Since yesterday I returned to my passion of producing electronic music – and with my previous knowledge of Propellerhead´s  Reason – Audiotool is really an easy way to create music wherever I am – and all this for free.

The titel on their website “Start making music today — right in your browser. We provide all the tools to get you started!” isn’t just a joke. You get tools from synthesizer to effect units and a really professional sequencer (like Reason’s sequencer). Also the idea of placing your sound-units around the map is a great way to get a good overview on how your music will sound. Loopmasters provide some of their best samples in Audiotool for free – just create a Sample-Player unit and drop&drop a sample from their library in your sequencer to use them. Even if you change the master-tempo, the sample will stay in groove (but pitched).

+ You can save your project (as long as you have a free account)
+ export for your profile
+ set your song / composition as public, private and choose your licence (creative commons, copyright, etc)

external link: audiotool website

Wow, what was that? I think I might have had a spring slap right into my face.
One day it is windy winter with high hankie consumption, the next day it´s  sandals and t-shirt.
Above all the farmers around the city all together decided that it was about time to fertilize the fields with cow dung,
which adds a lovely odor to the air.  Vienna: City of music and nature´s natural moo perfume. You should not miss it!

Nevertheless it is sunny outside and if you are lucky, you get to see the messengers of spring. Like at the botanic garden.

Plus we get to see our hamster lady earlier around this time of the year, for she changes her sleeping and waking habits.
No sleeping till 1 A.M., yay! That girl is so gorgeous, I want to cuddle her all the time.

Who would have thought that once upon a time there were pills to gain weight, so one doesn´t look too skinny?
What happened to this beauty ideal? How I wish to see a campaign like this today!

Via bleubirdvintage.typepad.com

Spring is coming and it’s time for a new year full of fresh photography. To take our enjoyment to the next level we will also get some fresh gear for our cameras. For steady shots a light-weight tripod, for smooth time-lapse captures a digital-timer cable trigger and last but not least the ultimate portable camera-dolly.

1) light-weight tripod: Manfrotto MA 055XPROB Pro

light-weight 2,4kg (5,2 pounds) with all features like a professional tripod + the ability to get 10cm (0,3 feet) above the ground. Great for macro shots! We will love it.

manufacturers website: www.manfrotto.com

(the tripod in this video is the smaller brother of the 055XPROB, but nearly the same)

2) light-weight fluid video head: Manfrotto 701HDV Pro Fluid Video mini head

A tripod without a (good) head won’t do its job. I think there’s no need for explanation about this

manufacturers website: www.manfrotto.com

3) digital-timer cable trigger: Phottix Tr-90

We already own this little digital helper and I have to say: although it’s a no-name product, it does its job very well. You just have to set the duration between the releases and the shooting-quantity to get some really good time-lapse captures

manufacturers website: www.phottix.com

4) portable camera-dolly: Glidetrack Shooter

“The Glidetrack Shooter is the world’s first camera slider, that doubles up as a shoulder support. Glidetrack Shooter is perfect for the new breed of DSLR’s that can shoot video i.e. Canon 5d, 7d, Nikon D90, D3s etc.”

manufacturers website: www.glidetrack.com

We are in love with the publisher Taschen. Since we own more and more books from them (Decorative Art 60s, Japanese Art Now!, and so on..) we regulary look on their site for new money-sucking offers we can’t deny.

Our next investiment definitely will be this two books:

1) Guidelines for Online Success

> more infos on here.
> amazon for dollars: here.

2) The Internet Case Study Book

> more infos on here.
> amazon for dollars: here.

both are available in german and english (check out both links for the € and $ version. The second book is pre-orderable.)

So, the Takara Tomy Rocobos are finally here.
It is amazing how they work with two simple commands (either clapping or pressing the button on their heads).

The describtion of how to treat a Rocobo was very vague, so it took us quite some time to understand what to do.
But have a look yourself:

This is the claim of this year´s Young Lions competition.
So tonight we will spend our time thinking about what idea to choose for the print ad.
Right now there are about seven different ideas and still more coming up.
Let´s hope that we will get at least a little bit of sleep.
I am so very tired. Snooooooze…

Now, some of us might have noticed, others not, but there have been huge discussions and zillions of blog entries
about the London Fashion Week and the designer Mark Fast.

What has he done? Fast decided to use three models who wear size 12 and 14 (Eur 42 and 46) on the catwalk.
If you are interested in the details, read here.

Of course most of the fashion world held its breath, they shook their head and mumbled how
this will be the downfall of the whole business. This is mostly, because they feel betrayed.
How come that they all searched for this exclusiveness, these ultra-thin, nowhere else to be found models?
The whole collection is said to look different, when presented on “totally perfect” bodies.
And Mark Fast proved them wrong.
Yes, of course, he could have been rebelious and taken really chubby girls. Or have ALL of the models wear bigger sizes.
But that was not the point. What we can see is, that the girls looked fabulous.
Good makeup artists are half the battle. Re-thinking works in small steps.

So why am I telling you all of this?
I want to show you, that you already are exclusive. So many of us struggle with the way we look, not realizing, that we
actually already are, what we want to be. Losing weight is not going to make anyone of us prettier.
Most diets are far from healthy, just reducing calories and so reducing your production of serotonin, transforming you into Grumpy.
It is all about self-acceptance. If you are loving yourself, you start to shine and you will be the sun for everybody else.
And my oh my, everybody loves the sun.
Now, I don´t want to sound like some cheap guru. But be nice to yourself.
You always are your own example of how you want to be treated. If you are mean to yourself, everybody will follow.
Don´t let it happen. Don´t let the mirror be your enemy. It does nothing good to you.
You don´t have to worry about looks and outer appereance, if you have “the shine”.
More about this soon!

Have a beautiful day!