Clinton + Clinton + Clinton

Arctic Monkeys Lancashire Country Cricket club

Public Image Limited "Live In Tokyo"

'Live in Tokyo' was one of the first digital live albums ever recorded (if not the first). The gigs were recorded on a Mitsubishi X-800 32ch tape recorder. At the time there were only three in existence and the cutting edge of musical technology.

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Dogs

Bush + Brown @ Camp David

Microsoft v Google Streetview Fleet

And the Mac freaks say PC's have boring designs!

Spotswood Custom Computers is proud to introduce its new line of round, wood, PC cases. Our unique designs sets us apart in the industry. Each custom, scratch-built case is handcrafted with high-quality maple veneer plywood, which gives you a beautiful, more durable and quieter running PC than anything else out there. In addition, you will have a very distinctive and attractive piece of furniture to house your computer!

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Makoto Oda R.I.P.

Makoto Oda, an award-winning writer whose disgust with war led to the formation of Beheiren (citizens' league for peace in Vietnam), died of stomach cancer Monday at a Tokyo hospital, his family said.

He was 75.

Oda was diagnosed with terminal cancer in spring this year. He died at 2:05 a.m.

Born in Osaka in 1932, Oda survived the great Osaka air raid on Aug. 14, 1945, a day before Japan's surrender.

Oda's anger at what he called "meaningless deaths" is believed to have been his source of energy to continue his writing and anti-war activities.

After graduating from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Letters, Oda studied at Harvard University on a Fulbright scholarship in 1958.

He later traveled through Europe and Asia, restricting himself to spend only 1 dollar a day.

Oda wrote about his experiences in the 1961 best-seller "Nandemo Miteyaro" (I'll go and see everything).

In 1965, Oda established Beheiren jointly with other anti-war activists, including philosopher and critic Shunsuke Tsurumi and writer Takeshi Kaiko, to protest the Vietnam War.

While continuing to write after Beheiren was disbanded, Oda spoke up on political issues from the standpoint of a citizen.

In 1976, he visited North Korea to meet with then leader Kim Il Sung.

The former Japan Socialist Party in 1987 asked Oda to run in the Tokyo gubernatorial election, but he declined.

Oda was living in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, when the Great Hanshin Earthquake devastated the Kobe area on Jan. 17, 1995, killing more than 6,000 people.

Having seen firsthand the slow government response in a time of disaster, Oda pressed for the passage of the disaster-relief law intended to help victims rebuild their lives.

Oda was also an inaugural member of the Article 9 Association, a group set up in June 2004 to protect war-renouncing Article 9 of Japan's Constitution. Other members include Nobel Prize laureate Kenzaburo Oe and critic Shuichi Kato.

In 1988, Oda won the Lotus Prize of the Afro-Asian Writers' Association, a literary award hailed as the best prize for writers in Asia and Africa, for his book "Hiroshima."

Resources:

TIME Magazine: The Courage of His Convictions

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Old skool hiphop flyers

Check out these old posters and flyers from back in the day. They were made for shows at ol' NYC clubs like the Ecstasy Garage Disco.

Word.

[via BoingBoing]

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Warship 2.0

Cast of "The Last Samurai"

Miru Kim

Ms. Kim’s site, mirukim.com, which has made her something of a legend in urban explorer circles, contains a section devoted to a project she calls “Naked City Spleen.”

The site features color photographs of Ms. Kim, naked, posed in abandoned tunnels and structures in New York and elsewhere. In one, she crouches like a cat on a vast slab of rusting steel amid the ruins of the former Revere sugar refinery, now demolished, in Red Hook, Brooklyn. In another, she appears, back turned to the camera, squeezed into the narrow heating tunnels below Columbia University, her alma mater. The effect is powerful, not just because of the eroticism, but also because her nakedness seems to emphasize her human vulnerability.

Ms. Kim took considerable risks to obtain her images. A few years ago, she and a friend encountered a body on a trip in Washington Heights. Another time, while she was making a solo visit to the same mysterious tunnel she and Mr. Anastasio visited together, the occupant of the homeless camp appeared just as she had removed her clothes.

The Shadow City Despite her initial fear, she continued with her photography. “In my mind,” she wrote later on her Web site, “he is a dweller in one of the darkest rooms in the collective unconsciousness of all the inhabitants of New York and possibly of all modern cities.”

This sense of communicating with the city on a secret frequency may be what is most appealing to urban explorers.

