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May 22, 2012
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The much-loved number-8-wire kiwi ingenuity we so pride ourselves on is trotted out on the big screen in the latest presentation of the Traveling Film Show this month. Using newsreels, home movies and TV footage, Extraordinary Inventions features 23 largely forgotten inventions that originated in Aotearoa, including the Semple Tank (a machine so impractical it needed to stop to change gear) and a World War II era gas-powered car. There’s also a nostalgic look at what we now know as a caravan, the world’s smallest motorcycle and plenty of agricultural monstrosities. And if those egregious engineering attempts weren’t comedic enough, the show rounds off with one of the most famous homegrown spoofs of all time, the musical farmers twanging away on number-8 wire on Country Calendar. From 7pm, May 19–21 at the NZ Film Archive.
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It’s rare to come across a company offering something for nothing, but that’s what Industrial Research Ltd is essentially putting out there with its Scientist for a Day scheme. IRL, which carries out scientific research and development in the manufacturing and service sectors, will volunteer the services of some of its engineers and scientists to New Zealand businesses between August and December. IRL experts will engage with successful applicants either at their premises or at an IRL laboratory, focusing on anything from an
existing problem to analysing and improving a product or process. “By applying to take part in Scientist for a Day, companies can gain
insight into the role R&D can play in boosting revenue growth and
transforming their business,” says chief executive Shaun Coffey. To find out more or apply, email sfad@irl.cri.nz or visit the website.
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No programmes, no desktop, no local storage. It must be the Google Chromebook, unveiled yesterday as essentially a shell of a laptop, hosted and operated entirely in the cloud. After all, “you can do everything on the web” Google reckons. But with the current state of the internet, it’s pretty unlikely to find any traction here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVqe8ieqz10
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Embroidery is apparently back in Vogue, which this month featured British student Inge Jacobsen’s reimagination of some of its cover designs as cross-stitch pieces. What possessed her to do such a thing? Although she’s currently studying photography, Jacobsen hopes her work will help launch her career as an artist, and says her work ties together two traditionally feminine pastimes. It’s a painstaking process, each taking 40 to 50 hours to make. So far Jacobsen has sewn up three covers, as well as stitched her way through some of the magazine’s most famous photoshoots to date.
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“Harnessing the power of storytelling for a better world.” That’s the mission of the Inspiring Stories charitable trust, currently touring the North Island and creating short films about young people making a difference in their community. Each two-day workshop helps aspiring energetic Kiwis aged 13–26 develop core skills in filmmaking, explore social, environmental and economic challenges, and kick-start a short film project. Sound like you? Applications from interested filmmakers and changemakers are welcomed. The Auckland workshop will be held on May 31 and June 1 at AUT.
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In the age of tablets and smartphones, who bothers with a watch these days? But when Steve Jobs announced the sixth generation iPod Nano, the design community got right to work, coming up with designs such as the sporty Loop watchband. It seamlessly integrates the Nano, giving you access to all of Apple’s functionality with one touch, as well as a preloaded pedometer and Nike compatibility for fitness freaks.
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NZ on Screen is the home of homegrown TV and film, and now you can get involved by marking key locations on the map accompanying any video with the launch of the Places tab. Places (locations of special significance like the setting of a particular scene; Karekare beach from The Piano for instance) can be added by anyone. Just click on the tab and get tagging to contribute your part to local screen history.
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