Tag Archives for cyberpunk

Glitch art & databending

I know I’m pretty late on the bandwagon, but I’ve been seeing a lot of great glitch art lately and I think it’s my new obsession (thanks to the cyberpunk forums on Reddit). Redditor DJ_Deathflea posted this image which I thought was pretty awesome.

I also liked this version of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring (one of my favorite paintings ever).

Designer Rob Sheridan did some amazing glitch art for the soundtrack of The Social Network. Check out more on his website.

To make glitch art:

1. Open an image in Photoshop, and save it as a .bmp file.

2. Open WordPad.

3. Open the image in WordPad.

4. Without changing the name of the file or anything else, click save.

When you open the image again, it will look glitchy. I know there is more of an art to this, but this is just the easy way I found. I tried a few of my own but they didn’t turn out too great.

There is also a website where you can upload images and it will glitch it for you, but that’s not as 1337 as doing it yourself.

PirateBox

I’ve been wanting to make a PirateBox ever since I heard about them a while back. Essentially, a PirateBox is an independent, wireless file sharing device. Which means that in the event of an apocalypse, we could still transfer files and communicate through chat.

Here’s a video from the official PirateBox website that demonstrates how it works:

The process is pretty simple. I chose the MR3020 router since it is small and very portable, and it has a USB port built into it. And it’s kind of stylish.

Other parts:

  • USB drive
  • Toggle switch
  • USB port
  • LED (optional, but I like using indicator lights to test if things are working. Plus lights make everything cooler.)
  • Wires, soldering equipment, etc.

The first thing I did was program the router and install the PirateBox software. This entails telnetting into the device and doing a bit of recoding so that all of the networks are open. It uses a program called OpenWrt.

Following the directions on the website, it’s pretty straightforward. The only thing I had an issue with was changing the SSID to PirateBox – Share Freely. Right now it is stuck on OpenWrt, but I can connect to it just fine. I might change the name of the SSID all together like, “Connect here for a good time.” ;)

Next came setting up the box. I had gone to the military surplus store and a thrift store to find a cool case to build it in, but didn’t find much. I just got a black project box instead and spray painted it a matte white. I then sprayed the official PirateBox logo on the top in black, with red eyes, just for some contrast.

Wiring the inside didn’t take very long. I wanted it to be powered by both USB cable and battery with the option to switch back and forth, so I installed a toggle switch with two options. I chose a red LED to match the red eyes on the front, and I crudely installed a USB port (they really need holders for USB ports, mine always look rough around the edges — literally.)

Here’s what it looks like on the inside:

And here it is all finished on the outside:

And here’s what it looks like when it’s connected (on my HTC EVO smartphone):

I have plans to add an antenna and replace the USB drive with a larger external harddrive since I have the space. I also may add a solar panel on it but that’s not really a priority now. I also have to add files to the USB drive. What kinds of cool stuff should I exchange with others? I think I might put my favorite manifestos on it, including the hacker manifesto, the cyberfeminist manifeso, and the open source way. I will probably also put some custom ezines on there, maybe cyberpunk themed. And maybe music? Or tutorials? I’ll have to think about that for a while.

Anyway, this is a really fun project, and I think everyone should make one so we can have a better independent network to exchange information.

My Life: Modified | Everyday carry

This is the start of a new series called “My Life: Modified.” It will cover ways to customize, minimalize and hack your life to make it more enjoyable, organized and creative. Have an idea or want to write a guest post? Check out the contact page.

I’ve been prowling cyberpunk forums nonstop recently, and nearly everything I’ve been watching—TV or film-wise—is science fiction. I take the art I consume pretty seriously. So when I’m immersed in this much science fiction at one time, it starts to have an impact on how I live my life.

I preface with this because one of my latest obsessions seems to be directly tied to this consumption of cyberpunk/dystopian/post-apocalyptic media. Since Andrew and I are getting ready to move, I feel like I’m transitioning into a new phase of my life.

Because of all this, I’m focusing on minimalizing my possessions and my expenses, and bringing more creativity and functionality into my day to day life. So recently, I heard about a subculture called every day carry (also known as EDC. I mentioned it in a recent Info Overload). Basically, people share the essential items they like to have with them at all times. Each item has a purpose, and functionality is the top priority. But some (like me) like to also ensure that their items have a style that reflects their personality.

Essential EDC—or at least, the most common ones—tend to have these items:
Wallet
Knife
Multitool
Flashlight
Cell phone
Keys
Optional: gun (I’ve opted out of that one)

So what does this have to do with cyberpunk? I would argue that many cyberpunks are interested in things that are practical, tactical, techy and stylish. There seems to be a mix of cypnk preferences, some who prefer clutter and grunge and others who prefer cleanliness and minimalism. I see myself as being in the middle, and I think my EDC reflects that.
I love EDC because I love preparedness, and ever since I was little, I’ve had what I used to call my “first aid kits for life.” (EDC is way catchier though.) I like the idea of carrying only essential items with me. As a journalist, it’s imperative for me to always be able to document the occurrences around me. And since I like to hack things, having tools with me is a necessity.

