the irrelevant monkey

Skullful Art

2011-08-11T19:24:00.003-04:00

Alastair Mackie is yet another London artist to use taxidermy in the most fascinating art. This "painting is actually comprised of Hornets pinned in tight rows (see right).

This orb is made from mouse skulls digested by barn owls.

Any indigestible parts of an owl's prey is regurgitated as a compressed pellet. From these pellets, the skulls are extracted and a sculpture is born.

Death and Filmmaking

2011-08-10T08:54:00.020-04:00

Suicide... or a Movie? How about both? A study has found depictions of Suicides has tripled in movies from 1950-2006.

Without a doubt the topic is one of the most dramatic ways to propel a turning point in the story. The character can go no lower- all is lost. What better way to show it?

Some of the greatest scenes in film history are those that capture this state of mind.

Wes Anderson's "The Royal Tenenbaums" displays a wrist-slicing by Richie Tenenbaum who cannot deal with the rejection of his stepsister and overall feeling of failure.

The hanging scene of an ex-con who found the outside world too lonely after his release in "The Shawshank Redemption" was similarly disturbing.

However the subject of Self-death has been brilliantly represented in comedies like John Cusack's consistent failure of it in "Better Off Dead".

As well as the successful homicidal ones Christian Slater and Winona Ryder pulled off to make Suicide a craze in their high school.

How to Build a Zombie Proof House

2011-07-06T10:07:00.004-04:00

When the Brain-Eating Walking Dead take over the Earth, you will want to keep your Grey Matter safe. Design firm KWK Promes has built the perfect residence to hide out from Zombies. Here's how you can keep your family's flesh intact.

1. This house has a Pool which is a good idea as Zombies can't swim. However, a Moat will be much more effective.
2. Movable walls that will confuse Zombies' sense of direction.
2. Make sure there is only one entrance. This one is located on the second floor after crossing a drawbridge. A drawbridge is a great way to keep the Living Dead off the premises. Just make sure its drawn up when they arrive.
3. Steel shutters. Zombies do like to watch.
4. The house in Red Alert mode. It folds in upon itself to become completely sealed with concrete slabs over windows.

Be prepared and be safe!

The End is Near

2011-05-20T11:48:00.006-04:00

Finally our government is taking the threat of a Zombie Invasion seriously. The CDC website posted a Zombie Survival plan Wednesday causing the site to crash with citizens who need to know.

We are comforted in knowing that "If zombies did start roaming the streets, CDC would conduct an investigation much like any other disease outbreak. CDC would provide technical assistance to cities, states, or international partners dealing with a zombie infestation." A direct quote from the website. Check it out.

Sea and See

2011-05-15T22:37:00.004-04:00

To promote awareness of the diminishing reef, an underwater Sculpture Museum was built in the waters of Cancun. More than 400 human clay sculptures adorn the sea floor near the Manchones Reef.

By luring divers to this area, it will give the reef time to recuperate from hurricane damage, increase fish populations and promote the growth of new reef.

Prison Break Peacock

2011-05-10T22:53:00.005-04:00

A Peacock escaped from the Bronx Zoo and is on the loose. It has been spotted on Morris Avenue and at a subway station and all attempts to net it have failed.

Apparently, the peacock has found an iPhone and has been leaving Tweets for Zoo Staff. @bronxzoopeacock tweeted: Slipped out~ Making my way to Wash Heights.'

I have to agrees with one Bronx resident who was quoted as saying: "Somebody is going to steal it and keep it as a pet. It's the Bronx, man."

Sea Change of Death

2011-05-04T16:45:00.005-04:00

At this moment, sharks are feasting on what was once The World's Most Dangerous Terrorist Leader, Osama Bin Laden. At sea is a very respectable way to be buried and OBL is in good company with others who chose Water as the last element their soul-cases would feel.

Janis Joplin. The hippy with the Killer Voice.

The Alien-King of Scientology, L.Ron Hubbard.

Horror Master Vincent Price.

Two of the coolest Actors Robert Mitchum.

And Steve McQueen.

President John F. Kennedy and it's not a party until Dana Plato from Diff'rent Strokes is in the house!

Her ashes were scattered in the Pacific in 1999 after a drug OD Suicide.

Art and Superheroes

2011-04-26T21:15:00.003-04:00

Kids as superheroes- their imaginations the backdrop.

Nature against the urban world.

The work is by Los Angeles-based Artist Sage Vaughn who is opening a solo show in London at Lazarides Gallery titled Children of a Lesser God on May 6, 2011.

White (Natural) History Month

2011-03-03T13:39:00.003-05:00

Albino animals from Museums of Natural Histories around the country.

Alligator:

Rattlesnake:
Blue Jay:
Raccoon

How to Speak Italian Fashion

2011-03-02T13:12:00.014-05:00

What we learned from Milan, the Fall 2011 edition.

1. The snake is out of the bag (for Gucci and Prada)

2. Girls get Back in Black Lace (if it's from Bottega Venetta and Dolce & Gabbana)

3. No one's scared of PETA anymore. (esp. not Fendi and Gucci)

4. All the Drugs in the world can not make you forget the 60's . Ever. ( Missoni and Prada make sure of it).

5. Color is Blind Side-ing (Jil Sander, Gucci and Alberta Ferretti)

Sex and the Country

2011-03-02T12:52:00.005-05:00

The curtain has closed on Milan fashion week and the best collection was by far DSquared2. Their cowboy inspired looks were spectacular enough even for their most famous fans (try: Christina, Justin, Fergie, and Rihanna). They sexify the LL Bean outdoorswoman to perfection. Makes me want to go camping.

See the video footage of DSquared2 and all of Milan, NY and Paris at:

FirstComesFashion.com

Ceramic Gore

2011-01-12T11:12:00.002-05:00

UK Artist Jessica Harrison creates macabre imagery from damaged ceramic ladies she finds online.

The extravagant poses of the female ceramics makes the exhibition of their insides more interesting.
Jessica says she chooses the women because "It is traditionally and consistently the male figure that has been used to describe the anatomy of the human body. In my sculptures the female insides are as visceral and intestinal and as real and gory as their male counterparts."

Check out more of Jessica Harrison's work at jessicaharrison.co.uk

Santa Waiting in Line for Santa

2010-12-18T11:31:00.003-05:00

During the last week of November, midtown New York streets are flooded with Christmas Cheer in the

Annual Parade of Santas.

Here's a shot from the 108th Annual.

Nose Pollution

2010-12-18T11:04:00.003-05:00

Can you count all the boogers in Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's nose? It's loaded!

Assange and his snot were captured during a press junket in Norfolk, England upon his release from jail. Leak some of that, Julian... please!

Best Xmas Present Ever

2010-12-18T10:55:00.001-05:00

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev gave the city of Bern, Switzerland these Brown bears Mischa and Mascha. What an awesome gift!

Take Note of this Invention

2010-12-10T09:30:00.002-05:00

About to be invented: The paragon of recycling- A Smith Corona Antique typewriter turned Waffle Maker.

A student at the School of Visual Arts (Chris Dimino) created this prototype that I hope will be available in stores. Not only does it make use of one of the most brilliantly utilitarian designs, but the waffles come out as keyboards! It's hi-tech and antiquated at the same time. Oh, and Yummy too!

Space Xmas

2010-12-08T09:06:00.002-05:00

Christmas is celebrated around the world. And there is photographic evidence that is celebrated beyond Earth. Here are some intergalactic pics of Aliens capturing the spirit!

Apparently, Santa travels much further in his sleigh than we previously thought.

Up in Smoke. Too Bad

2010-11-23T09:22:00.001-05:00

Some of my favorite old cigarette ads.

Measure Your Success

2010-11-17T10:05:00.007-05:00

They say to Measure twice, cut once. This inspired master designer Christian Louboutin, who created these amazing shoes. He can make a crisp utilitarian tool very sexy.

The minions (like me) who could only dream of owning a pair of Louboutins, can translate the trend more practically . Some cost-cutting measures of the fad- Brooches made of the tape (lianakabel.com)
Stash all the $ you save from NOT buying the Louboutin's in a wallet by Undone Clothing at Etsy.

And make your own bracelet on the cheap.

an Apple a Day

2010-11-10T11:16:00.003-05:00

I love the mac store on 59th and 5 ave, NYC. It's all glass so it takes up the least visual space in a city where there's visual stimuli overload.I tried to take photos of the glass elevator and the store with my phone but they came out lame. As usual.

Then I went to the apple store website. They have a VIRTUAL TOUR of the store that is INCREDIBLE!

http://www.apple.com/retail/vr/

In the House

2010-11-04T09:48:00.003-04:00

The Republicans won the house. Politically it remains to be seen if this is a good thing. In home decor, on the other hand, it definitely is. Their elephant logo is so much easier to work with than an ass. In honor of the victory, it's time to take the big grey animal out of the kids' room and into the living room.

You can paint a wall Elephant Skin Grey (by Behr)

Use this watering can for plants.
Upgrade your sconce.
Or eat from these jungle-inspired dinner plates.

Project Runway is WRONG!

2010-10-30T13:31:00.003-04:00

Mondo Guerra - the designer that should have won this season's Project Runway.

According to Nina Garcia and Michael Kors, hacky sackers are uber-stylish. I vow never to pick up my first ever issue of Marie Claire now that I see Nina Garcia's hippy crap, granola, bohemian mom-with-batik-stroller taste. You guys were WRONG! Retire to New Paltz and you can see that crappy Gretchen Jones style for the rest of your years.

Zoo Spooks

2010-10-27T09:11:00.006-04:00

The San Francisco Zoo's ad campaign to get kids to spend Halloween with the animals:

How awesome! What a cool way to spend the day if you can handle the crowds of screaming children. I can't so I will look at pictures of animals enjoying the holiday.

Airbag as Fashion

2010-10-25T22:19:00.002-04:00

These are not scarves. Well, they are but they are actually Helmets.If a Bike Rider has an accident the scarf transforms into an airbag helmet.

It comes in many styles.

And turns into this-

Check out the video. It's incredible!

NYC Free!

2010-10-21T20:58:00.001-04:00

FINALLY It's here! An iPod app that tells you what the colors of the Empire State building mean every day!

I can officially stop harassing the guard in the lobby with phonecalls at all hours of the night. Whenever the building changed its colors I HAD to KNOW what they stood for.
I can die happy!

iShop

2010-10-19T09:49:00.003-04:00

Window Shopping has never been easier. A lot of my fave stores have made their catalogs into iPod/iPhone Apps. Check these out and download from iTunes for free.

Urban Outfitters.

Ikea!!
H&M!!
TopShop!

Pottery Barn.

Psyched Furs Fans

2010-10-18T21:44:00.003-04:00

The Psychedelic Furs. Bearsville Theater, Woodstock, NY Friday October 15, 2010

Gourds-gous!

2010-10-14T13:59:00.002-04:00

The local farmer's market got in their stock of Autumn gourds.

How cool!

Snow white ones....

New Style Mag

2010-10-14T10:42:00.003-04:00

A new Online only design mag from Australia just popped up! Adore Home.

It's a lot like LONNY but they do have lots of "style to Steal" articles which are cool.

Thank God for TV this Halloween

2010-10-05T09:13:00.010-04:00

This Halloween you know you will see some scary costumes. Most likely Jersey Shore references .

The Situation.

Snooki.

I'd like to see some Little People Big World (c'mon Kids)

or ShamWow Guy

My favorite, Sue Sylvester...

And what an opportunity with the Pregnant Trudy scene in Mad Men. Get your beach balls out!

It'll give us a break from the hundred of Lady GaGa's that'll be out scoring some candy!

