We Defy Augury

Facebook Riches

2012-02-02T20:54:00.003-05:00

"David Choe was paid in Facebook stock for paintings at the company's first headquarters. His payout may be $200 million"

New York Times - "From Founders to Decorators, Facebook Riches"

"From left, Mark Zuckerberg, Dustin Moskovitz and Sean Parker of Facebook in 2005. The murals are by the artist David Choe."

Nike Zoom Kobe VII System BHM

2012-02-02T07:30:00.002-05:00

This Saturday, the Nike Sportswear store at 21 Mercer in Soho, New York will be the only place to buy this Black History Month edition of Kobe Bryant's 2012 basketball shoe, the Nike Zoom Kobe VII System BHM.

Nike Zoom KD IV Nerf

2012-02-02T07:20:00.005-05:00

The much talked about Nerf colorway of Kevin Durant's 2012 basketball shoe, the Nike Zoom KD IV (4), was released back in mid-December at a retail value of $125.

With only one release the demand has skyrocketed. Foot Locker claimed it "arguably the most sought after shoe this year," and it is now one of the most expensive shoes on the re-sale market going for $1,600 on Osneaker.com.

Ghent Light Festival in Belgium

2012-02-01T07:21:00.007-05:00

The Ghent Light Festival was hosted in Belgium this past weekend and above and below are the two best highlights from the show.

Above,

"Italian family business, Luminarie De Cagna erected a gigantic colonnade as the symbolic entrance to the festival. Illuminated with 55,000 LED bulbs, the colonnade was transformed into a cathedral of light with Renaissance arches. If it appears as though this stunning majestic wonder towering at 28 meters high is a waste of electricity, you’ll be surprised to learn it only consumes 20 Kwatt/h."

PSFK - "Awe-Inspiring Cathedral Transformed with 55,000 LED Lights"

And below, I'm unable to translate to learn the artist, but someone has made an aquarium phone booth.

Official Site - La Cabine Téléphonique Aquarium
Flickr - "La Cabine Téléphonique Aquarium"

2012 London Olympic Venues

2012-02-01T06:24:00.002-05:00

The 2012 London Olympic games are scheduled for July 27-August 12.

Click here for more info on London's venues.

Frank Ocean - "Voodoo"

2012-01-31T07:33:00.000-05:00

Snowmobile Frontflip

2012-01-30T21:14:00.002-05:00

Idaho native Heath Frisby nailed the first ever snowmobile front flip in competition last night at the 16th Winter X Games.

ESPN - "Frisby lands first snowmobile frontflip"

Piece of the Aggro Crag - $1,500

2012-01-29T14:49:00.005-05:00

Nickelodeon's 1990's sports game show GUTS awarded each episode's victor a piece of the Aggro Crag as a trophy. And with only 126 episodes ever there are only 126 authentic pieces in the world. Recently, the winner of the 1993 episode 209c put his piece up on eBay and sold it for $1,499.00.

Below the eBay listing description:

"This is an extremely RARE Aggro Crag Trophy from the Legendary, Hit Nickelodeon's Show "GUTS". I won this in 1993 on episode 209c. It lights up! This is a RARE opportunity to own a piece of historic pop culture. There has been a few replicas listed in the past years, but keep in mind this is the real deal only 126 episodes were made so there are only 126 of these in the world.

Note: the Gold Medal is shown in the pictures but NOT included with the sale."

Buzzfeed - "How Much Can You Buy A Piece Of The Aggro Crag From Nickelodeon's "GUTS" For?"

Baluarte Bridge

2012-01-29T14:44:00.004-05:00

Washington Post - "New bridge in Mexico loaded with big dreams"

"The Baluarte Bicentennial Bridge, uniting the states of Durango and Sinaloa with a gravity-defying ribbon of concrete 1,321 feet above the Baluarte River. Completed this month, it is the highest bridge in the Western Hemisphere, the second-highest in the world and highest structure of its kind (cable-stayed bridge) on the planet.

So high is the Baluarte’s road deck that the Eiffel Tower could fit beneath it, or two Washington Monuments stacked end to end. With its long white cables and graceful towers rising 587 feet at opposite ends of the precipice, it may be the most breathtaking structure built in Mexico since the pyramids went up at Teotihuacan circa A.D. 100. "

...

“The best way to fight crime and eliminate poverty is to create jobs,” said Francisco Gutierrez, the top economic development official for the state of Durango. “This is the most important project in all of Mexico right now.”

...

