Link About It: This Week’s Picks
Delicious craft beer pairings, i-D’s fashion future, interactive billboards and more in our weekly look at the web
1. Flippin’ Wolves
Chances With Wolves, the group of three childhood friends and DJs who hit up the airwaves weekly on East Village Radio, is now sharing their eclectic taste of rare and forgotten music through Flipboard, which allows you to read social media content in a magazine format. Flip through artistic GIFs, vinyl album artwork, weird YouTube music videos, recommended books and more to add a visual dimension to the music you hear on their remarkable radio show.
2. Jean Touitou: “ré-swagin”
A longtime option for those in the know, APC’s Butler program allows customers to return worn-in raw denim in exchange for 50% off of a new pair. Their discarded fawns are then sold back to subsequent customers lacking the interest or energy to break in a
new pair of rigid selvage jeans. This week APC brought the former
in-store-only program online, and APC founder Jean Touitou
commented on the news with an entertaining (if not slightly ESL) tweet at Esquire, who posted an announcement, by saying “It’s not recyclons it’s ré-swagin.”
3. “think aloud: future fashion”
Technology and fashion have become inseparable on all levels. We’re talking 3D-printing, archiving, social networking, e-commerce, wearable tech, printing, laser cutting and more. i-D gets the inside scoop from a dozen of the industry’s most forward-thinking minds, including Net-A-Porter’s Natalie Massenet, designers threeASFOUR and supermodel Coco Rocha, as they discuss the need to pull in the audience and give them a performance. Dig deeper with i-D’s video, titled “think aloud: future fashion.”
4. CSI: Jackson Pollock
The story has the makings of a great Hollywood film: a few weeks before famed painter Jackson Pollock died in a car crash, he supposedly painted a small work in his house at the Hamptons for his mistress Ruth Kligman (his wife had caught the two together and fled to Europe). With the stature of an artist like Pollock, authentication would increase the price by millions of dollars, but it’s been a 60-year battle between academics who purport that it does not look like a Pollock, versus forensics specialists who disagree, finding evidence buried in the painting—like a hair from Pollock’s polar bear rug—that link it to the artist. It’s a mystery left unsolved, as the only two people who know the truth—Kligman and Pollock—are resting in their graves.
5. $15+ Million Psalm Book
Sotheby’s is predicting a new record-setting sale, this time for a historic tome. The Bay Psalm Book happens to be the first book printed in what would become the United States, the product of a Christian reformation stateside. In 1640, 1,700 copies of the 300-page book were translated into English meter, complete with typographical errors and an uncommon Puritanical voice, then immediately put to use. Most first editions were worn out within decades. Only 11 still exist and Boston’s Old South Church is selling one through the esteemed auction house, which is estimated to go for between $15 and $30 million.
6. Patagonia Worn Wear
Counter to the consumerist extravaganza Black Friday promotes
each year, this week Patagonia released an inspiring
documentary on the enduring spirit of their products and customers. An
“exploration in quality,” the short film—complete with interviews and insightful knowledge from founder Yvon Chouinard—takes viewers on a journey to a surf camp in the Baja where a single pair of surf trunks have survived decades, and beyond to New Hampshire, California and more homes of proud Patagonia owners.
7. Fine Food + Fine Beer
In his 191st episode on Heritage Radio, Beer Sessions host Jimmy Carbone brought together some of the best voices in in the discerning beer scene to discuss elevated beer and food pairings. Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø of Tørst—Greepoint’s exciting craft beer bar and Luksus restaurant—discusses his pairing program, while beer director of NYC’s famed Eleven Madison Park, Sarah Monroe, sheds light on food studies, brewing science and beer certification. Altogether, the episode offers a place for beer within fine dining just in time for the holiday season.
8. Transitions 1020
Celebrating surf, skate and snow culture in New Zealand, Nokia and
Burton recently teamed up to tour the country’s South Island, linking
up with local members of the greater board sport community. From documenting the
ongoing struggles in Earthquake-torn Christchurch to the enduring
mountain town of Wanaka, the recently-launched and dynamically interactive website offers visitors an experiential way to see what those on the tour observed in person.
9. Girls vs. Boys
The latest copyright infringement case to stir up a media storm is between the legendary Beastie Boys and SF-based GoldieBlox, a start-up that makes toys and games to encourage girls to explore science and technology. In a recent online ad, GoldieBlox parodies the Beastie Boys song “Girls” by changing the misogynistic lyrics to be more empowering—but neglected to ask permission, later citing fair use. When the hip-hop group enquired, GoldieBlox preemptively sued them, causing the Beastie Boys to issue an open letter reminding the public of their long-established decision to not allow their music to be used in product ads (it’s even written in Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch’s will). The most recent updates show that GoldieBlox has folded, posting a letter on their website Wednesday apologizing to the Beastie Boys and uploading a new video to YouTube with the song removed.
10. Saietta R Motorcycle
The next most energy-efficient machine to hit the road is reminiscent of a superhero vehicle out of a Marvel Comics book. Created in London by clean tech company Agility Global, the Saietta R motorcycle, is named after the Apennine Italian word for “thunderbolt.” The machine is 100% fuel-free and can take on 60mph in under 4 seconds, and go 112 miles on a single charge—enough to cross through London three times. The Saietta R will be unveiled this December at Clean and Cool Missions in Colorado, and will launch publicly in 2014.
11. British Airways’ Interactive Billboard
With their new “Look Up” campaign, British Airways has unveiled a new custom-built billboard in London’s Piccadilly Circus. The display features a video presentation of a young boy, who points to the sky when a British Airways plane flies above in real life. The sign then prompts anyone who is looking with the flight’s number and origin. While not the first interactive ad of its kind, it does instill a healthy share of wonder and wanderlust while making use of modern technology.
12. 3D-Printed Records
3D-printing has hit almost every corner of the creative industry, and now it’s hitting music. In 2012, American researcher Amanda Ghassaei used the technology to create the first 3D-printed record, which despite its resolve, was a little rough around the edges. Working hard to make the concept a viable reality, Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke teamed up with songwriter Bobbie Gordon to create a limited edition single which will sell for charity from a London pop-up shop this December. Though these records can only be produced with a single mono channel for now, rather than the stereo channels heard in vinyls, the creative fusion and charitable proceeds make for a special holiday project.
Link About It is our filtered look at the web, shared daily on Twitter and published weekly every Saturday morning.
