Que Sera Sara?

Things I’m Loving

Posted by smgrady on March 10, 2013 · 1 Comment 

Last year I wrote a weird and wonderful round-up of things on my radar, and it consistently ranks among the favourite pages on this here Log.

So I thought it was time to unveil the innerworkings of my Spring 2013.

Et voila…

I. THINGS THAT MAKE ME THINK

Award season sees the worlds of media, culture, fashion and celebrity play bumper cars for screen time. While it’s not all bad, the insipid nature of a lot of the commentary and analysis leaves me cold.

Perhaps this is why the glaring gaps and confounding charm of Jennifer Lawrence’s post-Oscar press interview ticks all my boxes. She may have launched a thousand animated GIFs, but I like her moxie. I like it hard.

(and incidentally, man do I love her look)

Likewise, the airbrushed, Instagrammed world of modern media means everyone in my sphere (from friends to colleagues to news sources) curate their life to the Nth degree.

While I’m all for the performative and I find the whole thing intellectually interesting, I do wonder what this added layer of pretense is doing to us all.

And I find comfort and stimulation in an unexpected source: a mommy blogpost from Irael.

II. FOOD

I’ve spent most of the winter in hibernation mode. We have eaten ourselves sick on root veg, yeasted doughs and things smothered in gravy.

And now is the season for change. I’m not going to pretend it will constitute a smaller proportion of desserts, but it will include lighter, fresher ones.

To this end I’m spending an inordinately large amount of time oogling the free Martha Stewart Cookies app. I love anything that means visual browsing. But a photo catalogue of cookies? I’m sold.

 

I’m also regularly whipping up Smitten Kitchen’s Buckeyes (aren’t they beautiful? She is one hell of a photographer and kitchen god).

I 50%-love the nostalgia of these Midwestern treats, and 50%-love that they take no baking.

You know you’ve crossed the Line of Lazy when you roll them flat on a cookie sheet and cut squares instead rolling the fiddly, adorable balls, but you also have the 10 minute treat to cure all ills. Win win.

And while I always prioritize tasty over beautiful in the kitchen (see: The Ugliest Pie Ever), Cakes and Catwalks has some simple ideas and awesome tutorials that have me reconsidering my aversion to dramatic decorating techniques. Because I am all over this rosette iced cake.

 

III. WEDDING BUSINESS

Remember that wedding rant? I am finding all sorts of inspiration and like-minded folk on the interwebs as marital bliss looms large on the calendar.

Jonas Peterson is one of those amazing wedding photographers who freezes glamorous Fiji nuptials into overexposed moments of arthouse beauty. His pictures make my soul happy.

Recently he had a Jerry Maguire epiphany. His manifesto (his word) is healthy re-reading and a much needed re-group when I get in too deep.

Here is one of his photos from a very special wedding. I so love his style.

Unrelatedly, we’ve decided not to elope. But that aside, this has so much right.

Plus, I have found some gorgeous Michigan weddings which make me believe this is all actually possible, despite my worries and weirdness. Just look at Leelenau, in all it’s glory. I may not love this wedding, but boy do I love its location.

(photo by Harrison Studio)

V. THE FUTURE IS NOW

I’m spending a lot of time on science and tech related business of late. Amazing, stimulating collaborations which really test my boundaries as a cultural producer and question my own stance on some of the issues at hand. Here are some my top headlines of late:

 

BIONICS are upon us — if you were blind, would you have a computer eyeball send data to your brain? (Geordi la Forge headband optional)

I’m so fascinated by this idea, but a little creeped out at the sliding scale of bio-human-hybrid.

EATING BUGS  — the world has a lot of mouths to feed, and right now it’s not working too well for a large number of humans. Looking to the future, can we redefine edible and renegotiate farming techniques and demands to balance the equation?

I’ve been working with EntoBox to explore how insects could be a future staple protein in our diet, and they are starting by masking our visual clues in an effort to break the taboo.

I mean, if I didn’t know they were bugs I’d be all over these beautifully presented bento box cubes, so can I take the next leap and try one?

They are sharing their work at the Edinburgh International Science Festival in a couple of weeks so I may get my chance.

MONKEY BRAINS — More ethical dilemmas are upon us when monkeys are controlling things using brain power alone.

Super amazing, but I’ve seen enough 60s Sci-Fi films to know the end may be nigh folks…

VI. INTERNETIN’

But it’s not all serious business. Quite the contrary.

I found these amazing indoor cake fountains  (or mini-Roman Candles to you and me) in the card store. They set off every smoke alarm in the house. Including the ones upstairs… totally worth it.

I’ve said this before, but I’m still totally obsessed with The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. As it comes to a close I’m feeling the pangs of withdrawal.

 

And I’m really getting into TED talks. Lots of them. Here are some top picks this week:

• “The solutions of this world must be highly contextualized” Data analysis has never been so sexy. Watch it. Seriously.
• This dude who put a computer in the wall in Mumbai and inadvertently inspired Slumdog Millionaire? Genius. Kids learn collectively, independently and without any adults, and the world looks completely different because of it.
• This woman who (bless her nervous, patchy speechifying) gives a call to arms for Introverts (and those who love us) which does my heart good.
• And Amanda Palmer, always an outlier, but never without reason, asks why are the conversations about the internet about restrictions instead of sharing.

I LOVE awesome people.

There you go.

Chock full of philosophical nothings, bizarre science, food and weddings. Yup, that’s pretty much my life in a nutshell.

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BRAIN DUMP COMPLETE.