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The Microsoft boss says that I am "weird and extreme"

Today, I read the following in an article in the New York Times about Microsoft's future:

“We’re not moving toward a world of thin computing,” said Steven A. Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive, referring to systems in which simple processing takes place on a PC, but more complex processing is moved to a centralized computer through a network connection. “We’re moving toward a world of software plus services.”

Nearly every Microsoft software application will be transformed with the addition of a Web-services component within 3 to 10 years, he said.

He rejected the notion that in the future all software would be based in what computer industry executives refer to as “the cloud” — computer hardware and software reachable over the Internet. “People tend to get weird and extreme about this,” Mr. Ballmer said. “Does everything move to the cloud? I think that is wrong-minded.”

Microsoft is apparently considering rolling out a - revised? - web-based strategy. I am not confident that this strategy will work. Steve claims that we are NOT moving towards thin computing (mobile devices, anyone?) and that we ARE moving towards a future WITH software (surprise!) and services. However, they are launcing web services of their software within 3 to 10 years. (Not a typo, unless the New York Times do not read proof). Finally, he offers the following about the users and the market: "you are weird and extreme".

I claim that Steve is smoking too much of Bill Gates' synthetic pot. I may drink a bottle of rosé or two in the weekends, but I am still clear enough in my head to know this:

1. We are moving towards thin client computing, i.e. mobile devices

2. The future* is MINUS software PLUS services = web 3.0 (timelines to market are 3-10 months)

3. The - social - users and the - social - market are king. Corporation power is dead.

*Btw: the future is now. People are uninstalling their Office software as Steve is firing up his designer bong.

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Japanese voters at a polling place in Tokyo today

The Tallest Tower In Latin America

Group Danhos has commissioned the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) to design Torre Bicentenario in the centre of Mexico City which will become the tallest building in Latin America. Completion is scheduled for 2010 to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Mexico’s Independence.The building will accommodate over 160,000 sqft of office space, a convention centre, site museum, gym, as well as retail and restaurants. The 300 meter tall building will be located at the intersection of Reforma and Anillo Perife Rico, in the northeast corner of Mexico City’s Chapultepec Park, home to the Presidential residence.

Looking like 2 inverted pyramids bridged by a lobby where shuttles and elevators pass thru, it boasts a viewing deck over the park and the city. Two voids penetrate the building at its widest point providing ventilation and natural light. Whilst traditional high-rises tend to internalize this feature with an atrium, the Torre Bicentenario projects it onto the facade cutting into the building. A pattern of reflective glass panels covering 50% of the interior surface maximizes light penetration. The void twists at its midpoint, opening at the bottom toward the park and at the top toward the city, connecting the building to its surroundings.

Architect: OMA

[From: Yankodesign.com]

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Giles Deacon designs laptop covers for Intel's ASUS computers

Designers for high street has turned to designers for technology with Dolce & Gabbana for Motorola, and Prada for LG, just to name two. Well it’s time to add another designer to the list. Giles Deacon has gotten together with Intel to create an exclusive his and her’s print to be applied as a 'skin' to 150 Asus notebooks which will be available exclusively at Selfridges in July. "My own laptop is a necessity for design work both at home and abroad and Intel provides me with the technology to speed up the design process," says Giles. "Laptops are now becoming an essential item, so providing a cover design which will fit in both an executive and personal setting is an exciting project."

[Via Vogue.co.uk]

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Jes Brinch @ V1 Gallery

Ryan McGinley "The Aftermath, Pennsylvania (2000)

Sakon Yamamoto

Michael Rasmussen

Windows Home Server RC1 preview

Punk Picasso

Natto

Nattō (納豆, Nattō) is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, popular especially at breakfast. A rich source of protein, nattō and the soybean paste miso formed a vital source of nutrition in feudal Japan. For some, nattō must be an acquired taste due to its powerful smell, strong flavor, and sticky consistency.

Nattō is made from soybeans, typically a special type called nattō soybeans. Smaller beans are preferred, as the fermentation process will be able to reach the center of the bean more easily. The beans are washed and soaked in water for 12 to 20 hours. This will increase the size of the beans. Next, the soybeans are steamed for 6 hours, although a pressure cooker can be used to reduce the time. The beans are mixed with the bacterium Bacillus subtilis natto, known as nattō-kin in Japanese.

Bacillus natto is used in the commercial production of the Japanese delicacy natto as well as the similar Korean food cheonggukjang.

