Link About It: This Week’s Picks
Dr. Seuss’ hat collection, Google ski maps, Beck’s take on Bowie and more in our look at the web this week
1. A View From The Shard
No longer do you need to climb to the observation deck of
London’s tallest building for a view of the city, thanks to a new
online app put out by The Guardian. Created using two high-res, 360-degree images taken by panoramic photographer Will Pearson, the
app—complete with landmark information—delivers the stunning panorama from The Shard’s 68th floor to your personal computer.
2. I Promise to Love You
Throughout the month of February, British artist Tracey Emin is lighting up Times Square by replacing billboards with her signature neon signs. Her love-centered works are the perfect Valentine’s Day salute to the city of NYC.
3. Is The Post Office Being Funny?
In an effort to save around $2 billion a year in losses, the United States Postal Service has announced it will end Saturday delivery as of this August. Naturally, cartoonists at the New Yorker have something to say about that, and the quick-witted publication shares their sentiments through a series asking, “Is The Post Office Being Funny?”
4. Dr. Seuss’s Hat Exhibit
“Ted has another peculiar hobby—that of collecting hats of every description,” the sister to Theodor Seuss Geisel explained to a newspaper in 1937. The next year, her brother, better known as Dr. Seuss, published “The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins” as a testament to his obsession. To celebrate its 75th anniversary and the use of curious hats throughout the myriad books written by Seuss, the New York Public Library will display his collection through 12 February before it travels on other cities throughout the US.
5. Nothing Fancy
Using nothing more than a single piece of unstitched leather and a
rubber band or two, London-based designer Chieh Ting Huang’s Nothing Fancy wallets are an impressive
representation of minimalist design done right.
6. Martin Parr Website Upgrade
Arguably one of the most influential photographers of recent
times, Martin Parr is full of talent across many mediums. His new website offers further proof
with its thorough inventory of his films, books and photographs. Not only ripe with
intriguing imagery, the FAQ section reads as if Parr is
interviewing himself, offering an insightful and educational look at his career to date.
7. Tweetping
Created by web designer Franck Ernewein, Tweetping is a real-time Twitter visualization
map. As soon as you open the page, the austere globe
pops to life with thousands of pins illuminating their place of
origin. Along with the map, Tweetping includes a running tally of each
continent’s activity through number of Tweets, words, characters and
even most recently used hashtag and Twitter handle.
8. Beck’s “Sound and Vision”
Using a 157-piece orchestra and a slowly rotating stage, Beck played a wild rendition of David Bowie’s “Sound and Vision” at recent concert in LA. With Bowie’s blessing, Beck and the orchestra’s conductor—his father David Campbell—played to an invite-only audience of 280 who sat casually on floor cushions for a legendary performance made possible by Lincoln Motor Company.
9. $1.50, $2.50, $3.00 Lamps
Designer Nathan Young draws upon iconic shapes of nonperishable foods for a series of soft-glowing porcelain lamps, called $1.50, $2.50, $3.00. Named for the typical prices of canned foods in Singapore, he tells Moco of their infamous forms, “they are like the unsung heroes, even at times singled out unfairly for their un-nutritional values, but still, they play an important part in our lives be it in the past, current and probably the future.”
10. Microsoft Surface Pro
With the launch of Windows 8, Office 365 and now the Surface Pro, Microsoft is seemingly sporting a successful rebound after years of Apple domination. Lovingly given the tagline, “Don’t call it a tablet,” the Surface Pro channels an LL Cool J-worthy “knock you out” spirit with its hybrid functionality and powerful punch of convenient PC portability.
11. Filabot
Launched on Kickstarter, Filabot is the next step toward making 3D printing affordable for home use. The Filabot is designed to recycle plastics into the spool of plastic string, the “ink” needed for 3D printers. And, while there are no details yet about the Filabot’s price, but based on their Kickstarter funding levels, it’s looking like $500.
12. Thirty Six App
Created by Senior Computer Scientist at Adobe, Gary Cohen, Thirty Six is an amusing re-imagination of the analog camera, designed to refocus the photographer on taking more thoughtful shots. Like original 36-exposure film, Thirty Six will not let users look at their images until they’ve completed the entire roll.
13. Google Ski Maps
Available this week, Google has added detailed run and chairlift
maps for 38 ski resorts across US and Canada.
Sticking to the familiar green, blue and black color scale, the digital design conflates the analog joy of old-school fold-up maps with the ease of Google’s near-perfect GPS tracking. Now all you have to do is remember to keep your phone warm and the battery charged.
14. Paper Sculptures of Li Hongbo
In a quick video demonstration, artist LI Hongbo showcases the intricacies of one of his paper sculptures. This particular piece, a bust of a human head unfurls the accordion-like layers of the haunting white paper face.
15. Unemployed Reporter Porter
Full-time reporter turned freelance writer Jon Campbell knows how to spend his newfound free time. The sharp-tongued journalist recently picked up a new hobby—home-brewing beer that is as heady on the palate as it is on the industry with disclaimers like, “The Surgeon General says women shouldn’t drink alcohol during pregnancy, but between Gawker and the Huffington Post, hasn’t the act of procreation itself become a moral liability?”
16. Mark Wallinger’s Labyrinth
In celebration of the London Underground’s 150th anniversary, Turner prize-winning artist Mark Wallinger has created 270 different black and white works that channel the tube’s maze-like nature. Already in 10 majors stations, “Labyrinth” will soon appear in the rest of the stations over the course of the month, completing this permanent installation.
