NyLon is the name of a virtual city consisting of New York and London. As the two cities seem to drift more and more together in a globalized world, having more in common with one another than with the rest of their American respective British hinterlands, the new composed name "NyLon" emerged as a viable description of this new reality on the ground. The term is often used by newspaper commentators on the both sides of the Atlantic, and has more recently gained acceptance as such.
It was often claimed that both cities share a cosmopolitan lifestyle, and their coming together was described as a "parallel world" or a "binary" infatuation, unrivaled by other places.
The geographical distance and the time zone difference confer the of the two places a special mystique. As New York indulges in night time glamour, London awakens to daytime chic. The bright lights of the New York catwalk match the fever of London’s iconic style.
The "NyLonians" are often described as "being urged to accessorize to sip cocktails in rooftop bars and sashay along the most celebrated streets in the world: Bond Street, Fifth Avenue, Portobello, Soho, Manhattan, Knightsbridge etc". Multifarious Nylon seems ultimately to be combination of slick, polished New York and cool, cultivated London. The columnist John Gapper recently described NyLon as:
NyLon is also part of the phenomenon of the city state. Coastal and entrepôt cities around the world are outgrowing the nations that contain them. Dubai and other Emirates states are reinventing themselves as financial centres and a token of Shanghai’s rapid growth was the appointment this week of Xi Jinping, one of the city’s leaders, to the ruling Chinese politburo
A "NyLon commuter" is someone who is sometimes described as "commuting between New York and London".
The prestigious British weekly The Observer has recently named NyLon as the "capital of the world"
Trivia
* NyLon is the title of a monthly fashion magazine which figures articles on "self-willed sibling-cities New York and London"
Quoted references
Other references
* (in German language)
It was often claimed that both cities share a cosmopolitan lifestyle, and their coming together was described as a "parallel world" or a "binary" infatuation, unrivaled by other places.
The geographical distance and the time zone difference confer the of the two places a special mystique. As New York indulges in night time glamour, London awakens to daytime chic. The bright lights of the New York catwalk match the fever of London’s iconic style.
The "NyLonians" are often described as "being urged to accessorize to sip cocktails in rooftop bars and sashay along the most celebrated streets in the world: Bond Street, Fifth Avenue, Portobello, Soho, Manhattan, Knightsbridge etc". Multifarious Nylon seems ultimately to be combination of slick, polished New York and cool, cultivated London. The columnist John Gapper recently described NyLon as:
NyLon is also part of the phenomenon of the city state. Coastal and entrepôt cities around the world are outgrowing the nations that contain them. Dubai and other Emirates states are reinventing themselves as financial centres and a token of Shanghai’s rapid growth was the appointment this week of Xi Jinping, one of the city’s leaders, to the ruling Chinese politburo
A "NyLon commuter" is someone who is sometimes described as "commuting between New York and London".
The prestigious British weekly The Observer has recently named NyLon as the "capital of the world"
Trivia
* NyLon is the title of a monthly fashion magazine which figures articles on "self-willed sibling-cities New York and London"
Quoted references
Other references
* (in German language)
Jackass UK is a British stunt team based in , England. The team have gained their popularity through various community websites and video submitting which bought them various TV deals with Somethin' Else Productions & .
History
The Team's Birth
Jackass UK was originally started by Andi Briggs with his friend "Crazy Joe" on the 22nd March 2005 at the Burslem College Campus, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. The reason for the team emerging was due to the two members getting fed up with long breaks around the college. Stunts that both Briggs and Crazy Joe did around their college gained them both popularity and several suspensions which both paid for overtime due to unfinished work and grade failures. The name Jackass UK was chosen to honor the Jackass team based in the USA however the team have now adopted it enough to be called the Official Jackass team of the UK due to their popularity and status.
