Eco-Design, Architecture, and Photos

Happy New Year all. Here's to hoping 2007 treats each of us kindly. I'll have a Firefox 2.0 post in the next couple days, summing up all my favorite extensions, add-ons, and features. So please check back, it's sure to be helpful if you have FF; especially useful if you DON'T use FF yet.

Inhabitat has an interesting article about how 40% of the world's energy is consumed by buildings. I guess they're hungry. I hadn't any idea- but I guess this stat prolly includes factories and manufacturing. Inhabitat is a favorite site of mine, there's lots more there worth viewing.

The Cool Hunter has an older post about the Dongtan Eco-City, which should be amazing and spectacular once completed in 2010. This gives me hope that people will actually take more notice of how we, as a society, consider everything and anything "consumable" (which really means "disposable."

While I'll refrain from doing "A Year in Review" wrap-up, I must say the BusinessWeek article of 10 Modern Wonders of the World is stunning. Including the $70 billion project in Egypt to transform half a million acres of desert into arable land to the inclusion of the Dongtan project.

More locally (Santa Cruz), furniture designer Maria Yee uses sustainable bamboo and strong environmental integrity to create a beautiful line of furnishings.

Another furniture design company taking eco principles to heart is Bang Design, with their beautiful Pli Collection.

Then there is the great blog "Are We Overheating?." Here's a frightening video clip from ABC News about possible flooding of our American coastlines. You won't want to watch it, but you'll want to watch it.

After that vid, here are a few new New York projects to ponder. The New York Times Building on Eighth Av b/w 40th & 41st. Then there's the new New Museum on Bowery. Gosh that neighborhood is growing up fast, even if CBGB's closed down a whiles back.

Still on the NYC tip, I liked the Urban Forest Banner Project that concluded a bit over a month ago. Some great artwork (like this banner, right, by Michael Beirut), a good cause, and just a very New York kinda vibe all around.

Okay. I've posted some more pics on Flickr last night, so please come visit My Flickr photos.

I've also found some inspiring images while browsing on Flickr. Incoming Tide II by Adam Clutterbuck and Move by Aqui-Ali are truly outstanding.

Have a safe, fun, and Happy New Year. Cheers peeps.
image credits: Dongtan eco-City from BusinessWeek online, Caramel Recliner from Maria Yee, Pli Chair from BangDesign, NY Times Building from Wikipedia, Michael Beirut banner from UrbanForestProject, Move photo from Aqui-Ali's Flickr Photoset.

More Flickr pics!

I've uploaded almost 30 new pics to my Flickr photo gallery... I've included some of my first posted portraits and some more abstract color fields. I'm always happy to have feedback, comments, or criticism- here on my blog or on Flickr. Thanks all for visiting (I just hit 2,500 unique views on Flickr). I hope that the New Year 2007 is kind to each of us. Cheers.


image credits: these are my own photographs, from my Flickr photo gallery.

The Randomist-ness-es-ist

I guess that title just means pretty random stuff this morn, but how should I know (just because I wrote it?).

We all know how much I dig Firefox, right? Well, here are a few FF links to make it even better. Many whiles ago I blogged this blog (here and here): Recommended, and they've got two FF 2.0 links worth knowing. A Spellchecking feature and eBay tools. Recommended also helped me find Make-A-Flake, where yes... You guessed it! You can create your own snowflake. I like it! I like it!

Now, I've visited Scrap in SF a place that "recycles" objects for "art." Well, I found most of the stuff pretty "homey" there, but that's just me. Lots to sort through, and maybe some great finds for you Les Objets Trouves d'art(Found Objects) types, or whutever. I am interested in seeing if Urban Ore in Berkeley is any better. Maybe this coming week. Which reminds me... There's a foundry I've been meaning to visit out that way for some jewelry and small accessories metal casting.

Speaking of jewelry, while trying to find the foundry page (like every time, since I've never bookmarked it) I stumbled upon (no, sorry NOT Stumbled Upon) some jewelry trivia. Some more interesting than others. I read it all, but only 'cuz I'm OCD likedat.

