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Here is a nice little video from a new record pressing company that explains how vinyl records are made.

When you finally attain the financial means that affords you to build a modernist home worthy of a spread in Dwell, will you finally be content?

The special FX and animation gurus at London’s Moving Picture Company have created a free data-calculator application for the iphone. This tool is super helpful for filmmakers both in production and post.

WFMU Radio has launched the Free Music Archive, a wonderful curated collection of music that spans many genres and can be downloaded at no cost. Additionally, these songs have been made available in an arrangement inspired by the Creative Commons licensing movement and are pre-cleared for most uses.

In this digital age, who knows what will become of album packaging. Sleevage is a wonderful archive of sorts that is dedicated to becoming the most comprehensive online resource for record artwork. Below is the LP cover for the first cassette I ever bought with my own money. Between the sleeve cover and the video for Hot For Teacher, Van Halen was most certainly my introduction to sex, drugs and rock & roll at a very young age.

Sometimes I fantasize about what a great dictator I’d make; I probably shouldn’t admit that in public. Every power-hungry person needs a good uniform and that’s exactly what label Social Suicide has put forth, a collection called Dictators of Fashion.

(via Made In England)

The New York City Health Department is hosting a design contest for condom packaging. Entries are due January 22nd.

This film shows the many steps involved in the construction process of the official Jabulani 2010 FIFA World Cup game ball.

(via kottke)

A few nights ago, I braved the bitter cold winds and went out for a beer. I discovered Draft Barn, a Hungarian style beer hall which boasts a menu with over two hundred bottled beers and fourteen rotating taps. If in Brooklyn, I’d definitely suggest checking out this still unknown watering hole.

This is a nice poster of the neighborhoods that make up Brooklyn. Other cities are available too.

This is the calendar that I will be hanging over my desk for 2010.

Perhaps the future of magazine publishing will look like this.

Adweek lists The 30 Freakiest Commercials of 2009.

Mel Ramos’s Pop Art Fantasies imagines sexy female celebrity icons as pinup style objects of desire. The women pose around products that represent over indulgence, mass consumption and bad habits.

I have big problems with the corporate agriculture industry; however, lab grown meat sounds less like an alternative and more like an equally awful idea. How about good old sustainable farming?

This is McSweeney’s guide to adages used to promote the consumption of pork.

Here is a wonderful collection of Art Deco era advertisement posters.

A few days ago, I asked a friend who is a poet what she might want to pursue as a career had she not been a creative person. I’ve been thinking that if I weren’t a filmmaker, than I might like to be a butcher. Here is a really cool video of Shanna Pacifico, chef/butcher from Back Forty breaking down a side of beef. She discusses how the restaurant has adopted a local and sustainable way of offering meat.

I recently heard that motorcyclists are eight times more likely than automobile drivers to get injured in an accident and are thirty five times more likely to die. None of that really matters if you are riding something as gorgeous as one of the bikes below. The 1934 BMW R7 makes my heart skip beats. See more handsome bikes here.

(via Cool Hunter)

I thought it appropriate on Halloween to share the gruesome delicacies from a Bangkok based bakery that make confections that look more like special FX props from horror movie sets than food. Warning this is not for the squeamish.

Today, two master-butchers will be carving up a pig at the New Amsterdam Market at the site of the old Fulton Fish Market. For more on the growing popularity of learning the butchering trade as a hobby, check out this piece from this weekend’s NY TImes.

I’ve been hearing a lot about the work of Joel Buliewicz lately. He makes handmade one of a kind kitchen knives out of his boutique Cut Brooklyn. Check out his story here and learn a thing or two about knives.

I just discovered Supermarket, a curated collection of lovely design related products. This online store is the perfect place to find unique gifts.

Crack or no crack? That is the question. Here is the epic tale of one graphic designer’s experience leading to the release of a rather controversial album cover.

Luxury brand Hermes is responsible for the design of a yacht unlike any ever built before. Apparently, the floating vessel that is clearly a symbol of extreme wealth and excess is made to be super eco-friendly. The ship accommodates twelve guests and a crew of twenty which means there is exactly 1.6 people that fall into the “help” category for each snob. It’s also pretty ironic that the boat’s name, WHY (short for Wally Hermes Yacht) is proudly written in large type across the front deck which overlooks the ships pool.

I’ve found the perfect piece of Brooklyn real estate on the market to call home. Now I just need that 25 million dollar loan.

Sports apparel manufacturer Puma has created an iphone application that makes it a little more fun to check how your stocks are doing.

I adore both Brooklyn and spicy foods. So why not celebrate both? The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Chili Pepper Fiesta takes place October 3 from noon to 6pm. 

If you’ve traveled by plane in the last few years, you’ve most certainly noticed a dramatic shift for the worse in customer service. Airlines are scrambling to find ways to cut costs and increase profits. A company called Design Q has an absolutely abysmal idea on how airlines can make more money on shorter distance flights. They propose that airlines rethink their current seating layout and provide the customer with something more like a jump-seat. My guess is that the first airline to actually put such an offensive and stupid design into practice is the next airline to go out of business.

Good news. It seems that Urban Outfitters have joined forces with the Impossible Project to save Polaroid film from a sad demise.

A few nights ago, I caught on television Brian Lehrer’s interview with DJ Spooky from a year ago. The timing coincided with Spooky’s book and CD of collected essays - Sound Unbound: Sampling Digital Music and Culture published by MIT Press. This very notion of sampling culture makes for a fascinating and timely discussion.

In a perfect world, I’d have a weekend cabin home on a lake that would look like this or that.

The crypt directly above the one in which Marilyn Monroe eternally rests was recently up for auction on ebay and brought in several bids in the millions.

20x200 is a project that gives emerging artists exposure while at the same time allowing anyone to collect work at a modest price. I have a good mind to purchase the two images below and hang them above my desk. They’d be perfect reminders to not take advertising too seriously.

As a New Yorker, I’ve become very comfortable with the idea of living in a small space. Adapting to this kind of environmental restraint leads to creative thinking, and a sort of practical living in which one must consider what and how much they consume. The notion of building a home 1,000 square feet or less, like those in the coffee table book, Tiny Houses is quite intriguing. I’ll gladly take the house in image #2.

Here are some interesting thoughts on the unrivaled success of Craigslist, despite it’s no bells and whistles approach in a consumer world that demands more, newer, faster, now.

