It his his description "urbanized redneck" as it is the clash of country vs city ways, farm vs corporate life that fill his real life stories
Top Shot - Gordon Russell Chapman Esquire from Russ Chapman on Vimeo.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
A different view of the world - the urbanized redneck
Russ is one of the guys that back in the days of being on the Wimbledon project it was (and still is) a fantastic meeting of cultures. He knows how to spin a good southern country yarn but for us brits with less hunting/gun culture it was hard to tell where the embellishments were and what was just part of a way of life. It was great when this URL got shown (thanks Ricky/Andy) around to those of us that know him. However I think it is worth a watch for anyone. It is part spoof, or is it ? Your cultural experiences and perspectives will adjust your ideas on that. I hope he gets on the show that this is an audition film for. He really should be on TV more :)
It his his description "urbanized redneck" as it is the clash of country vs city ways, farm vs corporate life that fill his real life stories
It his his description "urbanized redneck" as it is the clash of country vs city ways, farm vs corporate life that fill his real life stories
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Sand sculptures
We visited some amazing sand sculptures in portugal. The exhibition is a yearly one and runs for a few months. The scale of it is amazing as is the detail on individual sand creations.Some were a little bit more commercial :)
Of course it looks like non of the textures have rezzed :)
The full set of pictures is here
The event is part of Fiesa.org
Saturday, May 28, 2011
New surf dudette
Predlet 1.0 has taken her first steps into being a surfing dudette. Our apartment (thanks to it being our friends place) is fully loaded with beach kit and toys including a boogie board. So Predlet 1.0 (and 2.0 though less so) got to try it out. I also got a chance to get my kodak waterproof HD camera a little wet too. Having internet access and a some siesta time also meant I could play with the video and pictures just after we got back from the beach.
This was the bit of fun I put together, using the imovie action movie trailer :)
This was the bit of fun I put together, using the imovie action movie trailer :)
Monday, May 23, 2011
It's like being in a cartoon
I grew up watching cartoons like Top Cat. So whenever I go to the US it is always interesting to see the street furniture that in my younger years I only ever saw as a cartoon.
The fire hydrant is one such piece. I see them and I think they are drawn like an augmented reality model layered on my view of the world.
Of course it is what you get used to. I guess London's red buses, or our old telephone boxes may have the same impact on people from elsewhere.
What is your cartoon become reality icon?
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Goodbye Dad
It is really hard to write some things, but it would be wrong to not write about this. My Dad Ronald Hughes (Ronnie) died in his sleep on Monday 18th April at his home in Burgh Castle near Great Yarmouth.
He was 72 years old and had a rich and varied life. Dad was always full of stories and humour. Wherever he went he made good friends with people and would soon be laughing and joking with everyone.
He was born in Yorkshire, as a Yorkshireman that made him always very sure of his mind. If anyone has ever had an argument with me they will know I learned tenacity and debating skills the Yorkshire way from him.
Dad spent most of his life in an around Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. My grandparents moved lock stock and barrel to run a guest house in Great Yarmouth. Dad had three older brothers Brian, David and Eric and a younger brother Tony. Together they had some great times growing up.
Dad told me stories of being a barrow boy at Great Yarmouth station, helping pull peoples luggage to the booming holiday industry places. Yarmouth was a popular town for acts too and they all stayed in and around the area. Dad told me tales of being on a bus with entertainers and comedians. Bumping into various rock and roll greats too, you name it he had met them.
Dad was an engineer. He was brought up in the fine tradition of getting a trade. He worked as an apprentice welder and then went on to become the foreman, and union shop steward in the ship building industry. He came from a suitably left wing working class background. That meant he truly cared about the rights of those around him and he fought for those rights. He stood up to the bosses so much that when they suspended him and a colleague in the 70's for looking after those rights it was a catalyst for a national ship building strike. (Again I see where I get my strident and moral nature from!)
He was a great font of knowledge during the time I left corporate life, understanding and supporting what I had had to do. Offices or shipyards it is all the same in certain ways.
I know Dad had no idea really what all these computer things were about in the 80's but he was very supportive of me and my tech and gadgets. He really wanter me to going to poly/university (and I did). That was my trade and he recognised that, so he often went out of his way to help get me the kit. It wasn't until I showed him the work in Second Life back in 2006 that he finally said.... "Oh thats what you do".
