Happiness Factory

Another amazing ad from Psyop

“Psyop takes an imaginative journey with Wieden & Kennedy inside a Coke machine in “Happiness Factory,” a new spot for the soft drink’s latest campaign, “The Coke Side of Life.” The studio designed and animated the spot which begins airing today. Human created the music.”

I really like the character designs.


Click for video

Desktop icons

I might be a little late for the bus on this, but now that my computer is in a very prominent and viewable spot, and I am looking at the desktop most of the time (if not consciously, then out of the corner of my eye), I decided that it is time to make my little desktop folders a lot cuter. If only I could have the BumpTop, I am sure I would look a lot more organized. But until then, I found these really cute (and free!) felt critter icons at pixelgirl presents.

Okay, and really I am just using this as an excuse to try out John's ImageWell application! It is super cool!

nerdy question...

I made this quick "looks like powerpoint" drag thing for my dad, but it happily accomplishes a number of things:

1. the button/post-it graphics and actions are assigned by code thanks to an array

and

2. I am using the DepthManager class to assign a new depth to each post-it as you click it (i.e. the one you click will always rise to the top)

I was pretty amazed at how easy and helpful this class object is — which leads me to think: what other class objects should I be using? Not that I am doing too much in terms of scripting these days — but this was kind of fun to figure out...

here is the fla file, if you want to take a look and improve upon it (telephone game!).

Imagewell

I've just started using this application called Imagewell. It's really useful for everyday web work and it's perfect for blogging.

You can just drop an image on it to resize, compress, add text, watermark, rotate, upload to a server and a bunch of other things too.

You can read more about it on their website or just download it here (mac only).

If anyone needs help setting up the FTP info for this server just let me know.

Borges News...

Bob Borges wrote me a note a few months ago with news about his most recent activities in Honduras... He is working on a liberal media outlet, a publication called El Libertador, and is in charge of its transition to the web! Marc got involved with this and I am helping out by putting together some simple ideas for organization and execution. Here are two that I came up with today: the first uses almost no images, but it does have a newspaper textured background (a tiling graphic! really!); the second is more "modern" looking with some image titles, and dot lines and an extended typeface that I have become obsessed with...

Brattle Friday!

It is Brattle Appreciation night on Friday... Steven and I can go for free, and we can anyone else in for half-price!

* * * * * * * *

DUCK SOUP
(1933) dir Leo McCary w/Grouch, Chico, Harpo & Zeppo Marx + Margaret Dumont,
Louis Calhern [70 min]

Leave it to the inimitable Marx Brothers to put together one of the most hilarious, biting, and absurdist war (and anti-war) films ever made. Groucho is, through typically byzantine process, appointed leader of Freedonia. Chagrined to find that his new country is bankrupt and, of course, over the love of a woman, he declares war on neighboring Sylvania. Sylvania proves that they're about as crazy by hiring Chico and Harpo as spies. The absolute mayhem that ensues features Groucho cycling through a history of military costume (all during one battle sequence!) and the dismissal or belittlement of just about every cliche of war ever committed to film.

Experience the Bauhaus movement

Would anyone like to go to this? For all the events I have been to previously, no RSVP was really required...

* * * * * * * * *

Don’t miss this introduction to Bauhaus Design found right here in the
Boston area. David Moore of Historic New England will give a slide
presentation on the history of the Gropius House, built in Lincoln,
Massachusetts by Walter Gropius, father of Germany’s Bauhaus School. This
is a wonderful opportunity to learn about this significant modernist
style, which integrates Expressionist Art with the fields of architecture
and design. The Bauhaus principles and teaching continue to reverberate
all through the design world. Detailing at the Gropius House adheres to
Bauhaus doctrine, employing simple, well-designed, mass-produced
materials, such as fittings for steel wall lights and chrome banisters,
and glass block walls. The art in Gropius’ design complements the wooden
frame and vernacular New England clapboard siding. The interior is
furnished with modern classics by Breuer, Yanagi and Saarinen.

RSVP to cambridge@dwr.com by June 13, 2006

Discover the Origins of Modern at DWR
Wednesday, June 14, 7–9 pm
DWR Cambridge Studio
1030 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138
Directions: http://www.dwr.com/cambridge.cfm

What would you do differently?

What would you do differently?

David Attenborough

"In April 2006, to celebrate naturalist David Attenborough's 80th birthday, the public were asked to vote on their favourite of his television moments. This clip of the lyrebird was voted number one. A Lyrebird is either of two species of ground-dwelling Australian birds, most notable for their extraordinary ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from their environment."


click for video

(thanks for the link Michael)

Stop the World Cup!

"We, the Women for a Football-free England, rise against the World Cup tournament.

Men steal precious broadcast time.
Men ignore us, pay attention no more to our needs.
Men are unable to communicate.
Men pay attention only to the ball.
Men all of a sudden seem to think they know all about everything.
Men grow ugly watching football."


I heard about this on NPR last week and it gave me quite the giggles...

So when is the next 3am game-watching sleepover party? When does Brazil play?

rainy weekends

since I am feeling bad for not posting any two cents up here in a while, I thought I might include a picture of anabelle and hope that it cuts the mustard! and, while I am at it, I can show you how much fun I have with photobooth! and, while I am at it, I can show you some sewing projects that rainy summer weekends keep driving me to: this weekend I made a headband out of some quilt tape and an old tie of my grandpa's, and a rita hayworth-like halter top! (for which, in the future, I will be following a pattern).

And... I made a LEMON MERINGUE PIE that will knock even your socks off, Johnny Socks!

The Ball of Bastards

More World Cup rage in this Terry Gilliam "inspired" site. If anyone has 3D glasses, let me know if it really works.
www.ballofbastards.com

World Cup Design "Just Embarrassing"

Erik Spiekermann, one of Germany's most respected designers, has been openly critical of the design concept for the 2006 World Cup, from the mascot to the logo. He told DW-WORLD.DE why it hasn't been successful.

full article

Dale Chihuly Sucks

Dale Chihuly, creator of amazing and tacky glass stuff is suing two other glass artists for copyright infringement.

"About 99 percent of the ocean would be wide open," Mr. Chihuly said in an interview. "Look, all I'm trying to do is to prevent somebody from copying me directly."

The glass blowers say that Mr. Chihuly is trying to control entire forms, shapes and colors and that his brand does not extend to ancient and evolving techniques derived from the natural world.

New York Times