These days, I find that I am consistently having discussions about technology and the semi-permanence of media formats. Will books be replaced by ebooks? I don’t think so. The existence of scrolls dating back thousands of years is a reminder in a digital age that sometimes analogue means longevity. Just before typing this posting, I was chatting with a friend about the best way to backup up my hard drives. And yesterday I had a discussion addressing the concerns of shooting video in a format that is purely digital without a tape medium. This ongoing dialogue will certainly shape what our future looks like and how far into our past we will be able to dig. That said, when I found the the Lost Formats project this morning - it seemed rather timely.

The Swedish design company TAF boasts a colorful portfolio of brilliant objects, furniture and spaces. I’d really like on the lights below for my kitchen.

I try my best to not buy bottled water these days. As it turns out, the one brand that I did purchase from time to time has some pretty bad politics at play. NYC tap water happens to be some of the best available water in the whole country and I’ve been using one of the popular Swiss brand Sigg bottles for well over a year now. I consciously chose their bottles to avoid the leaching issues associated with reusing plastic and to support an eco-friendly endeavour. So I was rather annoyed to learn that Sigg has some pretty bad health related problems as well. Who knew getting safe clean water in the developed world was so hard?

Here is a wonderful side by side test that compares the high definition images captured from the Canon 5D MKII with the Panasonic Lumix GH1 and The RED One. The footage appears to be shot in natural daylight and night without any additional lighting.

As I’ve mentioned before, I have something of a yearning to open a proper old-world gentleman’s barber shop in the neighborhood in Brooklyn that I call home. Perhaps it is some sort of omen that I’ve discovered another beautiful shop that is quite similar to what I have in mind.  I discovered The New York Shaving Company while strolling around Nolita.

In the world of film production, the RED HD camera has been on the tip of everyone’s tongue. There is no doubt that the camera offers quite a bit for a relatively small price tag. I thought that I’d share three projects that were shot on the camera and are all quite beautiful.  The first is a music video for the band Delphic. The second is a video for Damien Jurdado. And lastly, is the clip for Heartbreaker by MSTRKRFT.

Here is another bike to add to the collection of cycles worth drooling over. This one is made of wood.

During the last few years, I’ve found myself engaged in more and more conversations about buying locally sourced foods. I’ve participated in Community Supported Agricultural (CSAs) for three years now. This has profoundly changed the way I eat, the diverse vegetation that I have access to and how healthy my body feels. The reasons for buying local go on and on. And one of the best ways to tap into fresh locally sourced foods is through the green market. In this video, you’ll meet Rick Bishop of Mountain Sweet Berry Farm. Rick sells his crops at the well known Union Square Green Market and also supplies many of the cities very top restaurants including Blue Hill and Gramercy Tavern. Why wouldn’t you want to buy your food from the same place these chefs go?

I hate to admit it but I have a short attention span when it comes to reading. While I am surrounded by people who ravage their way through one large volume after another, I tend to do much better with short stories and articles. I wanted to recommend a fast read which is also one of the most profound books I’ve had the pleasure to take in - Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee (2003 Nobel Prize Winner for Literature). The story is devastatingly powerful.

Yesterday, I purchased from itunes a few albums that I once owned on cassette - Dr. Dre’s The Chronic and Ice Cube’s The Predator. As if buying these albums from my high school years didn’t make me feel old enough, I now realize that I am part of a dying breed - those who pay for at least some of their music collection. The NY Times has some staggering information on the continued decline of music sales.

…of the 13 million songs for sale online last year, 10 million never got a single buyer and 80 percent of all revenue came from about 52,000 songs.

This commercial has to be the strangest, most stomach turning ad that I’ve ever seen for a book.

(via Feed)

I’ve never played my guitars through an Electro Harmonix pedal that I didn’t like. This video takes a look inside the companies production process in their factory located in NYC.

I have to know what an amber ale made with 45 million year old yeast tastes like.

This week, I spent some time with a friend who was in town visiting from Japan. She told me about the ceremony in which her family recently laid her father to rest. After making their final goodbyes, the body was cremated in a process that took about two hours. Following the cremation, the family was invited to personally collect all remaining bones with chopstick-like tools and place them in an urn. This tradition that she has three times taken part in was created to begin the process of closure for the family. Perhaps more than anyone I know, she seems to be at a certain peace with her loss. I can’t imagine how an urn designed to look like a loved one could possibly provide this kind of peace.

(via The Daily What)

I saw these sidecar-cycles in Soho parked a block apart.

Here are a few Sunday-cars in Park Slope. One is a classic BMW 2002 and the other a vintage Mini Cooper.

The days of Polaroid film may be behind us, but there isn’t any good reason not to pretend that they aren’t. Shake It Photo is a fun iphone application that gives your photos a little Polaroid makeover.

Fender has released an Elvis Costello model Jazzmaster as part of their artist series. The guitar was designed as a reproduction of the one he used on his debut album, My Aim Is True. The price tag for this model is just over two-thousand USD. Also in the series are Jazzmaster replicas of those played by J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. as well as Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth.

It seems that there is an Orwellian eBook problem going on. Big Brother decided to wipe the slate clean on some people’s Kindle ebook readers. Between this and the ordeal this past Spring when Amazon delisted gay themed books, one has to ask “what on good earth is going on over there”.

(via kottke)

My lady has made it clear to me that she will remove my limbs before she allows me to purchase a scooter. But that shouldn’t stop a guy from wanting. An old-school Vespa would be nice, but probably isn’t the statement that best fits my persona. However, the 2009 Honda Ruckus seems perfect for me - less hipster, more Mad Max.

David Lynch has created images to accompany Sparklehorse and Danger Mouse’s new project entitled Dark Knight. Listen to the album here.

The part of me that sometimes covets unneeded objects wants the evil items from the Memento Mori Collection by D.L. & Co.

I’ve fallen in love with a bicycle again. Made in NYC, the Dutch Master is designed to be a rugged urban bike with classic style.

Earlier in the year, Polaroid discontinued it’s beloved instamatic film. Sadly, Kodak has announced an end will come to Kodachrome. Here is more on shooting and developing the classic vibrant color stock while you still can.

(via Subtraction)

The clever folks over at The Mill have released a free iphone application that allows for fast image color-grading. This tool would definitely be helpful for quick on the set look references.

Director Pete Candeland of Passion Pictures was assigned the dream project of creating an animated opening cinematic for The Beatles edition of Rockband. The brilliant medley tracks through different musical and aesthetic periods of the band’s career, and concludes with a picture perfect visualization of I Am the Walrus. While I’m not quite sure of what John Lennon would think of using his music for video games, I’d be pretty certain that he’d be moved by this short animated film. The project is so wonderful that it actually gave me chills and goose bumps.