"When the first surveyors and engineers reached the bridge site five years ago, it was a four-hour ride on horseback. “We stood at the edge of the canyon and looked across, and it didn’t seem possible,” said engineer Carlos Zamundio"

City Logos

2012-01-29T14:42:00.004-05:00

Click to enlarge.

Complex - "Here's What It Would Look Like If Every Major Sports Team From One City Combined Their Logos"

Obama/Lil Wayne Sneakers

2012-01-28T08:53:00.004-05:00

In sneaker news this week, Film auteur Spike Lee gifted President Obama with the first ever pair of Air Jordan Spizike "Bordeaux."

Hypebeast - "Jordan Spizike "Bordeaux""

And, Lil Wayne wore these ridiculous shoes to an NBA game.

Common - "The Light"

2012-01-24T22:00:00.001-05:00

Still a hot song.

SBTRKT - "Atomic Peace"

2012-01-23T03:22:00.001-05:00

The iPhone (US) Economy

2012-01-22T11:25:00.001-05:00

The New York Times uses Apple's iPhone as an example to analyze the current U.S. economy. If the YouTube link gets killed click the NYT link below to see the 4-minute video.

New York Times - "The iPhone Economy"

"Apple’s iPhone is a model of American ingenuity, but most of its components are manufactured somewhere else. The decline of manufacturing can lead to the loss of other kinds of jobs, a factor in the American economy right now."

League Championship Weekend

2012-01-22T11:03:00.003-05:00

Yards thrown during the regular season doesn't look quite as impressive when put in this perspective.

More infographic breakdowns of today's games below created by Craig Robinson for Grantland. Click the image to enlarge.

Baltimore at New England 3:00 pm EST

New York Giants at San Francisco 6:30 pm EST

Future NBA SG - Shabazz Muhammad

2012-01-22T11:01:00.000-05:00

NBADraft.net - "Shabazz Muhammad"

Future NBA Center - Nerlens Noel

2012-01-22T10:55:00.001-05:00

Rivals.com - "Nerlens Noel"

Best News Story of the Weekend

2012-01-22T10:47:00.001-05:00

Pitchfork - "Police Swarm New Zealand Mansion in Arrest of Megaupload Founder Kim Dotcom"

"Reuters reports that a number of curious details have emerged surrounding this week's arrest of the German programmer and entrepreneur Kim Dotcom, who founded Megaupload in 2005. Dotcom was in the safe room of his leased New Zealand mansion when dozens of local police (some in helicopters) swarmed his residency. The Wall Street Journal notes that Dotcom had a loaded shotgun in his possession at the time.

An official from New Zealand's Organized and Financial Crime Agency told Reuters, "Despite our staff clearly identifying themselves, Mr. Dotcom retreated into the house and activated a number of electronic-looking mechanisms."

Police seized two firearms from the premises, and, according to The Telegraph, more than 20 automobiles. Among the vehicles was a 1959 pink Cadillac, as were several others with vanity plates baring such titles as "HACKER," "MAFIA,"and "STONED."

U.S. authorities are labeling the Megaupload case "one of the largest copyright cases in history," says Reuters."

Private - "My Secret Lover"

2012-01-22T03:12:00.001-05:00

Ignore the dude's haircut and enjoy the song.

The T-Wolves

2012-01-21T11:54:00.001-05:00

Star Tribune - "Love hits winning three at the horn as Wolves rally from 15 down to sink Clippers"

Alternative Universe Movie Posters

2012-01-18T23:14:00.007-05:00

Behance Network - "Movies from an Alternate Universe"

Big Wave

2012-01-17T23:17:00.001-05:00

BIGGEST TEAHUPOO EVER, SHOT ON THE PHANTOM CAMERA.

Architect - Zaha Hadid

2012-01-16T00:38:00.005-05:00

Zaha Hadid is a 61-year-old Iraqi-British architect.

Above is Bergisel Ski Jump in Innsbruck, Austria. (2002)

Bridge Pavilion in Zaragoza, Spain (2008)

London Aquatics Center (2011)

Guangzhou Opera House (2010)

Riverside Museum in Glasglow, Scotland (2011)

Crashed Ice

2012-01-14T13:48:00.003-05:00

The 2012 World Championships of Crashed Ice will start tonight in St. Paul, MN. The race will be live streamed at 8pm EST on the official Red Bull Crashed Ice website.

Three more W.C. races will be held in February and March in Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden.

