Alternative propulsion methods are always interesting just because our lives our dominated by so very few. If anything just sit and watch the beauty in it’s movements.
From NewScientist:
It’s not a bird or a plane: it’s an unusual flying object that propels itself by flipping inside out. Created by engineers at Festo in Esslingen, Germany, the floating band filled with helium takes on different shapes while expanding and contracting to generate thrust and move through the air.
The design is based on the inverted cube shape discovered by inventor and mathematician Paul Schatz. By dissecting a cube into three parts, two star-shaped units can be produced at either end with an invertible belt in the middle section which is the same shape as the flying band. The system reproduces the entire structure: it opens to release the band while the ends remain on the ground as a docking station.
The flying object itself is made up of six identical prisms filled with helium, held together by a carbon-fibre framework. Three motors drive the motion coordinated by a tiny onboard computer, pre-programmed to replicate the inversion sequence. Using a smartphone, a person on the ground can guide the object around a room, which will be demonstrated on Monday at a trade show in Hanover, Germany.
The firm still hasn’t come up with a specific use for inversion-driven propulsion. The mechanics of automated systems are typically based on rotational or linear motion to drive, for example, motors or grippers, but inversion is seldom used in designs. The company has now launched a competition challenging students in Germany to suggest a functional idea that could be implemented in an industrial environment.
One of the most interesting cats in music right now is Thundercat; I guess like the name may imply, he’s an agile force of nature seamlessly moving from rocking bass for Erykah Badu, to Suicidal Tendencies, to lacing FlyLo, and ultimately keeping a bit of virtuosity to himself on his solo debut Brainfeeder debut The Golden Age of Apocolypse. Needless to say I’m a fan and now the album has some visuals to bring you around to the sound . . . well sort of. Look out for cameos from LA’s finest as well as hilarity for those that follow FlyLo, ‘Cat, and Japanese cartoon – absolutely hilarious.
I’ve said it before Sugar Tongue Slim has a lane and I hope more people get out on the road. Dude’s got energetic style for days; He just dropped the visuals for “Comeback Kid” form his GOLDRush series, sampling and flipping Sleigh Bells’ “Come Back Kid”. Not much happening in the video except for a lot of fun.
You’re doing yourself a disservice if you’re not checking out The Lions. They are a recent signee to the strong and recognized LA staple Stones Throw Records and a group of superstars that you just don’t know about. Members of The Lions have played & written for top artists in the industry for years meanwhile cultivating and maintaining their own distinct style of roots reggae & funk that allows you to dance, relax, and groove all at the same time.
Members of the legendary ska band Hepcat, Deston Berry and Alex Désert, form half of the vocal team, and the latter also has a successful career on screen, including roles in the films Swingers and High Fidelity. The other half is the sweet falsetto of Malik Moore and DJ stylings of Black Shakespeare, the charismatic cousin of Robbie Shakespeare (of Sly & Robbie fame) and co-runner of the i&i Sound System, a customised ice cream van bringing bass to the streets of the west coast and featured on the cover of both Saul Williams’ self-titled album and an issue of XLR8R Magazine.
Other members include guitarist Dan Ubick, formerly of Breakestra, Macy Gray co-writer and collaborator Dave Wilder on bass, plus musicians who have played with the likes of De La Soul, Barrington Levy, Beck, Raphael Saadiq, Big Daddy Kane and Black Eyed Peas.
My man Malik The FreQ is that sweet falsetto you hear on the track. Definitely look out for more from The Lions as they prep their release and Malik The FreQ over the coming year.
Can’t wait to see what else Nardwuar has in the hard-drives from SXSW 2012. He’s already released on the masses his interviews with A$AP Rocky & the A$AP Mob and Action Bronson; today he drops his interview with one of the most creative & potentially crazy young MCs doing it right now in Danny Brown.
The Man, The Myth, The Legend is at it again in SXSW. In this edition Nardwuar the human serviette, links up with Pretty Flacco aka A$AP Rocky and the A$AP Mob for another classic Nardwuar interview. He is a “Fucking Psychic Genius”. Enjoy.
My girl Lyric Jones is hitting ya’ll hard on this one. Just about 2.5 minutes of spitting at for your pleasure. Please catch up to what young Lyric has to say, she making her way through the game, already locking features down from Playboy Tre, Esperanza Spalding, Phife Dawg, for her debut LP Jones St. and opening for J. Cole. So don’t sleep, open your eyes and ears.
Get with it folks, Big K.R.I.T. has just released his most recent tape “4eva N A Day” for the free. Get yours. I’m a K.R.I.T., no doubt, he’s been consistently putting together top quality work without putting out any major or for pay release thus far in his career. The man can’t lose. Tracklisting below & Download HERE.
S-Mak (Scott Antilla Thomas) is a young LA bred MC you should be giving your time to. Bringing together visuals for his track “The Beginning of All End”; S-Mak presents a figure as focused on camera as he is on wax. Keep your eyes and ears open to his upcoming mixtape presented by DJ Skee MadMak, due this Spring.
Not much more you need then this; a serene night, powder, your board, & LEDs. I haven’t snowboarded in close to 10 years, but watching this is enthralling.
Coming Nowness.com Fashion photographer talks about his inspiration for this project:
Fashion photographer and filmmaker Jacob Sutton swaps the studio for the slopes of Tignes in the Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France, with a luminous after hours short starring Artec pro snowboarder William Hughes. The electrifying film sees Hughes light up the snow-covered French hills in a bespoke L.E.D.-enveloped suit courtesy of designer and electronics whizz John Spatcher. “I was really drawn to the idea of a lone character made of light surfing through darkness,” says Sutton of his costume choice. “I’ve always been excited by unusual ways of lighting things, so it seemed like an exciting idea to make the subject of the film the only light source.” Sutton, who has created work for the likes of Hermès, Burberry and The New York Times, spent three nights on a skidoo with his trusty Red Epic camera at temperatures of -25C to snap Hughes carving effortlessly through the deep snow, even enlisting his own father to help maintain the temperamental suit throughout the demanding shoot. “Filming in the suit was the most surreal thing I’ve done in 20 years of snowboarding,” says Hughes of the charged salopettes. “Luckily there was plenty of vin rouge to keep me warm, and Jacob’s enthusiasm kept everyone going through the cold nights.”
I can’t say how much I’m a fan of this woman, intensely principled, talented, beautiful. Anyway she’s recently released two videos from her upcoming sophomore US release Soul Is Heavy “My Home” & “Shining Star”.
Look out for the Nigerian born songstress’ latest and no doubt stellar effort Soul Is Heavy on the shelves February 28th via @Decon.
Follow her @nnekaworld & at her official.