Stephen Colbert will be guest editing the June 8th issue of Newsweek. This kind of reminds me of the time that Jon Stewart went onto Crossfire to tell the “journalists” that they were hurting our country (this event spelled the end of the program) or the fact that ex-SNL funny man Al Franken is still embattled over a Senatorial seat in Minnesota. Perhaps comedians have some of the best perspectives on news and politics because they also have a sense of humor.

The NY Times have done a piece on Sriracha Sauce, one of the few items I’d need if lost on a deserted island.

While on the topic of spices, I thought I’d share a discovery that I made yesterday. While walking around in Alphabet City, I stumbled into an amazing importing spice shop. SOS Chefs carry a wide selection of not easily found kitchen specialties, ranging from loose saffron and cardamom to an array of different kinds of fresh mushrooms. Now I have to find a use or two for honey cultivated from bees who have been fed only rosemary.

These designer axes appeal to both my artistic and pathological sensibilities. One of these affordable pieces of art would look great hanging over my couch - in a Duchamp kind of way. The other nice aspect of owning a Best Made Axe is the obvious; nobody messes with the person with an axe in their hand.

.the is a design firm in the business of making humorous, yet useful wares.

Want the the bully to stop stealing your kid’s delicious sandwiches? Try Anti-Theft Lunch Bags.

On probation for tagging too many walls? Try this book of 80 blank NYC walls to scrawl all over.

This clever low-budget promo for the release of the new Punch-Out game on Wii takes me back to childhood.

I’ve found the bike I want. The Pashley Guv’nor is a handsome cycle indeed.

It’s been several years since Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Audrey Tautou collaborated on the Amelie follow-up, A Very Long Engagement. The director and actress have reunited to create this magical film in promotion of Chanel No.5.

Lack of fresh water in poor nations is to blame for a number of illnesses that result in millions of deaths each year. Charity:Water is a non-profit whose mission is to drill sustainable wells in underdeveloped communities to eliminate these completely preventable deaths. There is truly no acceptable reason that over a billion people are deprived of fresh drinking water each day. The organization put together this moving film for World Water Day.

Tribal DDB Amsterdam have collaborated with director Adam Berg to freeze time in Carousel. This beautifully executed short film was created to promote the new Phillips 21:9 TV. Here is a behind the scenes making of the project.

Toilet paper manufacturer Charmin has introduced an iphone application that tracks and reviews public restrooms.

Finally, I’ve found the ride that’s right for me.

Chris Cunningham has stepped back into the advertising arena with this elegant commercial for Gucci. Here is a behind the scenes look at the making of Flora.

Michel Gondry has launched his official site. For only $19.99 you can email a picture of yourself and he will personally sketch your portrait. Another available goodie is a roll of toilet with Gondry’s doodles scrawled all over so that you can “wipe your ass with Michel’s good ideas.”

To promote the release of their next album entitled It’s Blitz, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and director Barney Clay collaborated on the Snakesweat Trilogy. These quirky promos seem to give a nod and wink at the works of Russ Meyer and Alejandro Jodorowsky.

It is common knowledge that General Motors is a company in financial trouble and in need of a new business model. They have been slow to the chase with addressing consumer demands for a product that is more fuel efficient and environmentally sound. Yesterday, GM unveiled a rickshaw style concept car intended for urban environments. While there are no immediate plans to release such a vehicle into production, the step may signify a change in thinking at the company. Lets hope they mean what they say…

We were the S.U.V. company, and we accept that. We want to become the U.S.V. company - known for ultra-small vehicles.
- Larry Burn’s (GM VP for research and development and strategic planning)

You just might be hopeless if you need to install software on your computer to make you less distracted.

I’ve heard that the successful online shoe and apparel retailer, Zappos has a unique approach to hiring. Regardless of the job position, all employees must start off working on the phones providing customer service. At the end of this introductory training cycle, the candidate is then offered $1,000 to quit. You read that correctly; to quit. The idea here is that the company wants loyal employees, high productivity and low turner over. Google is also known for their rigorous process in which potential employees are asked to take aptitude tests. So with all of this in mind, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to know that Amazon is also concerned with maintaining a strong workforce. Jeff Bezos, the innovative CEO & founder of Amazon spent this week working among other wage earners in a Kentucky based distro-center to learn a thing or two.

I’ve posted before about the problems with maintaining a manicured front lawn as so many people do in the US. Last week, Michelle Obama took a big symbolic step forward for the sustainable food movement by planting the first vegetable garden at The White House in decades. Author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan writes why the Obama’s should rip out the front lawn of their new home next.

April Fools Day seems like a silly choice of time for Ikea to unveil their new venture, an environmentally friendly car called “The Leko”.

Clay Shirky has written a brilliant essay on the future of newspapers, how we have and will get our information.

Peter Saville has long been one of the most inspiring creators for me. A few months back, I posted an interview in which he discusses his process. Yesterday, he did a Q&A session for the D&AD President’s Lecture and had some forthright answers:

What is wrong with design education?

Has the computer democratized design?

What inspires you?

What do you think of Bansky?

With the devastation our interconnected global economy here, it may be time to start considering salvagepunk and use cinema as a guide of what to be wary of.

The promise beneath this? Keep the technology, keep consumption, but make it “thoughtful”, make it conscious, make it responsible. Gild your laptop, hammer some bronze, and think of the slow dance of the new wind-turbines on the horizon.

The interior furnishings of Amsterdam based ad agency Nothing are entirely created out of cardboard.

PosterBoy is a NYC based artist whose work can easily be classified as culture jamming. He has gained notoriety for his work in which he rearranges subway billboards using only a razor. His recent involvement in the re-arrangement of ads created for MoMA has caused a bit of a stir. See him do his thing here.

Here is a NY Times piece on the culture of TV commercials in France.

I thought I’d share two worthwhile programs that I watched on PBS this week. The Lobotomist is a documentary that tells the story of Dr. Walter Freeman’s rise and fall in medicine. He was the creator of a surgical procedure that was once used for a wide array of psychological conditions, known as a transorbital lobotomy. While some questioned his methods, Freeman’s treatment became so common and easy to perform that many thousands of patients underwent it. In fact, he once personally performed twenty five transorbital labotomies in one day, while another physician outdid him with seventy five in a single day. The arch of Freeman’s career truly is fascinating.

Now we move from science to the economy. The Frontline program produced an insightful episode on how Wall Street and our credit markets collapsed a few months ago like a house of cards. Inside the Meltdown is a gaze into the current economic disaster, beginning with the Bear Stearns bailout last spring. The documentary paints a terrifying portrait in a language that allows for anyone not familiar with the banking industry to understand what happened, why and who the major players were. Unfortunately, this is just the first chapter in a story that is far from over.

Paying what you think a meal and drink are worth, what a novel idea.

While in art school, I use to visit Kim’s Video on St. Mark’s Street almost daily at one point. I would watch two to three films a day. The store provided me with an endless library of hard to find selections. So it is fair to say that Kim’s Video has played a huge role in providing me with a film education outside that of my cinema studies in college. Regrettably, St. Mark’s has morphed into something of a typical shopping experience and video rental has become an impossible business forcing Kim’s to close. Even worse, when Mr. Kim offered up to donate his collection upon a few conditions, nobody in the city could make a realistic offer. The good news it that the collection will not go to waste and is being sent to Italy for a rather interesting archival project. It is unfortunate and frustrating that with all of the space in this city, nobody could make an agreeable offer to preserve part of our culture.

I’ve never been one to make best of or favorite lists. However, I’ve always had plenty of recommendations when it comes to cinema. The following is a list of surreal and unusual films that have profoundly influenced me. The films are listed in no particular order.

Brazil by Terry Gilliam / Trailer

Dead Man by Jim Jarmusch / Trailer

Little Murders by Alan Arkin / Trailer

The Fall by Tarsem Singh / Trailer

Delicatessen by Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Marc Caro / Trailer

The Holy Mountain by Alejandro Jodorowsky / Trailer

A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick / Trailer

The Tenant by Roman Polanski / Trailer

El Topo by Alejandro Jodorowsky / Trailer

King of Heats by Philippe de Broca

Catch 22 by Mike Nichols / Trailer

Alice by Jan Svankmajer / Trailer

Little Big Man by Arthur Penn / Scene

Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders / Trailer

MASH by Robert Altman / Trailer

Solaris by Andre Tarkovsky / Trailer

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover by Peter Greenaway / Trailer

Being There by Hal Ashby / Trailer

Dreams by Akira Kurosawa

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen by Terry Gilliam / Trailer

Barton Fink by Joel and Ethan Coen / Trailer

Eraserhead by David Lynch / Trailer

The Butcher Boy by Neil Jordan / Trailer

The use of obvious analogies complimented with visual aids is how some members of the US Senate think we need to spend precious time on the Senate floor. I wonder what this guy’s big ideas for a better stimulus package would be like. I’m kind of sickened to know that my tax payer dollars give this man a salary.

Here are Art Vinyl’s best record sleeves of 08.

Grand Luncheonette is a short documentary about an old-world hot dog shop that use be located in the heart of Times Square. I remember when I first moved to NYC and walked by this place. It was one of those special spots that makes you think, “they don’t make them like that anymore.” The film was directed by Peter Sillen and edited by Brett Nicoletti.

Bacon should be considered it’s own food group. If I were religious, I might call it food from the gods. Speaking of bacon, I stumbled across Bacon Today which is my favorite new website. While bacon infused vodka sounds curiously disgusting, I’d probably be interested in sampling a bacon shell taco.

Part of modern civilization as we know it is that we exist in a designed world. Design has permeated every single facet of our lives. In recent history, the branding and products released by Apple are one of our most persistent reminders that our lifestyle is a choice of design. Earlier today, I was having a discussion about whether or not the auteur theory can be applied to a designer. Technology blogger John Gruber of Daring Fireball recently spoke about this very topic at Macworld Pulse. Had Steve Jobs never been so concerned with design, his company would never have flourished. For their iconic logo, Jobs turned to the great Paul Rand to put a visual face on his company. His understanding that to make a good product was not enough, that the product must be aware of the user and reflect upon the user was later echoed in a huge way when the company ventured outside of the computer business with the ipod. So perhaps Jobs really was the auteur all along and created a culture in which great creative talent was fostered. Much of Apple’s success is in response to the talent of one product designer in particular, Jonathan Ive. So then, where did Ive look for his influence? Well the answer is obvious; Ive has always clearly been affected by the work of Dieter Rams. Here is a video in which Rams reflects upon some of his most classic utilitarian designs for a modern world.

Here is a pretty fascinating portrait series of families from around the globe photographed with the food which they consumed that very week.

In the past, PETA has tried to purchase Super Bowl air time for a commercial and been denied. This year they tried again, only to be refused once more by the airing network. It is kind of hard to understand how previous Super Bowls have featured this, but this isn’t alright. I’m not sure that I understand where the ethical line is drawn.

Advertising that parodies advertising:

Original / Sony Balls
Parody / Tango

Original / Honda Chorus
Parody 1 / The Daily Pie
Parody 2 / 118

Original / Cadbury Guerilla
Parody 1 / Wonderbra
Parody 2 / IFWA

Original / Honda Cog
Parody / 118

I’ve written before about how dancing can unite the world. Just yesterday, I posted on the charms of an 85 year old disco dancer living in Shanghai. As technologies advance, we are all certain to find ourselves sharing even more of our lives electronically. T-Mobile recently staged an incredible event that plays on this very idea of sharing our lives and how a simple dance can bring us all together.

RUN DC.

Here is a collection of 50 favorite Criterion Collection DVD covers. The group includes packaging that I concepted a few years back for Hoop Dreams.

(via kottke)

Could your child be the next Jedi knight? I sure hope you never buy this for them to find out.

What if instead of visiting the optician every time things start feeling blurry, you could just manually adjust your glasses? Now you can.

I’m not the biggest consumer and tend to abstain from buying things that I don’t really need. But every now and again, I see an advertisement for something and think “you know I really could use that.” Since it’s been perpetually cold in my apartment, I’m contemplating buying a ridiculous product that I saw on one of those annoying-as-hell infomercial style ads. The Snuggie is a blanket with sleeves. Or I could go with the Slanket which has a better name and comes in an array of colors. Then again the Snuggie comes with a free book-light. Decisions decisions. Guess what everyone is getting for Xmas next year.

Today, I stopped by the hardware store to pickup up some spackle which cost $3.99. I handed the clerk four singles to which he gave me the correct amount of change of one penny. I signaled that I didn’t need the penny back, thank you. And at that point an elderly gentleman interjected with a straight face that he once bought a Mercedes Benz using pennies that he had collected. He then raised his eyebrow as if to say “true story” and turned about to walk in the other direction.

If you’ve never been to Philadelphia’s Mütter Museum which was found to educate physicians on human medical anomalies, it is an absolute must visit for fans of the bizarre. And if a trip to the City of Brotherly Love is not in the cards for you anytime soon, you can ring in the new year with the Museum’s first calendar in six years.