Aveda to the Rescue

2010-10-04T10:32:00.002-04:00

It has always been a mystery as well as an annoyance that, when Recycling a plastic bottle, the cap must head to the landfill. Most states do not have cap-recycling capabilities.

But I just found out that you can bring many Caps to an AVEDA store and they will recycle them for you!

They accept most shampoo, water, soda, milk and other beverage bottles and pharmaceutical lids, flip top caps on tubes and food product bottles (such as ketchup and mayonnaise), laundry detergents and some jar lids such as peanut butter.

Aveda is my new best corporation-friend! I am going to start collecting caps today and take a trip to the store when I have a nice collection.

BYOB- Just the Bottle

2010-09-29T09:27:00.004-04:00

Some of the best wine I drank in France came from the supermarket. But I have never seen this. It's a wine vending machine. Bring your own container. Fill and Imbibe whilst cutting down on your carbon footprint.

Opinions Banked

2010-09-29T09:17:00.003-04:00

British bank Barclays PLC spent $39 million to sponsor London's public bike-rental program. They planted their logo on the bikes. Then they woke up to find someone had affixed a special message above their logo. The anger toward the banking industry is still alive in England.

Surf Shots

2010-09-28T23:40:00.001-04:00

Photos of surfers by Joni Sternbach

Mad Man

2010-09-27T12:33:00.002-04:00

Rumor has it that Mad MAN Mel Gibson is in talks with Mad MEN Creator Matthew Weiner about a possible recurring role on the series' next season.

Seems like a good match, Matthew Weiner is Jewish. Mel rants about Jews.

Wax On Wax off

2010-09-27T12:10:00.003-04:00

No Doubt this is the cutest wax statue at the Venetian Hotel's Madame Tussaud's in Las Vegas.

Gwen Stefani is not Just a Girl- She's a wax figure!

Found! Radiator cover

2010-09-10T10:58:00.001-04:00

After needing one for 4 years, I found a radiator cover on the street yesterday!

What my radiator looked like before:

Collectable According to People

2010-09-07T11:01:00.002-04:00

Crocodile Rocks in your Home

2010-09-02T08:46:00.003-04:00

Wow! Mockodile counters and walls made of Quartz! How rad! Caesarstone makes these textured quartz surfaces that take the bland out of any home. They do show this on a wall, which is odd. Maybe it's because a textured surface on the counter would be very impractical to clean. But I love it! They also make a lace pattern in white.

Paint Tip

2010-09-01T10:23:00.002-04:00

DIY tip of the Day:

Store leftover wall paint in old, cleaned-out glass sauce jars. The paint stays fresh for years- unlike in paint can where it dries up. And it takes up less space.

Another Reason NOT To move to Iran

2010-08-27T12:40:00.003-04:00

They men are forced to wear facial hair, women are not allowed to hail cabs and now there is a fatwa against Dogs! Iran's cleric Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shiraz has issued the fatwa saying these creatures are unclean and any Iranian that adopts them is following Westernized Culture.

All ads regarding pet food, pet care and pets is now banned. So technically, Iranians can actually keep pets, but clerics no likey.

BlockBuster Bites the Dust

2010-08-27T09:12:00.004-04:00

The Evil Empire of DVD Rentals, Blockbuster will file for bankruptcy next month. Finally!

The mammoth monster should have been boycotted long ago for asking production houses to EDIT THEIR VIDEOS. Yes, for years those that rent from them have been watching movies with all scenes that are too sensitive for their Religious-Nut Ears and Eyes cut. In other words, all the good scenes.

Let's hope this teaches all chains that mess with other people's film art- I'm looking at you WalMart!

Why Mess With Perfection?

2010-08-25T16:22:00.004-04:00

In an honorable attempt to hire models that eat bread, London Fog chose Mad Men's ULTRA SEXY ULTRA BEAUTIFUL Christina Hendricks as their 2010 Spokesmodel. Applause.

And then they screwed it up. They photoshopped the crap out of her curves. Bad!

She is one of the most beautiful woman in the world and that means she is beautiful as she is. Why mess with perfection? It makes me long for the days before photoshop. The days of Mad Men. Would Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Pryce have messed with such amazing images if they had this devil tool?

God and Shopping

2010-07-23T16:40:00.007-04:00

Want to get some good deals on knock off fashion? What better a place than Forever 21. And if you're hungry after that stop by In N Out Burger for lunch. BUT ONLY if you hate the Jews.

BOTH those establishments proudly stamp a Bible Verses on their bags or cups. That Bible verse is John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." So the Jews will burn.

Religious freaks have hijacked Capitalism. This started with Sierra Trading Post, the online outdoor store. They state: "

Our business ethics must be consistent with the faith of the owners in Jesus Christ and His teachings.

GOD HELP US if this is the state of retail today.

Dick Cheney Is Dead, Technically

2010-07-15T19:36:00.002-04:00

Science has declared what most of us already knew. Dick Cheney is a monster.

He walks among us with NO HEARTBEAT and NO PULSE.

Dick Cheney's latest heart malfunction has resulted in him being fitted with an LVAD device. What this device does is impel blood flow rather than pumping it. Vampire or Zombie, you decide. Just stay away (and wear Garlic just in case)

Happy Birthday Dalai Lama

2010-07-06T11:52:00.003-04:00

The Dalai Lamai is 75 years old today!

He celebrated the day in Dharmsala India, his hometown-in-exile since 1959, the year that he fled Chinese rule in Tibet. He enjoyed performances from local dancers in traditional Tibetan dress, and was entertained by artists from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts at the Main Tibetan Temple in Mcleod Ganj.

As always wise, he said of his years: “I know my life has not been wasted.” Too true. Best Wishes for many more!

Followers in Tibet were not allowed to celebrate the day and Chinese officials claimed they do not remember his birthday. Screw China.

