Conall Dempsey

Sounds of Motion

conalldempsey — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:00:11 +0000

These X-mini speakers have become a great addition to my technology collection. I wish I could share a video or something that would allow you to appreciate the kind of sounds they kick out.

Small. Durable. Compact. Portable. Versatile.

And about half the size of a can of Coke.

They interconnect using magnets and they can each expand to provide better bass.

Additionally, each speaker has its own battery (which charges off a USB plug), allowing you to use the speakers anywhere you go, like the ocean front, for example.

Doors of Pondicherry

conalldempsey — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:00:20 +0000

Doors are interesting objects.

Some are beautiful, ugly, decrepit, colorful, scary, enticing, useless, inviting, intriguing or so many other things.

There is a sense of curiosity and wonder that draws my attention to doors. What is on the other side? Can I go through? Will it be locked? Will I be stopped?

On my weekend visit to Pondicherry I took quite a number of pictures (perhaps too many) of the variety of doors in that city.

Come and walk the streets of Pondicherry with me.

Doors of Pondicherry

Lock and Chain

conalldempsey — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:00:12 +0000

As it turns out, bicycle chains are not a bad way to chain up your bicycle (or cart)!

1 Scoop of Tender Coconut

conalldempsey — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:00:03 +0000

Vendors abound where you can buy a fresh young coconut for about 15 rupees (approx $0.33). The vendor holds the coconut with one hand and deftly chops the top off with a machete in his other hand. The chopping itself is an art and perhaps subject for another post, but today I want to observe the brilliance that occurs AFTER you’ve finished drinking the coconut juice.

After he’s chopped a hole in the coconut and given you a straw to drink the coconut juice, you can ask him to chop the coconut in half, so you can eat the flesh. But what tool should you use? Nature provides!

A neat slice from the outside of the coconut shell provides a nice scoop with a sharp edge to scrape and scoop out the coconut flesh. What a tasty treat!

Iron and Coal

conalldempsey — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:00:12 +0000

On the ground floor of my apartment complex there is a man who irons clothes for a living.

His tool

His fuel

His fire

One load of charcoal burns for about 30 minutes and he tells me that he much prefers to work with a charcoal burning iron than an electric one. Do you think this makes the clothes smell like smoke? Do you think there are “hot spot” issues? Do you think it is more likely to burn clothes? Do you think ironing is more of an art this way?