Here is a film that shows how the classic Eames shell chair is produced. 

Unfortunately, the end of polaroid film is upon us in just three days.

While Neil Gaiman is a writer probably best known for his mysteriously dark tales, he has also penned several books for children with illustrations by Dave McKean. One of those stories, Coraline has been brought to the screen by Henry Selick, the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas.  This very promising looking animated film opens in theaters February 6.

Click around Richard Power’s photo portfolio of architecture and you will be certain to find a dream home. The abode below is looking pretty good to me right now.

Adjoining the introverted and eccentric life of Franz Kafka with the illustrative work of Robert Crumb makes for a rather peculiar read. The Fantagraphics release Kafka by Zane Mairowitz and Crumb is definitely worth picking up.

The Beauty Kit by Pleix sure would make for a unique gift from Santa.

Everyone has a story to tell. This is a beautifully photographed short documentary film about Martin the Tailor. He is a Holocaust survivor who came to the US in 1947. Starting out as a floor boy, the endearing man would eventually own the very company that gave him his first job in this country. Martin’s success as a tailor has even lead him to the White House where he has created custom suits for US presidents.

Mary Jane older than Jesus was found in China.

I first encountered Edward Burtynsky’s work at a show curated by the Brooklyn Museum of Art. There is an emotional paradox one feels when looking at his massive prints. The images are so beautiful and crafted with a masterful eye for detail. And yet, these photos are documents of how industry has changed our visual landscape. Burtynsky gave a TED talk a few years back which is certainly worth checking out. Additionally, a documentary entitled Manufactured Landscapes on the photographer’s work was released last year.

The holiday season usually means it’s that time of the year when we’ll catch half naked models frolicking around on a beach in a black & white fragrance commercial. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it seems like a bit of a tired formula. I look forward to the day that I turn on the tube and find a perfume ad as bizarre as this short film created by fashion photographer Eugenio Recuenco for Loewe’s odor “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás”.

(via Wicked Halo)

A crowd of savage-like shoppers forced their way into a Long Island Walmart store stampeding an employee to death. The lunatic consumers were more intent on finding bargains than helping the trampled people around them. I’m finding it hard to understand how I share the same kind of DNA as monsters like that.

It would seem appropriate on this holiday to re-visit last year’s Coca-Cola commercial titled It’s Mine. In the spot, two balloon characters at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade go rogue chasing around the city for an inflatable bottle of Coke. You can view The Mill’s making of the spot here.

Gobble Gobble all! Should you be in NYC for Thanksgiving this year and don’t have any special dinner plans, here’s an idea:

A reminder to everyone still making last minute holiday plans. This year Palo Santo will be open on Thanksgiving from 4pm to 9pm. Join us for a four course prix fixe menu priced at $45 per person. You are welcome to bring your family - you can be sure that I’ll be bringing mine! We will be serving our take on some seasonal favorites including Heritage Turkeys done as Pavo en Mole Poblano with Cranberry Salsa and Sweet Potato Gratin. We will also have options for pescatarians and vegetarians.

Jacques Gautier
chef / owner

Chuck Klosterman has reviewed the long awaited Guns N’ Roses album, Chinese Democracy. Klosterman likens the act of reviewing the album, which took over a decade to produce to reviewing a unicorn

When I die, I want to be cremated and turned into a pencil???

Today I feel like sharing a few film trailers. The first trailer is for a film by Luc Besson and is called Angel A. I just saw the movie last night and couldn’t stop smiling; it is really something extraordinary. This film is now out on DVD.

Let the Right One In comes as a recommendation from a friend who has seen it several times already. Three words: Swedish vampire film. In theaters now.

Lastly, while I’m not a huge comic book fan, I am so excited for the release of Watchmen. This is the newest trailer for the film. The graphic novel is sitting on my desk waiting to be read.

In 1960, one fifth of the nation’s beer was produced in Brooklyn, New York. By the mid 70’s there were no breweries left in Brooklyn. And now there has been a major resurgence of local breweries opening again. Here is a NY Times article on what happened.

This weekend, The Brazen Head located in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn will host a cask festival offering beer from several of the breweries mentioned in the article.

While some people use the internet to sell their knitwear, others use it to sell themselves. A friend told me a while back that actor, musician and general wack-job, Vincent Gallo had a rather peculiar web-page in which he sells all kinds of items ranging from his childhood posters to his sperm. My personal favorite item is an out of print copy of the complete works of Marcel Duchamp signed by Gallo offered at $1,000.

My friend Aya is a self-taughtknitter with an incredible sense of style. She just showed me these knit warmers that she designed and is hand making for the Free People label. Other pieces are available at her etsy page. Show some love and buy yourself a piece of wearable art. You still owe me a scarf Aya.

It’s Saturday afternoon and I should be thinking about getting my bum to kickboxing. Instead, my mind is drifting in the direction of beer. I’m thinking of two breweries whose potions I would like to sample at the moment. The first is from Yards Brewing Company of Philadelphia and is their “Saison” variety. The second is from Brooklyn based Sixpoint Craft Ales and is their “Sweet Action.” You have to love a brewery that makes a beer called “Hop Obama.”

The politics of food is very important to me. How we cultivate our food, obtain it and ultimately eat it directly affects our quality of life. I was pleased to learn that the super creative ad firm, Mother had launched a unique venture that speaks to this very topic. Dogmatic is a new kind of sausage vending experience that offers grass fed and free range foods. Additionally, some of the ingredients are locally sourced and this is absolutely an imperative trend to set for a sustainable agricultural system and economy. Former Burger King CEO, Brad Blum has bought a majority stake in the company and has hopes to take the sausage shop across the country. My big suggestion is for them to obtain a beer and wine license as well. What is a sausage without a beer?

Here is more on Dogmatic Sausage Systems.  In celebration of the “sausage” I share my favorite episode of The Kids in the Hall (has something to do with the love of meat stuff intestinal lining).

The gang over at Shilo and my friend, cinematographer Martin Ahlgren are some of the most inspiring and creative folks that I’ve had the pleasure of working with. I was so excited when I heard that they would be collaborating on a project for Guiness beer. The results are pretty brilliant.

For more on Shilo and how they do what they do, check this out.

I had been meaning for some time to drop by Flatbush Farm. Most of the ingredients at the restaurant are locally grown from small farms, and of course this includes grass fed organic meats. This weekend, I finally had a chance to check it out and stopped in for brunch. I don’t know what I liked more, the food or the ambiance; they have an amazing dining yard in which it is easy to forget where you are. I’m looking forward to checking out their dinner menu one night.

