September 30, 2013
Lignum Vitae
"Wood so bad-ass it's used to make shaft bearings for nuclear submarines."
September 29, 2013
ComicBookGirl19 - Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Ep. 1 Review
"Interns of SHIELD."
Also: RoboCop cosplay success.
September 28, 2013
The Best of New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013-2014
"FashionTV presents the best of New York Fashion Week for Fall/Winter 2013-2014 with an indepth look at shows like Yigal Azrouel, Donna Karan, Vera Wang, Diane von Furstenberg, Herve Leger by Max Azria, Prabal Gurung, Theyskens' Theory, Betsey Johnson, Y-3, Jeremy Scott, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, BCBG Max Azria, Custo Barcelona, Helmut Lang, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Jason Wu, 3.1 Philip Lim, Alexander Wang, DKNY, Michael Kors, Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger."
The Business of Being Tom Ford
"To accompany the launch of the Business of Fashion 500, Imran Amed sits down with the one and only Tom Ford to understand how he built his own brand — projected to soon turn over $1 billion a year at retail — and the lessons he has learned along the way."
September 27, 2013
Making Dreams: Fendi and the Cinema
"Fendi’s relationship with the film world is not immediately apparent until you start probing into the rolling credits. At ‘Making Dreams: Fendi and the Cinema’, a month long exhibition just opened at the heavily stylized Cinema Manzoni, co-curators Patrick Kinmonth and Antonio Monfreda have brought that fur/film connection to life."
"I remember, as a little girl, film screenings were events in their own right."
- Silvia Venturini Fendi
A spacecraft for your face
"You might know EXOvault for their superbly awesome metal and wood iPhone cases and now they’re bringing their wizardry to your face in the form of eyeglasses. Their first style is their EXO1000 Kingsland frame which are machined from solid aluminum and are just 'like a spacecraft for your face.'"
Azzedine Alaïa
"Alaïa is reluctant to talk about himself. He rarely gives interviews, hardly ever stages fashion shows and only presents new collections when he feels they are ripe enough."
September 26, 2013
George Orwell: A Life in Pictures (2003)
The most moving, informative documentary I have ever seen.
ΔΕΞΑΙ
"Lead sling bullet; almond shape; a winged thunderbolt on one side and on the other, in high relief, the inscription DEXAI 'Catch!'"
September 25, 2013
Catapult Creative
"The top five mistakes we made starting a creative agency."
Prada Candy L'Eau
Prada presents a film by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola starring Léa Seydoux introducing the new fragrance Prada Candy L'Eau.
September 24, 2013
Casa de Fierro
"La Casa de Fierro is one of the finest as well as best-preserved samples of civil architecture in Peru. The walls, ceiling, and balcony are plastered in rectangular sheets of iron. It is said to be the first prefabricated house in the Americas. It was designed by the French architect Gustave Eiffel and built in the Belgian workshops of Les Forges D´Aiseau. Rubber baron Anselmo del Aguila bought it at the International Exposition of Paris in 1889. Once dismantled, it was brought in pieces to Iquitos (the metal sheets were carried by hundreds of men through the jungle), and assembled there in 1890."
Iquitos: "The city can be reached only by airplane or boat, with the exception of a road to Nauta, a small town roughly 100 km (62 mi) south. It is the largest city in the world which cannot be reached by road."
I do not drink wine
"High house prices? Inequality? I blame the Normans."
By contrast: Germanic kings were elected.
September 23, 2013
Versace and Prada
"In fashion we use the word ‘street’ constantly, but what does it mean?"
But in Milan right now, we're getting some new, powerful ideas behind the definition of street.
Murat Palta - Classic movies in miniature style
"It all started 2 years ago with an experiment to blend traditional ‘oriental’ (Ottoman) motifs and contemporary ‘western’ cinema. After a positive response to "Ottoman Star Wars", I decided to take the theme further, and developed more film posters using the same technique."
September 22, 2013
September 21, 2013
In Search Of Myths and Heroes - King Arthur (2005)
At the twenty minute mark: Drawing a sword from a stone.
Dinosaur feathers!
