Vericon Schedule, Signing in Boston Area, ALLOY OF LAW Cover

Yay! New Brandon Sanderson Mistborn novel! STEAMPUNK COVER FTW, just, you know, in case you missed the goggles and bowler hat.

Vericon Schedule, Signing in Boston Area, ALLOY OF LAW Cover

via Brandon Sanderson Blog on 3/17/11

Tor.com has revealed the cover art (below) for the Mistborn book that's coming out in November, THE ALLOY OF LAW. There's a short summary too. I may talk more about this later, but let me say that I love the art that Chris McGrath did for this.

More Blog Posts at Brandonsanderson.com

News - Watch Amy Pond Flirting With Herself

And now for something completely awesome... (plus, the "quasi-date" we've been waiting for - Easter 2011!)

News - Watch Amy Pond Flirting With Herself

via Dark Horizons - General Feed by Dark Horizons on 3/20/11

The BBC's Comic Relief Night saw the premiere of a two-part mini-sketch from "Doctor Who" penned by current showrunner Steven Moffat. It's a standalone piece that has TARDIS materialising in itself, Amy Pond flirting with herself, even a bit of fun innuendo with one joke about a TARDIS design feature that's strictly for you dirty old dads in the audience.
'Who' mini-episodes have popped up several times on Comic Relief over the years, Moffat himself penned two previous ones, most recently "Time Crash" (watch here) which has the tenth Doctor (David Tennant) meeting the fifth (Peter Davidson).
Watch both parts of this year's special below. The new season of 'Who' kicks off April 23rd in the US and UK with a new trailer for it due later this month:

Scanned Boards Custom Cut into Curved Hardwood Floors

This goes on the list. You know, the one I keep of AWESOME THINGS THAT MUST BE DONE... someday... when I can afford them...  in a dark hardwood...  (yes, "in a dark hardwood" is a category on the list.  Because that's just the way I roll, baby!)

[Picked up from Dornob, Filed under New Materials or in the More category ]

We have so much technology to design and build these days, but it is all meaningless without an application like this: a device scans each board that passes through the machine, evaluates its natural curves and structural properties, then slices it into perfectly-fitting but uniquely-shaped floorboards.

The technique itself is not new, strictly speaking – master craftsmen have done things like this for ages. But the work has historically been laborious – time- and labor-intensive to the point of being cost-prohibitive. Digitized by Bolefloor, it becomes mass-producible … yet remains customized.

Aside from the amazing visual effect of having organic-looking floors, each board nesting into the next, the process also strategically eliminates knots and other structurally-troublesome deformities while maximizing the amount of use from each board.

Further, each tree is tracked from the time and location it is cut down to the final destination of its installation. While eco-friendly cork and non-wood materials have made their way steadily to market, it is nice to see an actual new-wood alternative that still considers environmental impacts.

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I Think I’ll Take My Chances With Stairwell 2

I feel happy!  I think I'll go for a walk!  What do you mean, stairwell 3 is a bad idea?

I Think I’ll Take My Chances With Stairwell 2

via There, I Fixed It - Redneck Repairs by Cheezburger Network on 3/17/11


Actually, I'll use this as a good excuse to just head home. ~Not-So-Handy Andy

Submitted by: codymc

Via: original photo

Support ur local

This is the first cat picture on my wall at work.  I look at it when my day gets a little too...directed.  :-)

Support ur local

via Lolcats 'n' Funny Pictures of Cats - I Can Has Cheezburger? by Cheezburger Network on 3/10/11


Support ur local Search and Rescue unit Git lost
sum fingz r bettur off lost…

Kinect + Tesla Coils: Those Fools At The Academy Laughed At You…

Muahahahaha....

Kinect + Tesla Coils: Those Fools At The Academy Laughed At You…

via Make: Online by Sean Michael Ragan on 3/14/11



If you only watch one online video today, it should be this one.
[via adafruit]

30 Things We Need — and 30 We Don't

This may just end up printed and in my office. In fact, no maybe about it - I'm formatting this pretty and printing it up ASAP.