I still follow Neville's Financial Blog a bit (prev. post). Still interesting for the same reasons as always. And great insight for a guy that's years younger and still in school (I think). Oh, The Places You Can Go... Some good tidbits about different general business practices and

(did anybody pick up that Dr. Seuss reference?) Here are a few internet deals... Oh wait. I found Funny Face (imdb and my posted link) at Target (in-store) for $5.99! I'm just saying, there prolly ain't a happier happy movie you can find if you took five whiles searching. So there. I liked it. I like it. I bought it. On Target.com it's $9.98 plus shipping. Go to Target, I've blogged all about the Bullseye and dvd's before.

If Tar-zhay isn't upscale enough for you, maybe you want to visit eLuxury. I was just looking through their sale stuff to see what kinds of things... They have some beautiful Dior St. Germain Ankle Boots at 40%. Well, that's still nearly $500 bones jones, but stunning nonetheless.

Here's random... I was checking my blog feed on Feedster, and dint find a single freakin' post/ thread/ or even lint related to my blog. Then I decided to search for a few keywords. I came up with a page with my Flickr photo posted. Geez.

Okay, here is yet another site full o' internet deals: Coupon Mountain. I found this via Smarter.com.

Here's more supporting evidence for Amazon.com: Why peeps shop with them = prices. The SanDisk e250 2 GB mp3 player is now $104 shipped, lowest on Pricegrabber is about $120. e260 4 GB is $130 shipped on Amazon, PG lowest is TigerDirect for about same price.

Once again, Pricegrabber user ratings of Amazon.com are LOW. Past 3 months' rating is 2.86 out of 5 stars. ResellerRatings of Amazon are even more telling at 5.42 out of 10. If you're getting hooked up with a deal from Amazon.com these days... It's buyer beware!

Speaking of which, this is just a friendly reminder... Do NOT buy from Monarch Computer Systems! They are going out of business and have NO NOTICE posted on their site to warn you. Their recent ResellerRatings proves it. They were a great establishment, uhhh... when they were established. Happy New Year peeps. I'll recap some of my fave sites and links soon. Cheers.
image credits: Dior Ankle Boots from eLuxury.com, Amazon.com rating chart from ResellerRatings.com, Monarch Computer customer rating chart from ResellerRatings.com.

Architecture & Movies

Some fierce architecture projects I've found include the Aluna Tidal- Powered Clock (from Inhabitat) and The Waterworld Project in Shianjiang, China (from The Cool Hunter).

The large-scale timepiece Aluna Lunar Clock uses tidal-powered (or lunar-powered?) LEDs to indicate the moon's position and the varying tides. Wow. from Inhabitat.com.

The Atkin's Architecture Group won an interna- tional design competition with their amazing Waterworld concept for a water-filled quarry in Songjiang, China. I could see it would be tough to beat out this design... Use of surrounding environment, dramatic scale, landscape, and stunning uniqueness. Much respect here. From The Cool Hunter.

I'm still digging (past post) the Optimus Keyboard, which is finally due out in 2007. Not to say it will launch... It's been slated for release many times before... But here's to hoping.

Now, some movie news for you popcorn fanatics. The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer official teaser is online. I'm not saying much about this. The first was somewhat entertaining, but not stunning in any way- and the acting rather flat. I don't place too high of hopes on this project.

Ain't It Cool News (AICN) has a new Wachowski Brothers project listed as in the works. Could the Matrix helmsmen be teaming up again with Keanu for a Speed Racer film? Hmmm. What to say about this. Perfectly nothing at this point.

Okay, so Spike Lee had a pretty interesting story going with Inside Man. Granted I dint like a few logistical loopholes and such, but the concept was pretty entertaining. Does it warrant an Inside Man 2? Well, supposedly it's being worked on. This New Yorker has a few projects on his plate, and seems to now include a Bio Pic of the Late James Brown. From AICN. Watchaself! Hmmm.

If you dint have a White Christmas but want to revel in some beautiful winter imagery, might I suggest Greenscapes' Winter Photoset on Flickr... Some wonderful photos. Cheers.

image credits: Aluna Tidal-Powered Clock from Inhabitat, Waterworld from The Cool Hunter, Optimus Keyboard from artlebedev.com.

Technology News and other...

Wow peeps, this is my 101st post for my blog. A perfect time to offer a reminder that I've blogged lots of goodness in the past and may be worth a(nother?) look. For example, don't forget next week is FREE Tuesday (or Wed) at the usual San Francisco venues. Yup, SFMOMA, De Young, Legion of Honor, SF Zoo, yada, yada, yada, blog, blog, blog.