Must Wear Hair

2010-07-06T10:03:00.005-04:00

Politics and fashion can get hairy when you live in an Islamic state. Everyone is aware that the Taliban force Afghans to wear beards and now Iran is going official with its coif choices.

Later this month, the country will parade its Islamic beauty codes in a "Modesty and Veil Festival". No doubt this will promote unprecedented fashion horrors for the oppressed women in their land- I won't get into the veil and burqa part of this because it will only make me tremendously angry. But the country's official hair police will release the only "acceptable" haircuts for the men.

In Iran's definition of "liberal" they no longer require a Taliban-esque beard to symbolize religious obedience and may even allow some hair gel. No long hair is allowed under the Ministry of Guidance's rules.

Please, Middle Eastern States and fanatical Religious leaders, heed this. Give it up.

It is my belief that NO religious book can govern the fashion of people unless, of course, that particular book is the fashion bible called "Vogue".

How to Destroy the Earth, Starting with the Oceans

2010-06-28T10:13:00.008-04:00

As the Gulf Oil spill rages on, more and more people's attention is waning. It has yet to hit hard on the animal populations in the area. If the local news can't get video of some cute fluffy animals drenched in oil then viewers can't comprehend why they should care. What a perfect time for anti-ecological legislation to pass around the world.

Enter the International Whaling Commission. Recently it authorized the hunting of humpback whales for Greenland natives. It makes more sense to protect the culture of a few.

Yep, it's better not to insult them or their ways. Plus, Japan allows whale hunting so how bad can it be?

And here in the USA, the FDA wants us to eat genetically modified animals. Not quite Dolly the Sheep yet but the agency is leaning toward approving genetically modified Salmon.

The company that engineered the process describes it as taking a growth hormone gene from a Chinook salmon as well as a genetic on-switch from the ocean pout, a distant relative of the salmon and installing it into an Atlantic salmon. Mmm. Sounds tasty so it can't possible damage us or the ecological balance.

Good news on another front. The Oil Spill is probably not harming our turtles. What about all the dead turtes that have been washing ashore lately (23 most recently spotted on the Mississippi shore) you ask?

Well, more than half the turtles dissected so far, most of which were found shortly after the spill, had sediment in their lungs or airways, which indicated they might have been caught in nets and drowned. So it's not oil that's killing them- just shrimp fishers, so no worries!

Another day on Earth. Enjoy it while it's here.

Killing Flies

2010-06-28T09:35:00.004-04:00

How to get rid of these?

Creative types can kill them instrumentally.

Guitar fly swatters like $6 at strumhollow.com

Or for those who couldn't hurt a fly, vacuum the bugs up for a safe release outside where they belong.

$12 at perpetualkid.com

A Case for Couture

2010-06-22T10:27:00.005-04:00

Would you die for this dress?

How about this one?

Of course you would and you can thank this guy.

Cristobal Balenciaga revolutionized couture from the day he opened his Paris Fashion house (1937) until he retired in 1968. Some would say fashion died a little death that day. They would be right.

Through donations of personal collections and those from museums, the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute in New York will host an extensive collection of 60 gowns showcasing Balenciaga's impeccable detail and perfection. The exhibit will start in November and run through February 2011. It is located at 684 Park Avenue at 68th Street. This dress will be there.

The New Domino

2010-06-21T16:19:00.005-04:00

Domino is Back! Well almost. Two people that worked for the much beloved, now defunct design magazine (Michelle Adams, a former market assistant at Domino, and Patrick Cline, 34, a photographer and photo retoucher) have come up with Lonny, an online web magazine.

It opens and reads like a real magazine on your screen BUT the best part is, if you click on something you like it will bring it right to the link so you can buy it! No more little stickers to bookmark. Just instant gratification. "Subscribe" to Lonny online. It's free!

Food is Not the Enemy

2010-06-10T21:13:00.009-04:00

Albert Einstein once said, "An empty stomach is not a good political advisor.” If he were alive today he could literally eat his words. A new concept in take-out has popped up in Philadelphia. It's called "Conflict Kitchen" .

Conflict Kitchen only serves food from countries of which the U.S. is in conflict. The type of cuisine rotates every four months until we run out of countries whose ideals we oppose. We know that will never happen.

Iranian food kicks off this gastro-political concept. The wrappers educate the eater on customs and U.S. perceptions of the hilighted nation.

Conflict Kitchen is a project by John Peña, Jon Rubin, and Dawn Weleski and is funded by the Sprout Fund, Waffle Shop, and the Center for the Arts in Society.

Soccer Fashion Doesn't Score

2010-05-27T09:41:00.011-04:00

Citizens of all countries but ours are afrenzy with the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Who is playing? Who knows. When is it? Sometime in June. Americans may get excited- maybe, but probably not- by the fashion coinciding with the Football games.

Ralph Lauren's Netherlands T-shirt looks pretty cool and is in this season's black- Orange. Don't know if Netherlands is playing but the shirt is $68 at Matchesfashion.com

The Havianas Flip Flops come in most team colors. Here are Brazil and Argentina I think. $22 each pair.

Designers Y-3 paid homage to FIFA with their sporty collection for Spring 2010.

But maybe us Americans will just look forward to Sex and the City 2 for our fashion fix.

Greek Frogs Attempt their Own Kind Of Road Kill

2010-05-27T09:27:00.005-04:00

As if Greece isn't having enough problems. First their economy crashes and now their frogs are causing cars to crash. Thousands of small amphibians carpeted a major highway yesterday -making three cars skid off the road. No human injuries were reported but they are still investigating the damage to the frogs.

Here is what Greek frogs look like:

And here is not so exciting video of them hopping in the road and some Greek People talking about it.

Shaolin Bear

2010-05-27T09:18:00.002-04:00

A black bear named Cloud channels his inner Bruce Lee and shows off his Kung Fu moves. Wait 29 seconds into the video to see him go at it with a staff.

Cloud lives at the zoo in Hiroshima.