I happened upon a series of intriguing images on a French blog and realized that the images were actually from a book called Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopedia, published by Steidl. I’ll definitely have to track this one down knowing the quality of books Steidl produces. For more entertainment related to tattoos and Russian crime, I can’t recommend David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises enough.

If you live in Brooklyn and happen to be a beer guzzling foodie like myself, you should know about Grab. The small specialty food shop opened just a few months back in Park Slope. They have a wonderful selection of cheeses, meats, chocolates and beer. And now they offer beer growlers featuring different brews each week. Today I stopped in for bread and olive oil and John Hodgman let me cut in line in front of him.

At the other end of the Slope is Bierkraft. Much like Grab, they offer an amazing assortment of specialty food items, however they’ve been around for many years now. While both shops are worth knowing about, Bierkraft does boast a larger selection of beers and chocolate, as well as a more pleasant staff.

If you dig on swine, check out the First Annual Brooklyn Pig Roast at the Yard on Cctober 10.

I am very suspicious of the Federal Government’s Wall Street bail out plan. While I admittedly know very little about economics, I know a nasty pattern when I see one. The Bush Administration’s desire to rush towards such a plan seems irresponsible. Imagine that from them. I’d argue that its a classic case of “disaster capitalism.” What they are proposing seems to be so obviously flawed. Policies that ultimately allow the rich to get richer while everyone else is left holding the bag will be rushed through in a time of panic, no questions asked.

If I went to Vegas with a friend and he blew all of his money in the casinos and came to me asking to borrowing cash, I’d expect some sort of reasonable explanation as to how he lost his money before I’d consider giving him mine. So why should the American taxpayer fix these nasty gambling debts without an ounce of oversight or regulation? Certainly something is very wrong with this kind of economy; certainly something is very wrong with this kind of governing. Are we suppose to accept that ethics and trade don’t have to coexist? The one voice I generally trust when looking at issues through the lens of economics is that of Paul Krugman. In his op-ed yesterday, all of my suspicions were confirmed.

For more on disaster capitalism read Naomi Klein’s The Shock Doctrine.

Perhaps much of the success behind Apple’s recent advertising is in part due to the similarities between the cartoon Wile E. Coyote and John Hodgeman’s PC character in the Mac vs PC ads. And just this morning I heard that Microsoft is going to try and make fun of Apple by introducing a Hodgeman-like character of their own. That should be interesting.

(via Daring Fireball)

Damien Hirst is certainly one of the biggest names in contemporary art. He really shocked the hell out of the art world this week when sold a lot of his work at auction through Sothesby’s, bypassing gallery representation. The works brought in overwhelming price tags far beyond expectations; combined sales totaling over 200 million dollars. Hirst’s reaction to the success is pretty amusing.

I’m totally amazed that my art is selling while banks are falling.

The Sun’s take on the auction is almost as amusing as Hirst’s thoughts. See the instructions on how to make your own Hirst piece at the bottom of the article.

Introducing the fully immersive virtual reality cocoon. Wow this really sounds like something you’d find in a video arcade circa 1990. What the article fails to mention is that the whole thing is run by a Commodore 64.

Students from Belgium really know how to party. However, they’re like Gremlins after dark. Just don’t give them diet-coke and mentos; thats when they turn from cute and cuddly into something more demonic.

I just listened to the first few cuts off the new Metallica album. Like most critics, I think the band has been on a pathetic decline both personally and creatively since the release of …And Justice For All. I am only three songs in and completely thrilled. For their forthcoming album, the band turned to super-genius record producer Rick Rubin. What a difference he makes. The guy can probably turn water into wine.

Last week, the NY Times did a piece on the collaboration between Metallica and Rubin. Earlier in the year the paper wrote a pretty amazing in-depth feature article with Rick Rubin about his process, the state of the record business and his future. Its still amazing to comprehend that he has cultivated the best of: Neil Diamond, Slayer, Metallica, Johnny Cash, Jay Z, Run DMC, the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, The Dixie Chicks, Public Enemy, Danzig, Tom Petty, Red Hot Chili Peppers…

I guess when design guru Philippe Starck proclaimed design dead and announced his departure from design, he was only kidding. Apparently, his next big move is into the world of reality TV, where he will host a search for his studio’s newest employee.

Presenting the Shit Box.

I would never in a million years be caught dead in a pair of custom made converse all-star pants, unless of course i were a Japanese school girl (which I’m not). But it doesn’t mean they aren’t badass.

Brooklynites no longer have to run to midtown Manhattan for Korean food. Moim serves traditional Korean dishes with a contemporary twist. Now that I’ve had them, there is very little that I wouldn’t do for a plate of their spare ribs.

Outside of urban neighborhoods in the US, people are expected to keep a groomed front lawn. Where did this come from and what’s wrong with it? Elizabeth Kolbert explains in Turf Wars from this weeks New Yorker.

Recently, a NASA-funded study, which used satellite data collected by the Department of Defense, determined that, including golf courses, lawns in the United States cover nearly fifty thousand square miles, an area roughly the size of New York State. The same study concluded that most of this New York State-size lawn was growing in places where turfgrass should never have been planted. In order to keep all the lawns in the country well irrigated, the author of the study calculated, it would take an astonishing two hundred gallons of water per person, per day. According to a separate estimate, by the Environmental Protection Agency, nearly a third of all residential water use in the United States currently goes toward landscaping.

Until now, I hadn’t heard anything in the way of controversy surrounding Pixar’s latest release WALL-E. I find it ridiculous and sadly germane to the film’s subject matter that there will always be those folks on the bottom of the human evolutionary ladder who consistently look at the world through some sort of backwards-asshole-lens.

I’ve posted before on the idea of vertical farming. Here are more renderings of what vertical farms of the future could look like.

Skin care product manufacturer Elave has nothing to hide; they’re going full frontal.

Most of the stores in the neighborhood that I call home are independent and locally owned. When I saw construction taking place for a 7-eleven convenience store, I was horrified. Considering that there are bodegas on almost every corner, the attempt to open up shop in the neighborhood seemed like an unneeded threat. What I found most disturbing was how the store was introduced to the neighborhood. 7-eleven’s visually offensive and brighter then Vegas store sat empty for months waiting for a franchise buyer to come scoop it up. The company had built out the space with no immediate plans. This was simply a territorial move by a corporation to be the first of their kind in the area. Other chain stores in recent years have tried to do the same thing and failed. What makes 7-eleven different? The difference is the Slurpee.