"Instead of digging through rocks and rubble to find fossils, a group of Canadian paleontologists decided to dig through museums’ amber collections instead. Their unique approach paid off when they discovered feathers and never-before-seen structures, which they think are something called dinofuzz."
September 20, 2013
Lessons from a Tailor
Wonderful.
Here was a man who had pulled himself up from tragedy and hardship, who had survived one of the most horrific events of the 20th century, the Nazi holocaust, and yet still possessed a lightness of spirit.
Here was a man who had mastered the art of the perfectly tailored, hand-made suit, and now that art was slowly being forgotten by the rest of the world.
Here was a man who at 80 years of age still seemed to be at the height of his powers, who possessed the confidence to dictate the style and fashions of the power elite, just as he had been doing for the past half a century.
September 19, 2013
AKA: The Lives of Waddy Tudor Jones
Part One - Die Vraag
Part Two - Die Antwoord
David Bowie 1976 Spécial (Thin White Duke)
"To mark the passing of 'Thin White Duke', David Bowie's last concert tour in Paris on 18 May 1976, an unusual news story was dedicated to the singer ... well i can at least tell you what it is about; This is a documentary-interview of an old French woman who is a hard core fan of David Bowie, and who eventually meets him. She describes how she first heard about Bowie when she heard him perform in a London club, while he was still a teenager named Davy Jones. She describes how she created a fan club, lending records to her students at church-school."
Adaptive storytelling
The evolutionary case for fiction.
So the question is: Can storytelling increase offspring?
September 18, 2013
The Battle of Bowmanville
"The Bowmanville POW camp Camp 30 was a Canadian-run POW camp for German soldiers during World War II located in the community of Bowmanville, Ontario in Clarington, Ontario, Canada. ...
"In October 1942, between 1,500 to 4,000 prisoners revolted against the POW guards after they were shackled as retribution as part of the escalation of Germany's new Commando Order. Lt.Col. James Taylor had asked German senior officer Georg Friemel to supply 100 prisoners to volunteer to be shackled as part of the ongoing international dispute. When he refused, Otto Kretschmer and Hans Hefele were also asked to provide volunteers, but refused.
"Taylor ordered the guards to find 100 officers to be shackled by force, and Horst Elfe, Kretschmer and others barricaded themselves in the mess hall, arming themselves with sticks, iron bars and other makeshift weapons.
"Approximately 100 Canadian soldiers requisitioned from another base arrived, and together stormed the mess hall using only baseball bats, so the two sides remained evenly matched. After several hours of brawling, the Canadians brought high pressure water hoses and soaked the cabin thoroughly until the prisoners agreed to come out peacefully.
"During later incidents in the battle which spanned several days, Volkmar König was wounded by gunfire and another prisoner was bayoneted, and a Canadian soldier suffered a skull fracture from a thrown jar of jam. After calm had returned, 126 of the prisoners were transferred to other camps."
Rejection
The Ernest Hemingway estate opted not to allow Vanity Fair to publish 'My Life in the Bull Ring With Donald Ogden' ninety years after Vanity Fair first rejected the story.
September 17, 2013
September 16, 2013
Fendi - Invito Pericoloso
Just get your Fendi bags! Go! Go!
Minett-Shields Gentleman’s racer
The Minett Shields 18 foot Gentleman’s racer is the correct form of water transportation.
Christian Dior - The Players (2013)
"Discover the short film by Kris Van Assche and Willy Vanderperre, presenting the Fall-Winter 2013-2014 Ready-to-Wear collection."
September 15, 2013
Isaac Newton: The Last Magician (2013)
"Isaac Newton - brilliant rational mathematician or master of the occult? This innovative biography reveals Newton as both a hermit and a tyrant, a heretic and an alchemist. Magical images mix with actors and experts to bring alive Britain's greatest scientific genius in his own words."
Newtonian Worldview: "Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727), the noted English scientist and mathematician, wrote many works that would now be classified as occult studies. These occult works explored chronology, alchemy, and Biblical interpretation (especially of the Apocalypse). Newton's scientific work may have been of lesser personal importance to him, as he placed emphasis on rediscovering the occult wisdom of the ancients. In this sense, some believe that any reference to a 'Newtonian Worldview' as being purely mechanical in nature is somewhat inaccurate."
