The Nabaztag

I recently purchased one of these. They're really great! Nabaztag means "rabbit" in Armenian. The Nabaztag is a Wi-Fi enabled ambient electronic device. It can receive mp3 files and messages as well as preform the following: read the news, weather forecasts, stock market reports etc.

The official website is to be found HERE.

Captain Abu Raed

Yesterday I went to see Jordan's entry for the 2009 Oscar race "Captain Abu Raed." The movie tells the story an an aging airport janitor, Abu Raed, who is mistaken as an airline pilot by children in his local neighbourhood after finding a discarded pilot's hat.

Raed starts telling fantastical stories of his journeys to far away places to offer a ray of hope to the poor children of his neighbourhood. The movie is extremely touching and beautifully filmed introducing the viewer to the beauty of historical Amman. All the actors were outstanding! I highly recommend this movie!

Excerpts from the movie along with music from the film composed and conducted by Austin Wintory; performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony and Lisbeth Scott:

Prague & Istanbul

This is a photo I took in Prague of the beautiful "Dancing House" (completed in 1996. Commissioned by ING) by world renowned Canadian architect, Frank Gehry and Yugoslavian-born Czech architect Vlado Milunić. The site of the current building was originally occupied by a Neo-renaissance building from the end of the 19th century. That building was unfortunately destroyed during the 1945 bombings and its remains were removed in 1960.

The building is meant to reflect a woman and a man dancing together hence the name "Dancing House." It is located at the corner of the embankment Rasinovo Nabrezi and Resslova street.

The roof of the building houses a French restaurant "La Perle de Prague" with spectacular views. Other tenants include various multinational companies.

This is a photo I took at the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul. This is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that are to be found beneath the historical city.

The Basilica Cistern provided water to the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings located on the First Hill. After the Ottoman conquest in 1453 it continued to provide water to the Topkapi Palace, the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans.

Self Edge x Dry Bones x Superfuture Jeans

• 16oz Japanese Selvedge Denim (Exclusive Fabric)
• Pure Indigo Dyed Cotton - Ring Spun - Right Hand Twill
• Cotton Poly-Core Stitch
• Military Grade Canvas lined rear pockets
• Hidden Rivets
• Button Fly
• Dual-Tone Superfuture "Rep Bar" Stitch
• Straight Fit (slightly slimmed down)
• 
  

The collaboration jeans can be found at the Self Edge webstore:

http://www.selfedge.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72&products_id=410

These jeans were made in collaboration with Japanese denim brand, Dry Bones and the Superfuture Forum. Members of the forum actively took part in designing the jeans. To further involve the online community, everyone who buys a pair is welcome to document how they break in on the superfuture forums. The best looking pair will win a free pair of any jeans on sale at the Self Edge store.

Interview with Kiya Babzani, proprietor of Self Edge in San Francisco:

1) Could you tell us how the idea was born to create these jeans?

The Superfuture forum wanted to create a jean where it was partially designed by the users of the forum, it was a great project because the users would give input on design and slowly the jean began to take on a life of it's own as it changed from sample to sample. In the end we wanted a heavy weight denim made into a classic straight slim cut with great details that would resonate with the Superfuture denim community.

2) Could you tell us about Dry Bones and Superfuture and how they were involved?

Superfuture mostly gave the ok on the project and allowed Self Edge and the Supertalk members to do the project as they pleased. Dry Bones gave input on the fit and the patch artwork, which was finally designed by the famous JimmyC of Superfuture.

4) What other jeans (makes, brands) would you consider to be your favourite ones?

My current favorites are Real Japan Blues, aka RJB, which is a company owned by Flat Head but is far newer. They've only been around for a few years, but they're proving that their fits and denim are going to be around for a long time, they're putting out amazing jeans and shirts at the moment.

Classic Architecture Part 2

Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D Major:

Recycling Oil Rigs into Luxurious Hotels

Morris Architects took the first prize at the second annual Radical Innovation in Hospitality Awards.

The Gulf of Mexico has around 4,000 oil rigs in various sizes that will be decommissioned at some point during the next century.

Morris Architect's plan is to convert these oil rigs into luxurious eco-friendly hotels and spas.

It is extremely expensive to work on oil rigs. The architects proposal is to ship the pre-fabricated rooms to the oil rig as standard shipping containers.

View of the interior of the rooms

* 300+ guest and luxury suites
* Conference facility and ballroom for events
* Fitness center and spa
* High end dining, shopping, and entertainment
* Rooftop infinity pool
* Pro shop and launch for water-based activities
* Gaming casino and stargazer lounge
* Dive bell and scuba training
* Boat launch and boat slips for visitors


credit: Jetson Green, BLDGBLOG, TreeHugger and Curbed

Classic architecture

Helsinki

Vienna

Prague

Vienna

Europe is known for its breathtaking architecture. I thought I'd share with you a few beautiful photos that I took last summer in various European cities.

To create the suitable atmosphere here is the "Radetzky March" by Johann Strauss: