Sent from James' iPhone
Thursday, February 25, 2010
A Well Travelled Kitchen
I have to admit, we have a burgeoning globe collection. (We're at 3 or 4 -- Christmas introduced a tiny new vintage tin globe from 1926.) I have to admit, though, I never considered using them as kitchen decor.
Obviously I'm not creative enough, because they look incredible in this kitchen tour from AT's The Kitchn. (More pictures, including more globes, here.)
And more vintage style geekery -- the backsplash is made of yardsticks. (Doesn't it work well with the butcher block cabinets?) Here's the how-to.
The kitchen (& great ideas) belong to Ashley Ann. And if you're not envious enough, she did the whole kitchen facelift for $500.
Obviously I'm not creative enough, because they look incredible in this kitchen tour from AT's The Kitchn. (More pictures, including more globes, here.)
And more vintage style geekery -- the backsplash is made of yardsticks. (Doesn't it work well with the butcher block cabinets?) Here's the how-to.
The kitchen (& great ideas) belong to Ashley Ann. And if you're not envious enough, she did the whole kitchen facelift for $500.
Sent from James' iPhone
Maps as Wallpaper
I've got a map urge today -- it's never very far away frankly, and it's one of those design elements my husband Ben will also go for (as opposed to skulls, for instance). I found these two rooms via Design Crisis.
Lovely.
I've had these images from a very old issue of Martha Stewart in my inspiration file for a long time.
For an especially affordable set of large maps, check out the USGS maps of your locale. For $8, you can order maps of any location that are around 6 square feet.
Sent from James' iPhone
Devil’s Advocate: 5 Reasons Why You Should Use Blogger Instead Of WordPress
Despite the power and popularity of WordPress amongst the blogging elite (at least upon the Techmeme Leaderboard), Blogger still remains the dominant blogging platform in the world, with the glorious WP coming in at a distant second.
Some in the WordPress faith may wonder why anyone would consider using Blogger, especially since WordPress boasts thousands (or is it tens of thousands?) of plugins, themes and developers–not to mention awesome smartphone apps upon the iPhone, Blackberry and Google's very own Android OS.
However upon closer examination, BlogSpot fans may not be as "delusional" as some geeks may think for choosing Google over Automattic, as there are at least 5 major advantages of using Blogger instead of WordPress–both WP.com and WP.org.
No matter how you slice it or dice it, Blogger is just far cheaper when it comes to blogging underneath your custom domain.
Backed by the mighty Google, Blogger is free when it comes to hooking up your domain. WordPress charges you $10 per domain (and that is on top of what you pay for registering your domain elsewhere).
While this may seem like a small price to pay, the bill can add up quickly if you own 5 or 6 domains.
2) Image Hosting
When it comes to default image hosting, WordPress beats Blogger 3 times over (as the former offers 3 gigabytes of default space vs Google's 1 gigabyte).
However when it comes to upgrading to the next level on both accounts, Blogger destroy's WordPress by offering users 20 GB of space for $5/year while WP.com offers users 5GB of space for about $20/year (note: the options become worse for us WP fans the higher up we go).
3) Video Hosting
If image hosting wasn't bad enough, the video options alone will make one weep when you consider that WordPress charges users $60/year to use VideoPress–a fee that does not include any extra space.
BlogSpot fans on the other hand are offered video uploading for free (thanks to Google Video), with no limits on space.
4) Themes: Free for thee, but not for me?!
Despite Blogger's popularity, WordPress (to my knowledge) still has more custom themes than its Google rival. However a new trend that I am noticing is that many premium WordPress themes are available for FREE (or very cheap) on Blogger.
One example (out of many) would be a premium WordPress theme called Church is available for $60 for WP fans. BlogSpot lovers however can get the same exact theme for free.
In fact there are many sites out there (like WordPress To Blogger) that convert premium WordPress themes to Blogger for free or very inexpensive prices (note: I am not sure how legal these businesses are, but thus far they seem to have faced little action against the original creators).
5) Security
This last point is probably debatable, but lets just face the facts: Google has one of the most secure platforms in the world.
Although WordPress.com and many hosting companies (such as Media Temple, Host Monster and GoDaddy) provide excellent security for their customers, the fact that Google can take on foreign hackers from semi-hostile nations speaks volumes about how tough their defenses are.
So is Blogger better than WordPress?
Answer: That depends on who you ask. ;-)
I personally use WordPress for most of my blogging needs right now, although I do also use other platforms such as Tumblr, Joomla–and yes, even Blogger.
However now that I'm done playing Devil's Advocate, I'm interested in hearing what your opinion is regarding these two rival platforms (and the reasons why you chose one over the other).