Let's start with AllPosters.com, if you're looking for some new visual attractions on your walls, look no further. AllPosters is having up to 80% off on over 15,000 items.

I still like getting the dish (oh, these puns are just slaying me) on my favorite eateries from tablehopper. There is always plenty of news a'poppin' with chefs, locations, and menus.

Sure everyone laughs when I tell them I've had an idea for a theme restaurant. Sure they fall over convulsively laughing when I say the theme is "one-color" meals. You know... using lots of somewhat exotic natural ingredients; like purple potatoes and blood oranges...

I'm back to The Cool Hunter for a minute. Well, they had a feature with monochromatic interiors. HA! See, now where can I get my creamed carrot starter, cioppino, and sweet potato pie meal?

Oh yeah, then there's the Google 3D concept that is meant to bring visual recognition software to a totally new level. Take a picture of a road sign and google will fill in the map? Take a pic of a restaurant sign and Google will show you reviews... Scary stuff really (but kinda cool too).

Now I'm all for more universal applications. Like SplashPower. I could see this lil' SplashPad being huge in a couple more years. Just rest all your hi-tech gadgets on it and they will be charging like a big happy family unit. Wireless charging! If they weren't a private LLC, I'd suggest buying a bit of stock in them- just in case.

Now, some of you know how I follow fashion. Well, I'm also somewhat of an outdoor type. And this winter, what better way to show these things than a Selk'Bag? I mean, is it a down jumpsuit? Is it a sleeping bag? Is it an accessory? Cooolness is taking over... through warmth.

Okay, you may be wondering who exactly needs a Prada cell phone from Korean manufacturer LG Electronics. Well, then, clearly you are not in the consumer target group that defines discretionary income as "any liquid assets greater than zero." Now, now, that's a bit harsh I'll admit. But do any of us need a Prada cellie?

Well, there is a market for everything I suppose. Just ask Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos. Talk about Holiday Rush! Well, here's a pic (from Getty Images) of the Amazon.uk book packing warehouse at Christmas. Cheers.

image credits: Happy Hour Club ($4.98) from AllPosters.com, Speckled Lily ($4.98) from AllPosters.com, Color Themed Spaces from The Cool Hunter, Selk'Bag from The Cool Hunter, Amazon UK from Getty Images on The Cool Hunter.

Miscalleneous Kewl Stuff & Deals

First, a deal improvement: Restaurant.com now has 70% dining coupons ($3 for a $25 coupon), coupon code: CHEERS. Thanks SlickDeals.net.

Now , if you've read my posts before, you know how much I like Woot! They have a Woot! Wine deal this week for Chateau Souverain 2003 Syrah Port (duet). Now, granted, Woot usually has unheard of prices... This deal has a couple things going for it... I've loved the Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon since the 1997 vintage(?) (I think it got a 94 WS score). I love ports. A quick Google search for this comes up with prices just about $40 a bottle. Two bottles for $55 shipped! Woot Wine!

Recapping another fave site, The Style Invitational in The Washington Post. You think you can wordsmith with the best? Here even the "losers" are winners. Actually, quite literally. I know that sounds like an old cliche from your youthful soccer team coach, but here it rings true.

What's the coolest light fixture you've seen? You've prolly agreed with me, The Ventana Lamp by Pablo OF COURSE! It is at 2modern, which I'd blogged several whiles ago as a hip modern furniture place in SF. Wow, simply stunning, n'est pas?

When was the last time you visited Cute Overload? Well, maybe it's time again. I'm just saying... there is cuteness and then there is cuteness. And then.. There is overload. Go visit.

I always kinda keep up on The Gothamist blog 'cuz NYC is still my home away from, uhhh... me. And their office down in my old hood (okay, I was just North of Houston, they are 3 blocks South of my old digs... technically). This Hello... My Name Is... post about an artist is intruiging.

Also, I like the combination of sparseness and architecture in the Revere Sugar Refinery pics on The Gothamist. I guess this building has seen better days (gone by now, eh?), but I dunno if it's ever seen better images taken of it. Stunning! Cheers peeps.

image credits: Chateau Souverain from Woot! Wine, Ventana Lamp by Pablo at 2Modern.com, Hello My Name Is... from The Gothamist, Revere Sugar Refinery from The Gothamist.

