Link About It: This Week’s Picks
Albanian bunkers, Michel Gondry’s novel cars, state-shaped skillets and more in our look at the web this week
1. RIP MCA
Adam “MCA” Yauch—founding member of the Beastie
Boys—passed away at the age of 47 this Friday following a prolonged bout with
cancer. The influential music icon took his group from a garage band
in Brooklyn to superstardom alongside Michael “Mike D” Diamond and
Adam “Adrock” Horovitz. In addition to music, Yauch led charities for
Tibetan citizens, 9/11 victims and directed several of the band’s
music videos.
2. Poo-powered Wi-Fi
Mexican Internet company Terra recently
launched a publicity campaign that proposes to offer
owners free Wi-Fi in exchange for their pooch’s poo. The buzz campaign
incentivizes lazy masters to keep the neighborhood clean—adding
wireless minutes in exchange for pounds of excrement.
3. The World Without
Imagine a world without some of the richest and most recognizable people—celebrities, entrepreneurs, athletes. Brazilian Ogilvy did in “The World Without…”, a series of infographic ads depicting what the absence of a handful of iconic figures would take away from history. Three billion less photos uploaded per month without Mark Zuckerberg, 5.3 million less people traveling by plane without Richard Branson and 121 less women claiming to have slept with Tiger Woods without Tiger Woods.
4. The Bunkers of Albania
Between 1967 to 1986 the Albanian government constructed 750,000 concrete bunkers in preparation for an enemy that never came. Located in neighborhoods, beaches, cemeteries and on mountaintops, the bunkers were never used. Now two graduate students want to convert them into hostels, cafes, and other symbols of openness and hospitality.
5. “L’Écume des Jours” Cars
Shooting has begun in Paris for Michel Gondry’s forthcoming film, “L’Écume des Jours”, an adaptation of Boris Vian’s legendary novel about an eccentric wealthy couple. Gondry’s French-language rendition will apparently feature an array of reconstructed cars, like a Peugeot 306 where the back is now on the front or a Citroën GSA with wings on the hood.
6. Made In America Skillets
Fry up something nice in the shape of your favorite state with FeLion Studio‘s “Made in America Skillets”. The collection features 48 hand-poured, cast iron skillets—hopefully you’re not hungry for some Hawaiian grinds.
7. SWIMS + Armani
Resembling a sleek pair of smoking slippers, the new collaboration galosh from SWIMS for Armani is one to keep an eye on for fall 2012. The all-black coloring and slender profile make for a rather chic alternative to those bulky green Hunters you have but likely never wear.
8. edX
Boston universities MIT and Harvard have teamed up on
an open-source platform that offers free online degree programs. With $60 million in initial investment, edX is a philanthropic effort that
promises to educate a billion people and shake up higher education’s
profit scheme.
9. Jonathan Harris at PSFK
Identifying four ominous trends in the way we now communicate online, new media artist Jonathan Harris is seeking to provide an online space for sharing the “higher elements in people.” At this year’s PSFK Conference NYC, he shares the story of his life and the philosophy behind his website Cowbird.
10. Day to Night
The new series from photographer Stephen Wilkes carefully combines hundred of photographs captured in a 24-hour period to blend together night and day. His panoramic views of NYC seamlessly transition between the two distinctly different sides of the city.
11. Sisifo Light
Designer Scott Wilson debuted his first product for the lighting brand Artemide at Salon del Mobile last month. Created to re-imagine how LEDs are used in the office and at home, Sisifo’s large LED disk balances precariously on a slender stake in a rather bold design statement. The light itself swivels using the base’s double ball joint to shed light in a 360-degree circle, maximizing utility while minimizing its physical footprint.
12. Anthropocene
Welcome to the human era. An animation by Globaïa shows
humanity’s rapid takeover of the planet earth through trade routes.
Sparked by new energy sources and the advent of engines, the
accelerated growth has led to “the anthropocene, a time when geology is
dominated by humanity, not mother nature.”