"Take some of the best and toughest ice-hockey players in the world, a sizzling atmosphere, stunning surroundings, tonnes of steel, a huge cooling system and thousands of square metres of frozen water. The result? Red Bull Crashed Ice! Since the first ever race back in 2001, Red Bull Crashed Ice has developed to become the most breathtaking winter sports events in the world. Ice-hockey aces hurtle down courses up to 500 metres in length in groups of four, shoulder to shoulder, as they fight it out for victory. The whole race is held on a steep downhill track dotted with chicanes, jumps and rollers. Pushing, sliding, sprinting and wrangling are all on the menu as the athletes race down the course, but the rules are, in fact, very simple: first to the bottom wins."

Young Kobe

2012-01-14T13:43:00.001-05:00

ESPN - "Believe it: Kobe Bryant still cares"

-Michael Wilbon

Sidenote,

new Kobe Bryant Nike ad campaign, the #KobeSystem

Moonrise Kingdom

2012-01-13T00:32:00.003-05:00

Wes Anderon's (Life Aquatic, Fantastic Mr. Fox) next film, Moonrise Kingdom, starring Bruce Willis, Ed Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand and a few others, is scheduled for a late May release.

Desire - "Under Your Spell"

2012-01-13T00:30:00.002-05:00

One of the three best songs in Drive (coming out on DVD/iTunes Tuesday).

Jay-Z (feat. B.I.C.) - "Glory"

2012-01-10T07:18:00.001-05:00

Jay-Z (feat. newborn daughter Blue Ivy Carter) - "Glory"

Produced by The Neptunes

Coachella 2012 Lineup

2012-01-10T07:14:00.003-05:00

Same lineup; back-to-back weekends.

Last Night Was an Exciting Game

2012-01-09T07:12:00.002-05:00

Great Read - Pulphead by John Jeremiah Sullivan

2012-01-08T12:08:00.002-05:00

Two-time National Magazine Award winner and regular contributor to both GQ and The Paris Review John Jeremiah Sullivan published a dozen of his previously published essays (topics range from Christian rock festivals to Hurricane Katrina to Michael Jackson to the Real World to American Cave Art) in this compilation, Pulphead.

"[Sullivan] seems to have in abundance the storyteller’s gifts: he is a fierce noticer, is undauntedly curious, is porous to gossip, and has a memory of childlike tenacity. Anecdotes fly off the wheels of his larger narratives. In a touching piece about the near-death of his brother (who electrocuted himself with a microphone while playing with his band, the Moviegoers, in a garage in Lexington, Kentucky), Sullivan mentions, in passing, “Captain Clarence Jones, the fireman and paramedic who brought Worth back to life, strangely with two hundred joules of pure electric shock (and who later responded to my grandmother’s effusive thanks by giving all the credit to the Lord).” Any reporter can be specific about the two hundred joules. But the detail about Captain Jones giving all the credit to the Lord, while a small thing, suggests a writer interested in human stories, watching, remembering, and sticking around long enough to be generally hospitable to otherness."

- New Yorker review of Pulphead

If you're interested in reading one of Sullivan's essays before committing to the book, check out his New York Times story on traveling to Disney World with his wife, daughter and their mutual family friends (not included in Pulphead).

Think what this talent could do for any one of the Republican candidates right now

2012-01-08T12:01:00.003-05:00

"[Bob Hawke, the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia]'s academic achievements were complemented by setting a new world speed record for beer drinking: he downed 2 1/2 pints - equivalent to a yard of ale - from a sconce pot in eleven seconds as part of a college penalty. In his memoirs, Hawke suggested that this single feat may have contributed to his political success more than any other, by endearing him to a voting population with a strong beer culture."

Wikipedia - "Bob Hawke"
Guyism - "Former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke Chugs a Beer"

Rick Ross (feat. Drake & French Montana) - "Stay Schemin"

2012-01-07T07:55:00.003-05:00

Rick Ross has recovered from two inflight seizures back in October to release the free mixtape Rich Forever.

Download link.

"Stay Schemin," produced by The Beat Bully, is the final track off Rich Forever.

Shot - The Pickleback

2012-01-07T07:53:00.001-05:00

Movies to look forward to in 2012

2012-01-05T20:52:00.007-05:00

Looks like 2012 could be a better year of movies than 2011.

The Place Beyond the Pines - Sundance/Late 2012

Blue Valentine filmmaker Derek Cianfrance does a motorcycle crime drama starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Ray Liotta and Eva Mendes.

Cogan’s Trade - Early 2012

Brad Pitt stars in a crime-mob film based on a 1974 novel and directed by The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford director Andrew Dominik.