Internet Deals and Various Sites Worth Knowing

I'm gonna start with some great deals for y'all.

First, many know I'm not a fan of Amazon.com, but a good deal is a good deal. The Panasonic DMC-TZ1K digital cam w/ Lumix Leica lens and 10X optical zoom in a pocket form factor for $212 w/ free shipping.

Now, for ladies, Coldwater Creek has 50% off every single item on their site, from Misses to Petites to Jewelry to ... whatever. Maybe worth a quick visit.

Overstock.com may not always have spectacular deals, but this one, heh heh... Get a 50 oz down filled KING comforter for $19.99 with FREE shipping. Other sizes available for the same price. Yikes dats sweet. 95/5 down/blend and 100% cotton cover.

The above deals from FatWallet.com. If you're looking for electronics, I'm thinking Vanns.com might be a better site than most. They offer amazing zoom quality on images of their products and specs that nearly compete with Crutchfield. ResellerRatings are excellent, and prices seem very competitive.

Now, guys where to hook yerselfs up with all that swag you wanted and dint get today? Well, ladies, take note: the site is called Uncrate. Very swag swag...

Another site worth checking occasionally is the blog So So Simple, really great recipes, clear instructions, and The PICTURES!!! Umm, well. There's a recipe up now for Ultimate BBQ Chicken. Hmmm, soak chicken in brine first? Sounds worth trying. I know, I've blogged 'bout this blog before, but anyways, here it is again.

Now, more sites for foodies. I've blogged about Chowhound b4... If you're interested in finding some new opinions- or perhaps you're traveling to regions unknown and need to find what's good. The Chowhound community is very active and willing to share experiences and ideas. Great site.

Here's quick props to mimbrava on Flickr. Beautiful shots, with elegance, color, and compositions to envy.

Ever wonder what facial recognition software could do for you? Yeah, right, I know that question constantly keeps me up at night too... oh... Well, you can upload a pic o' yer mug to MyHeritage.com and they find what celeb(s) you look like. Hmmmm.

Now, one of my last topics... I am considering getting some plano lens sunglasses. For those not in the know (which included me until researching), plano lenses are non-prescription sunglass lenses. Yup, I'm one of the few that still has slightly better than 20/20 vision.

I always feel that winters in SF create more glare than summers, I dunno why. But I've broken a couple pairs of $10 glasses and lost my Gianfranco Ferre glasses from years ago. So, I figure maybe it's time to invest in a pair with good optics?

Costco has 'em cheap- buy the frames, and lenses are included free. Geez. Here's info, if you are like me and don't know where to start. General corrective lens info on wikipedia is a start. I found an informative page at 20/20 Mag also. This page deals with lens choices and defines them in clear (no pun intended) terms. And a page that complements those both is A Sight for Sport Eyes, explaining lenses, qualities, and options.

I'm thinking mirror flash coat, polarized, grade 2 amber, Trivex for me. I'll fill you in if I actually get anything. I think it may become very expensive to custom make planos. But I'd get what I want, and gosh can I be picky...

Lastly, while none of you may be interested in seeing how I create my blog, I take about 30-45 minutes usually to post. I start with pages I save up on my desktop. I resize so they all fit easily and I can navigate between them with ease (notice how I stagger top and bottom corners)...

I rescale pics in Photoshop as needed. Then I just get each page into my post, with pics, links, and image credits. Here's a screen shot of my 'puter last night, before 'sleeping,' waking, coffee, and posting to Blogger.

Merry Christmas to all. Happy Holidays. and to all a good night. Thanks for coming by. Cheers.

image credits: Pany DMC-TZ1K from Panasonic.com, Ogusdesign Lamp from Uncrate.com, Fossil Anadigi Watch from Uncrate.com, 'Blue Lily' from mimbrava's Flickr photo gallery, screen shot is from my desktop.

Earth-Shaking-News.

Well, this is literal and uhmmm, non-literal. First, Did You Feel It? We've had some tremors in the SF Bay Area, up to about 4.0 quakes.

