this makes me smile

so lovely... saw it on newstoday:

jonathanyuen.com

new mits?

I have been playing around with some new ideas for mittenmitten, the website, specifically thinking about how to divide it into categories, based on the makers (probably the clearest division at this point as we all might make similar stuff, but it doesn't follow a common thread). My idea starts with Beth and her pup Rollie, thinking of how we can focus things on an animal kingdom association (i.e. as others join in, there are lots of fun ideas for expansion). I am obsessed with the super 70's colors and decor of my parent's house — fall colors, funny stripes, slightly off ovals — and wanted to try to pull the look...



The Animal Kingdom:







another look:

HMX... Sold!

Harmonix just sold to Viacom/Mtv for $175 million cash. I'm thinking I'll use my share to get one of these.

Press Release

How to survive a Long Fall

I came across a very funny email today. To think that someone took the time to write this step by step. You never know when you will need this!

Enjoy!

"What can you do if you slip off the scaffolding 10 stories above the ground or, worse yet, if your parachute fails during a skydive? The odds are not on your side. Is it possible to survive a free-fall from 50, 250, or 25,000 feet above the ground? The answer is yes. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of people who have fallen from such heights and lived to tell the tale. While most of it comes down to luck, there are ways you can influence your velocity, the duration of your deceleration, and the distribution of the impact forces upon your body, and ultimately increase your chance of survival.

1. Slow down your fall. Unless you’re falling from an airplane, you won’t have enough time to try this step. Maximize your surface area by spreading yourself out. Use skydiving technique to stabilize yourself: position yourself so that the front of your body faces the ground; arch your back and pelvis and tilt your head back like you’re trying to touch the back of your head to the back of your legs; extend your arms so that your upper arms are straight out to the sides, and bend your elbows at a 90 degree angle so that your lower arms and hands point forward (parallel to, and on the sides of, your head) with your palms facing down; spread your legs to shoulder width, and bend your knees slightly.

2. Find the best landing spot. This step can only be performed if falling from an airplane. For very high falls, the surface on which you land is the greatest influence on your chance of survival. Observe the terrain below you as you are falling. Hard, inflexible surfaces such as concrete are the worst on which to fall. Very uneven or jagged surfaces, which present less surface area to distribute the force of impact, are also undesirable. The best possible surfaces on which to fall are snow, deep water (preferably water that is fast moving or frothy, such as the kind found at the bottom of a waterfall; see Warnings), soft ground (such as that in a newly tilled field or in a marsh), and trees or thick vegetation (although these present a high risk of impalement). If you are over an urban area, you probably won’t be able to control your flight precisely enough to choose a good landing surface, but glass- or tin-roofed structures, awnings, and cars are preferable to streets and concrete rooftops.

3. Steer yourself to the landing spot. If you’re falling from an airplane, you will usually have about 1-3 minutes before impact, depending on your starting altitude. You will also have the ability to travel horizontally (while, obviously, traveling vertically) a good distance (up to a couple of miles). From the arch position described above, you can direct your flight forward by pulling your arms slightly back at the shoulders (so that they are not extended forward as much) and straightening (extending) your legs. You can move backward by extending your arms and bending your knees as though you are trying to touch the back of your head with your heels. Right turns may be accomplished while staying in the arch position by twisting your upper body slightly to the right (dipping your right shoulder), and left turns are performed by dipping the left shoulder.

4. Relax. Relaxing during a long fall—especially as you near the ground—is easier said than done, but try anyway. If your muscles are tense, your body will transfer force more directly to your vital organs. Studies of long-fall survivors have shown that those who reported being relaxed suffered, on average, far less severe injuries than those who reported being panicked or tense. It has also been shown that people who jump intentionally and those who are intoxicated at the time of the fall have disproportionately higher survival rates than fall victims in general. While the reason for these higher survival rates is unclear, one likely explanation is that people who are drunk or who actually want to die may be more relaxed before and upon impact. One way to remain (relatively) calm is to focus on performing the steps and being aware of your body. Doing so gives you something else to think about besides impending death.