1,000 Words

2010-05-10T19:18:00.002-04:00

Time.com's picture of the day.

Indigenous people wearing traditional costumes cast their votes at a polling center in Baguio City, north of Manila in the Philippines.

2010-05-01T21:39:00.003-04:00

This week saw the passing of a man that has touched us practically every day- a few times a day- for years. Leslie Buck, the designer of the omnipresent blue Anthora Coffee cup died at the age of 87.

Buck had no formal art training but rather was Director of Marketing for the Sherri Cup Company at the time. He made no royalties off the design but as sales of the cups grew, so did his profits.

Ceramic versions of the cup are now available. Try www.modlivin.com . Spend the $38.00 in memory of the man who thought of you drinking your morning cup even if you never gave him a thought.

Try to Make me go to Legoland, I say No No No!

2010-04-09T09:47:00.004-04:00

Lego's created an official Amy Winehouse Doll to celebrate their 30th Anniversary. They made other celeb-legos too, like Madonna and David Beckham, all of which are not available to the public. So what's the point?

Anyway, regular fans did a better job if you asked me.

Artist: Justin Ramsden

Artist: Craig Stevens, posing with his full-size doll. Wonder what he does with that at home.

Artist: Unknown. But they made the crackpipe look too much like a cigarette.

Cuckoo for Coconuts

2010-04-09T09:35:00.002-04:00

Squirrels eating coconuts.

Bridge in Troubled Water

2010-04-09T09:15:00.005-04:00

Let's pretend you run a county in a southern state. In this county there's a bridge. You had to close the bridge last year because, like much of American infrastructure, it was unsafe. To fix it will cost $48 million. Outrageous. So, you decide to tear it down - but that will still cost you $13 million... which you don't have. So what do you do? Call Hollywood of course.

Florida's Pinellas County Commissioner John Morroni has appealed to production houses for the chance to blow up the Friendship Trail bridge.

The idea is not so crazy especially for this county. In 1991, they received $50,000 from the producers of Lethal Weapon 3 for the rights to film the old city hall being torn down.

Death Becomes Her... Hat

2010-04-09T08:54:00.006-04:00

When you're driving down a country lane and spot an animal who's life was cut short by a human driving, you most likely cringe. But roadkill is inspiration for British designer James Faulkner, who creates amazing hats from the feathers and fur of roadside slaughter.

In what is an extreme project in recycling, he resurrects the animals who saw a natural yet untimely death, into couture that will be exhibited May 14 at Edinburgh's Telford College.

"It sounds very sinister, but I find it very satisfying to make something beautiful from something gruesome," says the artist who just finished his milliners course.

Rather than spending all his time driving around the backroads of Britain, Faulkner requests the feathers that would normally be waste from butchers and restaurants in order to create his to-die-for hats.

Camping for Morons

2010-03-29T16:50:00.005-04:00

Ah, a weekend of rugged, back-to-nature camping. You look forward to getting in touch with your inner Grizzly Adams by living off the land, sleeping with rocks digging into your back and peeing in lush fields of poison ivy.

And when its time to break out the chocolate and graham crackers for a s'mores dinner, show off to your burly friends and pull out The Prairie campfire template.

It will make it impossible even for a complete idiot like you to mess up the campfire-spacing out the logs perfectly. But it can't protect you from your friends' roaring laughter.

Butch Cakes

2010-03-29T16:37:00.003-04:00

Men like cupcakes too. It's true. And now they don't have to be afraid to admit it. Not the cutesy fairy cakes that GIRLS eat- NO way! Manly men get their man cakes online. BUTCH BAKERY in NY delivers the most masculine of cupcakes right to their door. Or their gym.

The man who brings you these testosterone tarts is David Arrick. He threw away his Wall Street suit and tie to make cupcakes that are anything but cute. With names like Jackhammer, Beer Run, and Big Papi, these cakes will make a man out of you, yet.

Hair Peace

2010-03-22T22:28:00.003-04:00

Kate I don't care if you can't dance, just bring it back! Bring back the reverse mullet!

I am sure you would have gotten higher scores on last night's Dancing with The Stars if you hadn't changed that righteous 'do!

Mad Men Live in a Barbie World

2010-03-17T11:16:00.017-04:00

To promote the fourth season of AMC's show Mad Men, Mattel is putting out what they call "Barbie Fashion Model Collection Dolls". Joan, Roger, Don and Betty can now live in your dreamhouse. You can sit them by the TV and watch the premiere of Mad Men with them as if they were truly your friends.

Although I applaud the concept and the effort there are a few things missing from the doll collection. A greater attention to detail in this circumstance really could have pushed this idea to higher levels.

The Don doll looks a bit stiff -maybe some props could help him out, like a cigarette, a martini or a mistress in one hand.

Betty looks like one of her mothers was Jessica Rabbit. Her face is kind of off. I think its her eyes. They're to sultry or something but props to the hairdresser.

Barbie must be a little jealous of June, refusing to allow Mattel to cast her in anatomically correct plastic. Maybe it's in old Barbie's contract that she has to be the doll with the top tits because this doll does not do June's chest any justice.

That's a disappointment to men everywhere who were just considering purchasing their first female action figure.

And where's Peggy? Mattel could have dusted off their "Skipper" mold and gave us a Peggy doll too.

The dolls will be available for $75 at stores and at amctv.com.

McFashion Food

2010-03-17T08:54:00.010-04:00

Corporations constantly vie to attract new consumers to their brand. Sometimes this means stepping out of their established box to force the customer to view them in a completely new way. This is risky but if successful, could propel their brand to higher esteem and of course, profits.

McDonalds will be experimenting in new ways to change the consumers' way of thinking about their food products. The creative genius of Access Agency will spin the brand into a high-fashion direction.

In the fashion tents of Milan, New York, London and Paris Fashion Weeks, the stylearatti will be dining at "McFancy".

