Not that we're fans of fast food anyway, but here's an interesting series that highlights the misleading advertised "look" of some items. Aside from being terrible for one's health, it's clear that these "popular" chains highlight their best "face" on print and media, while the actual food tells quite the different story. Double fail!
Introducing the Nike FuelBand, the sportswear company's latest jump into the consumer tech gadget universe. The sleek LCD wristband works like a personal monitor by recording the user's activity via an accelerometer. That activity is then translated into "Nike Fuel" a point system that quantifies and visualizes it all. Athletes can set point goals and start moving! Oh, and did we mention that you can track your progress with an app? Cool.
We were recently informed about a scam involving FedEx that's been making rounds and alerting watchdogs. The scheme involves getting a hold of a person's checking information and swiping $500 to open up a new FedEx account. Then there's another jux (possible supplement) that involves receiving an anonymous check for a large sum that's addressed to and from unkown parties. The goal is to entice the receiver to cash it so that it bounces and their account info gets snagged. Watch out for both!
Thanks to OkayAfrica, sister site to the music-loving OkayPlayer, Hip-Hop icon Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest) was recently able to trace back his African ancestry. On the latest episode of the blog's "The Roots Of..." video series, Q takes an actual q-tip (the irony) to his cheek and gives the research team a sample of his DNA. Tests later reveal that his lineage traces back to the West African territory of Guinea Bissau, a place that is rich in music influence. Amazing how it all connects!
After much debate and backlash regarding the change, pioneer comic book publisher, DC Comics, has finally unveiled the new look for its corporate logo. Already in use on its website, the new logo is comprised of a peeled-back "d" that reveals the complimentary "c" behind it. The intended purpose of the new look will allow the letters to fit into distinctive character branding like the Green Lantern's glow, for example. We dig it!
American lawyer, Mickey H. Osterreicher, wants the public to know that ever since 9/11 besides, terror, there has been an ever-increasing "War On Photography." According to the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) attorney, U.S. authorities on federal and local fronts have been clamping down on the First Amendment rights of photo journalists and civilians alike by interfering with, detaining, and even arresting them on the basis of anti-terrorism. Mr. Osterreicher wants to bring light to the injustice by writing about it--particularly issues concerning photography and the law. Interested readers can check out more information via his column on JPG Mag, his Twitter account, or the NPPA blog. Get informed!
The social media experts over at Soshable are expecting tons of Twitter and Facebook use during the upcoming Super Bowl XLVI. So much that they actually wrote up a piece about how connection providers like Verizon are lacing Lucas Oil Field with an extra-heavy arsenal to support 3G, 4G, and WiFi. And then there's all the social media blasts and analytics that are going to be handled by digital marketing companies like Raidious--a great case study on what will most certainly be one of the most data-heavy events of the year. Hence the name, The Social Bowl.
Thanks to Barthalomäus Traubeck we can actually hear what a tree sounds like. Yep, sounds! The premise of the Netherlands-based artist's project titled "Years" is to sonically convey the age lines of a tree exactly the same way a turntable plays vinyl. With a little help from some high-end computer gear and Ableton Live music software, here's what he's been able to produce:
By B.E.
Ok, so not the most original question. In fact, it’s been posed many times, most notably – in my humble opinion – by the R&B quartet En Vogue of the mid 90’s and even though they recited Webster’s Dictionary on the track, even they were left disappointed with their findings.
Tonight, I sit on a plane. I sit in coach. That first row of coach where you have slightly more legroom and a front row seat to how the other half lives (as seen through the thread bare curtain that separates the first class haves and have-nots).
I fly quite a bit and seem to have a knack for being sat next to senior citizens. Don’t get me wrong, I love the elderly (more than most), but there is an implied reverence given to those who have lived on the planet decades longer than you that means arm rest priority and acceptance of personal space boundaries being crossed.
Tonight, when approaching my seat I saw just what I was up against. Not only were my row-mates old, they were ancient, and foreign! The man and woman seated next to me spoke, from what I could tell, no English, and seemed to be from the Eastern Block, so much so that they insisted on carrying all of their earthly belongings on their laps.
It was clear that the two were married, and it seemed safe to assume that an audition for the newly wed game was not in their near future, but in their very distant past.
I was irritated with the constant knocking of my elbow and the overlap of winter coat on what was clearly the territory of the inhabitant of seat 10D, but as I said, these people were old, probably survived wars, so I was cutting them some slack.
It’s no secret that I’m a cynical woman, not helped by my living in New York City and working like a crazy person, but even I have those moments, where I have to stop and take a moment to be in awe at the beauty of life.
With recycled fuel-tainted air in my nostrils and 10 cents worth of Delta Airlines pretzels in my tummy, the age-old question: What is love? was answered.
The woman next to me, with an unfortunate blue (yes blue) mole, covering good percentage of the left side of her nose, took her surprisingly youthful hand and began to stroke the back of her husband’s neck. A simple gesture, devoid of the passion of youthful lust, but fraught with the comfort and understanding of real love.
As she ran her fingers over his shorn hair, only slightly thinning at the crown, I couldn’t help but smile. For a moment, the heavy winter coat she had draped over my right thigh disappeared and I realized I was in the presence of love. All I could do was smile.
Sitting, wedged uncomfortably in the back of a 6-hour flight with no food, no entertainment and a case of the sniffles, this babushka reached out to offer some simple comfort to the man she loves – now that is love!
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B.E. is a photographer and aspiring freelance writer residing in New York City.
It's no secret that the fashion world and the commercial music scene share lots of commonalities. For one, both industries are as competitive as they come. Add in a melting pot of movers and players that are constantly creating and exchanging, and you'll realize how relatively easy it is for the line between inspiration and cloning blur. Which leads us to the following story between winter drygoods brand, Psyberia, and Harlem-based rapper, Jim Jones (The Diplomats).
According to Psyberia, Jimmy and some of his cohorts were given complimentary jackets courtesy of the upstart brand. The hope, as with any infant line, was for publicity--to have Jim Jones and company rocking the "Psyberian Coat" was a golden opportunity! And it was, that is, until a couple of months later Jimmy and competing brand, Parish Nation, show up on the scene with a collaborative line called Protocol that includes a winter jacket that looks awfully familiar.
So here it is, a rundown of the entire "exchange" process:
Psyberia Drygoods debuts Winter 2010/2011 line and Psyberian Coat.
Jim Jones receives complimentary Psyberian Coat.
Jim Jones uploads TwitVid of himself wearing coat during Winter 2010/2011 snow storm.
Jim Jones artist, Sen City, wears Pysberian Coat in brown.
2011 Parish Nation X Jim Jones "Protocol" video w/ Psyberian Coat on sample table.
Jim Jones "Ski Jacket" for Protocol Winter 2011/2012.
As the saying goes, imitation is the best form of flattery, but we're really scratching our heads over this one. Is it possible that Jimmy was so "inspired" by the Psyberian Coat design (chest pocket and all) that he had to go ahead and create his own? And if so, where is the line drawn between borrowing and copying?
Given the evidence presented, we're letting our readers' comments decide this one.
Did Jim Jones bite?