30 Things We Need — and 30 We Don't

via HBR.org by Tony Schwartz on 3/8/11

Do you have the feeling, as I do, that in the tsunami of everyday life, we're getting too much of stuff we don't need, and not enough of what we do? Herewith my first set of suggestions about how to redress the imbalance:

WE NEED LESS:	WE NEED MORE:
Information	Wisdom
Shallow billionaires	Passionate teachers
Self-promotion	Self-awareness
Multitasking	Control of our attention
Inequality	Fairness
Sugar	Lean protein
Action	Reflection
Super sizes	Smaller portions
Private jets	High-speed trains
Calculation	Passion
Experts	Learners
Blaming	Taking responsibility
Judgment	Discernment
Texting	Reading
Anger	Empathy
Output	Depth
Constructive criticism	Thank-you notes
Possessions	Meaning
Righteousness	Doing the right thing
Answers	Curiosity
Long hours	Longer sleep
Complaining	Gratitude
Sitting	Moving
Selling	Authenticity
Cynicism	Realistic optimism
Self-indulgence	Self-control
Speed	Renewal
Emails	Conversations
Winning	Win-win
Immediate gratification	Sacrifice

Hot Seats! Stools Set on Fire to Create Charred Log Chairs

It seems that fire-themed items are just zooming across the Interwebs! The pyromaniac in me really, really, REALLY wants to try this.

Hot Seats! Stools Set on Fire to Create Charred Log Chairs

via Dornob by dornob on 3/9/11

[ Filed under Furniture or in the Chairs category ]

Titled 'Burnt Out' (Ausgebrannt), well, they are indeed – the char-encrusted voids are the result of searing each seat, carved a unique shape with heat and flame rather than a saw or chisel.

Kaspar Hamacher strips raw logs of their bark, then sets smaller blazing logs atop the chopped stumps – by criss-crossing and repeating, a pair of bisecting lines slices down into the underside of each seat (leaving four rough-edged legs behind).

The (de)construction work is done, appropriately enough, in a forest atelier setting where the wood can be safely set alight and allowed to burn freely.

Of course, the concept is cool, but in reality the furniture has some issues that need addressing – wastefulness and pollution being obvious, but sealing off the charred remnants might not be the easiest thing either.

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What Are Those Brick Circles in SF Streets?

I'm especially interested in this given my new place-of-work.  Although, I must say, SF is full of architectural curiosities.  Makes me want to visit there - or at the very least, re-read Laurie King's Locked Rooms.

What Are Those Brick Circles in SF Streets?

via CALIBER by Stuart on 3/8/11

There's actually an interesting story behind them…


I've seen these brick circles, or sometimes half circles, in the center of various intersections through out the city. I thought they might be historical markers or previous landmarks. In fact, each brick circle outlines an underground cistern full of pressurized water. The cisterns, ranging in size from 10,000 gallons to 250,000 gallons, are supplemental water supplies for the SF Fire Dept in addition to the high pressure and low pressure systems. They are accessible by special green hydrant valves and are tested every few years to ensure integrity.
There are 172 cisterns strategically spread throughout SF, totaling 11 million gallons of auxiliary water, enough to cover the city 1.25″ deep, and are part of the San Francisco Fire Department Auxiliary Water Supply System, a subset of The San Francisco High Pressure Water System.
Fifty four of the oldest were built as early as 1860. They exist independently of other water systems in the city and were put in place following the 1906 earthquake. As you may recall, it was the fires following the quake that destroyed most of the city and lack of water supply was a key reason the conflagration was able to do so much damage. In the event we were to experience another catastrophic earthquake, the high pressure supply system could be compromised and fire fighters would need immediate access to large quantities of water. These cisterns provide that additional flow, and as part of the high pressure supply, are unique to any city in the United States.
Over the next few weeks, I'll be investigating this High Pressure System further. It's unique to this city, quite complex and is made up of a lot of interesting landmarks that are fun to hunt down.


sources and more info:
http://www.sf-fire.org/index.aspx?page=1003
http://ronslog.typepad.com/ronslog/2010/05/emergency-preparedness-in-san-francisco.html
http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/hpfs.html
http://www.sfmuseum.org/quake/awss2.html
http://www.sfcityguides.org/public_guidelines.html?article=344&submitted=true&srch_text=&submitted2=&topic=neighborhoods

Cutting-Edge Fashion by Daniel Widrig and Iris van Herpen

Normally I wouldn't post something like this - it is way too wacky for me. But after Dad's comment on my last fashion post, I had to share this one. See, Dad, the "Princess Leia" outfits were NORMAL in comparison! This, THIS belongs in a 2001: A Space Odessey/The Princess of Mars crossover!

However, I will say... this is a very...interesting...use of a technology I AM following closely: 3D printing.

Cutting-Edge Fashion by Daniel Widrig and Iris van Herpen

via Design Milk by Jaime on 3/8/11

London-based architect Daniel Widrig and Sutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen first collaborated at Amsterdam Fashion Week in 2010 on a collection called Crystallization (above) — a fashion collection of 3D-printed dresses. Escapism is the continuation of this collaboration and launched at Paris Fashion week earlier this year.