McFashionistas can get their usual McDonalds fare in extraordinary packaging co-created by the fashion labels themselves and of course, served to them by waiters in tuxedos. Private dining areas will fool the eaters into thinking they're not eating fast food.

Wouldn't you just love a Paul Smith Sundae with your Burberry Burger (or Burgberry)...

...and do you want Gucci Fries with that?

Of course!

Gaga for Fashion

2010-03-12T10:55:00.018-05:00

It's hard to choose the best outfits that Lady Gaga has worn but I wanted to pay tribute anyway. Here are my favorite styles from her most popular videos (ONLY the videos- no Live performances). The full videos are at the end of this blog.

The song she does with Beyonce, "Telephone" has such great style. The USA outfit and the Chains are so cool.

But she looks so good wrapped in Crime Scene tape.

From "Bad Romance" the Polar bear coat and the sperm outfit are amazing.

Paparazzi, is my favorite! The crutches are a great prop and the outfit made out of Film (I especially love the hat) is an earlier take on the Crime Scene tape outfit.

Watch Lady Gaga Videos here:

Bad Romance:

Telephone

Paparazzi

The Second Coming of Jesus-Cruise/Hubbard

2010-03-01T08:49:00.012-05:00

Rumors have been mysteriously appearing on the internet machine (probably from a higher source named Xenu) that Katie Holmes is preparing to be inseminated with yet another Messiah for Scientologists.

Mrs. Cruise spent four hours at the Hollywood Scientology Center last week. Insiders say that was for a pre-pregnancy 'auditing'.

Scientologists believe the "health and sanity of the child begin long before birth". Yes, they actually use the word "sanity". It takes them 4 hours to tell someone that IF they were sane they would leave the Church grounds NOW? I could say that in less than four seconds.

In researching this important story, I found something even more disturbing on the Scientology website, Scientology.org.

Watching their library of videos, I found that all Scientologists interviewed were missing the tops of their heads.

Even those in the B-roll shots.

Well, the last guy might actually have a head top, you can't really tell what's under his turban.

Let us all gather and pray that the new Holmes/Hubbard, I mean Holmes/Cruise Savior of Human and Extraterrestrial Kind comes out of the spaceship complete- head and all.

2010-02-24T09:01:00.003-05:00

Sadie, a Scottish Terrier triumphed at the 2010 Westminster Dog Show, bringing home the coveted "Best in Show' trophy.

The most interesting category for me was the Toy Dog Category. This years' trophy was stolen by Smash JP Moonwalk, an overdressed poodle. Typical.

I was voting for the Brussels Griffon myself. The dog that looks most like Chewbacca.

Either way, I don't see how a poodle could beat a pug, but then I don't know anything about dogs.

Eat Off This

2010-02-18T10:00:00.009-05:00

I'm thinking of trading in my fine BONE China for this even finer ORGAN China. Designer Lisa Turner celebrates the 19th Century's etchings of the human machine and the beauty of who we are inside with this new dish set. The anatomical drawings will resuscitate any boring lunch. You can get them at tableart.com The teacup? $95.oo and the plate $74.00.

For those that won't bother the waiter when there's a fly on their plate, Monica Tsang has created ENTO, a bug- inspired dinnerware set. You can also find this at Tableart.com.

The artists are part of Paul Bishop's British company "The New English". Bishop organized the group of contemporary designers to turn the table on the traditional English Pottery. Could I have some more, please?

Are Groundhogs the New Messiah?

2010-02-02T08:13:00.013-05:00

Punxsutawney Phil has predicted another six weeks of winter after seeing his shadow this morning. Yet Staten Island Chuck has declared an end to winter. So, as for their weather-predicting capabilities, groundhogs are no better or worse than the guys on the six o'clock news.

But how does the woodchuck function as a savior of mankind?

In the film Groundhog Day, Bill Murray is stuck repeating the same day over and over again until he squashes his egotistical ways, learns to be compassionate and generous, and accepts others as they are.

In religious terms, he needs to learn how to live life right.

Some argue that the film's premise is a reflection of the Buddhists' notion of "samsara"-the continuing cycle of reincarnation and rebirth that humans must try to escape. Bill Murray becomes the "bodhisattva"- one who reaches the brink of nirvana and returns to save the rest of us.

However the Jews lay claim to the spiritual essence of the film by indicating that Bill Murray must perform good deeds - or "Mitzvahs" in order to break the monotonous cycle.

His reward is not that of a Christian Heaven nor Buddhist Nirvana. Judaism tells us that our work does not end until the world has been perfected.

Some Christian groups also try to seize the metaphysical examples in the film, either by seeing the Groundhog as a resurrected Christ embodying the hope for rebirth at springtime, or by claiming Bill Murray's character as a portrayal of the man reborn into good.

Whatever religion feels the need to see their prophecies depicted in a screenplay, go ahead. For whatever their claim to the plot of Groundhog Day, they may really have something in common with it. As Spiritualist Anthony DeMello once said, "Spirituality means waking up. Most people, even though they don't know it, are asleep." As the film portrays, some of us have more imperfections we need to wake up to than others.

Your Boss is Killing You

2010-01-12T11:26:00.008-05:00

When we were young, my brother Chris shot our TV with a BB Gun. I think it was because he didn't like one of the characters on screen, and I can see how, if one had a gun on hand, annoying actors may bring upon a need to act.

Today, health researchers are firing their weapons at our beloved boob tube yet again, not for what it is spitting out, but blaming it for sending Americans to an early grave.

A study headed by Dr. David Dunstan, of the Physical Activity Lab at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Australia found:

"Irrespective of a person's exercise level, sitting for four or more hours watching television was linked to a significant increase in risk of death."

But before you throw your plasma out the window, hold on. Let's look at Dr Dunstan's research again. What the research actually says is that when we're in a sitting posture, we're not using our muscles. Muscle contractions are important for the regulatory processes of the body, such as the ability to break down glucose and use it as energy. That can cause insulin resistance, which can trigger a spike in blood sugar levels, possibly leading to type 2 diabetes.