The Wettest County in the World - April 20

Virginia bootlegging gang film starring Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, Guy Pearce and Gary Oldman.

On the Road - Cannes in May/Late 2012

Relatively unknowns play Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty with a supporting cast that includes Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams and Steve Buscemi.

Prometheus - June 8

Ridley Scott’s Alien Prequel starring Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace.

The Dark Knight Rises - July 18

Christopher Nolan.

The Master - Fall 2012

Paul Thomas Anderson’s origins of Scientology movie starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix.

Gangster Squad – October 19

L.A.P.D. East Coast Mafia 1940’s era movie starring Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Anthony Mackie, Giovanni Ribsi and Josh Brolin.

Skyfall - November 9

Daniel Craig as James Bond, Javier Bardem as the villain, directed by American Beauty's Sam Mendes and reported filming in South Africa, India, China, Istanbul, Scotland and of course London.

Gravity - November 21

Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men) 3D astronaut movie starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock.

Untitled Hunt for Bin Laden Project - December 19

The Hurt Locker’s Kathryn Bigelow is working on a currently unnamed Hunt for Bin Laden movie with a rumored cast of Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Rooney Mara.

Only God Forgives - Late 2012

Ryan Gosling and Nicolas Winding Refn do movie #2 (movie #1 was Drive). IMDB claims the plot to be "A Bangkok police lieutenant and a gangster settle their differences in a Thai-boxing match."

Lincoln - Late 2012

Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln directed by Steven Spielberg.

The Great Gatsby - December 25

Directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo Dicaprio, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton and Tobey Maguie in 3D.

Django Unchained - December 25

Quentin Tarantino written/directed runaway slave movie starring Jamie Foxx, Leonardo Dicaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sacha Baron Cohen and The RZA.

Some other ones to look out for: The Hunger Games, The Dictator, The Amazing Spider-Man, Total Recall, Neighborhood Watch and Moonrise Kingdom.

Shit Girls Say - Episodes 1+2

2012-01-05T20:18:00.000-05:00

J.P. Auclair Urban Skiing

2012-01-04T07:29:00.002-05:00

Make sure you at least make it to 02:10 to see "The incredible video of skier JP Auclair downhill bombing his way through a city in British Columbia."- NY Mag Approval Matrix

Ai Weiwei - "Forever Bicycles"

2012-01-03T23:25:00.003-05:00

Ai Weiwei's latest exhibition, "Forever Bicycles" at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum in Taiwan features 1,200 handlebar and seatless bikes.

Fast Company - "Ai Weiwei Piles 1,200 Bikes On Top Of Each Other, For Dazzling Effect"

Clams Casino

2012-01-03T23:16:00.005-05:00

Download North Jersey hip hop producer Clams Casino's free instrumental mixtape.

Grantland's Amos Barshad has declared "Motivation," the mixtape's lead song, "perfect for drinking three beers real fast and then zoning out while riding the bus."

Clams Casino has rose to fame producing beats for Lil' B, A$AP Rocky and The Weeknd and for releasing the acclaimed Raineforest EP.

Photographer Jonathan Nowak

2012-01-03T23:10:00.004-05:00

JonathanNowak.tv - "NORTH DAKOTA &/OR PROJECT CORCUS"

Favorite Movies of 2011 (in some particular order)

2012-01-02T14:48:00.012-05:00

Favorite Movies of 2010 (in no particular order)

Jellyfish - The New Goldfish

2012-01-02T14:41:00.001-05:00

Wired - "The New Goldfish"

$460

"One type of sea life has proven tough to keep in home aquariums: jellyfish. The blobby beasties get shredded like Kleenex in the filters. This 7-gallon tank — a project that got funded through Kickstarter — solves that by using a laminar-flow system to circulate the water in a controlled swirl, nudging the jellies to the middle of the tank and away from danger. The kit takes about 10 minutes to assemble and includes a voucher for three moon jellyfish, shipped overnight in Styrofoam coolers along with a six-month supply of frozen brine shrimp. Slip them into the water, turn on the color-changing LED light, and … dude, whoa!

WIRED Most hypnotic office/dorm room/studio decoration ever. Brainlessly simple setup and care.

TIRED Stoned friends will never leave now. Air pump motor is about as loud as a refrigerator. Life expectancy of a moon jelly is only a year; new ones cost $50 each."

