioneered burns treatment and surgical reconstruction techniques on the badly injured air crew that formed his “Guinea Pig Club”. While the physical reconstruction was important he also realised that psychological treatment was also vital to recovery and also pioneered this aspect of treatment.

This was achieved by keeping the patients together, for moral support, in a group called “The Guinea Pig Club” and integrating them into the normal life of a village near the hospital as soon as possible. The story was told with archive film and recently filmed interviews with the remaining members of the “The Guinea Pig Club” who still meet annually – 60 years later. There were some amazing stories.

The BBC documentary was based on Emily Mayhew’s book and there is a brief, but interesting, interview with her at the BBC website: 

BBC Four Documentaries - The Guinea Pig Club

Book - The Reconstruction of Warriors: Archibald McIndoe, the Royal Air Force and the Guinea Pig Club - E. R. Mayhew

The Guinea Pig Club – Official background on the club