Cup Stacking World Record

Unidentified Flying Objects T-Shirt

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a cool t-shirt design!

 

The Script of The Godfather as Visual Art

The Los Angeles Pop Art company created this poster of Don Vito Corleone, using the entire script of the movie The Godfather as the medium. Copies are on sale starting for $300. Click on the image for a larger view.

Yes Pecan!

For the month of January, Ben & Jerry’s is renaming its butter pecan flavor to “Yes Pecan!” in its scoop shops, and donating the proceeds of sales of the flavor to the Common Cause Education Fund. Read more HERE.

 

Stagecoach, The Presidential Limo

President-elect Barack Obama is getting a new ride to go with his new address on Jan. 20. General Motors Corp. recently delivered to the U.S. Secret Service a brand new presidential limousine (codenamed Stagecoach), replacing the 2006 model Cadillac DTS presidential limousine that President George W. Bush has used. The new limousine, dubbed the 2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine, makes its debut on Inauguration Day. It’s the first presidential limousine not to carry a specific model name, said GM spokesman David Caldwell. GM declined to say how many it was building for the U.S. government, but it’s believed to be fewer than 25. Ed Donovan, a Secret Service spokesman, confirmed that the new Cadillac limousine would make its debut on Jan. 20 during the inauguration, but declined to elaborate on the new vehicle’s improvements or specifications. The new limousine has larger windows and better visibility for the president, Caldwell said. But it is roughly the same size and “footprint” of the previous model, he said. Obama will use the limousine during the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue after his swearing in on the west side of the Capitol. Another company provides heavy armor that is reportedly at least 5 inches thick for the vehicle. The limousine also has run-flat tires, bulletproof glass and a completely sealed interior to ward off a chemical attack, among many other high-tech security features. It also has electronic communications equipment. Secret Service agents are training with the new limousine at a facility near Washington. Caldwell said it would be a mistake to classify the new vehicle as a truck or a sedan. “The president is not riding in a medium-duty truck, nor he is riding in a sedan,” he said, adding that it is a “unique” vehicle. Caldwell said he couldn’t give specifications — even the engine size or type — in either the current limousine or the new one. Other facts also are secret like the vehicle’s curb weight, though Cadillac has disclosed in the past that the limo has a 10-disc CD player and hand-stitched leather interiors. Both Donovan and Caldwell said they would release more information and pictures about the new limo next week. Caldwell noted that the Secret Service would continue to use the 2006 model vehicles as well. Presidential limousines are often used for a decade or longer. They are also used by the vice president, and the Secret Service often provides transportation for visiting world leaders. GM introduced its latest version of the presidential limousine in 2005 during Bush’s second inauguration, which replaced the 2001 Cadillac DeVille presidential limousine. GM builds the vehicles to “an exacting list” of government specifications. “This is an assignment we really treasure,” Caldwell said. “We’re honored again to be associated with the U.S. presidency.” The president also on occasion travels in a Chevrolet Suburban. Bush often travels in a Chevy during weekend biking trips in Washington. He owns a Ford F-250 pickup he keeps on his Texas ranch. During the presidential campaign, Obama bought a Ford Escape Hybrid, getting rid of his less efficient Chrysler 300C. He also blasted the first car he learned to drive on: a Ford Granada, saying it may be “the worst car Detroit ever built.” GM has built the most presidential limousines since 1983, wresting the job away from Ford Motor Co., which built a series of Lincolns — mostly Continentals — for use by presidents starting in 1939, when it built a Lincoln V-12 for President Franklin Roosevelt. Ford built a 1989 Lincoln Town Car limo for President George H.W. Bush that was modified from an F-250 pickup. It’s on display at his presidential library. GM has a 90-year history with presidents. President Woodrow Wilson rode in a Cadillac during a World War I victory parade in 1919. President Calvin Coolidge used a 1928 Cadillac town car throughout his administration. But the first government-owned vehicle was a Stanley Steamer purchased during President Theodore Roosevelt’s administration. The first president to ride in a car in his inauguration was Warren Harding, who rode in a Packard Twin-Six. In 1938, two Cadillac convertibles, dubbed the “Queen Mary” and “Queen Elizabeth,” were purchased by the U.S. government. Named for ocean liners, the 21 1/2 feet, 7,660-pound vehicles were equipped with a full ammunition arsenal, two-way radios and heavy-duty generators. They remained in use until the 1950s. President Dwight Eisenhower got one of the first production 1953 Cadillac Eldorados, which he rode in his first inaugural parade. The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn has the largest collection of presidential limousines, including the vehicle that President John F. Kennedy rode in 1963 when he was shot.

