Red Pill

It Came From Detroit (the movie)

Since I'm heading to my hometown of Detroit for a visit next week I've decided to send some much needed love their way for the next few days.

Blight breeds creativity, and this movie "It Came From Detroit" is just another example. It documents the rise of Garage Rock in Detroit, the White Stripes, the Dirtbombs, Von Bondies, and Electric Six are just a few of the musicians that exploded out of this scene. 

Check out the movie if it makes it to your town. Otherwise keep an eye out for it on Netflix.

It Came From Detroit Official Trailer (New) from James R Petix on Vimeo.

Fabulous Ruins of Detroit

The former epicenter of industry in the United States, the birthplace of mass production and Motown music. Nicknamed the "Arsenal of Democracy" during WWII by Roosevelt, building bombers and tanks faster and better than Germany and Japan combined. Ironic how these former enemies are directly responsible for the current decay of this once great city.

The auto industry falls apart in this city plagued with a twenty percent unemployment. Where abandoned buildings are the norm, these once great industrial icons decay and fade into history. A bridge to the not so distant past that only our grandparents remember.

If you look hard enough, you can still find beauty just as Michael H. Hodges did, check out his article about Ugly-Beautiful Detroit Manufacturing Landmarks.

I'll be heading out to Detroit next week and plan to visit some of these sites along with other modern ruins. Check back soon.

 

Packard plant. (John T. Greilick / The Detroit News)

Packard plant. (John T. Greilick / The Detroit News)

 Packard plant tires. (John T. Greilick / The Detroit News)

 

Packard plant. (John T. Greilick / The Detroit News)

“Remember — you can’t beam through a force field. So, don’t try it.”

...William Shatner

Star Wars Origami

Courtesy of this month’s Wired Magazine.

Life Sized Pop Up Book

At the Chanel 2009 Spring-Summer Couture show, the ambiance was created by life sized monochromatic paper garden sculpture. A breathtaking white mat to showcase beautiful work. According to Chanel's press page, The sculptures totaled 7000 handmade paper flowers, which took a total of 4800 hours of work to assemble. 

Chanel 2009 spring summer haute couture show

Get Your Science On

Starting February 12th, the California Academy of Sciences will be having a weekly Thursday night shindig, blending libations and science. Could be interesting way to experience this amazing center. The first installment of NightLife on February 12 will celebrate Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday.

“The special events will be different every week, featuring some of San Francisco's most popular DJs, food and cocktails, inventive science programming, and a chance to mingle with friends, animals, and scientists, while exploring the Academy's exhibits.”

This event is adult only, and tickets cost a mere $8- $10. 

Roses are red, violets are blue, obama loves me and I love you

I think this is a bit weird. But whatever floats your boat...  ScanCafe is offering to put you in a valentines photo with President Obama...

“Send us a photo of you in a romantic setting, and we’ll add our newly-inaugurated President, Barack Obama”

I know we love our new president, but isn’t this a bit stalkerish?

Project M: Thinking Wrong, Doing Right

There is a heartening article about John Bielenberg and Project M, and our trip to Hale County last fall up on Metropolis magazine’s website.

“We’re at multiple global tipping points where the future is going to be radically different than the past—global climate change, the backside of peak oil and fossil fuel, water issues, population growth in third world countries and the rise of the middle class there, the financial collapse. Everything is linked now. You have the Internet and nobody really knows yet what that means. You can either be pessimistic about the future or you can be optimistic. For me, an optimistic alternative includes ingenuity and creativity, and I package that under the big D: Design Thinking and how that can shape the future.” — John Bielenberg, Metropolis Magazine

Read the full article by Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson.