Urban facelift

Mention Liverpool and you’ll most likely think of the Beatles. It’s a city that by and large has been stuck in its heyday of decades gone by, but is rapidly catching up on lost time. Balancing new architecture with its rich history, a revamp has turned it into a holiday destination and seen it named the 2008 European City of Culture. Graham Reid tells us why Auckland planners, architects and designers could learn a lot from Liverpool.

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Flying high

Distinguishing between airlines is no easy task—aside from colour schemes and uniforms, most passenger flights are essentially identical. But Air NZ’s move to introduce lie-down seats on long-haul flights looks set to transform the cattle-class experience, and as David MacGregor writes, could better predispose tourists and holidaymakers toward New Zealand.

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On the way to Webstock

Check out the full programme of Webstock workshops and secure your place now—at least one has already sold out! Guest speakers are scheduled from February 15-17, followed by the two-day conference proper. From software, startups and security to design and data interpretation, there’s a wealth of knowledge on offer just begging to be imparted. Get in quick.

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Welcome to hyperreality

Augmented reality—it’s all well and good, but isn’t this taking things a little too far? Then again, if you struggle with boiling a kettle or making a cup of tea, the Basic Life Skills tuition here might be just the ticket.

Sun, sounds and Splore

There are three weeks left until Splore 2010 kicks off, where music, art and nature intersect at the coastal paradise that is Tapapakanga Regional Park. From live cabaret to creative workshops, or art exhibitions to performers including Basement Jaxx and Nathan Haines, there’s something to cater to all tastes. Throughout its history the festival has seen its fair share of proposals, and for the first time this year (if that’s your kind of thing) Splore is even providing a wedding chapel and celebrant onsite. Get your tickets at iticket: they’re $185 for the full weekend (including free camping) with $1 going to Oxfam’s relief work in Haiti.

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Art in the fields

Crop circles have nothing on these fields in Japan—since 1993, farmers in Inakadate village have been creating rice paddy art to attract tourists to the area. Using green, purple and yellow-leafed rice, they painstakingly plot out their masterpieces and create entirely new images after each harvest. Not surprisingly, other villages have started catching on and their expertise is in big demand…

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A speck in the galaxy

Can you spot our Sun? This diagram of the Milky Way, cleverly visualised as a subway map, is a humbling reminder of just how insignificant we really are in the grand scheme of things.

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The real life of chimps

Apparently the BBC is set to screen the The Chimpcam Project, the first documentary actually shot by chimpanzees. Witness what happens when they’re let loose with a camera; although just how interesting life in an Edinburgh zoo will be remains to be seen.

Quote of the week

“ Unlike Liverpool with ‘Ferry Cross the Mersey’, we don’t even have a decent song about our city.”

— Graham Reid ponders the differences between Auckland and Liverpool.