right brain v left brain

This is a cool right brain/left brain test.

I started seeing her spin clockwise - which makes me more right brain oriented. But then I saw her spin counter-clockwise in my peripheral vision.

message from optimus

This is a cool promotion (for TF heads) for the Transformers movie on DVD.
Send a message to a fellow TF head from Optimus Prime.

covered up

Downloadable PDF book covers courtesy of Neojaponisme.

I remember when I had to cover my books in brown craft paper in grade school. These 50's inspired retro prints are much cooler.

07 tokyo motor show eco-friendly concepts

Eco-friendly Toyota RiN featuring green tinted glass and "mood training" steering control system that monitors the driver's psychological state.


























Honda PUYO fuel-cell vehicle.


























Electric powered Nissan Pivo has four wheel units that turn 90 degrees to move the car in any direction.

funny shirt

Shopping in Japan can be entertaining - especially when they fashion some humorous english.

birth of the simpsons

The Simpsons have been running so long that it reminds me of my youth. This pic takes me back. Remember when the Simpsons were just a short segment on the Tracy Ullman show?

matthew curry / ninjacruise

Great work by Matthew Curry at Ninja Cruise.

aliens

Last Saturday we decided to have dinner at a Bertucci's and received a friendly reminder of how South Jersey can be so white.

As we drove into the parking lot, the restaurant appeared fairly crowded. I thought about turning away but my stomach was in the mood for some chain restaurant italian food. We parked about 100 meters from the entrance and noticed a large caucasian family (2 parents, 2 grandparents and 4 teenage kids) waiting outside.

This outdoor waiting area features a walkway flanked by two large benches occupied by the family. They are busily chattering away with multiple conversations going on simultaneously. A fairly lively bunch. But as we enter their immediate vicinity, the chattering immediately stops. An uncomfortable stillness freezes the air as we step through the walkway between them. I feel eyes on us and I'm not the overly sensitive type. In fact, I take my eyes off the entrance door and look at each person. Some of the kids drop their eyes to the ground while the adults remained fixed on us. Hmm there's no dirt or leftover food on my face. I'm dressed cooler than they are but my fashion wasn't outlandish or threatening. Ahh shucks must be that minority thing again.

I'm tempted to pull a '94 era Tupac when he defiantly strutted out the courtroom like George Jefferson. But I simply grin in their direction with a bounce in my step. These types of situations are not new to us but its never comforting to feel like an alien in your own town. On the other hand, its empowering to have the ability to silence a group of people.

I ask my wife if we time-traveled back to the 50's or somehow transported ourselves to the deep South. Then we entered the doors and overlooked a sea of caucasians. I never remembered this Bertucci's being so white before. Must be a promotional family night.

shortcomings excerpt

Adrian Tomine is a 4th generation Japanese American illustrator, whose work can be found in The New Yorker, Rolling Stone and other big time pubs. His latest graphic novel "Shortcomings" explores Asian American identity. More excerpts here.

hot october

Is it really October? Its feeling more like June outside. Had to dip back into the summer wardrobe just as I was pushing it to the back of the closet. Gotta love that global warming!




















Alice Smith | Dream

Kevin Michael feat. Lupe Fiasco | We All Want The Same Thing

Mutya Buena | Just a Little Bit

Mary J. Blige | Just Fine

Cassie | Turn The Lights Off

top chef hung

Congrats to Hung for winning Top Chef! The judges made the finale closer than it appeared. Casey has a good flavor palate but her culinary skills are average. I give her props in winning challenges in the latter part of the season to overcome her eye-candy status. But she was clearly flustered in the finale. Dale's work was uneven - brilliant and horrible on the same night. I was pulling for Hung all season long and he was clearly technically superior to the other contestants.

ths ads

Cute and clever ads from the Toronto Humane Society.

sleevage

I haven't been in a record store or purchased music in years but I always appreciate vinyl/cd packaging. Especially since I used to design a whole bunch of them. Sleevage is a cool blog about music cover art. Archives of classic album design and current work.

paper not plastic

Philly has joined a number of other cities in pushing for a ban of plastic bags from grocery stores. S.F. made the move in March and its about time that this country shows some concern about planet earth. Even though the bill hasn't officially passed in Philly, many environmentally conscious stores are already moving in this direction.

As for me, old habits die hard. A couple days ago I waited in the express line at Whole Foods, paid the bill and got my change. The cashier then stood still - staring beyond me - apparently waiting for me to move on as my food items sat in front of her. I stared at her for a 20 seconds until her eyes returned to me. She then asked politely, "Would you like a bag?". I shot back, "Umm...yeah that would be nice."

My wife nudged me and pointed down at the reusable Whole Food cloth bags being sold at the checkout line racks. Finally I saw the light. Oh, damn the cashier's passive-aggressively (in a not-so passive way) pressuring me to bring my own bag next time! My eyes dart around catching people toting their reusable bags past the BYOB sign. Oh they mean bags not beer! I felt like an elderly man trying learn technology - except we're talking biodegradable bags. I knew the plastic bag ban was under consideration but I never felt the push as hard as this. But again its Whole Foods. And its for the better.

Of course my wife, who frequents grocery stores more than me - is ahead of the curve. Her native Japan demands that people separate their garbage by material. They even rip off paper labels off glass containers. Wow that's a lot of work!