Leigh :) Stark » Reviews http://www.leighlo.com Words from a guy who just won't shut up. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:16:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Powerhouse Museum: barely an echo of something it once was http://www.leighlo.com/2012/01/powerhouse-museum-barely-an-echo-of-something-it-once-was/ http://www.leighlo.com/2012/01/powerhouse-museum-barely-an-echo-of-something-it-once-was/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:16:35 +0000 Leigh :) Stark http://www.leighlo.com/?p=1278 When I was younger, I used to love the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. It wasn’t the only museum I loved, but because of how much science and technology that had been forced into one space, I found it a brilliant place to go.

While trips to the Powerhouse weren’t as frequent as I’d have liked – I was under the age of ten, so I couldn’t just clap my hands and materialise at 500 Harris St – the trips were remembered fondly.

A few years ago, I went again. I can’t remember how long it had been since I had entered the Powerhouse and taken a good stroll around the museum I once loved.

Oh sure, I had been to events there – a Canon launch, a Wacom tablet launch, some sort of rug exhibition where I managed to annoy rug connoisseurs  thanks to my use of the word “carpet” – but I hadn’t taken a good long walk, a wonderful ponder at the museum I fell in love with as a boy.

So in 2009, I went. And it wasn’t great: exhibits were noticeably in a state of disrepair, the place was empty, and generally the Powerhouse Museum didn’t feel like this wonderful place I had recalled.

I left thinking that they – the people running the museum – were probably aware of these issues and that they’d attend to them. Eventually.

It’s now 2012, and after today’s trip, I recognise that the Powerhouse Museum is barely an echo of what it once was.

With kids lining up en masse to see the Harry Potter exhibition, the rest of the museum is falling apart, with exhibits no longer working, offering blank space, and a general feeling that the people running the museum have given up.

Take the computer exhibition, once one of my favourite areas and now just a few glass cabinets, some lucky enough to still have the gadgets and antiques inside.

I seem to recall that in the space where Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Steve Wozniak sit, there should’ve been an Apple I computer. And yet now, the lights are off, nobody is home, but the video still plays as if it carries the same meaning.

According to the Powerhouse collection website:

“The Museum negotiated the long term loan of the Apple I from Apple Australia in May 1999 and the Apple went on display in the new permanent exhibition “Universal Machine: computers and connections” later that year. The loan of the Apple I has been renewed annually since that time and the Apple I has remained on display.”

Except it’s not there now.

One of the old computers even has plastic wrap covering it while being behind a glass cabinet.

What the hell is the plastic doing covering the computer when there’s a giant piece of glass doing its job perfectly well? I can’t even see the computer underneath it.

Then there’s the interactivity that this section once held.

Some computer exhibits still function with their archaic software, while others look like they’ve been ripped apart limb from limb.

An area I seem to recall that held a virtual reality section has been replaced with a Mars Rover robot learning environment that no one operates, locked for everyone except the people who are allowed to use this cool looking area.

At one point, there was a cute little demonstration of a walking robot named Stumpy. Now, there’s a detached plug sitting on a conveyer belt and a button that doesn’t do much with the one robot still in the exhibit.

Powerhouse may want to make the exhibit more interactive and call it “Where’s Stumpy?”, forcing you to find Stumpy in the museum.

If it was just one section, I may be able to forgive the Powerhouse, but it’s not that simple. No, the state of the Powerhouse seems to be more of a disease that’s gradually affecting permanent exhibitions.

The lights, magnets, and interactions space near the computer exhibit? I used to love going there and playing with the magnets, the fireworks, and the plasma ball. Who doesn’t love a plasma ball?

Parts of the exhibit have been removed, the floor is falling apart, and overall it feels like it died but no one decided to tell the people running the joint.

One part of the exhibit even talks about how stress affects objects, pointing out “the stress is showing”. How right they are.

And the chocolate machine: what the hell happened?

Sure, an interactive chocolate tasting machine (above, right) that actually offered free samples was probably an ambitious project to keep running, but if you’re going to turn the damn thing off, don’t leave it looking like it’s broken, gathering dust, and generally something you wouldn’t want to eat from.

At least the rail section hasn’t suffered ridiculously. In both the engine and train sections, the museum feels like it hasn’t changed for the worse.

The space section isn’t bad either, though video trips from NASA with audio from the journey should probably be turned up and not just stuck on mute altogether. Likewise, the movie inside the shuttle cockpit shouldn’t probably be frozen on one frame with souveniers missing from the shelves.