I got him into a gaming too. He had played a bit of real golf but got really into the golf games on the consoles. He even took his PSP on holiday to play. I now have his old computer and it looks like I need to pick up his Championship Manager season wheer he left off.
I have some great memories of going fishing too. Usually sea fishing at night. Sat drinking warm sweet tea from a flask as the mist rolled across the beach. I found a "portable" or telescopic fishing rod at his place and now the predlets want to come fishing.
He loved the predlets as any grandfather would and always asked what they were up to. He is convinced predlet 1.0 will end up on TV or in the arts and that 2.0 will be a high court judge. Of course he started saying that before I started my TV gigs and so he said that I was leading the way for 1.0 :)
One thing my Dad was not was a royalist. I remember the last Royal Wedding him clearly stating what a load of ...... So it is going to be somewhat ironic that the local newspaper announcement of his death will be next Friday, in the royal wedding issue. That would have put a smirk on his face.
Dad did have one ambition that I wish we could have got around too. He wanted to go to New York and stand on a street corner and eat a foot long hot dog. However, serendipity kicked in. On the day Dad died, before we knew, we were at Monkey World with the predlets. Predlet 2.0 demanded a hot dog (not something he usually goes for). He sat and demolished a foot long hot dog there and then. I remember thinking I need to tell Dad about this, but in a way I think he already knew.
Having shown Dad what I did for a living, and for him to be able to have seen some of the TV shows I think I made him proud. As a Dad you want to know your kids are doing well. I am an only child, so it puts some extra pressure to deliver the goods.
I know I was very proud of my Dad and loved him loads.I was proud of what he stood for and of how much he cared about everyone else.
His funeral is in Gorleston on 5th May 14:40
Bye Dad R.I.P xxxxxxx
He was 72 years old and had a rich and varied life. Dad was always full of stories and humour. Wherever he went he made good friends with people and would soon be laughing and joking with everyone.
He was born in Yorkshire, as a Yorkshireman that made him always very sure of his mind. If anyone has ever had an argument with me they will know I learned tenacity and debating skills the Yorkshire way from him.
Dad spent most of his life in an around Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. My grandparents moved lock stock and barrel to run a guest house in Great Yarmouth. Dad had three older brothers Brian, David and Eric and a younger brother Tony. Together they had some great times growing up.
Dad told me stories of being a barrow boy at Great Yarmouth station, helping pull peoples luggage to the booming holiday industry places. Yarmouth was a popular town for acts too and they all stayed in and around the area. Dad told me tales of being on a bus with entertainers and comedians. Bumping into various rock and roll greats too, you name it he had met them.
Dad was an engineer. He was brought up in the fine tradition of getting a trade. He worked as an apprentice welder and then went on to become the foreman, and union shop steward in the ship building industry. He came from a suitably left wing working class background. That meant he truly cared about the rights of those around him and he fought for those rights. He stood up to the bosses so much that when they suspended him and a colleague in the 70's for looking after those rights it was a catalyst for a national ship building strike. (Again I see where I get my strident and moral nature from!)
He was a great font of knowledge during the time I left corporate life, understanding and supporting what I had had to do. Offices or shipyards it is all the same in certain ways.
I know Dad had no idea really what all these computer things were about in the 80's but he was very supportive of me and my tech and gadgets. He really wanter me to going to poly/university (and I did). That was my trade and he recognised that, so he often went out of his way to help get me the kit. It wasn't until I showed him the work in Second Life back in 2006 that he finally said.... "Oh thats what you do".
I got him into a gaming too. He had played a bit of real golf but got really into the golf games on the consoles. He even took his PSP on holiday to play. I now have his old computer and it looks like I need to pick up his Championship Manager season wheer he left off.
I have some great memories of going fishing too. Usually sea fishing at night. Sat drinking warm sweet tea from a flask as the mist rolled across the beach. I found a "portable" or telescopic fishing rod at his place and now the predlets want to come fishing.
He loved the predlets as any grandfather would and always asked what they were up to. He is convinced predlet 1.0 will end up on TV or in the arts and that 2.0 will be a high court judge. Of course he started saying that before I started my TV gigs and so he said that I was leading the way for 1.0 :)
One thing my Dad was not was a royalist. I remember the last Royal Wedding him clearly stating what a load of ...... So it is going to be somewhat ironic that the local newspaper announcement of his death will be next Friday, in the royal wedding issue. That would have put a smirk on his face.
