Weekend Fun: Name That Transit System!
Here’s something a bit different, just for kicks. These extremely abstracted topological diagrams of U.S. rail transit systems were sent to me by Herbie Markwort, who runs the Gateway Streets blog about transportation issues in St. Louis.
Personally, I love the way that these diagrams look. Simplified down to their bare essentials — connecting points and termini — the systems take on an almost runic appearance. As much as possible, the distance between connection points is kept the same in these diagrams, regardless of the length of the lines in real life.
Obviously then, diagram “A” could represent any of the single-line rail systems in the U.S. — Buffalo, Phoenix, Seattle, et al — and diagram “B” represents a system (or systems) with just one branch line extending from a main trunk line. It’s certainly a fascinating way to look at something familiar from a different viewpoint, and had me scratching my head for quite a while before Herbie let me in on the answers.
Let me know what you think they are — reblog, reply, or use the Disqus commenting system to post your answers.
Any guesses?
On May 28 UK singer/songwriter Laura Marlingwill release her new album Once I Was An Eagle, a record put together over the course of just 10 days, with Marling’s core vocals and acoustic instrumentation all done in one take in one day.
NO. WAY. Seriously shaping up for some solid summer tunes now. Plus one take vocals? Yes please.
Desire Lines, Camera Obscura’s first album in four years, is scheduled to drop on June 4 on 4AD.
I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR YOU SUMMER!!!
I have a lot of respect for Ze Frank, and I adored his year-long project, The Show. So many people have said things similar to this, but it’s always a good thing to hear again. In summary: if you want to make stuff, make stuff. It’s the only way you’ll get past the point of making things to the point of having made stuff. Then you get to make more stuff. So go make stuff!
Thoughts on the Creative Career (by zefrankenfriends)
Your thoughts are instantly formed without any work on your part, the result of thousands of influences that shape you into who you are. No thought of yours is truly original—it has all been influenced. All men do is observe and combine.
Inner turmoil is a result of not doing what brings you comfort. Close your eyes and let your mind direct your behavior to that which it wants. It is your master—a master created by training and make.
My new record, Dagger Beach, will be released in late spring, I’ll have tons more info rolling in a few weeks, including the launching of my Kickstarter this Tuesday, February 19. I’ll be releasing my cover of David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs on a limited run of 300 200g LPs as well. You can pre-order both on the KS, I think the Diamond Dogs will sell out pretty quickly.
Track listing and info is below. I CAN’T wait for you to hear it!!!!!!
Dagger Beach Track Listing
1. Raw Wood
2. Harlequin Press
3. Song For Dana Lok
4. How The West Was Won
5. Interlude #1
6. Song For David Berman
Side 2
7. Damage Control
8. Song For The Landlords Of Tiny Telephone
9. Gaslight
10. Sleep It Off
11. Sonogram
12. North Coast Rep
13. Interlude #2
Dagger Beach was recorded by Ian Pellicci and JV
at Tiny Telephone A & B
Mixed by Ian Pellicci at Tiny Telephone
Assisted by Shawn Alpay and Kelley Coyne
Mastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service
Produced by Ian Pellicci and JV
Thanks to James Riotto for editorial insight
All songs JV, except
“Song for the Landlords of Tiny Telephone” written by Shawn Alpay
and “Interlude 2” by Rob Shelton
Yes! Hooray!
Happy engageversary to me from the best wife! (at Hamilton, NY)
If you have some time to kill this weekend and crave more Modest Mouse goodness, Pitchfork’s excellent documentary on The Lonesome Crowded West is very much recommended. You can watch it here.
For the film, Pitchfork.tv traveled to Los Angeles, London, and cities across the Pacific Northwest (Portland, Seattle, Olympia, Port Townsend) to discuss the making of the album with everyone from frontman Isaac Brock to Calvin Johnson and producer Phil Ek. We learned the album’s story back to front, including the fact that halfway through its recording, Ek was called in to rerecord three songs from the original sessions. The film also includes archival footage taken during live performances and original recording/mix sessions at Moon Music in Olympia.
This and the new #Organist podcast make me want to skip the Super Bowl this weekend.