With all of my voiced criticism, when the weather got hot I was the first to go buy a Coca Cola flavored Slurpee. My friends, neighbors and loved ones pointed and laughed. They ridiculed my hypocrisy. Today, I have the last laugh. In honor of today’s date, the store will be giving away free Slurpees. 

There is a new greener way to package milk and large corporate retailers like Wal Mart and Cost Co recognize the incentives. Now its time for consumers to relearn how to pour milk.

10 Cameraphone photographs that rock.

(via monoscope)

At a BBQ last night, a friend told me about the new website of avante-garde filmmaker and writer Jonas Mekas. Though in his 80’s, the site is testament to Mekas’ active career and passion.

Mekas has always been concerned with the preservation of cinema and the importance of bringing film to the people.  As a founder of The Anthology Film Archives, he has done just that. This is his foray into the modern world of the web. The site offers previews of work that can be downloaded for a modest fee. In addition to Mekas’ own films, works by other filmmakers including: Kenneth Anger, Marcel Duchamp, and Jim Jarmusch are available for download. The site is a wonderful example of how the web has put the power of distribution back into the hands of the creators.

I’ve seen pretty much every episode of Law & Order. I was rather bummed to hear that Noth is out and Goldblum is in.

Radiohead have released a live video series available for download entitled From the Basement. In addition, to performing the band’s latest album In Rainbows you can catch performances by guests including: The White Stripes, Sonic Youth, Beck, Jarvis Cocker, PJ Harvey and more.

Heinz created a socially relevant commercial with a surprise twist.  That twist drew complaints from 200 viewers and led to the banning of the commercial. There is nothing like a little self censoring to appease a few bigots. I find it hard to understand how Heinz signs off on the creation and airing of this commercial, and then retracts because of a little heat. Either the corporation wants to be a socially progressive voice or they don’t.

Though I don’t own a car and have no need for car insurance, I’ve always thought that it was clever that Geico has maintained several distinct ad campaigns at the same time. There has long been the too cute CG gecko with an inexplicable British accent. And of course, there are the disgruntled civilized cavemen brothers who found an extended life in a short lived TV comedy show. The newest campaign pairs real people with B-list stars and celebrity wash-ups including: James Lipton, Peter Frampton, Joan Rivers, Little Richard, Charo, The Pips, Michael Winslow and yes Mrs. Butterworth (the maple syrup bottle lady).

Its margarita weather, so get to know your tequila.

My apartment is being consumed by books. Perhaps its time to get crafty and do something like the bibliochaise.

This John McCain campaign T shirt design is pretty perfect. 

Apple has hired director David Fincher to make a TV ad to introduce the new iPhone 3G which starts at $199.

Like it or not, the Brooklyn Ikea will be opening in my backyard in just a few days. An event like this won’t come without a whole lot of press and advertising.

There truly couldn’t have been a more appropriate director than Anton Cobijn to tell the story of Ian Curtis and Joy Division on the silver screen. Though the film only was given limited theatrical release, Control is now available on DVD.

Made famous by Jimi Hendrix, the Gibson Flying V has always been a stunning guitar designed to articulate serious attitude. The guitar was originally released in 1957. Sadly though modern guitar design has taken a turn for the worse with regards to both craftsmanship and aesthetic. In a rather lazy attempt to try something new, Gibson reversed the body of the legendary instrument and released a total Frankenstein.

For several summers I have talked a good amount about buying a bike and never purchased anything. Much like any other vehicle, a bike speaks volumes about its owner; essentially it is an extension of one’s persona. I have considered the track bike which is clearly a masculine statement. I have even thought that the nerdy chic fold up bike might work for me. In the end I have yet to find the right fit.  And now I’ve discovered bicycles made by the Swedish boutique Skeppshult. How I covet the bike below.

I have shared interviews with Michael Pollan before. Last year Pollan gave a talk at the TED conference in which he asked us to look at the world from the perspective of plants.

Designer Scott Hansen has created the second poster in the Artists for Obama Gallery.  The Shepard Fairy designed prints sold out fast; so get one of these while you can.

We’ve heard of the notorious rock star tour rider. It is the contract that demands warm fresh towels in every room. It delineates what type of alcohol must be present on the bus and in what quantity. And of course, there is the proclamation that all M&Ms must be sorted into separate bowls by color. Exactly how much bacon does it take to keep the Foo Fighters happy?

Recently I posted about Pascal Dagin, the world’s premier fashion photo retoucher. I’ve also recently posted about Unilever’s brand Dove and some of their practices, both good and bad as a cosmetics manufacturer. Their global Campaign for Real Beauty was aimed at portraying what women truly look like in the real world. Ironically, the company hired the world’s greatest photo retoucher for that very campaign. Why? Because even real beauty needs a little post production help from time to time.

Vintner Robert Mondavi passed away this week at the age of 94. Seen below on his 90th Birthday, Bob was looking pretty spectacular for his age. Tip your glasses everyone and lets pour a glass in his honor.

Alejandro Jodorowski is a cinema genius like no other. The success of his film El Topo made him “the father of the midnight movie.” His films have been described as political, surreal, offensive and psychodelic.  All of these descriptions are as accurate as they are false. His body of work has been created as a quest for truth and enlightenment. For decades his films were only available on pirated VHS dubs and were banned in many countries. Now a set of three Jodorowsky films and accompanying soundtracks are available including: Fando y Lis, El Topo, and The Holy Mountain.

Juneau Alaska is a town going green fast; they have no other choice.

The New Yorker just did a piece on Pascal Dangin, the world’s foremost image retoucher of fashion photography.

In the last few years Dove, the manufacturer of soaps and beauty products has been running their Campaign for Real Beauty. The idea is a global campaign focused on a social change that recognizes that real women come in different sizes and shapes. Dove’s online viral Evolution spot was truly something special to see; again they were punctuating the notion that real people don’t walk around looking like touched up photos.

With this kind of advertising one would think that a company like Dove is not only socially concerned about those who buy their products, but the world at large. I was terribly disappointed to see an ad created by Greenpeace designed to raise awareness of Dove’s not so friendly practices in Indonesia. Unilever the brand’s parent company is participating in trade for palm oil that is leading to the destruction of valuable forest and wildlife. See the very telling ad and lets make Unilever reconsider their trade.