September 14, 2013
Le film Guerlain - La Légende de Shalimar (2013)
"Découvrez le film "La légende de Shalimar" en version longue, réalisé par Bruno Aveillan et mettant en scène Natalia Vodianova."
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
JK Rowling is to make her screenwriting debut in a new Harry Potter-themed film series.
"The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt's story will start in New York, 70 years before Harry's gets underway."
The Dalmore Paterson Collection
"The Paterson Collection is the masterpiece of a lifetime, comprised of twelve unique whiskies from the visionary Richard Paterson, Master Distiller of The Dalmore. The collection is housed within a magnificent bespoke cabinet, along with twelve handcrafted crystal decanters, each adorned with a sterling silver collar and stag."
A snip at £987,500!
September 13, 2013
Tomorrow Calling (1993)
Tomorrow Calling from Tim Leandro on Vimeo.
A short TV film based on "The Gernsback Continuum" by William Gibson (NSFW, adult content at the outset).
Issus nymph
The first mechanical gear in a living creature has been discovered.
V'Ger diary
Voyager 1 has left the solar system and entered interstellar space.
September 12, 2013
James Burke predicted the future in 1973
"Forty years ago for Radio Times, the scientist and broadcaster James Burke predicted events in 1993. He got a lot right. So we asked him in to PM this afternoon to predict the future."
September 11, 2013
World Research - Libra (1978)
"Let’s face it. Your world is falling apart. Politicians engaging nations in wars against the will of the people. Increasing worldwide poverty and starvation. Inflation, high unemployment, staggering crime rates. Skyrocketing costs of nationalized health care. Overpopulation. Inability to meet your energy needs. Bankrupt cities, bankrupt states, bankrupt nations and morally bankrupt people."
The Moon in 1910
"Buried in the archives of the Centre for Planetary Science at UCL/Birkbeck is a glimpse into the role of the amateur, a century ago: a 1910 map of the Moon by Walter Goodacre, reproduced here as a huge 400 megapixel image."
More recently: Cassini imagery of a giant storm 15,000 kilometres in width and 300,000 kilometres long in the northern hemisphere of Saturn.
September 10, 2013
Arvo Pärt - And then came the evening and the morning (1990)
"This documentary shows Arvo Pärt at home with his family and working in his study. He is interviewed/provides voiceover in Estonian/Russian with subtitled English translations. Concert rehearsals (The Hilliard Ensemble/ Western Wind Choir/Paul Hillier) (unknown Finnish choir & orchestra/Eri Klas) and a studio session (Arvo Pärt: Yamaha DX7 keyboard, Jan Garbarek: tenor saxophone & Manfred Eicher: engineer) for the unreleased recording of what is reputedly Aetos are shown. Also a few minutes of the Kremer/Grindenko/Schnittke /Sondeckis Tabula Rasa performance is shown which would lead one to think that there is a complete video recording of that as well as the WDR Radio recording used for the ECM release. The tone of the documentary alternates from serious interviews/work to humorous scenes of Pärt clowning around and German "man on the street" interviews with people being asked "Who is Arvo Pärt?". Overall, a fascinating view into Pärt's work and lifestyle. - Alan Teder"
September 09, 2013
BBC - Das Auto: The Germans Their Cars and Us (2013)
"Documentary examining Germany's economic power and the automobile industry at the heart of it. Across the world, the badges of Volkswagen, Audi, BMW and Mercedes inspire immediate awe. Even in Britain, where memories of Second World War run deep, we can't resist the appeal of a German car. By contrast, our own industry is a shadow of its former self. Historian Dominic Sandbrook asks what it is we got wrong, and what the Germans got so right."
Andy Tauer Explorer Set - Lessons learned
"It took me a while to get there, get the bottles, the labels and even more important and complicated: getting the concept and the pricing and making sure that I don’t fool myself. I did so without asking much, and without discussing, because this is a lesson that I learned: You cannot really ask for advice there. Pricing, design, and the overall concept cannot be discussed and is not an area where the crowd is more intelligent than you alone."
