George W. is a good sport after an Iraqi reporter hurls not one, but two shoes at the outgoing President during a press conference. Props to Dubya for the excellent ducking skills. Check it out!

Now here's a genius idea. Get your bubble wrap popping-fix, on a daily basis, with this  poster-sized calendar with three hundred and sixty five of them, one for everyday of the year. We're really diggin' its modern look and feel which is appropriate for us design snobs with image-conscious homes and offices.
Just don't let your friends and family pop them all  before Janaury 1st!

For more info visit: www.bubblecalendar.com

Sometimes we New Yorker's go through our everyday lives so focused on the proverbial grindstone that we don't stop to think or question why things are the way they are.

It is undeniable that having a car in New York City is a luxury that can quickly become a pain in the ass if a) you can't afford the monthly garage fee or b) you fail to stay on top of the alternate side of the street parking calendar.

This same exact pain in the ass is why I haven't had a car in twenty years...until recently that is.

Out of debt and recently married with a newborn baby, my wife and I decided to invest in a little whip to make our lives easier.  It comes in especially handy when making out of town trips to see the family; transport groceries as well as the little one. Thus far, the convenience has far outweighed the inconvenience of dealing with the day to day saga that is street parking in New York City.

Normally, we're pretty good about moving the car on the right days in order to stay clear of the DOT storm troopers. That's not to say that we don't get the occasional ticket here and there, but normally, we pay the fine immediately to avoid any additional fees or even worse, having the car towed.

Well, this past Sunday evening in a tired, underslept stupor that only a long week can bring (those living with a youngin' can relate), I made the mistake of parking in a Mon./Thurs. spot.  My mistake was thinking that Monday was November 11th, Veterans Day, which is a national holiday when New York City suspends alternate side of the street parking.
It was actually November 10th.

By the time I came to realize late Monday afternoon that I had been living my life one day later it was too late and I got hit with a 45.00 fine, which I'm cool with. Afterall, it was my fault... all good, right?

Actually, not all good at all!!!

Here's what I can't understand. Why does the City Of New York, aside from the fine, engage in what amounts to legalized vandelism of my private property by sniping my rear passenger, drivers side car window with a 12x12 garishly green neon sticker using industrial strength glue? Is that really necessary? Isn't it a little excessive? Is a fine not enough? Not in New York City my friends.

What genius executive at the Sanitation department came up with this brilliant Pavlovian idea?  Isn't vandalizing private property against the law? Is a municipality above the law?

Perhaps, residents of New York City should start sticker sniping New York City public property every time the city does something wrong or illogical,  like STILL not doing anything with Ground Zero.

Sounds preposterous, no? My point exactly. Think about it, stickering cars is no better than the act of writing graffitti on public property.

The only difference is that the one that is part of a municipal business is "legal" and the one that is art is not.

Ponder that...

One Pissed and Perplexed New Yorker

Thread is so twentieth-century. Glue is the new thread according to "Glue Jeans" whose seams are glued instead of sewn. The jeans officially launched this week by the Dutch design duo G + N during the opening of Amsterdam International Fashion Week. Not to sound pessimistic because this is an innovative idea...yet, we wonder if they'll come apart at the seam, no pun intended.
[ via: www.designyoutrust.com ]

Fasion and tecnology intersect yet again.  First a dope bag design from two Portuguese designers and now an ill, limited edition, hand-made, silver USB jewelry collection via Berlin. This collection ranges from necklaces to bracelets and keychains by industrial designer Tonia Welter and jewelery designer Julia Reymann. International is where it's at!

[ via: www.toniawelter.de ]

Some would argue that the Portuguese do it better and when it comes to keyboard bags, who are we to argue. Check out this industrial design collabo. Props to João and Mario.
[ via: Battical Magazine ]

Can you say rock star status? Barack Obama recently spoke to a crowd at a Waterfront Park in Portland Oregon. Here's what 75,000 supporters looks like.

This one falls under the "too entertaining not to post" category. Here's a clip (circa 1989-1995) of Billy O losing his mind back in the day while on the set of Inside Edition. It may not last long on Youtube so enjoy it while you can.

As Americans go to the polls and we get ready for our presidential elections in November, this important story on Remote Area Medical that ran this past Sunday on 60 minutes underscores the urgent importance of developing some form of Universal Healthcare for all Americans.

As the proverbial white picket fence surrounding our American Dream collapses, it makes us wonder how it is that Stan Brock (who's a foreigner) can manage to provide medical services to 17,000 people for $250K a year while our politicians and healthcare industry can't even produce a white paper report for this same amount.

Check out the 60 Minutes report by Scott Pelley.

By Led Black

Gustavo Dudamel began taking music lessons at the tender age of four, by the time he turned 15, he was the conductor of Venezuela’s national youth orchestra.  In 2004, he successfully defeated 15 other hopefuls for the prestigious Mahler Prize, which is the most important competition for young conductors.  Soon afterward, his career takes off and Gustavo garners international attention and recognition culminating in him being named the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic earlier this year.  At the age of 26, Gustavo has performed at concert halls the world over and has become the talk of the Classical Music genre.  Mr. Dudamel has even performed for the Pope.

Gustavo Dudamel is a product of the venerable El Sistema of Venezuela.  José Antonio Abreu, Dudamel’s mentor, founded El Sistema 32 years ago with the aim of teaching poor kids to play musical instruments.  The program now has an enrollment of 250,000 students countrywide and Dudamel is its star pupil and ambassador.  I first came across this remarkable virtuoso via this excellent 60 Minutes piece, GUSTAVO THE GREAT, which aired recently.  To see this man perform is to be completely blown away by his passion and love of classical music.  Gustavo Dudamel is an electric performer that mesmerizes even those who are not normally into Classical Music such as myself.  Check out this crazy mambo version of a Leonard Bernstein number.