So your research makes total sense in that inactivity is harmful but why the huge jump to Television Watching? Why is it when a person sits down for a few hours to relax and be entertained they are killing themselves? What about the 8 hours spent SITTING at a desk all day pushing papers?

How is it that the majority of the day, when we are in the office slaving for someone else, for the betterment of industry, ensuring the survival of Capitalism, that time is not harmful to our health at all- but dare watch an episode of the Simpsons, and well that's detrimental to our life. Do it and die!

Scientists, stop attempting to grab headlines to justify your research grants. Just present the facts. It's inactivity and the posture of sitting that is harmful, NOT our TV sets.

So it's not as dramatic to say it like that but scaring people away from American Idol isn't going to do any good. You know if I saw Dr Dunstan on TV spouting this ignorance, I might just go for the BB Gun myself.

Another Great One Gone

2010-01-07T10:43:00.006-05:00

In the 1960's "Pop Art", "Minimalism" and "Color Field" competed for art world dominance. Color Field lost.

And this week the art world lost one of the founding fathers of Color Field- Kenneth Noland. Noland died of cancer this past Tuesday January 5, 2010. He was 85.

Color Field painting is defined by Wikepedia as:

"...characterized primarily by large fields of flat, solid color spread across or stained into the canvas; creating areas of unbroken surface and a flat picture plane. The movement places less emphasis on gesture, brushstrokes and action in favour of an overall consistency of form and process."

Noland's 'Target Paintings" is a series of nearly 200 paintings of concentric circles he made in the 1950s that helped him break away from the abstract expressionism of the time. He influenced several other artists, most notably Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman.

He leaves widowed Paige Rense, Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest.

Skiing Kills Fashion

2009-12-23T09:51:00.007-05:00

It appears the more we ski, the less attention we pay to how we look. Maybe we've been looking to Europe for too long. Slipping down the style-challenged slope for decades, we have taken our cues from Euro riche fluorescent-loving skiiers instead of stamping the sport in our own style. Burton snowboard wearers aside, the ski population still looks like they're stuck in a fashion snowbank. Even Kate Moss can't make the classic one-piece and clunky boots look cool.

Until the ski fashion industry starts looking forward, lets look at the Past Fashion Wipeouts on the Piste.

No decade is more glaringly out of style than the 80's. And those on the slope brought with them the bright colors and headbands worn on flat land.

The 1970's popularized the one-piece ski suit. The brighter the better.

Emilio Pucci made his name creating one of the few fashion-conscious ski outfits for the modern woman of the 1950s. This outfit was photographed for Harpers Bazaar. Good attempt Emilio!

More skiiers in the 1950s. The last stylish decade on the slopes in my opinion.

The 1940's may look good but doesn't look very warm. There is a sacrifice with fashion, the question is, are we ready for to go back to it?

The Deportation of Panda

2009-12-11T08:35:00.006-05:00

China is hands-down the largest exporter of inferior products- like electronic equipment that breaks after a few uses, harmfully tainted pharmaceuticals and dangerous plastic toys. Yet Americans have practically single-handedly driven its economy to stardom by buying these hazardous products, gleefully ignoring any risks to their children's or own safety. We bought so much substandard Chinese crap that we are now threatened by China's global economic dominance. It may be too late for the US to fight that economic battle but another war wages on. It concerns China's regulations on deportation. Deportation of American Pandas.

Next month, a young Panda (Tai Shan) will be forced to leave his home at Washington's National Zoo and head back to China for breeding. There are only 14 pandas here in the US, all of them on loan from China. Under its agreements with the zoos, China lends panda pairs for breeding and conservation research. Any cubs those pandas produce are then property of China and must become part of the country's breeding program. That means they are deported back to China, never to be returned or enjoyed by young, bratty American zoo-goers again.

Tai Shan was born in 2005 and was granted a two-year extension in 2007. Tai Shan's parents' loan period is will be reached in December 2010 when they too will face deportation. But it doesn't stop there, Panda cubs living in zoos in Atlanta and San Diego are also destined to be ripped from their homes and sent back East- just like little Elian Gonzalez was forced back to Cuba in 2000.

This smells like China's most egregious and unfair trade agreement yet! Their shady commerce practices have for too long restrained us and allowed them to grow exponentially. They have surpassed us in car-buying; they are the 3rd largest market for luxury goods; they are hot on our heels as the world's largest online game market. So why does China need to corner the market on yet another product- one so cute as the Panda?

Americans should fight for their right to keep the Pandas that we produce here in the United States. We cannot allow them to be deported back, giving China the satisfaction of dominating us in yet another category, even if it is best way to protect these bears from extinction. Plus, if China continues to paw at all our bears, eventually we may be forced to get passports and travel outside the U.S. to see these cuddly diplomats.

The photo to the right is not of Tai Shan but was the cutest photo I could find on the internet. He probably already lives in China but we should have him.

Alice Does Bergdorf's

2009-12-08T08:24:00.011-05:00

Forget Wonderland, Alice chose to spend her Christmas 2009 at Bergdorf Goodman's. The enchanting displays will cause temporary amnesia from all apocalyptic thoughts of the economy. There are sequins and fringe and all out glamour.

Here is 'Alice' in a dazzling dress with a unicorn and lion made of crystal. Look closely at the bottom right corner- there's a silver-plated lobster.

Hedged- manicured horses dance with a hipper "Alice".

Ostriches. Dressed in Tartan. Playing bagpipes. Carrying red Chinese architecture- inspired Bird cages with Cockatoos. Beat that.

Whit and Black Crystal-faced polar bears. Their bodies are made entirely of flapper-dress fringe. The detail is scary in the most beautiful way.