The Growth Of The Team
The Jackass UK boys Andi Briggs & Crazy Joe were good at their stunts but they didnt quite make a team as a Duo so they opted to find more members, doing this was difficult as there were not many people willing to do stunts around the area. Briggs had the idea to make the team a website based on the popular website and then after adding a number of people in the Stoke-on-Trent area, found future members Ashley Colclough, Scott Colclough, Karl Parmee, Natalie C, James Black & Lukas Searle. The team also took on various sponsors and live events at local venues again furthering the teams popularity base.
Team Changes
Over the years of the teams existance, members have come and left from the team including the teams creator Crazy Joe and past members Natalie C, Diddy, James Black & Lukas Searle but all past members are still in contact with the team and they feature on their videos from time to time for cameo roles.
Team Videos
Almost all of the Jackass UK stunts are uploaded to various websites for everybody to watch and comment, most videos are cut to the best bits or re-edited to show more than one camera angle. Each video uploaded always comes with the Jackass UK logo to make sure no videos are stolen by other members of the , something team member Briggs decided on after stealing video's himself.
Most videos not uploaded to the internet are mainly too to show to the public however all videos are still kept for the Jackass UK archive for future use.
Arrests & Controversal Stunts
During January 25th 2007 Andi Briggs was arrested for Public Disturbance and again Feburary 25th 2007 for attacking a clubber outside the nightclub "Liquid". Both arrests had no charges pressed against Briggs.
Scott Colclough was cautioned for urinating out of a tree in public on the 1st August 2007 and a similar incident involving member Karl Parmee happened 3 days after on the 4th August 2007
Andi Briggs's popular stunt "The Flip" which involved a front flip into the Sir Stanley Matthews Statue in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent was condemned by Stoke City FC fans as "Disrespectful & Crude" and involved a petition signed by over 5,000 fans to get the video removed. Jackass UK Member Ashley Colclough replied to the petition and the video was removed along with a written apology by Briggs.
Cast & Crew
Main Cast Members
* Andi Briggs (Otherwise Known As Neo)
* Ashley Colclough
* Scott Colclough
* Karl Parmee
* ToKeN
Recurring Cast Members
* Crazy Joe
* Natalie C
* Diddy
* James Black
Crew
* Simon Briggs - Director, Manager & Producer
* Dale G - Cameraman
* Danni Proctor - Camerawoman
* Ani Hodkiss - Photographer
History
The Team's Birth
Jackass UK was originally started by Andi Briggs with his friend "Crazy Joe" on the 22nd March 2005 at the Burslem College Campus, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. The reason for the team emerging was due to the two members getting fed up with long breaks around the college. Stunts that both Briggs and Crazy Joe did around their college gained them both popularity and several suspensions which both paid for overtime due to unfinished work and grade failures. The name Jackass UK was chosen to honor the Jackass team based in the USA however the team have now adopted it enough to be called the Official Jackass team of the UK due to their popularity and status.
The Growth Of The Team
The Jackass UK boys Andi Briggs & Crazy Joe were good at their stunts but they didnt quite make a team as a Duo so they opted to find more members, doing this was difficult as there were not many people willing to do stunts around the area. Briggs had the idea to make the team a website based on the popular website and then after adding a number of people in the Stoke-on-Trent area, found future members Ashley Colclough, Scott Colclough, Karl Parmee, Natalie C, James Black & Lukas Searle. The team also took on various sponsors and live events at local venues again furthering the teams popularity base.
Team Changes
Over the years of the teams existance, members have come and left from the team including the teams creator Crazy Joe and past members Natalie C, Diddy, James Black & Lukas Searle but all past members are still in contact with the team and they feature on their videos from time to time for cameo roles.
Team Videos
Almost all of the Jackass UK stunts are uploaded to various websites for everybody to watch and comment, most videos are cut to the best bits or re-edited to show more than one camera angle. Each video uploaded always comes with the Jackass UK logo to make sure no videos are stolen by other members of the , something team member Briggs decided on after stealing video's himself.