Dad did have one ambition that I wish we could have got around too. He wanted to go to New York and stand on a street corner and eat a foot long hot dog. However, serendipity kicked in. On the day Dad died, before we knew, we were at Monkey World with the predlets. Predlet 2.0 demanded a hot dog (not something he usually goes for). He sat and demolished a foot long hot dog there and then. I remember thinking I need to tell Dad about this, but in a way I think he already knew.
Having shown Dad what I did for a living, and for him to be able to have seen some of the TV shows I think I made him proud. As a Dad you want to know your kids are doing well. I am an only child, so it puts some extra pressure to deliver the goods.
I know I was very proud of my Dad and loved him loads.I was proud of what he stood for and of how much he cared about everyone else.
His funeral is in Gorleston on 5th May 14:40
Bye Dad R.I.P xxxxxxx
Saturday, April 02, 2011
Predlets - The Movie
The predlets want to be in TV now too so get them used to taking a bit of direction and also so I could have a play with imovie we made this.
Enjoy the world premier of the trailer of Predlets the movie
Enjoy the world premier of the trailer of Predlets the movie
Friday, April 01, 2011
Apocalypse Norfolk
We saw some Chinook helicopters fly over Burgh Castle on a trip back to my hometown
I always remember seeing A10 planes zoom around our flat land practising way back when I was a kid.
We don't see many military aircraft down south, more battleships :)
I always remember seeing A10 planes zoom around our flat land practising way back when I was a kid.
We don't see many military aircraft down south, more battleships :)
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Cloudy with chance of fish
We have never had any pets as a family, but the decision has been made to go with fish. Tropical fish that is.
All the furry animals cause various allergic reactions, but with any luck the fish (when the tank has settled) will be a good experience for us and the predlets.
There is certainly a lot of routine and bio science to consider in creating an eco system. It's not like bunging a goldfish from the fair into a bowl of tap water.
We shall see. Wish us luck :)
Monday, March 07, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Taking the role too seriously ?
Some things you just have to try and I wondered what a g33k tattoo would feel like.
Ow!
All in all wearing a tshirt is easier.
Monday, January 10, 2011
The Dakar Rally - and ambitions
This time of year is always a time for some excellent footage from the world famous rally raid the Dakar. Long since moved from anywhere near Dakar it now takes place in South America. I am in complete awe of the scenery, the ability of people and their vehicles to deal with the terrain and the adventure.
There has been a lot more web coverage this year, it used to just be Eurosport on TV. Here is an example.
The distances covered and the remoteness is stunning. There are also some people doing the race totally solo, on motorbikes with no team back up, they carry what they need. Just as there are major sponsored teams with full support.
I have managed to achieve a lot of my wish list or ambitions as a kid. I really wanted to invent things and get patents, done, I wanted to get be in a newspaper or book, done, I wanted to do a TV programme like Tomorrows World, done/doing, I wanted to go to American theme parks... done, I wanted to race in the Dakar.... who knows :)
There has been a lot more web coverage this year, it used to just be Eurosport on TV. Here is an example.
The distances covered and the remoteness is stunning. There are also some people doing the race totally solo, on motorbikes with no team back up, they carry what they need. Just as there are major sponsored teams with full support.
I have managed to achieve a lot of my wish list or ambitions as a kid. I really wanted to invent things and get patents, done, I wanted to get be in a newspaper or book, done, I wanted to do a TV programme like Tomorrows World, done/doing, I wanted to go to American theme parks... done, I wanted to race in the Dakar.... who knows :)
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Undenk Music graffiti
On a walk down to the waterfront at Warsash, from the opposite direction to the route I normally take I noticed this music graffiti on the derelict base of the building on the point. It is remarkably sublte, if you look loosely you will see that they are individual notes in what appears to be a scrawl between old microphone and stencil tag.
It was also positioned at the base of the wall so the mic is growing out of the grass.
The flickr photo is geotagged too with the exact location, if you happen to be walking there before someone scrawls all over it.
It is carrying the Undenk tag too a sort of open source graffiti movement.
