Blog: Ged Carroll | renaissance chambara

  • December 2023 newsletter

    December 2023 newsletter introduction I put the December 2023 newsletter together early because I know how December goes. It used to be that Christmas parties and a gradual disappearance of clients and colleagues meant that the month effectively ended on December 15. In recent years all that went out the window. Clients called pitches for…

  • Soft girls and slackers

    I read about soft girls, when a friend shared an article from Glamour magazine with me. Glamour Glamour is a women’s magazine published by Conde Nast. When it launched in the UK, it was famous for its ‘handbag format’ size, which then spurred innovation in the summer editions of men’s magazines. Nowadays it’s important for…

  • Beep

    In Canada, as with other countries a beep electronic sound punctuated the correct time. In Canada, this is called the long dash because of its extended tone. In the UK and Ireland I have heard it called the ‘pips‘ three short beeps instead. Consistency and precision Before we had precise time mediated by a beep;…

  • Old money style + more things

    Old money style Old money style has been a pre-occupation behind the recent fascination with quiet luxury a la Zegna and Loro Piana. The fascination with old money style isn’t new. Streetwear brands and hip-hop culture borrowed from preppy style over the years. Brands like Stüssy, A Bathing Ape, Phat Farm and Sean Jean had…

  • Omakase

    Omakase origin. Omakase is a Japanese term that has become popular in Korea. Omakase as a phrase comes from the term ‘makaseru’ meaning to entrust. In a sushi restaurant omakase meant the customer turned over responsibility for choosing their menu to the sushi chef. The chef would choose the type of fish and the cut.…

  • Jeremy Deller + more stuff

    Jeremy Deller Jeremy Deller is famous for examining 1980s events from the MIner’s strike to rave culture. Most notably his work Acid Brass, working with the William Fairey Brass Band on cover versions of early house and techno music. In this documentary he walks a group of sixth formers through the context that rave culture…

  • Canon semiconductor manufacturing disruption + more

    Canon semiconductor manufacturing disruption I started thinking about Canon semiconductor manufacturing disruption when I read this article: Canon looks to nanoimprint tech for 2nm lithography | EE News Europe. Canon semiconductor manufacturing disruption looked on the horizon with the announcement of its nano imprint technology. Nano imprint approach is something that has been explored for…

  • Listening pleasure

    I was reminded by an article in an old copy of the FT’s HTSI (How To Spend It) magazine about the diversity of what listening pleasure means to different people. Aural wallpaper For many of us, the personal equivalent of muzak masks distracting sounds in the neighbourhood or the odd sounds emanating from the heating…

  • November 2023 newsletter – fourth time unlucky?

    November 2023 newsletter introduction You’re still reading? Great! Welcome to my November 2023 newsletter which marks my 4th issue. I am not excessively superstitious – but living in Hong Kong rubbed off a bit on me. I developed a love of milk tea, found the ‘hit women’ cathartic and am still leery of the number…