6. Land feet-first. No matter what height you fall from, you should always try to land on your feet. While landing feet-first concentrates the impact force (in pounds per square inch) on a small area, it also allows your feet and legs to absorb the worst of the impact. If you are in any other position, try to right yourself before you hit the ground (fortunately, attaining the feet-first position seems to be an instinctive reaction). Keep your feet and legs tightly together so that both your feet hit the ground at the same time.
Land on the balls of your feet. Point your toes slightly down before impact so that you will land on the balls of your feet. This will allow your lower body to more effectively absorb the impact.

7. Bend your knees. Possibly nothing is more important to surviving a fall (or simpler to do) than bending your knees. Research has shown that having one’s knees bent at impact can reduce the magnitude of impact forces 36-fold.
Protect your head on the bounce. When you fall from a great height onto land, you will usually bounce. Some people who survive the initial impact (often with a feet-first landing) suffer a fatal injury on their second impact. Cover your head with your arms. One technique for doing so is to put your arms on the sides of your head with your elbows facing forward (and projecting in front of your face) and your fingers laced behind your head or neck. This covers a large portion of your head, but obviously not all of it. If you have time to get an indication of which way you’re bouncing (and hence which part of your head you’re likely to hit), you can quickly adjust your arms to cover that part of your head.

8. Control the orientation of your body on the bounce. As you would expect, mortality is highest when the initial point of impact is the head. Mortality declines (in this order) when the point of impact is ventral (the front of the body), dorsal (back of the body), lateral (side of the body), and feet-first. Assuming you succeed in taking the brunt of the initial impact feet-first, you should try to control your body upon initial impact and during the bounce so that you land on your side or back on the second impact. Ideally, you should twist your hips to one side or the other immediately upon initial impact. At much lower velocities (such as those experienced with a proper parachute-assisted landing), this motion will help you distribute the force first through your legs, then through your buttocks and shoulder. In reality, you will be going as much as five or six times faster than you would with a parachute and your control over your body’s motion will be severely limited. The key is to stay aware of your body and your surroundings and, even in midair on the bounce, try to get your body to land first on your legs or side.

9. Get medical help immediately. With all the adrenaline flowing in response to your flight, you may not even feel injured upon landing. Even if you are not visibly injured, you may have sustained fractures or internal injuries that must be treated immediately. No matter how you’re feeling, get to a hospital as quickly as possible."


You got that all?

Welcome Beth!

We have invited the brilliant Beth Carron to the 47th blog! Beth used to work with Mitch and I at Hunt & Gather, and now works with John at Hill Holliday. She is also "Mitten" as in my partner in MittenMitten, and has secured a table at the upcoming Bizarre Bazaar this year! What have I left out?

New Jackalsmith City

Video from the Jackalsmith International runway show/beer jam from this past weekend in NYC. The show went off great, people where loving the collection, and the whole vibe of the label. Totally Insane!


2007 Collection: New Jackalsmith City

NewsToday

the usual suspects:

blush

how many people keep receipts? just think of what a great opportunity to tickle someone's funny bone... well, or worse exploitations, but I like the wit of these — John reminded me of them with the brilliant bags!

Clever Coupons

Ann, Target is sending out little animated flipbook coupon booklets. Just got one in the mail today and figured it might spur some ideas for collateral material. The link above has a video of the animation in action.

global rich list

I saw this on newstoday today... Interesting model to show an idea, and get a reaction.

the global rich list

Clever packaging

Ann, these are in response to your request for packaging ideas.

sweet dreams...

{UPDATE}

the long story made short:

commercial real estate, you are a heart break
lovely spot, what a nice shop you'd make
but since your owner is bombastic
your destiny no longer gleams fantastic
and all the dresses that could have been
will line up in front of barney's again...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

we'll get over this little location meltdown and begin looking anew. perhaps coolidge corner again? we'll see! at least now there is more time for coming up with brilliant collateral ideas...

Gocco Show!

I have two Gocco prints hanging at Zuzu right now in the Save Gocco art show!



Please note my "repping" of compatriots at the 47th precinct.

And, in case you want to know more about the Save Gocco campaign (or what on earth is this Gocco that Ann is talking about), here's where to look.

Also, the official opening of the show is next monday, the 11th. Anyone want to come with me?