Every time we slip effortlessly into a daydream, a distinct pattern of brain areas is activated, which is known as the default network. Studies show that this network is most engaged when people are performing tasks that require little conscious attention, such as routine driving on the motorway, reading a tedious book or listening to someone really boring. Although such mental trances are often seen as a sign of lethargy — we are staring haplessly into space — the cortex is actually very active during this default state, as numerous brain regions interact. Instead of responding to the outside world, the brain starts to contemplate its internal landscape. This is when new and creative connections are made between seemingly unrelated ideas. So get creative, start daydreaming….
This week I was due to be flying to Grand Cayman for a spot of diving. Hurrican Gustav put a stop to all that and I’m now stuck in the Bahamas. Sh*t happens.
Chinatsu Ban’s beautifully crafted work features elephants and human figures floating against Japanese washi paper backgrounds or in front of candy-colored stripes. Rendered delicately and with a childlike touch, Ban’s endearing characters are frequently shown wearing underpants.
Asked why she chooses elephants and underwear, the answer lies in the comfort they provide:
“It’s scary to imagine that someday I won’t exist in this world anymore. I am troubled by the urge to run away from this fear. Elephants and underwear make me feel safe”.
Head on over to the NSW website and check out the new Kicks Creator function that uses a Dunk High for the template… You get the chance to really show off your skills, it’s like iD on steroids! Then you get to post them in a gallery and battle other designers…
Once you’re in the NSW site you’ll also find a bunch of other neat content as well.
Roger Holmes, Gus Hutchinson-Brown and Tim Emmett made the first recorded BASE jump descent of The Old Man Hoy at 9.00pm, May 14th, 2008. This film of their adventure, dedicated to Gus Hutchinson-Brown who sadly died in a BASE jumping accident in Austria after this film was made.
You can read an account of their adventure by Tim Emmett at the Planet Fear website
The wind was a bit strong wind, bouldering mats were flying everywhere but who cares once we outdoor people are outside.
Stanage is the largest and most impressive of the gritstone edges. Situated on the moors north of Hathersage, and visible from miles away down in the Hope Valley, it stretches for a length of approximately six kilometres (3.5 miles) from its northern tip at Stanage End to the southern point near the Cowper Stone.
The edge is made of one of the finer gritstones and is therefore ideal for rock-climbing.
copy of guidebook you can obtain from thebmc.co.uk
There’s and old saying “the best events are usually spontainious. This was certainly one of those. On Friday night after competing the 3rd round of the MCC Boulder Competition at MCC we sat in the local pub for “the infamous one”.
As the competition post-mortem ensued, I mentioned I’d like to go ride my MTB bike. Tony promised to give us a call in the morning. Saturday morning came and went no news from Tony. . . Saturday evening arrived, the phone is ringing . . It’s Mark, “We’re going riding tomorrow in Wales. Be ready to go at 7:00am, we’ll pick you up”.
So it’s Sunday morning, it’s early, dark and cold. Before I knew what was going on we were on our way to Coed Llandegla Forest near Wrexham in Wales. Mark and Tony had their bikes and Adam and I decided to hire bikes from from One Planet Adventure bike shop.
UAX FISHWITHOUTMEAT highly recommend coedllandegla. It’s well maintained, has great service, and most importantly excellent and awesome cycling trails!