PopGadget has some very cute dog accessories. Worth a visit. I mean, PopGadget always has some serious swag (marketed as tech for women). The Illuminated Dog Safety Coat is sweet! Fido is going to Burning Man... Or not.

Uhhh, I think if your dog is, like, 11.5 miles away you might just have more prollems then whether your dog can HEAR your commands (yeah, like, HOW did they get that far away in the first place?). oh man. And if you need GPS to find your dog (on a regular basis), perhaps you should consider owning fish (or finger puppets) instead. Perhaps.

I had the coolest Holiday surprise on Friday, 12/22... I opened my mailbox to find an envelope from 2100 West End Ave in Nashville, TN. Now for those unaware what this means, it is the campaign HQ of Al Gore, former Vice President. I'd been in discussions with Gore and his Campaign Director for nearly 8 months last year, trying to persuade him onboard a business plan I was developing.

I'd sent him my own copy of his book, Earth In The Balance, hoping he might sign it for me. Well, about 19 months later, I got it back. Wow, this is very, very cool. I guess I'm just a geek like that. All my little copper bookmarks you can see are called BookDarts. Very kewl for keeping tabs in your precious reads. I'd suggest buying them in the big tin of 125, you'll prolly go them 'em faster than you think.

Now, have you ever watched a pro golf event on tv and wondered how they can announce something like... "Woods has 162 yards to the flag." Well, since the introduction of ShotLink, the PGA and other pro tours have really stepped up their info and stats. Here are some of the more curious stats I dint see on GolfChannel.com. Okay, that's it... Now go out and practice your 240'4" putts people! Cheers.

image credits: lighted dog jacket from popgadget.com, Earth In The Balance pics are my own, ShotLink from pgatour.com.

Where to get CD's and DVD's

Maybe you're an iTunes phreak, I'm not (at $0.99 a song, do you REALLY OWN your music?). Amazon.com? No thank you (see Amazon Reseller Rating). So where 2 buy from then? Just like any other internet purchase, price pretty much is king. But then, I'd always suggest allowing a slight cushion (maybe $1-1.50 on small ticket items, and up to about 3% on expensive purchases) to use an e-tailer you've personally had success with in the past.

Aside from price, shipping options and ResellerRatings are major factors. Then, there is selection- do they have EVERYTHING you're looking for in one site? You'd likely save money on shipping by having it all combined. And if they do have it all, and your order goes smoothly, you'd be more liekley to keep using them in the future.

Why try to save $0.40 on a DVD, only to have it not arrive for almost a month? That's the common story with DeepDiscountDVD. Sure you can use them if you don't mind a delivery in three weeks. I'm trying to understand if it's worth it, personally. Jacob's Ladder is $6, Funny Face is $6- I could get ONE extra dvd for the same price as those two would cost elsewhere.

J & R Electronics is a site I trust. They currently offer over 1,100 dvd titles at $5.99. I used to live a block away and walk in, now they've created a very established internet presence.

Not only does Buy.com still offer some of the best prices, and their occassional specials are unreal, they have always been superb with customer service. A toll-free number, where someone actually answers and is helpful. That's valuable to me. Harry Potter boxed set for $30 (includes 8 discs: 4 movies, 4 bonus) with free shipping ($50 price - $20 off using Google Checkout, no coupons needed).

Amazingly, I used an Amazon.com reseller (MediaThrill) to buy the Dark City dvd. It NEVER showed an "order shipped" status, they claim to ship out within two business days, and if not, they will cancel your order. Almost 10,000 feedbacks. Well, I tried e-mailing TWICE to find status, no response, no shipping update on my order page on Amazon. DVD arrived yesterday (12/23), after a 12/7 order.

Here's why I don't use Amazon anymore. IF I need to file a dispute, I cannot before 30 days have passed (couldn't file before 1/6/2007). I tried to notify Amazon of my problems, I got a screen saying: "Amazon limits how many messages may be sent to recipients each day, this seller has already reached their limit. Please try to contact the seller again tomorrow." Yuck.

Anywho. Dark City is a film I cannot believe many don't know about.. Sure I've written a rave about it before (here), but: Jennifer Connelly, Keifer Sutherland, William Hurt, Rufus Sewell... (and Melissa George who played Lauren Reed on 'Alias'). Connelly sings the song "Sway" and it is truly a remarkable song, the score (by Trevor Jones ) throughout the film also hits a perfect tone.