Most videos not uploaded to the internet are mainly too to show to the public however all videos are still kept for the Jackass UK archive for future use.
Arrests & Controversal Stunts
During January 25th 2007 Andi Briggs was arrested for Public Disturbance and again Feburary 25th 2007 for attacking a clubber outside the nightclub "Liquid". Both arrests had no charges pressed against Briggs.
Scott Colclough was cautioned for urinating out of a tree in public on the 1st August 2007 and a similar incident involving member Karl Parmee happened 3 days after on the 4th August 2007
Andi Briggs's popular stunt "The Flip" which involved a front flip into the Sir Stanley Matthews Statue in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent was condemned by Stoke City FC fans as "Disrespectful & Crude" and involved a petition signed by over 5,000 fans to get the video removed. Jackass UK Member Ashley Colclough replied to the petition and the video was removed along with a written apology by Briggs.
Cast & Crew
Main Cast Members
* Andi Briggs (Otherwise Known As Neo)
* Ashley Colclough
* Scott Colclough
* Karl Parmee
* ToKeN
Recurring Cast Members
* Crazy Joe
* Natalie C
* Diddy
* James Black
Crew
* Simon Briggs - Director, Manager & Producer
* Dale G - Cameraman
* Danni Proctor - Camerawoman
* Ani Hodkiss - Photographer
CrystAlien Conflict is a strategy game that involves the use of units and buildings to survive. It is based on the Lego Mars Mission theme. It is somewhat similar to the Rock Raiders Game.
Units
This section covers the units available in CrystAlien Conflict.
Astronaut Units
*Crystal Miners are moderately fast moving vehicles that collect energy crystals for money.
*Infantry are slow moving assult units .
*Engineers are the slowest units on the battle field, but they can repair damaged buildings and units.
*Jet-pack Explores are the third fastest units on the battle field. They carry a slow firing laser weapon. They can fly over hills and crystal pools.
*Trikes are fast moving week scout vehicles. They carry the same weapon as the infantry but it fires at a faster rate.
*Claw-Tanks move about as fast as the Crystal Miners. They have a large laser cannon.Vechile matches
*Astro Fighters are fast, short range ships. The weapon fires a rapid sucsession of lasers at enemy units. They must refuel back at the radar station soon after they reach their target. Also, if the Radar Station is destroyed the Astro Fighters will be destroyed.
*Recon Dropships are slow moving flying craft that can carry Infantry, Engineers, and Jet-Pack Explorers. The are not armed.
Alien Units
*Crystal Extractors are slow moving craft that mine energy crystals for money.
*Drones are weak slow moving units that carry a semi-powerful weapon.
*Infiltrators are the slowest unit in the battle field, but they can repair damaged units and buildings. They also can take over enemy buildings.
*Vipers are the semi fast flying craft that carry a slow firing gun. They can fly over crystal pools and hills.
*Speeders are fast moving machines that have a cannon like the Drones, except that it is faster firing.
*Dragon Cruisers are moderately fast moving vehicles. They carry a powerful cannon.
*Strike Fightersare fast speeders. They will be destroyed it the Sonar Station is distroyed.
*Hyper Carriers are slow moving, unarmed, heavy transports designed to carry Drones, Infaltrators, and Vipers.
Both Sides
*EM:4T2 Pulse Beam is an extremely destructive one use weapon. A beam of energy comes from the sky destroying nearly every thing in its blast radius. It must be repurchased after every use.
Buildings
This section covers the known buildings in CrystAlien Conflict. The farther the building is put in means that it must have the buildings above it in order to be built.
Astronaut Buildings
*Eagle Command Base this building can not be removed from the battle field. If it is destroyed the Astronauts lose.
**Power Plant this building is the second one you can build it generates power so that other buildings stay operational.
***Training Camp is a building that is available after a Power Plant is built. It allows you to train Infantry and Engineers.
****Defense Station is a building designed to defend your mission. When aliens come nearby it will blast them with its laser cannon.
****Vehicle Factory is a building that can produce Trikes and, if a Radar Station is built, Claw-Tanks.
****Radar Station is a building that shows the terrain that you have uncovered so far in a map. It also allows you to build Astro Fighters.
*****Technology Center is a building that allows you to build Jet-Pack Explorers and Recon Dropships.
******Satelite Up-link is a building which will show you the entire map, but if its destroyed the map will return to the terrain that you have discovered. They unlock the EM:4T2 Pulse Beams.
Alien Buildings
*Mothership is the building that can't be removed from the battle field. If it is destroyed the aliens lose.
**Energy Generator is a building that produces power for other buildings such as Assault Turrets.
***Breeding Pit is a building that can make Drones and Infaltrators.
****Assault Turret is a building that will attack any unit that comes near it.
****Battle Foundry is a building that can produce Speeders and, with the presence of a Sonar Station, Dragon Cruisers.
****Sonar Station is a building that shows you all your revealed terrain. It can also produce Strike Fighters.
*****Experiment Lab allows for the construction of Vipers and Hyper Carriers.
******Orbital Uplink this building functions the same way as the Astronaut's Satelite Up-link. It unlocks the EM:4T2 Pulse Beam.
Units
This section covers the units available in CrystAlien Conflict.
Astronaut Units
*Crystal Miners are moderately fast moving vehicles that collect energy crystals for money.
*Infantry are slow moving assult units .
*Engineers are the slowest units on the battle field, but they can repair damaged buildings and units.
*Jet-pack Explores are the third fastest units on the battle field. They carry a slow firing laser weapon. They can fly over hills and crystal pools.
*Trikes are fast moving week scout vehicles. They carry the same weapon as the infantry but it fires at a faster rate.
*Claw-Tanks move about as fast as the Crystal Miners. They have a large laser cannon.Vechile matches
*Astro Fighters are fast, short range ships. The weapon fires a rapid sucsession of lasers at enemy units. They must refuel back at the radar station soon after they reach their target. Also, if the Radar Station is destroyed the Astro Fighters will be destroyed.
*Recon Dropships are slow moving flying craft that can carry Infantry, Engineers, and Jet-Pack Explorers. The are not armed.
Alien Units
*Crystal Extractors are slow moving craft that mine energy crystals for money.
*Drones are weak slow moving units that carry a semi-powerful weapon.
*Infiltrators are the slowest unit in the battle field, but they can repair damaged units and buildings. They also can take over enemy buildings.
*Vipers are the semi fast flying craft that carry a slow firing gun. They can fly over crystal pools and hills.
*Speeders are fast moving machines that have a cannon like the Drones, except that it is faster firing.
*Dragon Cruisers are moderately fast moving vehicles. They carry a powerful cannon.
*Strike Fightersare fast speeders. They will be destroyed it the Sonar Station is distroyed.
*Hyper Carriers are slow moving, unarmed, heavy transports designed to carry Drones, Infaltrators, and Vipers.
Both Sides
*EM:4T2 Pulse Beam is an extremely destructive one use weapon. A beam of energy comes from the sky destroying nearly every thing in its blast radius. It must be repurchased after every use.
Buildings
This section covers the known buildings in CrystAlien Conflict. The farther the building is put in means that it must have the buildings above it in order to be built.
Astronaut Buildings
*Eagle Command Base this building can not be removed from the battle field. If it is destroyed the Astronauts lose.
**Power Plant this building is the second one you can build it generates power so that other buildings stay operational.
***Training Camp is a building that is available after a Power Plant is built. It allows you to train Infantry and Engineers.
****Defense Station is a building designed to defend your mission. When aliens come nearby it will blast them with its laser cannon.
****Vehicle Factory is a building that can produce Trikes and, if a Radar Station is built, Claw-Tanks.
****Radar Station is a building that shows the terrain that you have uncovered so far in a map. It also allows you to build Astro Fighters.
*****Technology Center is a building that allows you to build Jet-Pack Explorers and Recon Dropships.
******Satelite Up-link is a building which will show you the entire map, but if its destroyed the map will return to the terrain that you have discovered. They unlock the EM:4T2 Pulse Beams.
Alien Buildings
*Mothership is the building that can't be removed from the battle field. If it is destroyed the aliens lose.
**Energy Generator is a building that produces power for other buildings such as Assault Turrets.
***Breeding Pit is a building that can make Drones and Infaltrators.
****Assault Turret is a building that will attack any unit that comes near it.
****Battle Foundry is a building that can produce Speeders and, with the presence of a Sonar Station, Dragon Cruisers.
****Sonar Station is a building that shows you all your revealed terrain. It can also produce Strike Fighters.
*****Experiment Lab allows for the construction of Vipers and Hyper Carriers.
******Orbital Uplink this building functions the same way as the Astronaut's Satelite Up-link. It unlocks the EM:4T2 Pulse Beam.
Topographical Improvising is an aleatoric music technique invented by young avant-garde music composer, Andrew Grathwohl. It is classification "Level II" in Grathwohl's personal music system. It lies above "Level I" (Sub-Reality Musics) and below "Level III" (Kaufman Symmetry Musics - still in development as of Q1 2007) within the system. It is described by Grathwohl as, "a humanitarian approach to structured improvisation", adding that "it is my hope that, through topographical improvising, I can combine the qualities of accessible pop music with the musical genius to be heard through structured improvisation." The technique has been praised by John Zorn, off whose work the project is based.
Conception
Grathwohl conceived topographical improvising after first experiencing a performance of John Zorn's "Cobra" piece, a structured improvisation piece based off of cues given by a conductor and the performers. Regardless of his huge appreciation for Zorn's music, Grathwohl thought that many people would feel an artistic disconnect from the performance, since the audience was "left to guess" what the cues were and what they were related to (inner thoughts, a story, et cetera). While visiting his birthplace of Manhattan in New York City, Grathwohl spent many hours in Washington Square Park, and knew immediately that this would be his location for change.
The first performance of topographical improvising appeared at Washington Square Park during the summer of 2006. It was performed by a duo comprised of a clarinetist/saxophonist and a cellist. A third special guest performer was West-African kora musician, Adama Dembele. The project was titled Broken Hearts On Ice: A Topographical Improvisation (Broken hearts on ice is the name of Grathwohl's musical project, under which all topographical improvisations will occur).
Musical Theories
Topographical improvising deals with the accessibility factor which Grathwohl says "plagues" otherwise brilliant works of improvised music. He believes that the reason why most find structured improvisation, and other aleatoric music, so difficult to appreciate, is due to the audience's lack of understanding of its musical processes. Topographical improvising, according to Grathwohl, seeks to provide a "mutual understanding" between the conductor of the piece and the audience observing the performance. Grathwohl, in an early essay regarding topographical improvising, laid out the groundwork for performing the technique:
Performance
The performance of a topographical improvisation often resembles that of other structurally-improvised pieces. The music will often vary significantly in style, theme, and texture. Improvisations can be either long and chaotic, or brief and fun. Grathwohl's topographical improvisations are well known for their odd implementations of vocals and less conventional instruments (such as electronics, laptops, bird calls, bullhorns, slide flutes, and, in one composition, a doorbell). Topographical improvisations often require a high level of concentration, so musicians may appear to be extremely focused and uninterested in stage presence. This effect is often substituted by the incorporation of other sensory presentations (either the surrounding performance environment, such as a public park, or a visual presentation along with the music).
It is Grathwohl's hope that, in the future, topographical improvising can include other performance arts (such as free-style film, opera, or dramatic plays). This can in part be accomplished by implementing topographical improvisation compositions in higher-level musical theories of Grathwohl's unique music system.