10 Coolest Buildings of 2011

2012-01-01T15:21:00.006-05:00

The 10 Coolest Buildings of 2011 according to Complex Magazine -

Dune House by Jarmund/Vigsnaes Arkitekter

Thorpeness, Sussex, England

London Aquatics Center 2012 by Zaha Hadid

London

Hobbit House by Simon Dale

Wales

Dresden Museum of Military History by Daniel Libeskind

Dresden, Germany

Diamond Arena by Atelier 11

Beijing, China

Hanging Village of Huaxi by A+E Design

Huaxi, Jiangsu Province, East China

Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre Pavilion by Snohetta

Hjerkinn on the outskirts of Dovrefjell National Park, Norway

Beekman Tower by Frank Gehry

New York, NY

Alligator House by Building Studio

New Orleans

Cite de I'Ocean et du Surf Museum by Steven Holl

Biarritz, France

Artist - Dale Chihuly

2012-01-01T15:16:00.010-05:00

You may recognize some of American glass blower and sculptor Dale Chihuly's work from the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Wikipedia - Dale Chihuly

Wal-Mart American Art Museum

2012-01-01T15:05:00.006-05:00

Wal-Mart heiress Alice Warton has opened Crystal Bridges, an American art museum in Bentonville, AR, home of Wal-Mart.

Crystal Bridges is

"a big, serious, confident, new institution with more than 50,000 square feet of gallery space and a collection worth hundreds of millions of dollars in a region almost devoid of art museums.

Much more than just a demonstration of what money can buy or an attempt to burnish a rich family’s name, Crystal Bridges is poised to make a genuine cultural contribution, and possibly to become a place of pilgrimage for art lovers from around the world."

New York Times - "Crystal Bridges, the Art Museum Walmart Money Built, Opens"
The New Yorker - "Alice's Wonderland"

Lebron James Engaged

2012-01-01T15:00:00.003-05:00

Above a instagramed photo of Lebron James proposing to longtime high school girlfriend and mother of his two children Savannah Brinson.

USA Today - "LeBron James, Savannah Brinson engaged"

Favorite LongReads of 2011

2011-12-25T16:41:00.002-05:00

Playing of the trending meme of #LongReads, below a list of my personal favorite stories of 2011.

The New Yorker - "Getting Bin Laden"

Nicholas Schmidle

The New York Times - "You Blow My Mind. Hey, Mickey!"

John Jeremiah Sullivan

Deadspin - "The Electric Dock Ellis Acid Test: An Attempt To Recreate His Drug-Addled No-Hitter; On Xbox"

A.J. Daulerio

Grantland - "The Greatest Paper That Ever Died"

Alex French and Howie Kahn

The New York Times - "Ultimate Fighting Dips a Toe Into the Mainstream"

Barry Bearak

GQ - "Blow-Up: An Oral History of Michael Bay, the Most Explosive Director of All Time"

Sean Fennessey

Grantland - "The Movie Star"

Bill Simmons

National Geographic Photos of 2011

2011-12-25T09:44:00.007-05:00

Click the below link to see all 15 winning photos in high resolution.

The Atlantic - "Winners of the National Geographic Photo Contest 2011"

Unrelated,

"[NPD in its Imaging Confluence Study] found that smartphones accounted for 27 percent of photos shot this year — last year, the number was 17 percent. Accordingly, photos shot with dedicated cameras dropped from 52 to 44 percent.

“There is no doubt that the smartphone is becoming ‘good enough’ much of the time; but thanks to mobile phones, more pictures are being taken than ever before,” NPD’s Liz Cutting said in a statement."

Famed celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz said that the iPhone is “the snapshot camera of today” and that it’s “accessible and easy” during a November appearance on NBC.

In June, the iPhone 4 surpassed the Nikon D90 and Canon EOS 5D Mark II as the top camera on Flickr."

Wired - "How Smartphones Are Changing Photography"

Warrior

2011-12-24T04:41:00.003-05:00

The movie to rent/buy this weekend.

"Best Surefire Crowd-Pleaser That Wasn't: Warrior
This one's failure to ignite with the great American male public is a mystery to all of us here at your favorite magazine. So just remember how Fight Club didn't do boffo business either before turning cult classic. Starring Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton as a modern-day Cain and Abel - not to mention Nick Nolte as their dad, a grim fraud midway between Adam and God - director Gavin O'Connor's mixed martial-arts lollapalooza was The Deer Hunter divided by Rocky and multiplied by East of Eden."

- Tom Carson GQ - "The Real Best Movies of the Year"

The GQ&A: Warrior Director Gavin O'Connor

Shakespeare Signature $3MM

2011-12-24T04:33:00.002-05:00

If Kanye tweets so.