My personal favorite. A squirrel rides his bike into the Wonderland across a Chess board toward the playing card people (hard to see in the photo - sorry it was taken with my cellphone. )

Across the street at Bergdorf Goodman's Mens is an homage to the Fantastic Mr Fox film/ Roald Dahl book. See a slidehow at http://manhattan.about.com/od/citylife1/ig/Bergdorf-Goodman-Xmas-Windows/200911_d7h03874_bergdorf_w15.htm

A Smashing Year

2009-12-04T10:10:00.012-05:00

The year is (fortunately) coming to an end. If anything, it will be known as the "Year of the Crash" for all the depressing events we endured. Here are my Burning Fierce Top 5 CRASH stories of 2009.

1. the U.S. Economy

Gone (for now) are the mind-blowing profits and Dow Highs that made us fat and comfortable. The bursting bubble of our real estate market created a domino effect that sunk the value of our dollar and watched employment plummet.

2. The White House Party Crashers.

They dropped themselves straight into a reality show guaranteed to have very few viewers. This story would have been better if the imaginary child in the balloon had crashed through the ceiling.

3. Taylor Swift being Kanye'd at the Video Music Awards.

Mr. West is a Stage crasher of the worst kind. The award for biggest D-Bag goes to....

4. Tiger Woods' Wife's Golf Club Crashing into his Car (after Tiger Crashed it into a tree). A double crash! However deserved, the negative publicity isn't worth the reported $80 million she may receive to stay in the marriage. Then again the $80 million does explain how such a boring man can lure so many women into performing "indiscretions" with him.

5. the Hannah Montana Doll Drops the f-Bomb. Kids' eardrums are blistering with the way some Moms think her doll pronounces the word 'Pumpkin' in song. Please note, this is only some Moms- those that never swear when their little angels forget to pick up their toys or smear diaper filling on the walls, of course.

We can only hope these moms crash from their meth highs next year.

And let's hope 2010 will bring some "Up's"-and I'm not talking film titles. I think we all deserve some.

Wrapped and Ready

2009-12-02T10:21:00.002-05:00

Even before I start stomping through the shops in search of Christmas presents for my friends and family, I think about how I will package the gifts. It is all in the presentation after all. I found some wrapping papers that will make any gift stand out under the tree.

Let Space Invaders conquer your gift wrapping dilemma.$5 a roll at Uncrate.com.

Paper-source.com has so many cool papers like this reindeer print.

They like their pixels in the UK. How cool is this paper? Lagomdesign.co.uk

a Touch of Grey

2009-11-24T13:19:00.004-05:00

My nephew Jake just painted his bedroom grey. It inspired me on a recent trip to Mystic, CT to find shades of Grey in the objects and surroundings around me.

Rogue or Redundant?

2009-11-13T07:56:00.012-05:00

Just when politics was getting too boring to write about, Sarah Palin again wriggles into the spotlight. Her highly-anticipated book "Going Rogue" is mostly anticipated by those wondering what thought in her head could be worth the estimated $7 million (source: LA Times) Harper Collins is throwing at her.

The book, to be released Tuesday November 17 is already reduced on Amazon. com - selling for just $9 on pre-order (that's a $19.99 price cut before it's even released)! Not to be outdone, WalMart is offering the gripping piece of literature for $8.98 with free shipping.

Maybe a pre-release price chop is the only thing rogue about her these days. The title of the book itself is being questioned by news organizations like TIME magazine as being untimely.

Certainly she is not the first politician to fumble through a television interview, gain the obsessive hatred of 92% of Americans, and quit her job to go on a book tour. If she was a housewife with a horrible haircut then her name would be Kate Gosselin.

The press releases have been trying hard to promote this as there are no gripping revelations disclosed in the book. It includes admissions there were conflicts within the McCain Campaign (shock!), she hates Katie Couric for her "badgering" interview questions (Wait. She still hasn't looked up the definition of "badgering"?), and her ethics complaints drove her legal expenses to more than half a million dollars. No surprises. Except she does reveal a fondness for 8th grade literature, revealing George Orwell's "Animal Farm" is one of her favorite stories. Perhaps the pigs in the book influenced her during the campaign and as governor. Her actions seem to echo the scrawling on the barn door: "All animals are created equal but some animals are more equal than others".

Unfortunately it looks like "Going Rogue" will not be the jaw-dropping, scandalous read we expected from the Thrilla from Wasilla and in these dire economic times, even a measly $9 is too much to pay for a ghost-written piece of fluff. It seems her only revealing quality, the rogue actions that made her appealing to those that may not have agreed with her politically, has shriveled up in the vast tundra of Alaska. Sad.

You can see Sarah Palin revealing the dry details of her book on Oprah Monday November 16. If you need help falling asleep on the couch, that is.

Heads in Business Cards

2009-11-11T18:27:00.007-05:00

Not everyone can be as clever, as witty as brilliant as comedian Steve Martin. Don't believe me? Check out his business card! It makes me want to ask him for his autograph if I ever meet him!

For the rest of us. we can try to make our business life a bit more interesting. This elastic business card makes so much sense when you pull it and read that its for a personal trainer. I almost want to go to the gym now.

Here's a card you don't want to get. It's for a debt collector. Don't pay? Your thumb will look like this.

And every landscaper needs a Chia-biz card pet.

When You Gotta Go

2009-11-04T11:50:00.004-05:00

Artist Candy Chung comes to the aid of New Yorkers in need of a Restroom Rescue. With a background in Urban Planning, she was stunned to find, or rather, not find, the paltry number of public toilets in New York City. I personally only know of one (in the green space where Broadway and 6 Avenue cross at 33th street). This opposed to 750 Automatic Public Commodes in Singapore, 678 in London and 500 in Athens.

So, Chung mapped out some semi-public places to let it all out downtown. These include Starbucks, Hotels and Police Stations and she printed them on a tear-by-page note pad. If any are still available they were placed at the 4,5,6, J,M,Z Canal Street Subway Station. This is something very handy to have in your wallet. Save yourself the trip to Chinatown and print a PDF of the map out at www.candychung.com or here.