dots and spaces

Featured Artist...too late.

The featured artist at The Royal Magazine is some scruffy chap who hails from Littlehampton and listens to Finnish death metal (oh, I have your copy). imakethings is featured on dotsandspaces every month, so I'm glad to see we're cutting edge. Anyway, congratulations, hope lots of people send you mail

Oh, and get a haircut!

This is unimportant...

I was sent this link about how blood types offer insight into people's personalities, are you true to your blood type

I read a really interesting article written by Andrew Marr, the BBC's political correspondent. This is an essential Guide to reading newspapers. You might have to log in to Guardian Media, but its worth it, it won't take a second.

More Adrian Johnson

Saw this in yesterday's Guardian supplement to illustrate an article called "How to use a Post Office". This is just a detail, you'll have to nag me for the whole thing, but again, I really like the textured background and the retro leanings, although its not quite The Jetsons, it does seem to remind me. Remember the Sky+ campaign, if anyone spots anything else by Adrian Johnson, please let me know.

Blissen

Blissen make beautiful items, and are a constant source of inspiration. I'm particularly drawn to the founder of Blissen herself Jill Bliss who is a talented designer, borrowing heavily from her own work with Blissen, but also able to work independently with a versitile design style that seems to suit her clients impeccably.

Miso Soup

I visited the Emsworth Food Festival and was introduced to a few new foods, including Pomegranate vinegar, chilli jam and crispy beans. It was all very tasty. I've been told that Miso Soup is very good for you, it has a very strong flavour, but is rich and syrupy.

Miso Soup Recipe
1 teaspoon soybean oil 2 cloves garlic, mashed 2 green onions, sliced with tops 1 teaspoon fresh gingerroot, grated 1/2 cup carrots, thinly sliced 1 cup mushroom, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons miso (in ethnic foods section or Asian market) 1 tablespoon dry sherry 4 cups water Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and onions and sauti until soft. Add fresh gingerroot, carrots and mushrooms. Cook an additional 5-10 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Reduce heat. Dissolve miso in 1/4-cup water and add to vegetables when cooled. Add remaining water and sherry and heat through. Be careful not to boil the soup after you've added the miso.

In Japan, many people begin their day with miso soup. The Miso is made from Soybean, and is such a delicacy that Japanese people treat it as a delicacy, searching for the perfect Miso flavour for their meals.

Visit Miso Online for more information.

Be afraid...here come...

Although Cat on Form might have disbanded; the loons that are The Phil Collins 3 are still going strong. We saw them in the The Freebutt and they were an experience that has been seared into my retinas; caused irreparable damage to my ear-drums and seems to have affected my sense of balance. For the first half of the gig, the lead guitarist had trouble with the silver foil mask he was wearing - he wasn't able to sing with it on, and had to abandon it. My favourite song of the night was a local favourite called "Chicken Nut Sack", brilliant. They called themselves "The Phil Collins 3" because "our singer is losing his hair". The Official Phil Collins 3 website is well worth a look, it's packed with stuff, not all of it of sound mental health, but never mind. Also go visit Wogan Wole's Unofficial site which has some photos, downloads and quotes from the audience such as "visually it was like slipknot, but made by blue peter" - lisa, the tavern night spot, brighton and "you had your mic switched off for the whole gig" - steve, a sound guy at the freebutt. A bit of class in an ocean of rubbish. An album out soon, that should give Daniel Bedingfield something to think about.

I'm lovin' it

Pick of the bunch at the Chichester Film Festival, although combined with The Corporation, it was a full assault on corporate values and the frightening untruths and deceitful ways in which the big companies insinuate themselves into people's lives. Morgan Spurlock's film in particular is audacious and hilarious at the same time. Just watching him on his month long Mac attack is enough to put anyone off fast food for a lifetime. They should show this film to kids at school.

COF

Really am very sorry to hear the news that Cat on Form have split and are no more. I got an email from the band saying it was all very amicable and that they're still friends, but that they wanted to stop. I saw Cat on Form a couple of times, once supporting Fugazi, which really woke me up to them, and then in the hole that is the Freebutt in Brighton. Its a fantastic venue, the walls are wet with sweat and the atmosphere was electrifying, especially for Cat on Form. They played "clean", with the house lights on, and the guitars squealling and shouting. I really looked forward to getting emails from the band, they read like a film, cancelled gigs, big nights, injuries and new members. They had a great drummer called Eva who thrashed like a woman possessed, she was a fearsome sight. I was sorry to hear she had back problems which meant cancelled gigs, until finally she had to let it go.

I'm sure its not the last we'll see from the members of this wonderful band, there's too much talent on show here, but in the meantime, there are still a few whispers, and a few records left.

Cat on Form and Southern Records There are some great photos, also mp3's and back catalogue.

Alerted to a great art project over in Australia, go look at the pictures here

Watched a programme on BBC Three about guerrilla homes, which was about architecture in small spaces. There's a good article about living in a container....mm, not sure.

I don't usually mention work, but here's a link to the2004/2005 Global Challenge, a round-the-world Yacht race that we're involved in sponsoring. Its a big project, which I'll be working on for a while, but its' great fun, and I get to go sailing.

Ever wonder where dead logos go, of course, they're buried in the Logo Graveyard.

Close Encounter...

Met Eddie Izzard as I strolled down Curzon Street yesterday, did a quick double-take and turned around, half expected to see his back as he carried on his journey, but no, there he was looking back at me. Had a lovely chat, I felt a bit flustered, but he very kindly signed a small paper bag from my satchel. I must have looked a bit crazy, but shook his hand, wished him well as we parted company. Of course you always think of the should've's - fancy a pint ? Could you write Azerbijhan on my bit of paper? etc, etc. Anyway, felt blessed and cheered up my boring ol' day. Oh...I met Nadia from Big Brother too...on the same day - are the two events related? Was my celeb radar working rather well, usually I'm oblivious to everything when I wonder down the road. Been wanting to meet Eddie for years, and so pleased that when I finally did, it was a lovely, friendly and smiley moment.

Eddie has a lovely website, with a recent re-design it seems, go seek him here