 

Apple 17-Inch Unibody MacBook Pro

Today Apple announced the new 17-inch Unibody MacBook Pro ($2,800) which features the same rock-solid unibody aluminum construction as its 15- and 13-inch brothers, but includes a slew of upgrades, including a 17-inch 1920×1200 LED-backlit display, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, a 320GB hard drive standard with the option for a 256GB SSD, a Core 2 Duo processor running at speeds of up to 2.93 GHz, the new Mini DisplayPort connector, and a revolutionary new built-in battery that delivers up to eight hours of use and up to 1,000 recharges for more than three times the lifespan of normal laptop batteries. All that, in the world’s lightest, thinnest 17-inch notebook.

 

The Cheese Clock

The cheese world can be overwhelming, especially if you’re buying a bunch of different varieties to serve at a party. What wine do I serve with a triple-cream like Pierre Robert? Should people eat the Beaufort before or after the Idiazabal? Thanks to the folks at Artisanal Cheese, creating a well-balanced cheese plate has just gotten a lot easier. They have created the “cheese clock” an apt and simple metaphor for guiding you through the process of selecting a group of cheeses.

Objectified Trailer

Here is the trailer for the design documentary, “Objectified,” by Gary Hustwit. The film will be released in the spring of 2009.

 

The Breakfast Cereal Club

“You see us as you want to see us, in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a leprechaun, a monster, a cap’n, a tiger, and a rabbit. Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Cereal Club.” (From Ironic Sans)

 

 

Max Fleischer’s Superman DVD

Warner Home Video has announced Max Fleischer’s Superman for the 7th April. Retail will be $26.99. The 2-disc set will include all 17 theatrical shorts totalling 170 minutes, plus two retrospective featurettes (The Man, The Myth Superman, and First Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series). This collection presents the first authorized collection of the Max Fleischer series of Superman theatrical shorts. Originally shown in cinemas in 1941-1942, anyone who’s had the chance to check out these cartoons knows that the animation not only holds up to today’s standards, but arguably surpasses it.

 

Trailer for Smallville’s Legion

Here is the new trailer for the Thursday, January 15th episode of “Smallville” titled “Legion.” The show gives us a first look at a live-action version of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Don’t miss the episode on The CW at 8/7c!

Kodak Zx1

This pocket-friendly, weather-resistant camera captures 720p HD video (at 60 or 30 fps) and has easy editing and YouTube uploading. The Kodak Zx1 ($150; April) sports an SD/SDHC slot for memory cards up to 32GB, an onboard HDMI connection, and a 2-inch LCD screen. The Zx1 will be available in five colors.

 

Bubble Calendar

HERE is a poster sized calendar with a bubble to pop everyday.

Amazing Cityscape Art Made From Unusual Objects

Most of us played with building blocks to create our own make believe buildings and cities. Fortunately, not all of us outgrew this habit. HERE are some cityscape artworks made from unusual objects like egg, cookware, and Jell-O.

9 Things You May Not Know About Mad Magazine

HERE are 9 Things You May Not Know About Mad Magazine.

 

Sneak Peak At New Season Of LOST

The New York Post published a sneak peak at the new season of LOST which begins on January 19^th.

 

Modern Design Deck Poster

This is a poster showing each of the 30 cards in the series A to Z. The image is approximately 12.5″ x 18″, with a white border on 13″ x 19″ printed on archival paper. They each come individually packaged in a protective sleeve, rolled and shipped in a tube for $49.  You can order it HERE.

 

Letter From Apple CEO Steve Jobs

Dear Apple Community,

For the first time in a decade, I’m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote. Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed. I’ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow. As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority. Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause—a hormone imbalance that has been “robbing” me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis. The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery. I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple’s CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first. So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.

 

Steve

 

New Watchmen Featurette

Happy New Years From The Fire Wire

“Love one another”

George Harrison quote (His last words)