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May 31, 2007
Xiang Xiang Killed By Wild Pandas
Xiang Xiang is the first captive-bred giant panda ever released into the wild. He was freed into the wild last year in hopes that he would survive and give credence to the breeding program. A year later, researchers tracked Xiang Xiang down and found him dead apparently due to injuries suffered from a fall related to attacks by wild born pandas.
Although breeders and scientists did their best to teach Xiang Xiang how to survive in the wild, nothing can replace the hard lessons learned in life. It seems Xiang Xiang learned the hardest way. I hope this doesn't stop the breeding program tho. We really need to help these magnificent creatures regain their place in the world.
Posted by tranism at 6:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
OMFG, Harry Potter Theme Park!
One of my fantasies have come true. They are going to build a Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, Florida called "Wizarding World of Harry Potter". The 1 billion dollar project will open late 2009 in time for the Holidays. More than a dozen artists and designers lead by Stuart Craig, the production designer of the movies, have set up house in the studio where the movies are being filmed to make sure every detail is considered.
The Potter park will allow visitors to view iconic locations in Rowling's magical world, like Dumbledore's office in Hogwarts and the shops in Hogsmeade. Some locations may be in upcoming books. While there would not be any character look-a-likes at the park, fans wanting to see Harry Potter and his magical friends won't leave disappointed.
The park also has creator and author of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling's blessing. She's even been working directly with the team to make sure the park resembles the books and films.
I can't even comment, I'm about to faint.
via Yahoo
Posted by tranism at 5:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
What Does Nintendo Mean?
A friend recently asked me if I'm a hardcore gamer. I answered yes since I spend a considerable amount of my time and money playing and buying video games. I stay abreast on the latest gaming news and although I like casual games, I sometimes prefer more in depth and epic experiences.
Then I was asked what Nintendo meant. DAMN! I know how old Nintendo is (118 years old) and that the company was founded making playing cards. In regard to this question, all my hardcoreness didn't amount to a hill-of-beans so I had to do some research. This is what I discovered.
The word Nintendo is an amalgamation of 3 symbols: nin, meaning "leave to"; ten, for "heaven"; and do, "company". That translates to "the company that leaves to heaven" or more poetically, "take care of every detail, and heaven will take care of the rest."
What a beautiful word!
Posted by tranism at 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
May 29, 2007
The CityWall
The CityWall is a large multi-touch display in Helsinki Finland which acts as a collaborative and playful interface for the ever-changing media landscape of the city.
Public content from Flickr and Youtube feed the wall with pictures and videos. Citizens can even contribute to the wall by sending an email or an MMS to post@citywall.org. Alternatively, tag your media on YouTube and Flickr with "Helsinki" and it'll automatically be picked up. Users navigate the content by touchscreen. Check out the video.
Thanks Jeff
Posted by tranism at 6:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
I Didn't Know Tigers Swim Well
A rare white tiger swimming. He doesn't look too happy having his picture taken but look at those paws! I wanna dip them in ink and stamp them all over my dining room walls.
via Treehugger
Posted by tranism at 5:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
May 25, 2007
A Search Engine That Searches Everything
The title says it all. Sputtr lets your search all the major bookmarking, photo sharing and social networking sites from one place.
Posted by tranism at 5:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
May 24, 2007
DUALIS Powered Suit Is The Robot Overlord
I swear the Japanese are going to inadvertently destroy us all with their robotic obsessions. The latest and scariest incarnation is the Nissan built DUALIS Powered Suit designed by famed Macross anime/manga artist Shoji Kawamori. The 11 foot tall DUALIS will be on display at the Nissan Gallery from May 23 to June 13 in Tokyo. After that it'll be at the Sony Building from June 25 to July 1st. If you live in Tokyo, please go check it out and send us pics!
Hit the jump for some DUALIS viral videos.
via Pink Tentacle
Posted by tranism at 2:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
May 22, 2007
I Wonder What My Dog Sees
I've often stood atop a pedestal and imagined what my view of the world would be like at that height. You'd be amazed how different things look. Ever wonder what the world is like from a dog's point of few, low to the ground? With One Eye Ball, an exhibit by Hung-Chih Pen, now anyone can experience that low top world.
A head mounted LCD display is connected to a camera at the end of a hose approximately dog height. The sensation is said to be dizzying and may take the wearer some time to adjust to.
Now, somebody needs to make a helmet for dogs to experience what it would be like from our point of view.
via WMMNA
Posted by tranism at 6:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
OMG The Oceans Are Rising
Advertising agency DraftFCB did a great job creating a billboard for the WWF organization. With the help of sunlight, a strategically placed awning depicts the rapid rise of sea levels.
via ad goodness
Posted by tranism at 5:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
May 21, 2007
Beijing Olympic Medals
After a global competition resulting in 265 proposals from all over the world, the Beijing Olympic Committee announces the XXIX Olympiad medals.
Each medal sports the Beijing Olympics logo inlaid with Chinese jade. It's the first time jade of this caliber will be used for an Olympic medal making them the most expensive Olympic medals in history.
