Thursday, February 27, 2014

Fashionable Mayhem



Sometimes mothers go to great lengths to entertain their younglings and sometimes the entertainment turns into a perpetual game that makes the future personas of those little ones bloom. Fashion by Mayhem started by a mother and her 4-year-old daughter making clothing out of paper and nine months later, little Mayhem is still very skillfully making and modeling her creations like a pro!







Wednesday, February 26, 2014

One Red Paperclip


Kyle MacDonald wanted his own home but did not have the funds to purchase it so he traded his way up to a farmhouse starting with the One Red Paperclip pictured above! Here's how he did it:

  1. On July 14, 2005, he went to Vancouver and traded the paperclip for a fish-shaped pen.
  2. He then traded the pen the same day for a hand-sculpted doorknob from Seattle, Washington, which he nicknamed "Knob-T".
  3. On July 25, 2005, he travelled to Amherst, Massachusetts, with a friend to trade Knob-T for a Coleman camp stove (with fuel).
  4. On September 24, 2005, he went to California, and traded the camp stove for a Honda generator.
  5. On November 16, 2005, he made a second (and successful) attempt (after having the generator confiscated by the New York City Fire Department) in Maspeth, Queens, to trade the generator for an "instant party": an empty keg, an IOU for filling the keg with the beer of the holder's choice, and a neon Budweiser sign.
  6. On December 8, 2005, he traded the "instant party" to Quebec comedian and radio personality Michel Barrette for one Ski-doo snowmobile.
  7. Within a week of that, he traded the snowmobile for a two-person trip to Yahk, British Columbia, in February 2006.
  8. On or about January 7, 2006, he traded the second spot on the Yahk trip for a cube van.
  9. On or about February 22, 2006, he traded the cube van for a recording contract with Metalworks in Mississauga, Ontario.
  10. On or about April 11, 2006, he traded the recording contract to Jody Gnant for a year's rent in Phoenix, Arizona.
  11. On or about April 26, 2006, he traded the one year's rent in Phoenix, Arizona, for one afternoon with Alice Cooper.
  12. On or about May 26, 2006, he traded the one afternoon with Alice Cooper for a KISS motorized snow globe.
  13. On or about June 2, 2006, he traded the KISS motorized snow globe to Corbin Bernsen for a role in the film Donna on Demand.[3]
  14. On or about July 5, 2006, he traded the movie role for a two-story farmhouse in Kipling, Saskatchewan.
Oh and this smart man also wrote a book about his One Red Paperclip adventure and is still making money!



Tuesday, February 25, 2014

* Q

Tonight, the letter Q has lost its meaning for me ... and assumed whole new meaning that is a destination where all your senses are stimulated in quiet elegance, thanks to my lovely friend Jen. Q is a holistic sushi restaurant in the heart of Los Angeles that offers one of the best omakase dining experiences. You are at the mercy of chef Hiroyuki Naruke as he decides what 20 dishes will be served to kill you softly of delight paired with your choice of mini carafes of sake. It is almost impossible to pick a dish over another as a favorite but you are guaranteed to use adjectives like 'adorable' for the food especially if the baby squids are on the menu for your night of dining. The waiters educate you about what you are about to taste and recommend eating your food from left to right - and this actually makes sense even if you are slightly inebriated!



Q does not have dessert but Bottega Louie is conveniently across the street where you can get yourself a rainbow of macaroons.



Thank you, Jen! This was an extraordinary night that must be periodically repeated...



Monday, February 24, 2014

The Glass Ceiling

The National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia has one of the most beautiful stained-glass ceilings by Leonard French. It is one of the world's largest pieces of suspended stained glass, casting colorful lights on the floor below as well as the visitors.




Sunday, February 23, 2014

Chinese Mouth Organ

The Sheng - also known as the Chinese mouth organ, is one of the most ancient wind instruments dating as far back as 3000 years ago. It has between 17 and 37 vertical bamboo reeds in varying lengths set in a cylindrical base with a mouth piece attached at the bottom side. What makes this instrument very special is that it is the only Chinese wind instrument that is capable of playing melody and chordal accompaniment or various notes simultaneously.






Saturday, February 22, 2014

Eyelid Movies


They did not spark my immediate interest when they came up on my Pandora radio the first couple of times. The third time created a strange anticipation. Fourth time I hit the 'thumbs-up'. Now I am looking into buying their one and only album Eyelid Movies. Yes, Phantogram is another fantastic New York band and I am missing their concert tonight in L.A.



Friday, February 21, 2014

Red Pepper Spray


Giuseppe Colarusso plays with your mind when he sends familiar everyday objects into unimaginable territory. Love his work.








Thursday, February 20, 2014

Surreal Selfies

This 20-year-old girl knows how to take breathtaking selfies. Here's one of my favorites by Rachel Baran:




Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Apple Juice Dreams

Acetylcholine (ACh) is an ester of choline and acetic acid that is the transmitter substance at many neural, or nerve, synapses and at the motor end plate of vertebrate muscles. It affects a number of body systems including the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory systems, and the urinary tract. It also stimulates secretion by all glands that receive parasympathetic nerve impulses which may increase the probability of having very vivid and sometimes lucid dreams. Apparently, ingesting excessive amounts of apple juice before bedtime increases the release of this neurotranmitter. I am tempted to test this out.





Tuesday, February 18, 2014

The Granny Alphabet

The Granny Alphabet is a book by the London based fashion photographer Tim Walker in which every page is filled with the invincible spirit of sweet old ladies. And kudos to Mr. Walker, he is donating all proceeds from the sale of this book to Friends of the Elderly.





Monday, February 17, 2014

Once Upon A Salt Mine

Salina Turda in Transylvania, Romania, had been a source for table salt since antiquity until 1930s. In 1992, it has been converted into a halotherapy center and a history museum making it a major tourist attraction.





Sunday, February 16, 2014

Chemical Knots

Although I've been familiar with the Knot Theory for some time now, I found it very interesting when I read about how chemists are now using knot theory and topology in creating new and unusual molecules by changing the way atoms are connected. The Euclidean Geometry inspiring chemists to synthesize new molecules is not only helping them to think in more flexible terms but to open new doors for new ways to create more efficient medications as well as biotechnology solutions.





Saturday, February 15, 2014

The Saddest Cookbook

I don't know how I stumbled on this cookbook from 1987 but reading the reviews peaked my interest for the fans of 'Microwave for One' seem to have a strange love affair with it. Some of the reviews are as sad & lonely as the image on the cover of the book. Still I'm intrigued and am debating to drop the $60+ and get a copy of this rare gem.