Black T-shirt Film
"Hitchcock Partners got together some real people to show the real power of Brand. Our hypothesis? We pay more for marquee brands, whether they are worth it or not. How much more do we pay? Apparently, a lot."
Film autoplays at the link.
Max Barskih - Hero_In
Hat tip to Mr. Percifield (NSFW, minor nudity).
September 08, 2013
September 07, 2013
The Film Massimo Dutti FW'13
Massimo Dutti Fall Winter ' 13: The Film.
Directed by: Hunter & Gatti
Modelos: Toni Garrn & David Genat
Invasion of the Space Invaders
Martin Amis' guide to classic video games.
Something to keep alongside your mint copy of Duran Duran: The First Four Years by Neil Gaiman.
Airport retail
"Christian Dior’s dove grey carpets and boudoir mirrors vie for the eyes of customers with Prada’s harlequin tiles. The polished hardware of Dolce and Gabbana handbags glint, not far from lustrous exotic-skinned accessories by Gucci.
"No, this is not the Avenue des Champs-Élysées or Bond Street, but the departure lounge of Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5, where passengers buy over $450 million per year of perfumes, clothing, scarves, sunglasses, jewellery, watches, bags and small leather goods from brands including Alexander McQueen, Burberry and Chanel, the airport’s top performer."
September 06, 2013
Cristian Di Stefano - Arizona Baby
"FashionTV checks out Cristian Di Stefano's 'Arizona Baby' for Schön! Magazine. Trailer park chic plays a big part in this shoot by Cristian Di Stefano. Dark skies loom over bold make-up and prints, as model Minerva Portillo frolics about a barren land wearing cool pieces by Y-3, Linda Farrow and many more. Interesting styling by Funnytastes sees a focus on medical-style pieces, with an elbow accessory here or a fashionable knee brace there, which are further highlighted by the use of cool bondage wear. Trailer park life may not be so quaint after all."
Frederik Pohl, RIP
"US science fiction writer Frederik Pohl - best known for his classic 1977 award-winning novel, Gateway - has died in Chicago at the age of 93."
September 05, 2013
Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure: Episode 1 - Beijing
Hat tip to Alexei.
New York Times: Preview
September 04, 2013
James Burke - The Day The Universe Changed, Episode 1 "The Way We Are"
"Episode 1 of James Burke's ground-breaking series 'The Day The Universe Changed' which explores the evolution of Western Scientific thought starting from the fall of Rome."
The first of the complete series hosted on YouTube.
September 03, 2013
Burberry Brit Rhythm
"Suki Waterhouse and George Barnett are the latest aesthetically pleasing pair to star in a Burberry campaign. The 21-year-old model and 25-year-old musician (he's the drummer for band These New Puritans), are the new faces of the brand's new Brit Rhythm fragrance for men."
Directly related: "In a Business of Fashion Exclusive, Imran Amed sits down with Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts to discuss the company's connected culture as the company launches its first fragrance since taking its beauty business in house earlier this year."
We hadn’t launched a new category for three years. The team was ready, the culture was ready, so we bought it back, [but] not to set it up as a separate business. We called it the fifth product division. We have women’s, men’s, accessories, children’s wear and now we have beauty.
September 02, 2013
Dior Homme - Uncensored Official Director's Cut
I am not certain what they found to censor for the G-rated version. Or quite what demographic Dior is trying to target with this campaign. Are Twihards aspirational consumers?
The Histomap
"This 'Histomap,' created by John B. Sparks, was first printed by Rand McNally in 1931."
September 01, 2013
Villalobos - Fizheuer Zieheuer
"Fizheuer Zieheuer is a 2006 single written and produced by minimal techno artist Ricardo Villalobos.
"The 37-minute title track is primarily based on a horns sample from a gypsy folk song titled 'Pobjednicki Cocek' by Serbian group Blehorkestar Bakija Bakic, as discovered – after the record's publication – by a member of the forum at Discogs.com. The sample is in a minor key and repeats ostinato-like through almost the entire track, accompanied by percussion and occasionally complemented by a second horns sample from the introductory trumpet solo of 'Pobjednicki Cocek'."