Man the Chinese are going all out for the Olympics. First the insanely beautiful and huge Olympic buildings, the most exquisite Olympic torch I've ever seen and now these medals. Simply gorgeous. I can't wait to see what they have planned for the opening ceremony.
via Core77
Posted by tranism at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
A Lip Dub Worth Viewing
If you are ever fortunate enough to work at a place where your coworkers become your friends, hold steadfast to it. That's a rare thing to have. The people at Connected Ventures make me wish I worked there. I'm not saying my coworkers aren't the bomb, I'm just saying this place looks fun.
Thanks to stone for finding this.
Posted by tranism at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Visually See The Effects Of Smoking
That's the idea behind Fiona Carswell's Smoking Jacket. The smoker exhales smoke into a special area in the collar. The smoke then gets channeled thru a series of tubes into plastic lungs on the front of the jacket. Over time, the lungs will turn yellow and stain. If you don't smoke, the stain and smoke will eventually dissipate.
The whole design uses visceral communication to remind smokers what they're doing to their bodies, an alternative to using patches, pills and chewing gum.
via WMMNA
Posted by tranism at 6:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
May 19, 2007
Save The Music Design Contest
Pacific Design, a company known for colorful, functional iPod® cases and cutting edge laptop bags and the VH1 Save The Music Foundation have announced the VH1 Save The Music Case Collection Design Contest.
Beginning April 20, 2007 and running through June 20, 2007, contestants of all ages can enter by submitting their designs along with a brief biography and a few sentences about what VH1 Save The Music means to them. Designs must be 300 dpi in a jpeg or tiff format and scanned drawings will also be accepted.
Pacific Design will select five finalists and feature their designs on their website from July 1st - July 31st. During this time, customers and other visitors will vote on their favorite designs. Pacific Design will then tally the results and announce the winner.
Pacific Design will apply the winning design to six Pacific Design products to create the VH1 Save The Music Case Collection which will include the following products: Action II Messenger, Action Pro Backpack, Horizontal Universal Cell Phone Case, iPhone Case, iPod Nano Flip Case, and iPod Video Flip Case. The person with the winning design will also receive an Apple iPhone, Apple iPod nano, and a VH1 Gift Basket.
I know readers of this blog are quite the creative bunch so what are you waiting for? It's a chance to exercise your design chops and support a great organization.
Posted by tranism at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
May 15, 2007
Speed Skating In The Office . . .
Should be a sanctioned sport. These $15 carpet skates promise super-mega, high-zoot, ultra-slidey fun across the floor while coworkers enviously gawk. Cool people beware, these are not for you. On that note, somebody buy me one.
via Gearfuse
Posted by tranism at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
May 10, 2007
I'm Totally Going To Try This
So check this out. It's HELLA old but I just came across it on Make's blog. Anyway, it was an installation by artist Richard Box simply entitled "Field". 1301 fluorescent bulbs placed vertically underneath high power lines light up just from the ambient energy surrounding the wires!
My apartment is right next to high power lines just like this. They're not as big but they're definitely giant metal structures. The city attempted to disguise them by building a park around the neighborhood but the soft buzzing noise I hear at night when I walk my dog reminds me of what's lurking there. Anyway, I have a couple fluorescent tubes laying around. I'm totally going to try this. If I don't return, you'll know I've been electrocuted.
UPDATE 1: Didn't work. I did some more research and learned TONS of energy would be needed to do this. Although the electrical towers outside my building are the big kind, they're not the mega big kind. Those are only found in unpopulated areas for obvious reasons.
Posted by tranism at 5:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Makibishi The Interactive Comic
Not the first online web comic but probably one of the better executed ones. Makibishi Comic steps it up further by offering an interactive story line. Yup, YOU choose how the comic ends. All the animations and details are excellent. Even the voice acting is cute. Some great flash work here.
Thanks Hleb!
Posted by tranism at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
What Social Community Do You Live In?
I use to live in Friendster but relocated to MySpace in 2005. I've also visited Downelink, Facebook and AOL but didn't really enjoy my stay. My favorite spot? Definitely Flickr. I highly suggest it.
via Neatorama
Posted by tranism at 7:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
May 9, 2007
How To Pet A Cow
All domesticated animals show signs of relaxation and/or pleasure when petted but why. Scientists think they have figured it out.
"A team of French and Austrian scientists found that cows relax, to the point that their heart rate lowers, when petted in body regions they often target when grooming each other.
Handlers stroked 30 Brown Swiss and 30 Austrian Simmental cows in three different body regions: the top of the back, just above and below the neck, and along the side of the chest. Cow heart rates were monitored during the sessions. A control cow group experienced a human presence but no stroking.
The researchers observed that the cows stretched out their necks and let their ears fall — signs of deep relaxation — when stroked in parts of the upper back and the neck areas that cows often reach when they lick each other. Lower heart rates confirmed these observations."
So there you have it. You now know how to properly pet a cow. "The more you know" (shooting star).
via Neatorama
Posted by tranism at 4:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Save Fred HURRY!
