With Olympic fever in full flow I thought I would share this collection of Olympic Games posters from the first modern iteration of the games in Athens 1896 up to current London 2012 event. A great visual history of the Olympics and also a reflection of the development and design trends of modern graphic design over the past century. I love the simplicity of Tokyo 1964 and Mexico 1968 while I'm a bit confused as to the relevance two men suckling a wolf in the Roma 1960 poster?
If you are British this has to be one of
the most memorable weekends ever. However on the
other side of the pond. a small group of people have been busy making history as well.
In the early hours
of this morning. "CURIOSITY", NASA's mars rover touched down on the
red planet; Mars. This monumental event may well be over-shadowed by the
current excitement of London 2012 Olympics but the significance of this event cannot be underestimated and it is very much one of mans
greatest achievements to date.
In the past NASA
has launched and landed a number of missions to the red planet. While some of
them landed safely sending back amazing images of the surface of mars, Most
broke up on impact.
However. at 6:00am EST, after a 9 month journey, travelling 225 million km at a speed of 13,000mph, "CURIOSITY" successfully and safely landed, in fully working order. These are
the first pictures from the red planet.
After a few hours
of start-up tests Curiosity has now started its 2
year road trip around the surface of Mars carrying
out experiments and searching
for life. This is just the first stage in President Obama's long term aim to take humans to Mars by
2030.
Another giant leap for
mankind and proof of the growing importance of continuing to explore our galaxy
and beyond.
What a wonderful weekend of sport and what a time to be British.
Obviously we in the UK are slightly biased regarding recent events in the last few days at the Olympics, however in this instance I feel we have every right to blow our own trumpets. Being proportionally the most over performing team in the top 10 countries at the Games, second only to the US (population 311m) and China, (population 1.35bn) we can be proud of what is a truly inspiring performance by Team GB.
From fantastic medal winning performances on the track to the Velodrome, tennis at Wimbledon gymnastics, judo, sailing in Weymouth and the rowing at Eton Dorney and many more, Britain can be proud of its new (and older!) heroes. The magic culiminating in a Saturday night that could not have been penned with a more poetic storyline by even Mr Shakespeare himself.
Jessica Ennis' comeback on the home straight epitomises the dogged determination that has been displayed by Team GB throughout the tournament. Yes we have had a few disasters - losing to Korea in the Quarter Finals of the football on penalties for one. (Oh Stuart Pearce, you really aren't cut out for management and you must be wondering if Becks' presence might have brought the fairy tale ending we all so wanted!). However in the main we can be delighted with our take on the greatest show on earth. The venues look stunning, the athletes are performing and the atmosphere seems to have been relentlessly electric which is a real credit to the British public. Particularly with LOCOG's fiasco of ticket sales.
So one week to go and 4 more gold medals needed to eclipse our Beijing 2008 endeavours.
With more track, athletics and gymnastics to come, it looks like our best ever performance will be on home soil in one of the most exciting games in the history of the Olympics.
Even Danny Boyle pulled off the opening ceremony. Just. We always knew there were going be some weird nonsense moments (like the computer game style scenes in his film of the book; the Beach) I am not sure 30 mins of watching the NHS dancing was that inspiring - more a two fingers to the developing world about our free health service! Equally I question the accessibility of some of the narrative choices to nations less familiar with ourselves (like Brunel reading Shakespeare). However the overall impression was a huge success and we showed that we are a creative nation and sometimes its not so much about money, it's about ideas. Though Paul McCartney - it is time to retire. It really really is and Anish Kapoor should perhaps ask - does Russian Construvist scuplture really represent the UK. The Orbit really is not cool. compared to the torch and the olympic flame, which were real successes, it is a white elephant.
Spot the similarities..
VladimirTatlin - Monument to the Third International - 1919/20
Anish Kapoor - The Orbit - London, 2012
The real story of the games is the wonderful Team GB. They are darlings of the nation and I sense we may have a few more knighthoods very soon. Outstanding effort by Jess, Mo, Andy, Sir Chris and co.
Check out this new T shirt concept from CuteCircuit. With integrated LED display, camera, microphone, speaker and accelerometer, and programmed via your smartphone, the concept has been described as a wearable platform for self expression which can connect to your Twitter account, post Facebook updates, play music videos and do other cool video related stuff. Awesome.
The more the video below is shared the more likely it is that the concept is going to go into mass production. So get sharing!
A website is an amazing tool for businesses to promote themselves to anyone at any time. It is an opportunity to showcase their brand, identity, ethos and wares to a global audience (unless you live in China) The rise of the world wide web and the media of the website over the past 20 years has been a phenomenon. Web design is a thriving industry and a well designed site can be considered an experience to behold. Imagine then the importance of the process - concept, design, review, testing, domain name.........
Here are some examples of some classic domain name fails:
Following a frantic day of meetings in Dublin yesterday, I got an opportunity for a little R&R and decided to answer the question, "Does Guinness taste better in Ireland?" and the only way I felt that I could form an unbiased, true answer was to visit the home of Guinness, The Guinness Storehouse.
After paying online for tickets and making the short trip across Dublin, I arrived at my destination. A short while later I was standing at the bottom of the world's largest pint glass which rises up seven storeys at the heart of Arthur Guiness's brainchild. If full the glass would hold 14.3 million pints and sits on top of the 9000 year lease that Mr Guinness signed on the St. James's Gate Brewery in 1759 and marks the start of the journey.
Fergal Murray, The Master Brewer, then guides you step by step through the brewing process. He describes how the four natural ingredients water, barley, hops and yeast are combined using age old traditions and modern technology to craft the perfect pint of Guinness every time. After you have been educated in the art of production, you are invited to taste a sample of the perfect pint in the taste experience. After all that walking and learning, I had most definitely built up a thirst! I was not disappointed, the taste was exceptional and all the more better for knowing the love and passion that had gone into the alchemy behind the Ireland's favourite Stout.
After the taste experience, you are then taught to pour the perfect pint by a team of experts who have refined this art form through years of research and trials. The system is simple:
It should take exactly 119 seconds and should be served at a temperature of 43 degrees F or 6 degrees C.
1) Hold the glass at exactly at an angle of 45 degrees. 2) Pull or pour your Guinness into the glass until 3/4 full.
3) Allow the beer to settle for 119 seconds until a brilliant white foaming head forms. 4) Continue to pour until the head rises above the rim of the glass.5) Gently lift glass and raise to lips making sure your arm is at an exact 45 degree angle. 6) Hold glass in this position for 5 seconds allowing the aroma into your nostrils. 7) Taste 8) Swallow 9) Enjoy
I will be more than happy to share this with any bar staff who do not adhere to the strict method.
Now knowing the production and "distribution" methodology we were invited to redeem our "free pint" whilst enjoying the amazing City vista's of the Gravity Bar. A truly remarkable experience. Whilst drinking what can only be described at the best pint of Guinness that has ever massaged my taste buds we saw panoramic views of Trinity College, Kilmainham Gaol, Wellington Monument, Croke park, Liberty Hall, The O2 and many more.
So to answer my question, "does Guinness taste better in Ireland," the answer is most definitely yes!
