Steam Engines - Paddle Boats - The Enterprise

 Sitting at the little dock on Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, Australia, is the charming steam powered paddle boat The Enterprise, one of the oldest working paddle steamers in the world.
Unfortunately, she isn't licensed to carry paying passengers, so the only trips are with crew.

What a pity! When I visited I had to just imagine what it would be like to travel on this beautifully restored vessel maintained by volunteers.

 The Enterprise during her restoration, after working the Murray River at Echuca.

As with all things steam powered, I am fascinated and awed by their power and the complexity of Victorian mechanics. It's a testament to their cast iron construction that they are still in use to this day. Look at all those beautiful brass levers and wheels and knobs and gauges!

 You can find out more about The Enterprise here

It's little wonder that Steam Punk has embraced this period of history and imbues with a modern 'punk' twist. How awesome is this bike? It's art and history and fantasy combined.

 Even modern basics such as USB drives and the computer mouse have been punked-up to look like classic steam powered gadgets from a bygone era!

 I love the nod to Art periods such as The Arts and Crafts movement and Art Nouveau which explored pride in craftsmanship, beautiful form based on nature and practical function.

 Something in the human psyche is drawn to beauty, detail and craftsmanship that lasts for centuries.

One of William Morris' designs, the founding father of The Arts and Crafts movement and its derivative movement - Art Nouveau.

 And, of course, I couldn't ignore these little guys : retro-Victorian robots!

Who'd have thought darleks, bow ties, Iron Maiden, penny farthings, corsets, goggles, brass gadgetry, airships, automatons, rusty WWII tanks, time travel, Jules Verne, Victorian architecture, brass and copper, modified pistols and cowboys in spaceships could ever go together! There's an element of danger in leather, lace and pistols, brass, steam power and wood.
We're looking for something in this nostalgic fusion of culture and history, of Empire, of splendor, of handcrafted ingenious beauty; something time-worn, enduring, that predates and outlives the plastic computer age in which we live.


The best websites I've seen so far are The Steam Punk Empire and Gallery of Psuedo-Victorian Steampunkesque and Retro-Victorian Art
Enjoy the pics!

cheers, Dawn

Robots and our obsession as creator of 'life' - Uncanny Valley

Here's my small collection of robots, including a solar powered kit robot (blue and grey), Bumblebee, of course, Robbie the Robot, Kumiki, and some ring-ins, including the very cool USB hub robot. Please note, The Stig is not a robot! (but he does have a torch shining out of the top of his helmet) I'm not sure why I like robots, but perhaps there is a link to my fascination with knights. Is it the protective armour? I've always been fascinated with machinery, thanks to my father, a mechanic and tinkerer. I used to pull things apart and then try and figure out how to put them back together. Somewhere, in a parallel universe, there's another me, working in robotics and loving it.

Ever since I saw 'Alien', especially the scene where Ripley battles the alien queen, I've wanted a set of those robotic arms!

 

As a kid I loved watching Dr Who and cartoons with robots, ie: The Iron Giant, Gigantor, and Inspector Gadget. Robot characters intrigued me, such as Star Wars' C3PO, R2D2, The Lost in Space robot and many more.


There's a terrific list of movies and cartoons with robots and robotics here: wikipedia :Robot_films















Replicas of B9, the Lost in Space robot are being made, with over 500 voice recordings by the original voice actor, Richard Tufield. Original molds and reference materials were obtained by the licensee to produce a model which is identical to the one from the show.

lost in space robot

 There was something touching and thrilling about the relaitonship between the boy, Will Robinson and his best friend, B9.

Realistic looking robots have been used in films for many years, working seamlessly with CGI. There are also robots whose function appears to be more as an advertising gismo for a robotics institute. 

As robots become more humanlike our fascination grows and perhaps a sense of disquiet that we are heading towards uncanny valley where the line between robots and humans is so blurred that the thought of it is both alluring and creepy. Like the deep, dark void that draws you inexorably into it...







Geminoids are robots made to resemble their human inventors. Here's one I'll call the Danish doppelganger

Hanson Robotics have produced a 'Conversational Character Robot' called Jules. It is quite fascinating to watch and listen to, but how 'real' are his 'thoughts'? Jules

I've saved the best for last! Robert the most human robot ever, a delightful spoof that made me giggle.
Enjoy!
cheers, Dawn

Exercise, depression and stress management - silly walks rule!

 It's an old saying, but when you're having a bad day or struggling with strong emotions, to 'walk it off' makes perfect sense. There's a meditative reward to walking. The repeated  motion of swinging your arms and thrusting your legs forward does seem to calm the brain. (perhaps not these people, to my left) And it certainly helps the body, toning and relaxing cramped muscles, aiding in weight management and the best thing of all - stimulation of the immune system. It has been scientifically proven to help with depression and anxiety.
The Black Dog Institute has some great info  here 
"Research suggests that regular exercise may increase levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, libido, appetite and other functions, and has been linked to depression. Exercise may also increase endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain with ‘moodlifting’ properties."
So why don't we do it? It seems to take effort to commit to a daily walk, when we've so much to do, such busy lives. I thought about it recently - how much time do I spend watching TV, on facebook, talking on the phone? Aren't the benefits of a little exercise, outside in the fresh air, the longevity and better health worth it? So I made a decision. Because that's all it is really. Now I grab the dog leads and head out the door before I can talk myself out of it. I found if I leave it 'until later' it doesn't happen. I'm too tired at the end of the day, especially in winter, when the idea of snuggling up near the fire is so much more appealing. I'm so lucky to live in a mountainous region of Australia, an area of natural beauty, where gorgeous bushwalks, waterfalls, creeks and cliffs are at my doorstep. The girls (our dogs) absolutely love this new routine, running around off-leash, reading their weemails. Their enthusiasm infects me. Life is good! Get out there and enjoy it.

If you'd like more information about anxiety, depression or mood disorders, I've started a whole new blog here:

 Note To Self

cheers, Dawn

Teachers and stress

For all you overworked teachers out there! At this time of the year we're a little bit frayed around the edges...
cheers, Dawn

Iron Man robot

Came across this the other day, from Silly Thing  - How fantastic is it? It's definitely on my Christmas list, but retailing at $300 unlikely to be added to my collection. (sad face)

cheers, Dawn