October 31, 2009 @ 11:49 pm
Alex Creamer, a student at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK, created this unique product packaging for spaghetti using a 3D model of the Chrysler Building in New York City that he stuck to the inside of a white rectangular box. The result of placing spaghetti inside this box is that the spaghetti mimics the shape of the Chrysler Building when opened. Kinda a nice surprise, no?
October 31, 2009 @ 6:32 pm
Down East was kind enough to send me a copy of their new book Ruin: Photographs of a Vanishing America with photographs by architectural photographer Brian Vanden Brink. The book is a documentation of some of the forgotten buildings that are strewn across America. Brian Vanden Brink’s architectural eye brings out the beauty in these forgotten places and singles them out as artifacts and specimens that must be preserved (at least on film) for future generations.
Looking at the 120 photos in this collection (50 in color and 70 in black and white) make me wonder about the history of some of these buildings and what circumstances must have played out to make the owners abandon these structures. Were these buildings left behind when somebody passed away? Or were they abandoned because of financial or environmental circumstances? The questions remain and Brian cannot answer them all, but he can capture them in such a way that makes you appreciate their beauty despite being called eyesores in their community.
As a plus, Brian includes several photos that he took for the Historic American Engineering Record of buildings and structures that the government (Federal and State) are actively working on to either demolish, rehabilitate, or add on to. In some cases, these government sites have all but been abandoned and left to rot and in a sense, they take on a life of their own as shown in Brian’s photos.
For somebody like me who is obsessed with abandoned structures and places, this book certainly filled me with a sense of wanderlust. I’d love to visit the towns that these abandoned buildings and structures are located and see them all for myself. I probably won’t make it to most of them in this book, but I’m thankful that Brian has included the general locations just in case I do intend to make some sort of trip in the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series of photos from Down East and Brian Vanden Brink and I highly encourage you to get your own copy of this book too so you can enjoy parts of America in a new way. Even better is that Amazon.com sells Ruin: Photographs of a Vanishing America
Check out some images of the book below.
October 31, 2009 @ 5:50 pm
This had me laughing out loud. My favorite part is when the mascot dances to “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba. So good, so good!
October 31, 2009 @ 3:32 pm
I bet you that playing multiplayer Tetris on this bigger DSi XL is a heck of a lot more comfortable than the regular DS/DSi because you won’t have to flex your hand muscles to get a hold of the device while pushing all sorts of buttons. I hope I’m right! This looks nice.
October 31, 2009 @ 3:27 pm
I’ve been listening to this CD all week after Christina mentioned that I should be listening to it. And she’s right. It’s catchy in every way possible (think electronic beeps and boops) and the guy’s voice (Adam Young) is tolerable. I’m not exactly sure if I can pinpoint what sort of feeling this entire album gives me, but it does make me feel happy and relaxed. And for that, I’ll keep it around.
The single that seems to be playing now on the radio is a song called “Fireflies”. It’s probably one of the least interesting tracks on the album in my opinion so don’t let it deter you from giving this artist a listen.
UPDATE: NEW LINK WILL BE UPLOADED LATER.
UPDATE 2: Fixed link.
Owl City – Fireflies from Carolina Alvim on Vimeo.
October 31, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
Photo: Reuters
Wow, Lens posted this haunting picture of a deceased person on the ground after a fire at an Indian oil depot. The blast killed at least 6 people and injured more than 150. Frightening indeed.
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