Friday 31 December 2010
Final Post of the Year
Thanks to everyone who has backed the blog and I hope you'll come back in 2011.
Still need a more up to date photo...
Wednesday 22 December 2010
Haircut 100 (Fanta-stic day)
Went to Tron again yesterday. I think I came to the conclusion it must be a work of fiction, but not for the reasons most of you are thinking. That is of course if there is anyone out there reading this. I might be passing comment on banality but boil it down, what isn't?
For those still in the Game, you can now put in your requests for my picture of the year. I'm up for more Rock Lobstar but I suspect there's more than B-52 fans out there reading this (at least I hope so...)
Sunday 19 December 2010
Thoughts of Tron: Legacy
Having listened to the Soundtrack for over a week I was sort of prepared for what I got. And I wasn't. You have got to see this movie in the biggest 3D screen you can. But for all it's workings and beauty (for it is a thing of Beauty, there is no doubt) Ton: Legacy left me in a very vunerable place, as I veered dangerously home, in the snow.
For those who have followed in the past, you will no doubt know of the fabled return journies home from London. Well, this one took me as far as New Cross, where I thankfully met a night bus home. Regrettably, having managed to stay warm for the majority of the trip once leaving the night bus I was bitterly cold. I'm running on three hours sleep now.
My thanks go out to the two others who saw Tron with me, thanks for backing me up on this one. Now, with less than a week to Christmas, all the presents bought and imagry of the Grid swirling in my mind, I wonder what innovations I might see, whether Immersion is a possibility. Should I go to see Tron again (well, that's a yes).
So to sign off in some weird fashion this time around, I'm a User, and Immersion is my idea.
End of Line.(for now)
Saturday 18 December 2010
A Quiet Beer...
This is Martin Balm, reporting live from a pub off the Old Vic, waiting for his friends to show up for Tron (next posting: Tron thoughts)
Thursday 9 December 2010
Monday 22 November 2010
Tron: Legacy - Can I blag some tickets?
Just to hype up this movie and in case some of you have been living on Mars, or better still a Martian Commune here on Earth, Tron: Legacy is the Sequel to Tron, a movie in 1982 (which did better than Blade Runner at the box office...) which starred Jeff Bridges as Flynn, a Man zapped into a cyber world, to fight some massive techno nasties pre-Lawnmower CGI Internet era. But dig this, he's not the main guy, no sir, the Man who would be Star Killer, Bruce Boxleitner, is TRON. And he's in the sequel too... Here's a link to the official Disney UK site:
http://www.disney.co.uk/tron/index_flash.jsp#/home
They've got some nice edits of the Soundtrack on there and loads of other stuff too. The Soundtrack, by the way, is done by Daft Punk, who did the bleeding cool (plug) album 'Discovery' which went on to be the basis of the movie Interstella 5555. Which was way cool. Track Three is just brilliant...
Having said all of this though even if I were to win who would want to go with me? Apparently I get a second 'Golden Ticket' - but there's no need to fight for it, I haven't won, have I. As much as I'd like to make a personal plug, isn't that a bit too much plugging? (plug overload).
Here's the link to the Competition: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/11/22/we-want-you-to-see-tron-legacy-early-and-on-us/
On a completely separate note, something bleeding cool I saw a while back - a Max Headroom advertisment at the Coca-Cola Museum, Sunday 16th August 2007. Something to do with the future so I'm told... Max equipped for the Future, it being bright and all, with Sunglasses. As for me - well... Was Johnny Rotten a Prophet?
Monday 20 September 2010
Yikes!
Saturday 7 August 2010
7-8-7
"Almost heaven."
Sunday 16 May 2010
Super Monaco GP
R. Kubica in Cruise Control: Picture Courtesy of BBC coverage, copyright 2010 Formula One Administration Limited.
The image is a demonstration of what Digital Television was surely made for. The BBC have really optimised the coverage here and I hope that this gets even better in the Future, with perhaps an option of vehicles to be in-car with as well?
I've been a huge fan of Formula One since I was 4 years old, when there were six wheel cars and Turbo-Charged engines, yet I've never had the desire to drive 'in real life', except maybe a Ferrari (how cool would that be?). Still, I'd be happy to be driven around New York City by a Blind Man, just to be in a moving Ferrrari...!
Saturday 1 May 2010
Bluewater: iPad and Iron Man 2
Saw Iron Man 2. Once again a very smart piece of work... Even if something happened in the film that really hit me hard. Whilst I'm on the matter here and in case anyone's listening out there: I like Rock 'n' Roll, I happen to like a lot of music (if anyone knows if or when Bear McCreary is playing the UK with his band LET ME KNOW) AC/DC have done some okay tracks BUT! Can I see the REAL Iron Man 2 Soundtrack please? Also, a neat Robin Hood trailer but Russell Crowe is not Errol Flinn, it was like watching Gladiator in the Forest of Endor... Finally on this matter, a public apology and affirmation - Yes, I will see this at an IMAX...sorry I went on my day off.