Now, what's next in home theatre? Proton's LED backlit LCD HDTV's are proported to bring more accurate color reproduction when released in Q2 2007.

I can't believe it's difficult to find Norah Jones' Come Away With Me cd for under $12 shipped. Well, Overstock has it, for $9.49 and an add'l 10% off with a DealCatcher.com coupon. Cheers.

image credits: J & R from JR.com, Proton LED backlit PCD TV from EngadgetHD.com, Norah Jones from Overstock.com.

Events and Internet News.

I started blogging way back seven months ago. I've learned a thing or two and created a great archive of bookmarks (links) here that I, myself, use frequently. My webstats from my domain server shows over 18,000 visits since June. Thanks peeps for coming by.

Technorati's founder, David Sifry, posts to his blog Sifry's Alerts, about the State of the Bloggosphere. And as of his most recent (scroll to Nov. 6th): there are more than 57 million blogs, with the volume doubling every 236 days. I can't believe that Technorati has me currently ranked at 723,707. Not that it matters, but I'm flattered to be within the top 1.3% off all the 57 million blogs they track. I hope some visiting peeps are finding my posts useful.

On to a cooler topic... If you've followed my blog for two or three whiles, you'll know I'm a big fan of TheCoolHunter.net. I mean, coolness just doesn't get any hotter than them. With over 1 million visitors to their site each month, Cool Hunter is launching a magazine? Yup. On newstands April/May 2007... kewl.

Okay, I talk almost incessantly about Woot! and how you should check back each day for their newest deal. I've had fast shipping an no problems with purchasing from them, I'd highly recommend. "Yeah, but why should I check?"

Because today they had brand NEW Sony PlayStation 3's for $499.99 and $5 Fed Ex OVERNIGHT shipping. The lowest on PriceGrabber from a seller with at least 50 ratings was $630 and basically fetches about $700 on sites like buy.com for this 20 GB console that plays Blue Ray discs too. Woot!

From PS3 to PSA's. That's a Public Service Announcement. I just found that Monarch Computer Systems appears to be going out of business. This behemoth of a computer builder and parts store has a very limited website now. I understand that once their inventory is gone they are shut down. They make no mention of this on their site. Heed these words, buy elsewhere, like NewEgg or ZipZoomFly or TigerDirect. Monarch's reseller rating has fallen... about as flat as a track star with their shoelaces tied together.

Now, if you are looking for a happy happy movie to rent this holiday, how about Funny Face starring Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, and Kay Thompson. It is practically bleeding happy. Oh, okay, maybe that's a very confusing figure of speech, but I am so impressed by Audrey's musical talents; from jazz to ballet to tap dance to singing- real triple threat here (acting, singing, dancing). I'd say the soundtrack is also one of the Gerswin's strongest. Some of the camera work is stunning, the editing is so seemless, and many shots are master shots that go on for 2 minutes or more. This film might've just made my top 20 of all time(visit my profile to see other faves).

This weekend the unique toy store Zebra Hall is having a wherehouse and sample sale thru Sat 12/23 at 2525 16th St (at Florida). Not just the usual toys, very cool stuff.

Can anybody explain how Red Devil Lounge can book these top artists for 2007? I mean, what's capacity there? 200? 250? 300? Jan 20th is KRS-One, 1/31 is Howard Jones, 2/17-18 is The Smithereens, 3/8 is Gene Loves Jezebel, 3/16 Sir Mix-A-Lot. That's insane. Tix usually are $8-10 for a show... So go!

Another event to put on your calendar is Thurs. Jan 18th. If you're interested, Mariel Hemingway is appearing at the Corte Madera Book Passage to talk about her book on holistic living, Finding My Balance. Still as beautiful as always.

For news in and around SF there is still no better source than SFist.com. Well, the SFBG is up there, with their article updating the status of the Treasure Island project.

Happy Holidays all. Cheers.

image credits: webstats from my domain host service, Funny Face from AllPosters.com, Mariel Hemingway from BookPassage.com.

Drivers: Music, Golf Balls, and Autos.

Okay, maybe the post title is a stretch to relate the topics. Maybe you get exactly what you pay for here on my blog. Uh, that is... Oh well.