Sent from James' iPhone
16 bizarre sci-fi episodes of classic TV sitcoms
As a kid, TV sitcoms provided me with a window into a universe of "normal." Like an alien receiving TV broadcasts from Earth, I often made sense of my world through their familiar plots—the stable families, the "major" problems that wrapped up in under 23 minutes, the absence of the oven-cleaner-fueled violence that permeated most modern households.
About once per series, though, these idyllic sitcoms decided to make an LSD-induced sci-fi episode in which all of the characters acted bizarre and things totally lost control of sanity.
Sent from James' iPhone
Horror director dares: Watch my scary movie alone, win $10,000
Bollywood filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma issued a challenge yesterday to any horror film fan who thinks he or she can't be scared—a $10,000 reward for anyone who can watch his latest supernatural thriller alone in a theater all the way through the closing credits.
Sent from James' iPhone
WTF Wonder, Lethal Luxury & Baby Stuff that Slices & Dices
[ By Angie in Architecture & Design, Furniture & Interiors, Gadgets & Geek Art. ]
[ WebUrbanist - By Angie in Architecture & Design, Furniture & Interiors, Gadgets & Geek Art. ]
Chinese artist Shi Jinsong created sculptures depicting baby accessories which would fit right in as toys for the Addams Family or for a future Terminator baby. Strollers, cribs, rattles, and walkers are made from razor-sharp blades, making a macabre and bizarre fine art collection. Here are some of the most bizarre baby items and other wicked stainless steel blade sculptures you may ever see.
Walker
(image credits: Saatchi Gallery,damncoolpics)
Once upon a time, in Buddhist Chinese mythology, there was a very naughty but very clever child called Na Zha. He was the "enfant terrible" and had a militaristic tendency for wreaking violence. Na Zha, who is the Trickster God Boy of Childish Pranks and Tantrums, had three heads, nine eyes and eight arms. Artist Shi Jinsong reinvented Na Zha as the "new face of Mothercare with a range of deadly baby products." Above are a couple of sinister Walkers for the baby, fashioned out of razor-sharp blades.
Cradle
(image credits Chambers Fine Art)
Na Zha Baby Boutique exhibition included this sadistic Cradle that is perfect for child with supernatural powers. Deadly sharp blades and gleaming stainless steel offer lethal luxury in this outrageouly unsafe line of baby products. In the case of Na Zha, this would work well for him as he is now mostly known as the God of Lotteries and Gambling.
Toys
(image credits Chambers Fine Art)
Like all babies, Na Zha needed toys. The Baby Boutique includes needle-tipped pacifiers, a rattle made of razors, and a dismembering abacus. Also included in Shi Jinsong's collection are a stainless steel rocking horse and a knife-edged trike. Na Zha wears a suit of armor, but ironically the child's suit comes complete with mouse ears. The boots are roller blades as this mythological child had wheeled fiery feet and would possess all kinds of malicious toys and powerful weapons.
Previous Baby Stroller Models
(image credits Pram Museum Blog,offbeatism,taringa)
Na Zha Baby Boutique had several types of strollers with a twist of mythic Chinese culture and modern-day globalization. If these sculptures were actually used, the pointy stakes on the wheels would surely cut a path through the crowd. They are epically bizarre yet tremendously fascinating, form and function, fearsome to behold.
Terminator Baby?
(image credits yaplakal)
If Sarah Connor could have, she would have no doubt used this stroller for John. Indeed, this would be the perfect gift for any future Terminator baby. Part stroller and part armored tank, it's for either that very protective parent or killer baby wishing for the ultimate deadly weapon to tote along on those mid-morning walks.
Halong- Kellong
(image credits artintern,artzinechina)
Shi Jinsong creates more than a lethal luxury line of baby products. He also wields stainless steel blades in razor-sharp bikes for big kids. "The sculptural installation Halong-Kellong is the imagined self-projection of modern life from a Chinese peasant's perspective." Hand trucks are common in China's rural villages. These three hand trucks have a Harley-Davidson style logo, since Harleys were once known as a "prince' s chariot, often ridden by the most badass characters in American movies." These are definitely badass bikes.
Office & Re-education
(image credits taringa)
If you think it's torture to sit at your computer desk and work, then perhaps you should take a long look at Shi Jinsong's "Office Equipment-Prototype No 1." Jinsong meant it as a metaphor on "oppressive authoritarianism—high tech going to harrowing extreme." Or maybe you are in the market for a new computer chair? The three in the bottom photo would forever change a desk jockey's job into true torment.
Weapons
(image credits genetologisch,Chambers Fine Art,taringa)
Although Shi Jinsong is predominantly known for his pristine stainless steel sculptures of baby products, he also produced a Secret Book of Cool Weapons theme. In the Secret Book of Cool Weapons, Jinsong portrayed corporate logos such as Mercedes Benz, Nike, and others as ancient, powerful weapons in corporate battles.
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