The goal of the Escapism collection is to take 3D printing and push the limits on the wearability of the printed pieces. It investigates the possibility of using advanced technologies and computer-aided design to create haute couture fashions made of fiber-like elements that are lightweight and flexible.







The collection was produced in collaboration with New York based label .MGX by Materialise via Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) in Polyamide.

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© 2011 Design Milk | Posted by Jaime in Art, Style & Fashion | Permalink | No comments

Beautiful Old Wood Barn Renovated into a Fresh New Home

I love almost everything about this conversion. My only dislike is the stable-like bed arrangment in... with such a fresh and airy conversion, you'd think they'd avoid looking so institutional!

[Courtesy of www.dornob.com, filed under Conversions or in the Architecture category ]

Barns tend to be rich in history but mixed in terms of materiality, made for functional on-the-farm purposes with owners little realizing they might one day live where pigs and chickens used to lay (eggs or otherwise).

This structure is a lovely layered and deeply-textured exception – particularly following a fantastic renovation effort turning it into a downright dazzling contemporary house.

SHED architects worked some serious wonders in programming this old building with a workroom, kitchen, lofted living area, guest apartment and multiple bathrooms. All of this also had to be done with historic preservation in mind.

Skylights and bay windows opened up the interior to let in additional daylight, while a limited material and color palette kept any additions from drawing attention away from the existing elements. Meanwhile, recycled surface materials, plumbing pipes and more were utilized throughout.


Salvaged exterior siding became interior paneling – scrap floorboards turned into new stairs, trim and counter-top material.  All in all, there is a timeless look to the end product; a traditional farmstead structure has definitely been giving a great new lease on life.

Haider Ackermann Fall 2011

I concur with my favorite fashionista blogger - best collection I've seen so far. I love the use of textures and fabrics, structure and looseness. AWESOME.

Haider Ackermann Fall 2011: "What a great follow-up to his outstanding Spring 2011 show. Right now, Haider Ackermann is the collection to beat for Best Show of the Season.

"

Openaire - Laptop Case/Workstation on the Behance Network

Okay, I need one of my friends who can make things to create these with me. I'm seriously pondering if there'd be a good way to sew something like this, maybe with sleeves to put hard items in to create the sturdy-ness. This just sounds like such an awesome thing for travelling - if I could get one for Scott, I'd give it to him for his birthday.

Openaire - Laptop Case/Workstation on the Behance Network

The House From Up! Now Exists In Real Life—and It Flies! [Video]

My joy at this occurence is, well, about the same as the joy of Jesus Diaz - the guy who wrote the bit about it for Gizmodo.

The House From Up! Now Exists In Real Life—and It Flies! [Video]: "

This is really nuts. The people from National Geographic have built a house inspired by the Pixar movie Up! Yes, a house tied to gas balloons that actually flies. I'm so giddy I can barely type. More »









SQUIRREL!

Michal Maciej Bartosik

This is awesome. High art + lightsabers = lovely!
...what? ...what do you mean "they're not lightsabers." I know lightsabers when I see them, dagnabbit!


Michal Maciej Bartosik: "

Michal Maciej Bartosik has created two new floating compression lights that are based on two of Kenneth Snelson‘s sculptures: ‘Needle Tower’ and ‘City Boots’.

Utilizing Snelson’s structural discovery, appropriated and popularized by Buckminster Fuller as “Tensegrity,” Bartosik proposes new possibilities of light forms, whereby the light source and its electrical wire work mutually in compression and tension to produce a seemingly discontinuous field of light defined by it structural form.

The light sculptures won best Studio North Collection at the IDS11.

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© 2011 Design Milk | Posted by Jaime in Home Furnishings | Permalink | No comments"

On the Scene....Forever Fifties, Milan

Scroll down with me... AHA! Her boots are AWESOME! (P.S. Blog-This works now!)
On the Scene....Forever Fifties, Milan: "

"

Trying out "Blog This"

Does this work? Do you see a post from Dornob about a cool recycled materials house? I hope so!

Photographic technique

Well, I think I've decided to share the beautiful and fun things I find on this site, keeping my TexasAdjacent blog reserved for house reviews/Austin local things.

Anyways, I just love this discussion of technique and planning on Kyle Cassidy's LJ - it's well worth a read!

Someone else's idea

Desk/Bed/Awesomeness

I'm not sure if I love this idea most because of the clutter cover, the space saving or the idea of a desk the size of a twin bed. All are most excellent, most excellent indeed.

Most Beautiful College Campuses

As my little sister begins to contemplate colleges, I contemplate places I'd love to visit her at...