50 seconds to save a bunny's life? Are you joking? It took me several tries, mostly because I have some weird twitchy thing happening with my hand when under pressure. Eventually I popped Fred a pink pill thus saving his life and watched him nirvana.
via Notcot
Posted by tranism at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Harry Potter And Star Wars Are Very Similar
It's possible to argue all the great stories we identify with share the same core elements. What do you think?
via Neatorama
Posted by tranism at 5:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (26)
May 7, 2007
Murakami Takes A Moment To Zen
Takashi Murakami's current show at the Gagosian Gallery entitled "Tranquility of the Heart, Torment of the Flesh" sees him pausing his super colorful acid tripped designs to revisit Japanese Zen. Some of the paintings in the new show depict the founder of Zen Buddhism in different stages of his enlightenment.
Murakami is probably best known for his two characters DOB and Mr. Pointy. However, it wasn't until 2003 that his unique design sensibility became instantly recognizable when fashion house Louis Vuitton asked him to reinterpret the classic LV monogram for their handbags. It wasn't long before women everywhere sported white leather bags covered in colorful floral and eye patterns - classic Murakami.
Aside from his anime characters, movies and handbags, I've been curious to see what Murakami can do when his colorful pencils are removed. Strip the psychedelic patterns away and is there any artist left? Based on the few pieces I've seen at the Gagosian, I'm thinking yes - this man is a genius. I may even take a little trip to New York to see the show myself.
via Notcot
Posted by tranism at 3:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
May 4, 2007
You Ripple To Save The World
Here's a cool fresh idea, a web 2.0 web site called ripple designed to fight poverty. How so? Advertisers pay to have their ads on ripple. Web surfers click on any one of these ads and money automatically gets donated to fight poverty. The advertisers get the click-thru rate they want and web surfers have done something charitable. It's a win-win situation.
It's a little difficult to understand unless you try it yourself. Don't worry, just know no matter what you click on, you're doing some good.
via Notcot
Posted by tranism at 6:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
A Whale And A Sucka
Illustrator Patrick Morgan's Whaleboy has my heart. Just look at him! So damn adorable. Okay here are the deets. Whaleboy is a toy based off an idea being pitched to Nickelodeon as a cartoon. Whaleboy will come with interchangeable faces and his trusty sidekick name Sucka, who just so happens to be a suckerfish. Brilliant!
The toy has a limited run of 800 pieces at about $40. They go on sale sometime in June so hit up the Whaleboy site to keep up to date.
via Notcot
Posted by tranism at 5:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Mother Nature Designs To Be Totally Unique
That's the law of nature - organic design is so varied, no two objects are identical. Even in clones, you can never get 100% duplication. In Branko Ludovic's latest book entitled "nonobject", he discusses why future consumer electronics should explore and embrace varied organic design.
"Each natural 'product' is a unique specimen; nothing else compares to one, after another, after another. Imagine if the manufacture of consumer electronics afforded such diversity! Imagine if consumers had the pick of an endless array of devices, each one its own distinct shape, size and color while keeping the internal components the same... The state of things now: sameness sits on assembly lines; sameness lives on shelves; sameness is in hands of consumers. Need it be this way - where color is the only distinguishing feature? Why not tackle design in more interesting ways? Rather than considering a product as one of many, diversify the multiple existing molds and consider product a little more freely. Need each be a clone of the other? Why not envision production methodology anew, as a result of more organic processes? Just imagine: a near future where we still make a single product in large volumes, but we do so more randomly, intuitively, eclectically. This way, with advanced manufacturing techniques, consumers are offered more choice within a single product category."
So what do you think? On the surface it seems reasonable. To be able and buy an MP3 player like the Pebble and know that nobody else has the same exact one is tantalizing. Unfortunately our manufacturing processes have developed to master duplication not variation. We would have to develop whole new technologies in order to keep the consumer electronics peripherals market going. For example, an organic case for a Pebble MP3 player might just look like a silicon blob. Slip your Pebble inside and the blob molds to its shape. Fascinating!
via Gizmodo
Posted by tranism at 5:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
May 3, 2007
Vote For My Nokia N76!
Hey people, remember how nice I was to invite a whole mess of ya'll to Joost? Well now I ask you guys to help me out. I've entered three designs into the Nokia N76 design contest. Contest ends August 11th and the top 10 phones will be made by Nokia. Just click on the images above and that will take you directly to my page where you can rate my design. Give me 5-stars and help me win!
Please tell all your friends. Regular updates after the jump.
UPDATE 1: The grey is in 15th place.
UPDATE 2: The grey is in 17th place. Please vote!
UPDATE 3: The grey is in 11th place.
UPDATE 4: The grey is in 6th place. The white one is in 7th place!
UPDATE 5: The grey is in 5th place. The white and red have dropped way below.
UPDATE 6: The grey is in 4th place.
UPDATE 7: The grey is in 8th place.
UPDATE 8: The grey dropped to 45th. Help me out people!
UPDATE 9: I'm back up in 5th place. I love you guys!
UPDATE 10: Dropped to 42nd place.
UPDATE 11: In 6th place.
UPDATE 12: 346th place. Help me out people.
Posted by tranism at 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)