And I won’t lie—it kind of makes me feel like a superhero, and my tactical bag contains my “weapons” (figuratively and literally) for saving the world.

So here’s what’s in my bag:

Tools:

Leatherman micra multitool

Knife (no particular brand… although I am getting a Spyderco soon! The one I have now is from my boyfriend, who got it custom engraved with my nickname, Arcadie)

Lockpicks (for Locksport)

Wallet from Pacsafe

Caribiner keychain

Toiletries:

Water bottle (mini Camelback that fits into the side pocket of my bag)

Pack of tissues (I like the cute ones by Kleenex)

Perfume from Charlotte Russe (not very strong, since I am sensitive to smell)

Hello Kitty chapstick (complete with dangly kitty heads)

Asthma inhaler (so I don’t die)

Gum (every journalist should carry gum)

Bobby pins

 

Gadgets:

Nook Color (e-reader/tablet)

HTC EVO smartphone (I love this thing)

Solar cell phone charger (handmade)

Various cables to power everything

The bag

Tactical bag from Think Geek, patches from Etsy

Interested in more EDC? Check out:
Reddit.com/r/EDC – Reddit is a cool place to share your EDC or look at others. Lots of discussion on knives, wallets, etc.
Everyday-carry.com – A nicely curated Tumblr website where people submit their EDCs and the editor gives commentary.
What’s in Your Bag, TheVerge.com – The Verge interviews prolific tech people to see what’s in their bag.

What are your staple items in your EDC?

Planning my battleroom, part I | Inspiration

So today Andrew and I signed our paperwork for the townhouse we’ll be moving into in May! We’re really excited because we’ll have a garage, a washer and dryer in unit, and two separate offices (three bedrooms total). For two years we’ve been living in a super cute loft, which means that we have a lot of open space, but no individual areas for us to make into our own man and (wo)man caves.

For the most part, Andrew and I have very similar taste in interior design, so I’ve never felt that I couldn’t add or change things in my home if I wanted to. But there are sometimes things I want that he just won’t go for–and vice versa. So, needless to say, I’m very excited to have some space to myself that I can customize.

My office–which I’ve dubbed my battleroom to make it sound more badass–will be functioning as several spaces. First, it will need to be a good, productive environment for me to focus on my academic work. As of now I have a year left of grad school which will most likely turn into four more years if I choose to enter the PhD program. So I need the office to have a good set up for spreading out a lot of textbooks, research materials, etc.

It will also be where I work on my magazine, Wildflower. Because Wildflower is my business, I thought it was time for me to get an office, but I didn’t want to pay rent at another place–plus I work full time at my day job so I usually work on Wildflower in the evenings or on the weekends. Since we release an issue every few months, plus additional projects throughout the year, I want to have some open areas where I can post pages and layout ideas. I’d like to have a few chalkboard, white board and corkboard displays. And I’ll need to have plenty of shelving and storage for books.

Lastly–and for me, most importantly–it will be a space where I can relax, play video games, listen to music, read, write, browse the web all night long, sip on tea, be creative, etc. Andrew and I have a great relationship, and I believe that couples function best together when they have time apart. And I’m definitely a person who likes to be alone a lot.

But, being me, which means being incredibly indecisive, I’m having a very hard time planning out the layout and decor for my office. The keywords I want my office to evoke are:

  • modern
  • industrial
  • bold
  • cyberpunk
  • functional
  • tactical
I am pulling design inspiration (colors, atmosphere, mood, etc.) from:
Video games–
  • Portal and Portal 2
  • Mirror’s Edge
  • Half-Life 2
Film–
  • The Fifth Element
  • Watchmen
  • Sucker Punch
  • Amelie
Music–
  • Lights (electronica, pop, clean, modern)
  • Eisley (whimsical with a splash of grunge)
  • Emancipator (electronica, atmospheric, soothing, dreamlike but also energetic)
Books–
  • Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis
  • Ecstasia/Primavera by Francesca Lia Block
  • The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
I also want to incorporate things like my travel photos and knick knacks, as well as propaganda posters and other cool things.

And as part of my New Year’s resolution, I plan to make quite a few things myself, and I want very simple and minimal furniture.

Here are some rooms I’ve found inspirational while I’ll been scouring the web.

What does your home office look like? Where do you find inspiration for your workspace?

This will be an ongoing series so check back soon to find out how my planning progresses!

P.S.

If you use Pinterest, follow my Battleroom board!

Technicolor girl

I have cyberpunk on the brain.

At first the colors were beautiful, the future as she’d always imagined it–full of glowing blues and pinks, vibrant reds and oranges against rows of industrial, stark grey buildings. Everything was lit up and illuminated once the council outfitted all of the buildings with new lights in an effort to rebrand the city’s identity. Reform. Reinvent. Abolish the past and its hokey comstock history. The old west was dead. It was time for innovation.

And Codex fell for it, like the others did. For a while.

Outside
the letters of
the neon signs
reflected palindromes
onto the rain littered streets.

No one stopped
to read their poetry.

And soon the colors became oversaturated, and Codex knew that they had been intended to dazzle and distract, blind and bind. They were being held hostage in the beauty. It was a ruse.