I also saw my first iPad out there. The hope is that I will be able to run Beyond The Launchpad from one of these impressive machines in the future. Whether it was a full mobile version or not I could not tell from the view I got of the machine (from someone who was clearly SHOWING OFF the fact they had the machine... oh of course I will as well!) but it looked good too... I have to say though advancements must be made to the width of these machines that offer these facilities... Anyone remember the Ericsson T-28? Now that was a really thin phone and I believe there's a way something like that could happen again with a touchscreen phone (without all the breakdowns though, that was really the big negative of the T-28)...
Unnervingly my presense went virtually unnoticed throughout the day. Not a bad thing you Launchpad fans would say but I do wonder when you have to wait to pay for stuff and you happen to be the only person in the shop apart from staff - what on Earth is going on here?! Do I need an iPad to get noticed?
EDIT 2/5/10
July 7th for the score...
Thursday 15 April 2010
Two Sunsets - One Message
I came home on 10/04/2010. Days have passed.
And it came to pass that a Volcano should erupt in Iceland. The skies became deserted and the evening was promising a 'lavender Skyline'. I returned home as quickly as possible to make good the opportunity to photograph a skyline here in the UK. My second picture shows the fall of night here at SafeHaven. It's been over a year now that I have been based here and the magnificent view is a good reason I think for it.
So, what have I gained from this journey? A reacquired taste for Strawberries, thanks to Strawberry Cornflakes. Pineapple Curry. Lime Juice. Calm, for now.
If any of you want to see further pictures of the Maldivian mission please feel free to contact me and I'll try to arrange a viewing. Meantime, anticipation for the next journey to grace Beyond The Launchpad grows...
Friday 9 April 2010
"GEKKO! We've got GEKKO!!" Life on Maldives pt.3
Eye of the Storm
Thursday 8 April 2010
Life on Maldives 2 - the struggle for survival
Wednesday 7 April 2010
More Morning Photos
Flat on my back, somewhere. You'll need to enlarge this to see it, but hidden in the blue is a Cresent Moon, looking down on the bright, bright Earth. In a few days this will be gone, but I have intentions of more photography of the Celestial Body in the future. I think this won't be here though...
Rooftop
In keeping with custom there was no Alcoholic beverage available to me. Instead I was treated to a Cappuccino, probably the best on the island (and that's a shameless plug for the staff in the Holiday Inn). Strangely, as the days wear on the desire for alcohol fades. Has my Abstinence for Lent become a permanent condition for 2010? I'm sure all you reading this will have your opinions...
Tuesday 6 April 2010
Sunday 4 April 2010
Water is Life!
Friday 2 April 2010
Thursday 1 April 2010
Easterly View
Yeap, it certainly pays to wake first thing. My routine is good now: up at Daybreak, circle the island taking some photos, (which usually take up an hour or so,) breakfast, work (today another 2,800 words, sorry I don't think I'm going to get to my proposed 50,000 written before I leave but I think if I get at least half of that I'm doing good), and the afternoon off to catch up with friends and more photos.
The clarity of the water here fails to be captured in my photos, but here you can readily see the reflective nature and near stillness of the water at low tide. As has been mentioned my iTouch has been deployed on this adventure: this morning's delights were tracks from Royksopp's 2009 album Junior, Chicane's 2007 album Somersault and Goldfrapp's 2008 album Seventh Tree.
Wednesday 31 March 2010
Tuesday 30 March 2010
"Did you ever see anything so wonderful?" (EDITED)
Will you look at those?! Initially I was drawn to an oasis of Green but then I had the opportunity to do some flower photography. Flowers?! Well, these have a very good aesthetic quality and the lighting was catching them magnificently, so I was compelled to photograph them. The title of today's entry is in reference to the flowers as well: anyone want to venture a guess where the quote is from?
There's still a chance to get some more 'comical' pictures of Rock Lobster from yesterday published - my thanks to those (all of one of you) who have asked for his return but lets see if there's anyone else out there who wants to see this fella again?! GMT 1700hrs, Wednesday, 30th March is the deadline for your request(s)...
Monday 29 March 2010
Life on Maldives
Saturday 27 March 2010
Arrival at Male
Our Second Picture does NOT show a 777, but a 747! Well, this is a surprise, I was of the impression that these couldn't land here - can someone back 'home' give me some confirmation I id'd the aircraft correctly?
Please note, due to a very sudden set of circumstances, my Ground Team here have been called away to the Equator on urgent assignment. This will leave me in complete charge of the Outpost for an entire week -at least- alone...
Friday 26 March 2010
At Gatwick (edited 27/03/2010)
Monday 22 March 2010
Test
Thursday 18 March 2010
Back in Business!
My intentions are very specific for this Resurrection. Photos, thoughts and shameless plugs as I hurtle through the Cosmos - Beyond the Launchpad - travelling without moving, keeping this very special title alive. Stay tuned for the further adventures of Martin Balm and of course, feel free to pass (polite!) comment.
"It's Changing Everything - AGAIN."