407 critical mass doc

A nice, short doc about critical mass in the greater Orlando area. FL hometown pride, baby. Big ups to RetroCity Cycles for the fixie wheel that I’m still lovin’. Got to make it home for critical mass one of these days…

apple x chicago subways?

US public transportation is horrid. Let’s face it – those hazardously broken down subway stations aren’t going to get fixed anytime soon with much government money from the “budget”.  So what the windy city of Chicago is trying to do is talk to Apple Corp. about an exclusive deal for the tech company to have primary advertising rights in the renovated stations in exchange for 4 million dollars of funding.  The stations in question are for North and Clybourne, so prepare yourself for some iPod/iPhone throat shovage on your daily commute.

hmph, cause all ma fwendz are in nyc w/o me

Got some friends in the city this weekend so I thought I’d have a NYC-themed mini-post of random eclecticism.  Hope they’re having gay ole’ chilly time, heartsies fartsies.

1. Williamsburg design firm, DresserJohnson, have started a service/project called Brooklyn Bunny.  It’s a rabbit-sitting service that puts your fuzzy pet on webcam so you can see what the floppy-eared chomper is up to even when you’re away.

2. Earlier this year, sections of Broadway were closed off to traffic and essentially turned into a pedestrian mall for Memorial Day, resulting in a temporary better quality of life.  Now there is a new proposition taking that idea a step even further — completely and permanently shutting down 42nd street to traffic and building a light rail system that would span the width of Manhattan.  Estimated as a $500 million project, it would triple the amount of people transported at roughly the same cost and be much more eco-friendly.

3. Here’s some NYC-specific marketing for bottled water…subway iconography & Lady America.

4.  Perhaps the worst billboard idea for NYC evar? Amer Air plane directed into a building. Ahh, indeed.

soundville, the sound system city

The 800 person Icelandic town of Seydisfjordur has become a huge part of a creative campaign by Sony recently.  The corporation has transformed the modest city into one giant sound system with speakers and sub-woofers at every street corner and playground.  The sponsored video below peruses through the snow and captures the residential reaction.

evey france

French government is dedicating 2.2 billion dollars to create a network of battery charging stations for electric powered vehicles, taking a major step towards EV.  The plan is, by 2015, all parking lots will have stations for drivers to use.  The country is taking a step, so now its up to manufacturers to boost production of EV vehicles and for consumers to embrace them. Source.

‘van gogh is bipolar’ and zoloft fewd

Van Gogh is Bipolar is a restaurant in Quezon City of the Philippines that primarily serves food that contains hormones to balance serotonin and dopamine levels.  Thus, the dishes actually helps with mild depression.  There’s nothing like a good meal for morale, they say. They say that right..? Comfortable living room style interior, too.

year of the teddy, we all live vicariously thru our loved cotton ones

I found this new photoblog, Year of the Teddy, cataloging daily photos of a teddy bear making his way across Kuwait.  Teddy B. is fairly active and I think its a fanciful portrayal of ethnic and societal boundaries.  It just started recently and will be ongoing for a year.  Many viewers have considered Teddy as an open concept of reflection.

hand drawn travel maps by a la carte to make one feel guided by a local

A la Carte maps are creative and beautifully illustrated, also providing a wealth of both practical information (money exchange locations, places to avoid, etc.) and secret treasure spots (hidden Japanese beer garden in Tokyo).  All the info has been gathered personally by them or through locals and supposedly there have not been any paid advertising for businesses to be included on the maps.  The personalization of placing children-book stickers to mark off your own preferences is an idea to be adored, too.

show me state bicycling

I grew up in the town of Columbia, Missouri for 9 impressionable years of my youth which y’all didn’ know.  So I was perusing through the local publication there and found this tidbit about the state offices passing an ordinance to protect bikers from harassment on the road.  I love biking; I’m sure I’ll be posting fixie vids/news very soon so this makes me happy to know that my old hometown is becoming more friendly to the healthy and fun activity.  It’s a very dangerous and serious thing for a biker to be harassed on the road so it’s nice to know there’s at least some sort of repercussion for assholes, maybe?  Although I’d feel unfit to live back there, it really was a great and beautiful place to grow up.  Columbia Missourian article here.

Bicycle porn blog to hold you over ’til the next bike post: Chicks and Bikes

portland, just more reason

Stumbled upon this superb blog from a Portland vegan foodie, Get Sconed, and found this particular post listing food carts to be oh so appetizing.  Looks like I’m going to have to start planning my way to the opposite end of the country asap. Bikes, record shops, vegan carts, oh my.

vegan grilled cheese

bbq tofu pie