Let's start with music, like the bankrupt Tower Records. Gosh, not that this is late breaking news; but I figured I'd throw a link to a great music distrubution company, Independent Distribution Collective and Positive Sound Massive. Steffan is the real deal, with experience working with top name acts, just check his C.V.

Then there is the "Indie" music he reps- he's got big names, like Rocker T. However, I really dig Goddess Gaia and Artemis. GG's work is very global, and has a beautiful tone throughout; think world beats with an uplifting and colorful mood. Artemis' album Gravity has been a favorite listening since I got it several whiles back. It's a lot like The Future Sound Of London to me (The Isness, a UK Limited Release album I love). Smooth and polished, with ethereal and ambient textures woven into a great product.

Next, a track that always stays with me, Aftermath #05 by Aes Dana. I originally wanted to buy the rights to use it for a website. But I just enjoy the composition and spatial play so much on its own. The ethereal complexity, buildup, and overall sound is just perfect. Ultimae.com has them and many great, great artists. And a site that offers album downloads for these artists (that specialize in down-tempo, world, or trance music)- at great prices- is ambient.us.

Next, let's talk about driving golf balls. If you are not wanting to get an NCGA/USGA handicap index... Whether it's too expensive or you just don't play that often, I think you might appreciate BirdieTracker.com. You can register for free and post scores, even post course ratings and it will give you an aggregate handicap! It's just like the USGA, but free. And, ... subsequently, will not be honored if you ever play in a competitive event.

If you do want a real index, Worldwide Golf Shops, Roger Dunn, and Golf Mart all offer their Birdie Savings Card for an unprecedented $40! That gives you a 2007 NCGA index, 40% off greens fees at specific courses (ones you actually will want to play), and some in-store specials. By far the cheapest way to get registered. Sure you've gotta join Worldwide Golf's membership first, but it's still a great deal. And you'll get some immediate discounts when enrolling.

Let's move on to autos. It's looking like the Toyota Yaris is the next "Mini." I mean, it's a very serious compact, and sports a pretty good ride from all critical accounts. It runs about $12K in the U.S., about $14,500 loaded with things like leather seats, a more serious stereo, 17" wheels, and an available all-weather package.

I'd get really excited about this 3-door hatch IF they release the TS model in the U.S. (which are currently NOT slated for a North American release). The TS features something like a 1.8 litre, 132 hp engine; and almost the same gas mileage estimates as the 108 hp model. The TS also features most of the comfort and performance options I'd dig.

Now, if the Yaris ain't the car that blows your hair back, maybe you're more of the sexy Volvo type? Did I just say that? Well, the critics are claiming this may be that. The first Volvo with real curb appeal, the Volvo C30. Oh, it'll be for sale in the U.S. (estimates at about $26K?), and prolly will make it bigger than Volvo plans... They expect to only sell about 20,000-30,000 of these worldwide, I think I read. Hmm, makes you wonder... it's got critics raving that it will kill Audis and VW's (maybe not that VeeDub needs help in hurting these days?).

Lastly, since we're talking about cars, there's no one better to talk shop with than Dan over at AutoSavant.net. He is the business. And you may find a few worthy tidbits on his site. It's very informative, easy to digest (uh, 'specially if you're at all a gearhead). I'd say many could learn from his post about leasing vs. buying and other very creditable articles. He writes about the auto industry and how it affects real people. Go visit. Cheers.

image credits: Aftermath from ambient.us, Toyota Yaris from topspeed.com, Volvo C30 from autoblog.com.

HOLIDAY BUBBLY, BARAKA, and BARGAINS.

Wow, it's been so long since my last post... I could almost claim to have forgotten I had a blog. Or not. It's come to my attention that the Holidays are, ummm, here. Here are some informational tips to get the holiday spirit. I don't mean the holiday songs that are certainly overplayed in every retail outlet. I don't mean the Rent-a-Clauses, I don't even mean the people that consider it cute to wear jingle bells attached to their shoelaces.

I mean SPIRIT. As in Champagne, sparkling wine, and port wines. Now, granted, the whole world may know more than me when it comes to this stuff. But if you are really wanting to get up to speed fast on what to buy; here are a few links to find your most suitable bubbly.

