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May 17, 2012
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A quick glance at Keith Alexander’s CV is all it takes to see that he’s no ivory tower academic. In fact, he dropped out of university to volunteer in the Solomon Islands before returning to complete his degrees in science and engineering. So when his wife vetoed buying a trampoline for the family because she felt they were too dangerous, he set out to allay her fears himself. His revolutionary design, a tramp known as the Springfree, does away with metal springs and surrounds the jumping mat with flexible built-in nets. And with global sales on track to reach 100,000 by 2012, the invention is giving many an anxious parent licence to let their kids bounce off the walls.
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You might think anything to do with the field of brain research would go right over your head, but an exhibition starting next week offers a new perspective on the matter. Under the curatorship of arts management business The Busy Nice, 15 artists were paired with a scientist and challenged to create an original piece in response to their partner’s work. With a wide variety of works ranging from video installation to contemporary watercolours, Do You Mind? promises to inform and inspire from July 29 at the Ironbank complex on K’ Rd, Auckland.
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The countdown is on ‘til WordCamp 2010, the user-created conference devoted to all things WordPress from August 7–8. With just two weeks to go, now’s the time to book your t-shirts and tickets. Richard Hollingum, local organiser for TEDx Auckland, has just been confirmed as a speaker, joining an already stellar lineup for the event (and if you’d like to volunteer to speak, flick an email to the organisers). WordCamp is also one of the first events to use the recently launched Be In The Room, an innovative way for organisers and attendees to follow the latest developments all in one place.
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Does getting a shot conjure up a bad case of needle phobia? A futuristic dissolving patch developed by US researchers could change the way we vaccinate for good. Each patch contains hundreds of microscopic needles, which painlessly melts away when applied to human skin. That’s a big improvement on our current hypodermics, which are a nightmare to dispose of once used. And most importantly, it could mean a new era in public health; no longer would trained professionals be needed to oversee injections, as people could immunise themselves.
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Getting its mojo back
Publicis Mojo has unveiled an ambitious trio of long-form videos for Coca Cola’s Burn Energy drink. Released to the European market this week, the series tells the stories of real-life characters from the skating, music and snowboarding communities. Each director had ample creative rein, shooting without either storyboards or set narratives. Peepshow, for example, is a lyrical documentary about young female snowboarders in Quebec City.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2lCegYrHjo
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Art: it’s an investment, and with prices ranging from just $100 to $3,000 at the Emerging Art Show next weekend, there’s an affordable way to start your own collection. The event offers the chance to discover New Zealand’s newest talents with more than 500 works on display, ranging from oils, acrylics and watercolours to sculptures and photography. Rising stars include Lucy G, John Towers, Rachel Rush, Melissa Wallace and many more. It’s on at Auckland’s Alexandra Park on July 31 and August 1 (public entry is just $10, while children and students are free).
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Join us for a free webinar on Wednesday August 4, 2–3pm
Learn how using modern digital marketing tools like visitor analytics and real-time personalisation can deliver compelling web experiences and increase conversion rates.
Register now!
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Fans of the Polaroid brand worldwide were devastated by the death of instant film; those fans can rejoice again, because instant photography is back. Featuring an automatic flash and four scene settings, the new Polaroid 300 packs a hefty punch with a recommended retail price of $199. It’s smaller than previous incarnations, printing business card-sized colour shots using new ink-free technology. But most importantly, the classic Polaroid instant film hasn’t changed.
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From dropout to director
Murray Thom left school at 15, yet by 23 he was already managing director at CBS Records New Zealand. He went on to start Personalised Plates and released a series of beautifully presented, top-selling productions like the ten-CD collection Together, which Oprah named her “Favourite Thing” of the year. Thom will be sharing his extraordinary journey at the next Creative Entrepreneurs evening meetup on August 4. It’s organised by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, which describes the meetup like this: “Build your connections and knowledge while socialising over fine wine and canapés at an event designed especially for innovative, enthusiastic, creative entrepreneurs.” We’re there. Tickets are $37 for members and $47 for non-members; to register, email events@chamber.co.nz.
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Made for me
In the age of the read/write web, what could be better than a personalised “social magazine” tailored specifically to your interests alone? That’s the thinking behind Flipboard, which draws content from all your social networks and collates it in one iPad application for easy viewing. Even better, it fully renders links and images, meaning an end to scanning long lists of posts and clicking on link after endless link. Flipboard
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With this slick looking crate, designer Luis Luna has come up with a novel way of keeping beers cold while on the move. Before you head out, remove the aluminium holding tray and pop it into the freezer. Once it’s frozen over, it goes back into the box, where it’ll cool the bottles on the trip to the beach, lake, picnic or other destination of choice. Simple, yet effective.
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