NO TECH MAGAZINE https://www.notechmagazine.com We believe in progress and technology Fri, 13 Jan 2017 11:27:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9 Silbo Gomero: The Dying Language of Whistling https://www.notechmagazine.com/2017/01/silbo-gomero-the-dying-language-of-whistling.html Fri, 13 Jan 2017 11:26:03 +0000 http://www.notechmagazine.com/?p=3452

The language of whistles known as Silbo Gomero – or just el silbo (‘the whistle’) – was once heard widely throughout La Gomera, one of the smallest of the seven main Canary Islands off the Atlantic Coast of Africa. Now it is used only by a few remaining shepherds on the steep hills of La Gomera’s countryside.

A singular form of communication used with both people and animals, in 2009 Silbo Gomero was named a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Angello Faccini’s arrestingly photographed film finds one of Silbo Gomero’s last remaining practitioners reflecting on his fading way of life and its ephemeral language. Picture: Unesco.

]]> African Action Movies https://www.notechmagazine.com/2015/05/african-action-movies.html Sat, 09 May 2015 23:25:43 +0000 http://www.notechmagazine.com/?p=1996 In the Ugandan slum of Wakaliga, a thriving film industry called Wakaliwood has emerged. Mixing elements of Western action flicks and Chinese Kung Fu movies with Ugandan culture, Wakaliwood’s movies have garnered a cult following not just in in Uganda, but all over the world. Vice headed to Wakaliga to spend a day on the set of the next Wakaliwood hit.

Thanks to Juan Nacho.

]]> Japanese Joinery https://www.notechmagazine.com/2015/02/japanese-joinery.html Sun, 15 Feb 2015 18:29:44 +0000 http://www.notechmagazine.com/?p=1757 japanese joinery“Japanese carpentry group Kobayashi Kenkou carefully demonstrates the fascinating way in which highly durable buildings are constructed with traditional methods of joining the wood with intricate cuts and interlocking plugs instead of metal nails. The fine planing and perfect fit of each interlocking piece of wood is a testament to the craftsmanship of the carpenters.”

See them in action. Via The Shelter Blog.

 

]]> The Hay Pusher https://www.notechmagazine.com/2015/02/the-hay-pusher.html Fri, 06 Feb 2015 15:16:18 +0000 http://www.notechmagazine.com/?p=1754 Who needs expensive baling machinery?

]]> Human Powered Pile Hammer https://www.notechmagazine.com/2013/07/thai-pile-hammer.html Tue, 02 Jul 2013 02:26:41 +0000 http://notechmagazine.com/2013/07/thai-pile-hammer.html Check out this video of a human powered pile hammer in Thailand. Thanks to Arne.

]]> The Making of a Foot Powered Treadle Lathe https://www.notechmagazine.com/2013/04/the-making-of-a-foot-powered-treadle-lathe.html Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:12:54 +0000 http://notechmagazine.com/2013/04/the-making-of-a-foot-powered-treadle-lathe.html chris builds lathe

“Hi everybody my name is Chris. I choose my woodworking projects based on whatever happens to inspire me”.

In this video, Chris builds a foot powered treadle lathe. Great project, great video.

Via Old Engineering.

Previously:

]]> Robin Wood, Bowlturner https://www.notechmagazine.com/2012/10/robin-wood-bowlturner.html Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:30:45 +0000 http://notechmagazine.com/2012/10/robin-wood-bowlturner.html robin wood bowlturner“The bowls created by Robin Wood’s reconstructed lathe have an unique finish, which is only found in bowls cut with a traditional pole lathe. The sharp tools leave a distinctive mark much like the lines found on thrown earthen ware or glass. The clean cut with the sharpened tools means that the objects are practical for everyday use. They can be washed with warm soapy water and will not fuzz up, unlike a bowl cut
on a machine lathe and later sanded smooth. Robin’s bowls and plates only improve with use and ware.”

“Of course making wooden table ware for a living means making thousands of items every year, which seems rather a tall order when you consider the technology being used, but Rob insists that his pole lathe can turn out wooden ware as quickly as the mechanised equivalent. This theory has been put to the test and proven correct. As Robin explains in the
film, when he’s powered up, so is his lathe and he can get results quickly. When he stops the lathe turning he can adjust the wood instantaneously, whereas when you power down a mechanical lathe you have to wait for the machine to slow down and stop turning in it’s own time.”