There are tons of info sites on how champagne is made. I find the best is answers.com. It includes most of the wikipedia and about.com stuff in a more readable version. I can't even find the link anymore to about.com's page. In a nutshell, we all know it is the méthode champenoise and must come from the Champagne region in the Northeast of France. The sugar content (called dosage) defines how sweet the sparkling wine will be when corked.

The Wine Doctor has a great list of tastings with exceptional notes on most of the most popular champagnes available. If you're looking for something you've never tasted before, at least you can be armed with information before shelling out some serious hard earned cash. Worth a visit.

SparklingDirect.com has information on each and every major Champagne house in france, complete with tasting notes and history. Which is most suitable to your palette? Visit and find out who specializes in what and find something that will suit you better than a Saville Row tailor.

Brut is bone dry at 1.5% or less. Extra Sec or Extra Dry is 1.2-2.0%. Sec is medium sweet at 1.7-3.5. Demi-Sec is sweet at 3.3-5.0% sugar. Sec and Demi-Sec are usually considered dessert wines. I like sweet, so Demi-sec is just about right for me.

Which brings me to my next topic. Port wines. A fave of mine. Port wines can be made with slightly different grape varietals, but must hail from the Oporto region of Portugal. They are blended with slight Brandy contents to give them a sweet and lasting finish. The best years are claimed "Vintage" years; when the conditions, harvest, press, and product are all at their finest. Usually there are only about three claimed Vintage years per decade.

For the Top Port Wines and an excellent resource for all things Port, visit PortLover.com. To find vintages, you can visit WineExchange.com or WineBid.com.

Vintage ports are bottled without filtering, so they continue to mature in the bottle. They are not suggested to be corked for at LEAST 8 years. Most experts will say 12 years is the minimum to get the fullest, cleanest bouquet. And they will continue to age almost indefinitely.

Non-vintage years are filtered before bottling and can be enjoyed immediately. They will not continue to mature and will be less "round" in flavor and often not nearly as complex or as clean.

Like non-vintage's, Late Bottled Vintages are also filtered. LBV's are years when late in the press cycle, they are found to be at a premium, but cannot be declared vintage years. Usually, I've found the price of LBV's not worth the premium, opting instead for the less expensive non-vintage or a true Vintage.

Now, one of my favorite films, Baraka, is once again playing (annually) the week after Christmas at The Red Vic Moviehouse. For those already in the know, I love their "loveseat sofas" and their coffee served in real mugs. Plus what isn't cool about Black Cherry soda on tap at a movie theatre?

If you've lasted thru this entire post so far, you should be rewarded. Here are some great internet deals. If you've not purchased all your gifts yet, shame on you. If you've opened any early... Shame, shame on you.

Restaurant.com has a special for 60% off (coupon code :GIVE) their already low price coupons for restaurants. Personally, I think Gordon Biersch, Kabuto Sushi and maybe Sushi Tani are most interesting. At a meager $4 for a $25 dining certificate, what's to hate? (parking?). Coupon code from SlickDeals.net.

SportsAuthority has a 25% off one item coupon (code: 25DECFF) and like many other e-tailers, you can use Google checkout to save $10 off $30 or $20 off any $50 purchase, no code required. SportsAuthority has a great selection of performance winter tops like Under Armour. Again, thanks SlickDeals.net (and DealCatcher.com).

REI.com has a $20 off $100 coupon (code: HOLIDAY) that expires 12/24. I dunno if they fixed their site yet, but it used to not navigate in Firefox, so use IE 6.0 (or 7.0 if you're beta like that). Thanks DealCatcher.com.

SierraTradingPost has $20 off $75 (code: 51780) PLUS Google checkout $20 off $50 expires 1/4/2007. Thanks DealCatcher.com. Find that sweet softshell jacket you dint get for the holidays. SierraTradingPost has some of the best technical products and the best prices to start with on the internet! Imagine, a Sessions Works snowboard jacket that retails at $200 for $96, now $20 off makes $76 and $20 off from Google checkout makes it $56. Now that Works.

Have a good one. Cheers.

image credits: Veuve-Clicquot from SparklingDirect.com, Fonseca Vintage 1994 from golden-west-wine.com, Baraka image from Red Vic Moviehouse, Sessions jacket from Sierra Trading Post.