It's Friday which means it's time to focus. (On flash fun of course)
posted by aspo on Nov 4, 2011 - 15 comments

Evolution 2011, the largest fighting game tournament in the world, starts tomorrow. On its eve, a documentary chronicling one player's run last year, FOCUS, was released. [more inside]
posted by apathy0o0 on Jul 28, 2011 - 33 comments

With East Africa facing its worst drought in 60 years, affecting more than 11 million people, the United Nations has declared a famine in the region for the first time in a generation. Alan Taylor's In Focus quickly brings home the scale of the suffering, with a link to the CNN article listing several ways to donate.
posted by bwg on Jul 27, 2011 - 33 comments

Lightfield cameras capture the entire photonic information of a scene with essentially infinite depth of field, meaning that pictures can be focused after the photo is taken, and low-light conditions do not require a flash. Lightfield images are also “3D” without the need for stereo lenses.
Lightfield (aka “plenoptic”) technology was developed in the 90's: the first working prototype required dozens of separate cameras and a supercomputer. Professional plenoptic cameras have been available for the past year; the Lytro startup intends to release a consumer-ready shirt-pocket lightfield camera later this year. [more inside]
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul on Jun 22, 2011 - 54 comments

Prog Rock! --- Prog Rock! --- Prog Rock! --- Prog Rock! --- Prog Rock! --- Prog Rock! --- Prog Rock! --- Prog Rock! --- ... prog rock? [more inside]
posted by spoobnooble on Jan 16, 2011 - 89 comments

"Web professionals are often expected to be “always on”—always working, absorbing information, and honing new skills. Unless our work and personal lives are carefully balanced, however, the physical and mental effects of an "always on" life can be debilitating." Burnout: Running On Empty [more inside]
posted by netbros on May 27, 2009 - 56 comments

Thought-provoking NY Mag essay on the consequences of living in an age of perpetual distraction. Been thinking about this one a lot, in the context of MeFi and other addictions.
posted by jcruelty on May 26, 2009 - 52 comments

McDonald's Line Rider Commercials^* [more inside]
posted by ericb on Jun 6, 2008 - 32 comments

Just lately I was thinking of the Dutch Invasion. No, not this one. Not this one either. I mean this one. There was, of course, Shocking Blue, with their classic hit, Venus, and their lesser-known Never Marry a Railroad Man and Mighty Joe. Then there was the George Baker Selection, with Little Green Bag and Una Paloma Blanca. Then you've got the very, er... unique Ma Belle Amie, by Peter Tetteroo and the Tee Set. And how 'bout that Golden Earring, eh? Radar Love? Amirite? And of course, the inimitable Focus, with their mega-hit instrumental, Hocus Pocus. By now you're probably asking yourself "Why didn't they ever put a bunch of these Dutch bands out on little platforms sticking out of the ocean, and throw in some go-go girls, and film the whole thing from helicopters?" Well, THEY DID! Those crazy Dutch! [more inside]
posted by flapjax at midnite on Oct 19, 2007 - 52 comments

Warren Ellis quoting someone else's blog: "What with the Washington State Supreme Court handing down its anti-gay-marriage decision several weeks ago and the ever-hearing more about attacks on reproductive rights down south, I’m feeling that the States is tripping a bit too merrily down the Handmaid’s path. This week, I found a way to strike back".
posted by Shanachie on Aug 29, 2006 - 132 comments

Focus On Your World. A beautiful collection of photographs from the Focus On Your World competition put on by the United Nations Environment Programme. They are beautiful, stunning, charming, and, at times, wonderfully common. The thing to remember is that each of these photos is someone else’s daily life.

A fantastic exhibition of these photos is currently on display at--of all places--Heathrow Airport, thanks to the support from BAA and HP.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow on Aug 25, 2004 - 9 comments

Put on your thinking caps... literally! How would you like to be able to put on a "thinking cap" to stimulate the the vast, unused, recesses of your mind at will? Such a thing may become a reality sooner rather than later. Welcome to the 21st century! Here is a much more in depth article, and of course the Centre for the Mind website.
posted by eclectic glamazon on Mar 14, 2002 - 9 comments