At least the inside of the shuttle has been kept in reasonable condition, and the zero gravity lab is a cute little psychological experiment for kids to simulate the absence of gravity.

While I doubt it’s permanent, the Love Lace section is filled with some beautiful pieces of lace-made art and apparel (below), but this is a new exhibit, and one that I doubt will be there for much longer.

Throughout other exhibits, there was more plastic wrap, more empty shelves, and more cursing from myself and my girlfriend about how shocking the museum had become.

The Powerhouse website does say something about the construction going on at the moment, calling it a “revitalisation project” that currently has made a new entrance with a cloak area, improved visitor circulation spaces, and a 1600 sqm gallery space for exhibitions. The website goes on to say that a new cafe will open soon, “an exciting new retail shop”, and later on a forecourt designed by “acclaimed Japanese architect Shigeru Ban”.

Powerhouse goes on to say that:

“During this time you may notice some construction in the Museum. We apologise for any inconvenience.”

Nowhere in the information does it say that exhibits will have parts missing, plastic thrown over sections, and generally feel like the museum is dying.

Because that’s exactly what it feels like.

When I was younger, I remember leaving the Powerhouse filled with dreams of wanting to become a designer, an astronaut, and a scientist. Obviously, there’s no way I could do all of these things at once: I’m not Batman.

Today, I’d be surprised if anyone left wanting to become anything other than Harry Potter. Maybe kids should leave wanting to become a museum curator, because they’ll do a damn well better job than what I saw there.

 

 

]]> http://www.leighlo.com/2012/01/powerhouse-museum-barely-an-echo-of-something-it-once-was/feed/ 1 Review Updates… mostly tech. http://www.leighlo.com/2009/06/review-updates-mostly-tech/ http://www.leighlo.com/2009/06/review-updates-mostly-tech/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:51:12 +0000 Leigh :) Stark http://www.leighlo.com/?p=905 Ok, so now that my blog is well and truly moved over to the WordPress platform, I should probably see about keeping my review index up to scratch.

So without further adieu, here are the new entrants into my review list…

Mostly technology this time. I’ve also updated my APC article list and added a game or two.

Please note that some of the gaming links don’t work because of the shift to the WordPress platform. I’ll be correcting this hopefully soon.

]]> http://www.leighlo.com/2009/06/review-updates-mostly-tech/feed/ 0 Review Updates & Important News (about me)… http://www.leighlo.com/2009/03/review-updates-important-news-about-me/ http://www.leighlo.com/2009/03/review-updates-important-news-about-me/#comments Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:20:52 +0000 Leigh :) Stark http://wordpress.leighlo.com/?p=508 No… I haven't forgotten.

I'd never forget you blog. Never. Ever.

Okay… maybe a little.

Stuff has been happening. Lots of stuff. Stuff for Gadget Grill, stuff for work.

I am… no longer working at CyberShack… which is probably a good thing for me. :)

I am now a freelancer… at least for the moment, anyway…

In any case, more review updates below!

Gadgets

 

Games

]]> http://www.leighlo.com/2009/03/review-updates-important-news-about-me/feed/ 0 Review Updates … I’ve forgotten what number I’m up to. http://www.leighlo.com/2008/12/review-updates-ive-forgotten-what-number-im-up-to/ http://www.leighlo.com/2008/12/review-updates-ive-forgotten-what-number-im-up-to/#comments Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:50:22 +0000 Leigh :) Stark http://wordpress.leighlo.com/?p=502 Before the year ends, some loose little bits to tie up namely being Review Updates. 

Not too many here what with the TV season keeping me busy at my video editing box, as well as my other work loads. However, I'm now adding articles I've written for APC to the list to keep things interesting.

Gadgets

 

Games

APC Articles

Capping this year off is a random statistic about one video I've done.

Ya'll probably already know this stuff before my hands utter a single word, paragraph, piece of punctuation or carriage return.

Regardless…

I look forward to reviewing more stuff in 2009!

 

]]> http://www.leighlo.com/2008/12/review-updates-ive-forgotten-what-number-im-up-to/feed/ 0 Shameless Self-Promotion for Casual Boy http://www.leighlo.com/2008/12/shameless-self-promotion-for-casual-boy/ http://www.leighlo.com/2008/12/shameless-self-promotion-for-casual-boy/#comments Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:33:10 +0000 Leigh :) Stark http://wordpress.leighlo.com/?p=487 Because I have no shame (on my blog) and feel like linking you to something, I'm passing on al ink!

I have now launched my own little gaming review site! I hope to have it updated every day!