Musical System Implementation
Topographical improvisations are able to incorporate all of the aspects of the "Level I" (Sub-Reality Musics; electronic compositions involving mathematical algorithms or other systematic composition methods) system in Grathwohl's musical hierarchy. Furthermore, topographical improvisations (and, thusly, Sub-Reality musics) can be incorporated into Grathwohl's highest musical level, "Level III" (Kaufman Symmetry Musics).
The musical system which houses all of these theories is in fact able to implement all of these musics simultaneously, meaning that certain quadrants of the performance ensemble can play different pieces of music at the same time. Although, it is important to note that only one type of the "base composition level" can ever be played at one time. So, for example, if a "Level III" system is being performed as the chief composition, then it is possible to have as many "Level II" and "Level I" systems occurring simultaneously as the conductor(s) wish, but never could more than one "Level III" system occur.
Conception
Grathwohl conceived topographical improvising after first experiencing a performance of John Zorn's "Cobra" piece, a structured improvisation piece based off of cues given by a conductor and the performers. Regardless of his huge appreciation for Zorn's music, Grathwohl thought that many people would feel an artistic disconnect from the performance, since the audience was "left to guess" what the cues were and what they were related to (inner thoughts, a story, et cetera). While visiting his birthplace of Manhattan in New York City, Grathwohl spent many hours in Washington Square Park, and knew immediately that this would be his location for change.
The first performance of topographical improvising appeared at Washington Square Park during the summer of 2006. It was performed by a duo comprised of a clarinetist/saxophonist and a cellist. A third special guest performer was West-African kora musician, Adama Dembele. The project was titled Broken Hearts On Ice: A Topographical Improvisation (Broken hearts on ice is the name of Grathwohl's musical project, under which all topographical improvisations will occur).
Musical Theories
Topographical improvising deals with the accessibility factor which Grathwohl says "plagues" otherwise brilliant works of improvised music. He believes that the reason why most find structured improvisation, and other aleatoric music, so difficult to appreciate, is due to the audience's lack of understanding of its musical processes. Topographical improvising, according to Grathwohl, seeks to provide a "mutual understanding" between the conductor of the piece and the audience observing the performance. Grathwohl, in an early essay regarding topographical improvising, laid out the groundwork for performing the technique:
Performance
The performance of a topographical improvisation often resembles that of other structurally-improvised pieces. The music will often vary significantly in style, theme, and texture. Improvisations can be either long and chaotic, or brief and fun. Grathwohl's topographical improvisations are well known for their odd implementations of vocals and less conventional instruments (such as electronics, laptops, bird calls, bullhorns, slide flutes, and, in one composition, a doorbell). Topographical improvisations often require a high level of concentration, so musicians may appear to be extremely focused and uninterested in stage presence. This effect is often substituted by the incorporation of other sensory presentations (either the surrounding performance environment, such as a public park, or a visual presentation along with the music).
It is Grathwohl's hope that, in the future, topographical improvising can include other performance arts (such as free-style film, opera, or dramatic plays). This can in part be accomplished by implementing topographical improvisation compositions in higher-level musical theories of Grathwohl's unique music system.
Musical System Implementation
Topographical improvisations are able to incorporate all of the aspects of the "Level I" (Sub-Reality Musics; electronic compositions involving mathematical algorithms or other systematic composition methods) system in Grathwohl's musical hierarchy. Furthermore, topographical improvisations (and, thusly, Sub-Reality musics) can be incorporated into Grathwohl's highest musical level, "Level III" (Kaufman Symmetry Musics).
The musical system which houses all of these theories is in fact able to implement all of these musics simultaneously, meaning that certain quadrants of the performance ensemble can play different pieces of music at the same time. Although, it is important to note that only one type of the "base composition level" can ever be played at one time. So, for example, if a "Level III" system is being performed as the chief composition, then it is possible to have as many "Level II" and "Level I" systems occurring simultaneously as the conductor(s) wish, but never could more than one "Level III" system occur.