Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Monday, 26 December 2011
Meet Bertie - My New Baby / My First Car!
This is Bertie. He arrived on Christmas morning in 2011... Travis delivered my new baby safely into the world, and unexpectedly made me a proud new father! Bertie the VW is sat quietly next to Harrison, the BMW at our home in Penarth. They cut quite a cute couple...
"We Have No Time to Stop & Stare" ~ Perception (Stop and Hear the Music ~ Joshua Bell)
The Scene: 
What is this life if full of care
We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep, or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this, if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.~ William Henry Davies 1871 - 1940
In Washington DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.
During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.
About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.
At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all...
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.
This experiment raised several questions:
• In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
• If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
• Do we recognise talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made;
How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?
Take time to stop and stare...
What is this life if full of care
We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep, or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this, if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.~ William Henry Davies 1871 - 1940
Read the full piece in the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html "We Have No Time to Stop & Stare" ~ Perception (Stop and Hear the Music ~ Joshua Bell) (tags: Joshua Bell, Washington Post, Washington D.C., Violin, Violinist, Classical, Music, Time))
The Scene:
In Washington DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.
During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.
About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.
At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all...
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.
This experiment raised several questions:
• In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
• If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
• Do we recognise talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made;
How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?
Take time to stop and stare...
What is this life if full of care
We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep, or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this, if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
~ William Henry Davies 1871 - 1940
Read the full piece in the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Just See Me - The Crabbit Old Woman
What do you see, what do you see?
Are you thinking, when you look at me-
A crabbit old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with far-away eyes,
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice,
I do wish you'd try.
Who seems not to notice the things that you do
And forever is loosing a stocking or shoe.
Who, unresisting or not; lets you do as you will
With bathing and feeding the long day is fill.
Is that what you're thinking,
Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes,
nurse, you're looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still!
As I rise at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of 10 with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who loved one another-
A young girl of 16 with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet,
A bride soon at 20- my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.
At 25 now I have young of my own
Who need me to build a secure happy home;
A woman of 30, my young now grow fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last;
At 40, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn;
At 50 once more babies play around my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead,
I look at the future, I shudder with dread,
For my young are all rearing young of their own.
And I think of the years and the love that I've known;
I'm an old woman now and nature is cruel-
Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body is crumbled, grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone where I once had a heart,
But inside this old carcass, a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells,
I remember the joy, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again.
I think of the years all too few- gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last-
So open your eyes, nurse, open and see,
Not a crabbit old woman, look closer-
See Me.
A crabbit old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with far-away eyes,
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice,
I do wish you'd try.
Who seems not to notice the things that you do
And forever is loosing a stocking or shoe.
Who, unresisting or not; lets you do as you will
With bathing and feeding the long day is fill.
Is that what you're thinking,
Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes,
nurse, you're looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still!
As I rise at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of 10 with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who loved one another-
A young girl of 16 with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet,
A bride soon at 20- my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.
At 25 now I have young of my own
Who need me to build a secure happy home;
A woman of 30, my young now grow fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last;
At 40, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn;
At 50 once more babies play around my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead,
I look at the future, I shudder with dread,
For my young are all rearing young of their own.
And I think of the years and the love that I've known;
I'm an old woman now and nature is cruel-
Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body is crumbled, grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone where I once had a heart,
But inside this old carcass, a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells,
I remember the joy, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again.
I think of the years all too few- gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last-
So open your eyes, nurse, open and see,
Not a crabbit old woman, look closer-
See Me.
Ryan
contra omnia discrimina
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Download official iPhone & iPad wallpapers for iOS 5.1 before they've even been released! Get them here now!
iOS 5.1 hasn't even come out yet, but I've managed to get hold of the newest, unreleased wallpapers for the iPhone 4/4S! There are also hi-res iPad versions - link below. Say hi & thanks!
Here's the iPad versions:
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Friday, 16 December 2011
Friday, 9 December 2011
Save a Life' First aid by British Red Cross, Free on the AppStore
Everybody should get this free app by the British Red Cross. Check it out on the App Store:
 | First aid by British Red Cross3 Sided Cube Category: Health & Fitness Updated: 01 Dec 2011 |
| iTunes for Mac and Windows |
| Please note that you have not been added to any email lists. Copyright © 2011 iTunes S.Ã r.l. All rights reserved |
Ryan
contra omnia discrimina
Monday, 5 December 2011
For Sale This week only! Handcrafted in Wales, Bespoke Christmas Cards! Supporting the Cystic Fibrosis (UK) Trust
Handcrafted in Wales, Bespoke Christmas Cards for Sale! This week only! 
If you would like to give someone special that extra special Christmas card and support a very special charity, you can buy them for £4.95 each. You get the card of your choice specially handmade to order, a high-quality envelope and free UK postage. Each card is handmade with Swarovski Crystals, using the highest-quality materials and beautiful craftsmanship. For an extra £1.25 your card can be personalised with your loved-ones name or any short greeting you choose. Payment by PayPay or cheque. First Class dispatch on the same day if order received before 1pm. eBay Store and website coming later today! A generous percentage of sales will be donated to the UK Cystic Fibrosis Trust. To order, email ryan@uselessdesires.co.uk and state what design you want ('Christmas Tree' 'Present' or 'Vintage Tag') and if you would like a personalised greeting added instead of one of our own. Remember to include your name and address and we'll email you back to confirm order & arrange payment. Here are the current designs:
Vintage Tag:
Present Box:
Christmas Tree:
More coming soon!
In Film: Vintage Beach Playtime with Travis & the Poodles
Episode 1 ~ Vintage Beach Playtime with Travis & the Poodles (feat. 'Beyond the Sea' by Kathryn Williams):
Episode 2 ~ Vintage Beach Playtime with Travis & the Poodles (feat. 'Beasts' by Slow Moving Millie):
Walking the dogs, Maggie & Amber with Travis Toogood on our beach in Penarth, Wales, on a blustery day on November 30th, 2011, featuring 'Beyond the Sea' by Kathryn Williams & Adam Lipinski and'Beasts' by Slow Moving Millie.
Filming, editing and post-production © 2011, Ryan Price
Tracks available to download on iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beyond-sea-from-the-cafe-single/id482714361
My Hand-Crafted Christmas Cards
All homemade, hand-crafted, homespun, crafty Christmas cards which I spent most of today designing & making...! What do you think? 
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)