Hope. Hope to. Probably won't. You know… like this site… which used to be. I'm working on my ability to shift between all the freakin' work I do… *sigh*

Anyway… presenting…

Casual Boy. :)

I just put up the review for the puketastic iPhone game "Christmas With Weezer"… oh Christ… why did I buy that piece of shit…

]]> http://www.leighlo.com/2008/12/shameless-self-promotion-for-casual-boy/feed/ 0 Review Updates VII http://www.leighlo.com/2008/10/review-updates-vii/ http://www.leighlo.com/2008/10/review-updates-vii/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:26:00 +0000 Leigh :) Stark http://wordpress.leighlo.com/?p=473 …and we're back again with the seventh installation of Leigh's Review Updates!

Woooohoooooo!

Ok. I'm over that.

One interesting thing to note is that I'm being moved away from most games and I now mostly cover gadgets (I must be good at them or something) and only the big games… which is cool… I think I prefer it this way. Maybe I understand the mechanics of actual objects over games a bit better than… well… games.

Blahhhh.

In any case… here are the updates to my ever-growing list. It's like an erection this review list… it just grows. :P

 

Gadgets:

Software:

Games:

]]> http://www.leighlo.com/2008/10/review-updates-vii/feed/ 0 Max Payne: The Movie (sigh) http://www.leighlo.com/2008/10/max-payne-the-movie-sigh/ http://www.leighlo.com/2008/10/max-payne-the-movie-sigh/#comments Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:51:35 +0000 Leigh :) Stark http://wordpress.leighlo.com/?p=481 I saw Max Payne tonight.

Do yourself a favour and wait for dvd. And not the regular dvd, wait for the cheap dvd.

Wait until it's freakin' $2.99 at the local three dollar shop, wait until some whore is offering a blow job for five bucks that comes with a free copy of Marky Mark as Max Payne so that way you'll know just how much this movie is worth.

Yeah. This movie is bad.

]]> http://www.leighlo.com/2008/10/max-payne-the-movie-sigh/feed/ 0 Soap-tastic M&M’s http://www.leighlo.com/2008/08/soap-tastic-mms/ http://www.leighlo.com/2008/08/soap-tastic-mms/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:53:34 +0000 Leigh :) Stark http://wordpress.leighlo.com/?p=454 There's a green pack of M&M's labeled "NEW" at my local 7/11. The packet contains "Mint-tastic M&M's", what I would have only assumed to be a blend of mint and chocolate.

Here is my review: avoid. 

I eat a lot of things and like a lot of weird things but these things are more like little bite-sized pieces of toilet soap. They remind me of that bit from American Psycho (the book, not the film) where Bateman pours chocolate all over a toilet cake.

Mint candy shells and chocolate inside? Why that's just…

Yum-yum-yummy-BLURRRGGHHHH!!! 

]]> http://www.leighlo.com/2008/08/soap-tastic-mms/feed/ 0 Review Updates VI http://www.leighlo.com/2008/08/review-updates-vi/ http://www.leighlo.com/2008/08/review-updates-vi/#comments Sun, 03 Aug 2008 06:02:00 +0000 Leigh :) Stark http://wordpress.leighlo.com/?p=450 Wow. There be a lot of updates going on to my archive o' stuff. Seriously, lots of material.

Just see for yourself…

 

Gadgets:

Games:

And this has all been added to my review list which can be seen to the right underneath my little South Park inspired visage there.

There will be more inbound soon though… for I will be adding reviews to things like the 3G iPhone, HTC Touch Diamond, a Toshiba lappy, and for my own stuff hopefully a Logitech keyboard mouse combo, some Sennheiser earplugs, the new Nigel Kennedy disc, and a Lowepro backpack. Yummy…

]]> http://www.leighlo.com/2008/08/review-updates-vi/feed/ 0 Review Updates V http://www.leighlo.com/2008/03/review-updates-v/ http://www.leighlo.com/2008/03/review-updates-v/#comments Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:30:00 +0000 Leigh :) Stark http://wordpress.leighlo.com/?p=372 Part five. Part bloody five. <– I'm actually ripping off a part from a Sega Saturn magazine with that line where they were talking about a hentai Mahjong game for the Saturn called Super Real Mahjong Part Five.

They went "Part five? Part bloody five!" or something to that extent.

Actually, the Super Real Mahjong game series went for quite a few games so it's not a lie.

Anyway, here are some more things that aren't lies. They're truths… of sorts… and are criticisms and game reviews. Enjoy!

 

Gadgets:

Games:

Coming up in the next update, I should have reviews for the Lenovo X300, an HP tablet, a bunch more games, and finally the D300 review!

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