Nattō is also said to have an antibiotic effect, and its use as medicine against dysentery was researched by the Imperial Japanese Navy before World War II.

1941: Bacillus subtilis was discovered by the Nazi German medical corps.
1966: Bacillus subtilis was released throughout the New York subway system, conducted by the U.S. Army's Special Operations Division, to test the vulnerability of the subway system to biowarfare that could kill more than a million civilians.

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Inflight Internet lives again: Qantas introduces wireless broadband, laptop power in all classes

Those already giddy about their 2008 trip to Down Under should now pick up the phone and do whatever it takes to get on one of Qantas' forthcoming A380s or revamped 747-400s, as both planes will reportedly feature in-flight WiFi and laptop power. As if that weren't enough, the new A380s will even dole out power sockets to those in economy class, and while the in-flight entertainment system may be preferred by your offspring, we know you'll greatly appreciate the internet access and seat-mounted USB / Ethernet ports. Currently, Qantas has yet to divulge exactly how much these luxuries will run you per flight, and while there's still a few months remaining before any passengers are faced with such comforts while flying Qantas, we can't help but yearn for a first-class ticket complete with a 17-inch widescreen LCD. Hit the read link for a few more snapshots and the full rundown of extras.

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A Sofa Bed taken to new Heights

How often do you get to use the spare bed room, and is it worth spending time and space not to mention money decorating for the occasional guest. This may give you a great option while keeping the space factor to a minimum. The Doc sofa bed has a unique mechanism that transforms the sofa into a bunk bed complete with a hideaway ladder and safety rail resulting in two different beds. Perfect for small spaces as well as dorms, the Doc is made by UK based BonBon Trading.

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Tank Limo - you calling me a poser, mate?

The Tank Limo is kind of scary. OK, so it’s white, with a plush green interior and cocktail bar (with a Jacuzzi on the way), but it’s still scary. Wonder if you have any problems with doormen when you crawl out of this puppy on your way to the club?

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The One Laptop Per Child Foundation

Fly Panda!

Bashing

Yokohama rocks

Dirty Pretty Things, London Hackney Empire, July 2007

Cool t-shirt

Tour De France

Yoko Ono (Magnum PR press photo)

JOHN LENNON, YOKO ONO AND THEIR CHILDREN AT DURNESS

Leslie Fiedler "Nude Crocquet"

I ordered this book online at Abebooks.com in the U.S. today. My life is so interesting. I will let you know when I picked it up at the post office. This is why blogging has a bad name. The book should be good, though. Blog you!

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Apps vs. Office

Earlier this year I dumped Microsoft Office (excluding PowerPoint*, which I occasionally use to impress my bank). Recently, I uninstalled Outlook as well. I do not like "heavy software". It is pricey, complicated and time-consuming. I prefer "light software" running directly on the web. From any browser, any computer, any location. It seems I am not the only one. BusinessWeek has more. At the same time I am really looking forward to Windows Home Server. I want Microsoft to be a back-end player and leave my client alone (except for my MSN, my WindowsMedia and...yes, I use Explorer, which seems to be their hottest front-end products these days. Their Live Service doesn't really seem to take on and too many of their online offers are limited to the U.S.) Please comment: What do you use? Office or Apps?

*There also have been two purchases to better compete with Microsoft's ubiquitous PowerPoint slide show software. In April, Google bought Tonic Systems, a provider of online presentation software. And in June it acquired Zenter, whose software lets users share slides over the Web. A spokeswoman says Google plans to offer such applications this summer.

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Urban Manifesto: Factors that make a city great

IHT.COM: What do you really want out of a city? And what can you do without? With the environment top of the agenda in mayors' offices around the world, Monocle looks beyond the recycling bins and congestion charges to see what makes for a liveable city. Tolerance, punctual transit, plenty of sunshine and the ability to get a drink in the wee hours all count for something.

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GUEST BLOG: What will Facebook look like in 40 years?

At the moment the generational difference means that the vast majority of users on sites like Facebook are the younger generation. But the other day, it crossed my mind that in the future, 40 or so years, Facebook will look somewhat different when we’ve all got a touch older.

I know this thought is a bit random but I strangely find it interesting.

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Norihiko Ahagi has refused to comment on how his face was injured

Given the official ministerial entourage that accompanies Mr Akagi when he steps outside the front door of his home, speculation centred on the theory that the minister received his injuries at home, possibly from a family member. He later admitted that his wounds had not been received “in the official line of duty”.

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