Miranda July is a charming offbeat writer, filmmaker and artist. She truly has such a unique voice and way that she sees the world. Last year she released a collection of short stories called No One Belongs Here More Than You. Coinciding with the release of the book, July launched a pretty clever website in which she transforms her stove top into a dry erase board. The site is a great place to start. If you love it; buy the book.

Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor has worked tirelessly writing, recording and touring the last several years. On the band’s last touring album Year Zero, Reznor created something of an alternate reality designed to engage fans in a world around the music. This massive experiment proved to be hugely successful. As the recording industry continues to wrestle with change, NIN are plowing forward redefining our musical landscape and bringing their fans with them. Since Year Zero, the band has released two more albums. The first is an album called Ghosts I-IV which was intended to play like a soundtrack to an unmade film. NIN have launched the Ghost Film Festival inviting fans to make videos inspired by the tracks. The newest album, The Slip is an entirely free giveaway. The band is also encouraging fans to remix tracks and pass them around. It is quite clear that Reznor has embraced the notion that music can be a dialogue; his list of collaborators continues to grow and now includes his own fans.

Thom Yorke discusses Radiohead’s new video for All I Need.

A deal to purchase $23 billion worth of corn syrup. I sure hope this isn’t what Warren Buffett thinks a sustainable future looks like.

Marilyn Manson has finally decided like so many other celebs to endorse his own product. The rocker was instrumental in developing his label of absinthe. And yes, its true that certain brands of true absinthe are now legal in the US. It is also absolutely false that absinthe will make you go looney more than any other type of spirit. That was all actually a giant smear campaign created by a threatened wine industry in France during the early 1900s.

NY Magazine asked four architects to design a plan that would utilize an empty lot near Manhattan’s Canal Street. In a perfect world, we would see brilliant sustainable ideas like these come to fruition. Who wouldn’t want to live in an urban farm-apartment building?

(via serious eats)

Philadelphia. Barack verse Hillary. Nope. The real question is Geno’s or Pat’s?

Oliver Ackerman is the singer and guitar player for A Place to Bury Stangers. The band has generated indie-cult status. In addition to playing very loud music, he is the creator of Death By Audio. Several years back, Oliver had the idea to sell his custom guitar FX pedals that he had designed for his himself. This fruitful experiment lead to something bigger. The very studio where he was working became something of a collective artists space that curates shows and provides bands with rehearsal and recording space. Picthfork has done a feature on Oliver’s brainchild.

Just how well do you know where your food comes from? Before your meal made its way to your plate, how did the ingredients start out? Everyday, it is highly likely that you are ingesting food that can be traced back to a very large and unfriendly corporation called Monsanto.

The company controls a large majority of the seeds that are used in this country for farming. Through the influence of money and intimidation techniques, this company has re-written our laws and claims patents on some of the most fundamental parts of our food chain. Like the use of seeds for planting. Monsanto historically has been a chemical company. In the 60’s they were makers of agent orange, a dangerous cancer causing pesticide. Gradually, the company shifted into the agriculture business consolidating competition under their roof. Now Monsanto is moving in on our dairy supply.

Who is paying the price? American farmers are absolutely suffering and being bullied about. These genetically modified unnatural seeds are ending up in the greater portion of what we eat. What are we to do? First, get to know Monsanto. And secondly, eat less packaged food and purchase more local food from local green markets.

In The Graduate (1967), there is a famous line in which Dustin Hoffman’s character is advised upon his college graduation, “I’ve got one word for you. Plastics… the future is in plastics.” And so it is true that plastic has changed our world, but not always for the better. There is a highly polluted section of the Pacific Ocean estimated to be about twice the size of Texas that has been referred to as “Garbage Island.”

The largest outdoor flea market in New York City has just opened in Brooklyn.

A closer look at Juergen Teller’s long standing collaboration with fashion designer Marc Jacobs and the use of Victoria Beckham’s legs.

Phillips commissioned auteur Wong Kar Wai to direct a short film to show off their new Aurea line of flat panel TVs. The result is There is Only One Sun, a French language film that seems heavily inspired by Godard’s Alphaville. The director continues to explore how to juxtapose mod aesthetics from the 60’s with a technicolor science-fiction future. In true Wong Kar Wai fashion, cooler than cool characters struggle with the pains of love. 

Known for their witty iconic advertising, vodka manufacturer Absolut ruffled a few feathers with their latest print campaign running in Mexico. “In An Absolut World”  highlighted in bold, the ad depicts the positioning of the US-Mexican border prior to the Mexican-American War of 1848. Why this should be offensive to Americans, I have no idea.

Apple believes that if another company or organization uses an illustration of the delicious sweet fruit, their trademark has been infringed upon. This one is a stretch.

Value your internet freedoms; and do so by staying abreast of the net neutrality wars that are taking shape. Damian Kulash Jr. is best known as the singer for OK GO. The band has become poster children for the idea that success can be generated through the internet. This is exactly why Kulash was asked to be a witness for the House Judiciary Committee’s antitrust task force. He wrote an op-ed for the New York Times talking a bit about the topic. This issue is not going away folks.

If you don’t know of Michael Pollan, perhaps you have heard of his critically heralded book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma. And perhaps this interview will persuade you to pick up the book. Pollan has a fantastic way of articulating the importance of understanding where our food comes from, and how our food affects our society socially, culturally, politically, and economically.

Young entrepreneur Mark Ecko has helped to define the look of a generation. Starting with t-shirts, his empire has grown to include: G-Unit, Avirex, ecko unltd., and Zoo York. Recently he has branched into the interactive and entertainment worlds with Mark Ecko Entertainment and Complex Magazine. Last year Ecko pranked the world with his viral advertisement depicting a person sneaking onto a runway and tagging Air Force 1. The story was picked up by just about every major news organization, and apparently the White House actually had to investigate and confirm that the event never happened. Ecko is back at it with a new prank for his Zoo York label.

The people behind the success of American Apparel are no dummies. They have created what seems like an overnight clothing empire. They maintain a progressive work environment that provides educational opportunity and fair pay to their employees. Their simplistic stylish clothing is made from good quality materials and is manufactured entirely in the US. However, their CEO has made public his interest in orgies and the use of “the camel-toe” as a means to advertising (thanks Terry Richardson). I didn’t realize the extent of his silliness. The company is being sued by Woody Allen for using his image in a billboard campaign; apparently they didn’t even bother to get his permission first.

Chocolate suicide.

A NY Times Op-Ed discussing the ugly politics involved in farming local organic agriculture. Of course the big guy fears the little guy.

I like toast. I like it with butter or with jam, it’s all good by me. If you also love toast, you may be fascinated by this new kind of toaster.