Merlins Tower

Theo Jansen - Modern Day DaVinci

Posted on December 21st, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Video, YouTube.

This guy is incredible - These kinetic Sculpture’s are unbelievable. I just had to share what people are calling the Modern Day DaVinci. Theo Jansen artwork and designs just have to be seen to believed. I really can not describe what you are about to see except that it is beautiful and it flows. They look so full of life. Well I will not try to describe this - Just enjoy the show. -Merlin

Technorati Tags: Theo, Jansen, Artist, art, work, kinetic, sculptor, netherlands, engineering, engineer, bmw, artificial, life, sculptor, video, youtube, algorithms

0 comments.

The Hippier Hipster PDA - The Hipster Shuffle

Posted on June 22nd, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, GTD, Gadgets, HPDA, Hack, Indexcards, Life, Notetaking, Video.

I really use quite a bit of index cards and carry them around with me in my Levengers International Pocket Briefcase. (Hey, I even spotted another one at work during lunch - Which was cool seeing someone else using the same technology - Way to go Bart)But this is just too cool not to post about - The Hipster Shuffle - Making a cool idea even cooler. Below you will see a video of the Hipster Shuffle in Action.

In case you are not in the know - “The Hipster PDA is a paper-based personal organizerSan Francisco writer Merlin Mann. popularized, if not invented, by ”

Varients of the Hipster PDA which I use is the DIYPlanner complete with templates and directions. The version I use is the DIYPlanner made for HipsterPDA. This was designed especially for the D*I*Y Planner project by Douglas Johnston, the package includes a wide array of cards covering life management, project planning, calendars, notetaking, business development, and creative uses like writing, storyboards, mind mapping, and photography.

Now on to the video:

Technorati Tags: hipster+pda, HPDA, Notecards, Indexcards, Index+cards, 3×5, Organization, Levenger, Wallet, Internation, SPBC, Shirt+Pocket+Briefcase

0 comments.

My Interest in NLP and Video to watch

Posted on June 20th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, Health, Human, Video, Weird Stuff.

I have always been interested in NLP and it use. NLP is Neural Linglistics Programming - But instead of me trying to explain what this is here is an excerpt from Wikipedia on the concept of NLP:

NLP is based on the idea that with our senses we are able to perceive only a small part of the world. Our view of the world is filtered by our biology, experience, beliefs, values and assumptions. We act and feel based on our perception of the world rather than the real world. NLP calls each individual’s perception of the world their ‘map’. NLP teaches that our mind-body (neuro) and what we say (linguistic), interact together to form our perceptions of the world, or maps (programming). Each person’s map of the world determines feelings and behavior. Therefore, impoverished - and unrealistic - maps can restrict choices and result in problems.

Now I am going to say I am not sure if this is true or not but many people believe this and use it to its fullest. I first hear about NLP from the CD/Tapes offered by Tony Robbins. A friend of mine bought the tapes and he said they helped him. Well I was interested and did some reading and research on NLP and its uses. I will not go into my personal believe right now. But I do find it fascinating and I just love learning new things. Another person using NLP is Derren Brown. Derren using NLP for performing Mind Tricks on stage and using his way of wording and touching to force people to think of objects and things. Below you will see a sample of Derren using NLP on his TV show to get Simon Peg to change his mind on what gift he wanted. See the YouTube Clip below to see this in action and how it was performed. Pretty interesting and entertaining. Let me know if you wanted the same gift as Simon? while watching listen and see if you want the same item. Some people I have shown this to also wanted the same item. Hmm interesting. So does NLP work or not. You have to decide that on your own. Just something to think about. And let me know your comments here - Thanks

Technorati Tags: NLP, Derren+Brown, Simon+Peg, Neuro+Linguistic+Programming, Mind+Control, Hypnosis, Mind+Tricks

1 comment.

Youtube Video: GetHuman Customer Service Help

Posted on March 13th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, Video, YouTube.

After posting the entry on why I hate Automated Voice Prompt Systems when you are calling a company and only want to talk to a human. Here is a video put together to show this frustration with computer phone systems. 

Frustrations with Customer Service. 

Technorati Tags: Automated+Customer+Support, Voice+Systems, Youtube, Automated, Sytems, humans, hate, gethuman.com, get+human

0 comments.

Video: How to - Calligraphy

Posted on March 9th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, Craft, DIY, Video, YouTube.

The following video "Calligraphy - Only You" makes doing Calligraphy look very easy - Too easy. I wish I could make my calligraphy look about half as good in twice the time. I believe the lettering style is Blackletter style. This really is a nice traditional style. I can see this style being used for wedding invitations, party invitations, basically anywhere you would like a stylish look and feel.

This style is also called German Gothic - Again a nice style In my opinion for a wedding invitation, or a fancy party invitation. I really need to practice this style - a very traditional style of calligraphy.

Technorati Tags: Calligraphy, Youtube, german+gothic, Calligraphy, Blackletter, Wedding, Wedding+invitation, Invitations, DIY, Lettering, Handwriting, Craft

0 comments.

Video: Helpdesk Support for using a Journal / Notebook

Posted on March 7th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Communication, Journaling, Miquelrius, Moleskine, Notetaking, Tutorial, Video, Weird Stuff, YouTube.

As many of you well know things we take for granted were once new to someone at some point of time. This video skit is just about that fact. What if there was a help desk in the middle ages when the paper journal was first introduced to the monks that only used paper scrolls? How would you explain it to the end user? What would you say and do?

Would you know how to use it if you were used to using a paper scroll?

What were the advantages and disadvantages of using one?

I really enjoyed this video and had to share it. So sit back and enjoy - Warning this is in dutch  Norwegian (Thank you, JEM -  I stand Corrected - I just wrote was I was told it was) with English Subtitles but still worth it.

Middle Age Tech Support

Technorati Tags: helpdesk, help+desk, tech+support, Middle+Age, Paper+Scroll, Journal, Paper, Middle, Age, Video, Youtube, How+to, How, To, Funny, Cool+thing

2 comments.

The Blue Man Group: Music Art

Posted on February 11th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Communication, Movies, Pipe, Video, Weird Stuff, YouTube.

0 comments.

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