Monday, November 01, 2010
Chicken suit - Fable 3
I played quite a bit of Fable 3 this weekend and it was very amusing to end up wearing a chicken suit. People in funny suits is of course a major part of working on The Cool Stuff Collective :)
Having dressed up as a Banana, Slash/Rockstar and sung in a bizarre choir voice in the record this week the chicken in Fable 3 seems almost tame :)
Monday, October 18, 2010
Cool News
Predlet 2.0 has a go at presenting The Cool Stuff Collective from the comfort of his own house
He also said whilst watching the part I do. Oh look two daddys, one here and one in there.
He also said whilst watching the part I do. Oh look two daddys, one here and one in there.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Cool Stuff Collective Predlet Style on 101010
I just got back from the Virtual Worlds Confenence, Learning in Different Worlds in Lathi Finland.
Predlet 1.0 greated me with a TV programme version she had made using a large shoe box and drawing.
She was drawing the parts of the Cool Stuff Collective and telling me how proud she was of my work on TV doing future tech on The Cool Stuff Collective with Sy.
All this on 10/10/10 too :)
Monday, October 04, 2010
Cool Stuff Monkey
Predlet 2.0 was more than happy his monkey got scanned in and made it to the end gag of the Cool Stuff Collective show this week :)
More over here
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Old Rubik's toys and Evel Knievel rides again
I was having a rummage around in the loft at the weekend and stumbled upon my Rubik's snake puzzle. It seemed worth getting down and giving to the predlets to see what they make of it. It was a hit.
It is a set of pyramids linked by rotators. Whilst they were playing with it I suddenly realised it must be about 30 years old. Which was quite shocking! It has survived the the of time though.
Other things that came down from the loft included my Evel Knieval stunt bike. This did not survive quite so well as the handle bars had got a little brittle. As it hurtled down the hall and into the bathroom it smacked into the wall and the little Evel would have been heard to say "It came off in my hand".
It still does go though. You can buy new version of it still on Firebox
When I had the original one back in the 70's the bike worked but all the metal in Evel's body snapped, so it was impossible to get him sat on the bike or in any stunt poses. It was before the interwebs let us reach the toy companies and ask for customer service so I wrote a letter (I was about 7) to the toy company saying how unhappy I was that Evel had broken. They sent me a new Evel. Which I thought was amazing, and still do.
The other Rubik's related item that I still find fascinating was the Rubiks' rings. This is a set of square panels bound with nylon that let the panels be folded around one another. It is very tactile puzzle solving. Logically it is really a shuffle puzzle.
You start with it in this format
Fold it over and around a bit
Until you get to this
The tactile nature of these puzzles and toys is a nice change from the purely digital world I live in. However a blend of the two, an Augmented Reality Haptic feedback Rubik's puzzle .... wooooooaaah
It is a set of pyramids linked by rotators. Whilst they were playing with it I suddenly realised it must be about 30 years old. Which was quite shocking! It has survived the the of time though.
Other things that came down from the loft included my Evel Knieval stunt bike. This did not survive quite so well as the handle bars had got a little brittle. As it hurtled down the hall and into the bathroom it smacked into the wall and the little Evel would have been heard to say "It came off in my hand".
It still does go though. You can buy new version of it still on Firebox
When I had the original one back in the 70's the bike worked but all the metal in Evel's body snapped, so it was impossible to get him sat on the bike or in any stunt poses. It was before the interwebs let us reach the toy companies and ask for customer service so I wrote a letter (I was about 7) to the toy company saying how unhappy I was that Evel had broken. They sent me a new Evel. Which I thought was amazing, and still do.
The other Rubik's related item that I still find fascinating was the Rubiks' rings. This is a set of square panels bound with nylon that let the panels be folded around one another. It is very tactile puzzle solving. Logically it is really a shuffle puzzle.
You start with it in this format
Fold it over and around a bit
Until you get to this
The tactile nature of these puzzles and toys is a nice change from the purely digital world I live in. However a blend of the two, an Augmented Reality Haptic feedback Rubik's puzzle .... wooooooaaah
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Check this out - Beer Pong
The main presenter of The Cool Stuff Collective that I am doing my little thread of emerging technology on, Sy Thomas leads another live when he is not in the TV studio. Check out him and and his comedy partner Simon Feilder in this Beer Pong comedy short.
More on http://www.lifeofsi.tv/
More on http://www.lifeofsi.tv/
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