“Any fool can make something more complex but it takes real genius to make things simple again“. A new video by Artisan Media. Robin Wood’s blog.

Via Toolemera. Previously: Make your own treadle lathe.

]]> Velomobiling https://www.notechmagazine.com/2012/03/velomobiling.html Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:30:50 +0000 http://notechmagazine.com/2012/03/velomobiling.html A fifteen minute ride in a velomobile. Previously: The velomobile: high-tech bike or low-tech car?

]]> Medieval Lives Documentary Series https://www.notechmagazine.com/2011/08/medieval-lives-documentary-series.html Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:43:38 +0000 http://notechmagazine.com/2011/08/medieval-lives-documentary-series.html Medieval Lives is a BBC documentary series looking at the Medieval world with the intent of finding out what it was really like. The series consists of eight episodes, each of which examines a particular Medieval personality: the peasant, the monk, the damsel, the minstrel, the knight, the philosopher, the outlaw and the king. Via Ran Prieur.

]]> There is Life in Strangers, Giants and Machines https://www.notechmagazine.com/2011/08/there-is-life-in-strangers-giants-and-machines.html Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:05:16 +0000 http://notechmagazine.com/2011/08/there-is-life-in-strangers-giants-and-machines.html Dancing with diggers“IN SITU is a documentary directed by Antoine Viviani about the experiences of artistic activity in the city of Europe. At a time when the city seems to be increasingly saturated by noise and information, the film features artistic experiences alternately invisible, monumental, participatory or secret, which provoque our daily glance, and surprise us. IN SITU confronts the visions of these artists from different backgrounds with the input of ordinary people, philosophers, urban planners, architects but also viewers of the film, so as to try to identify what these InSitu experiments tell on our period, our urbanity.”

The film can be viewed in its entirity in English, French or German. Short review here. Thanks to Eva Maori.

]]> Disneyland’s Magic Highway USA (1958) https://www.notechmagazine.com/2010/12/disneylands-magic-highway-usa-1958.html Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:12:56 +0000 http://notechmagazine.com/2010/12/disneylands-magic-highway-usa-1958.html Magic highway usa “As in the past, the highway will continue to play a vital role in the progress of civilization. It will be our magic carpet, to new hopes, new dreams, and a better way of life for the future.”

Watch the movie. Previously: Magic Motorways (1939) / London Traffic Improvements (1938) / Roadtown (1910).

]]> Designed For The Dump https://www.notechmagazine.com/2010/11/designed-for-the-dump.html Thu, 11 Nov 2010 23:31:13 +0000 http://notechmagazine.com/2010/11/designed-for-the-dump.html “The Story of Electronics: Why ‘Designed for the Dump’ is Toxic for People and the Planet” (video). Related:

]]> Engineering for the Ecological Age: Lessons from History https://www.notechmagazine.com/2010/10/engineering-for-the-ecological-age-lessons-from-history.html Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:56:42 +0000 http://notechmagazine.com/2010/10/engineering-for-the-ecological-age-lessons-from-history.html Lower Calyx dome under construction All three tile layers are visible photos Michael Ramage

“Engineering for the ecological age: lessons from history” (video) by John Ochsendorf. Skip the extremely irritating introduction to the speaker and start at 10:50. Via Ecodemica. Related: Tiles as a substitute for steel: the art of the timbrel vault & Timbrel vaulting in South Africa. Photo: Michael Ramage.

]]> Workers of the World Relax ! https://www.notechmagazine.com/2010/09/workers-of-the-world-relax.html Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:04:38 +0000 http://notechmagazine.com/2010/09/workers-of-the-world-relax.html We work too hard. Thanks to Leah Temper.

]]> Where no one would believe someone could live https://www.notechmagazine.com/2010/09/where-no-one-would-believe-someone-could-live.html Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:30:05 +0000 http://notechmagazine.com/2010/09/where-no-one-would-believe-someone-could-live.html “Der ingen skulle tru at nokon kunne bu” is a documentary about Jenny Endresen, an American woman who started a new, extremely low-tech life in an inhospitable part of Norway. It’s not my idea of a low-tech life (I would dress differently, for one thing) but there are some interesting things to see and to hear. Voiceover and questions are in Norwegian, but the woman answers in English. Hat tip to Cristiano Sandels Navarro.

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