HAZE x Heineken draught glass

2011-12-24T04:29:00.005-05:00

Drake + Lil Wayne + Tyga - "The Motto"

2011-12-24T04:25:00.001-05:00

A Young Money video for the Bay.

When are Kanye and Jay-Z going to make a second video for WTT?

Prometheus - Teaser Trailer

2011-12-23T07:27:00.003-05:00

Ridley Scott, the well known director of Blade Runner, Gladiator and the original Alien*, is directing Prometheus, a prequel of sorts to the original Alien scheduled for June 8, 2012 release and starring Noomi Rapace (the original Girl with a Dragon Tattoo), Michael Fassbender (of recent Shame fame), Guy Pearce and Charlize Theron.

*The Alien trilogy were directed by Ridley Scott, James Cameron and David Fincher respectively. Not a bad lineage.

The Weeknd - Echoes of Silence

2011-12-22T07:54:00.004-05:00

The third free mixtape by Toronto-based The Weeknd this year.

The Weeknd - "Echoes of Silence"

Previously on wda-

The Weeknd - "The Knowing"

Best NBA Dunks - Preseason

2011-12-21T07:55:00.003-05:00

The first best dunk of the preseason happened two nights ago. Fourth year player, 6 foot 11, DeAndre Jordan slammed home between the outstretched arms of Lakers Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

The Clippers are the slam dunking team to watch out for with the reigning NBA Slam Dunk champion Blake Griffin, D. Jordan and newly traded for best PG of the league, Chris Paul. The addition of Paul led to this reaction video of Griffin and Jordan celebrating and proclaiming their team as Lob City. (a.k.a. there will be many many alley oops)

The second best dunk of the preseason happened over the weekend in the NBA (preseason) debut of Timberwolves PG Ricky Rubio alley ooping to fellow rookie Derrick Williams.

Banksy - "Fallen"

2011-12-21T07:53:00.001-05:00

"Is it a statement about crumbling empires in the New World Order? A polemic against classical art forms? A general argument in favor of destroying the old to make way for the new?"

Freshness - "Banksy – “Fallen” Statue"

The Dark Knight Rises Trailer

2011-12-20T07:47:00.004-05:00

The first six/seven minutes of the movie can be watched in low-quality here (camera shot in theater). Note that even in its low equality it's epic and worth watching.

July 20, 2012.

Act of Valor

2011-12-18T16:12:00.001-05:00

"Act of Valor began as a recruitment video for the U.S. military's Naval Special Warfare Command. In 2007, Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh of Bandido Brothers Production filmed a video for the Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen which led the Navy to allow them to use SEALs for Act of Valor."

- Wikipedia - "Act of Valor"

Scheduled for a February 17, 2012 release.

Frank Ocean Shadow

2011-12-17T10:22:00.002-05:00

Frank Ocean in the December issue of L’Uomo Vogue.

via How To Talk To Girls At Parties

Previously on wda-

Music to Download

Frank Ocean - "Thinking About You"

Frank Ocean - "Swim Good"

Lana Del Rey - "Born To Die"

2011-12-17T10:18:00.002-05:00

Lana's debut major studio album, Born To Die, is scheduled for January 31, 2012 worldwide release.

Previously on wda-

Lana Del Rey - "Video Games"

JR - Los Angeles

2011-12-17T10:13:00.004-05:00

GQ captured French photograffeur and TED 2011 prize award winner JR's recent work in Los Angeles.

GQ - "Art Attack of the Year: JR in L.A."

Previously on wda-

Artist - JR

Artist - JR (TED video)

Website Original Designs

2011-12-17T10:09:00.004-05:00

Mashable has put together screenshots of what the world's biggest websites looked like when they first launched.

Above, the New York Times and Amazon site designs in 1996 and 1995 respectively. Click the below link to see the original Google, YouTube, Facebook, Yahoo and Twitter.

Mashable - "What the World’s Biggest Websites Looked Like at Launch"

U.S. Secret Military Programs

2011-12-17T10:02:00.003-05:00

The stealth helicopter that was used in the Osama Bin Laden raid, the spy drone plane that was brought down in Iran a week ago and 7 other secret military programs according to Wired.

Wired - "Space Planes, Psyops, Secret Prisons: 9 Secret Military Programs You Shouldn’t Know"

Banksy - "Cardinal Sin"

2011-12-15T16:29:00.002-05:00

BBC News - "Banksy unveils church abuse work"

"Cardinal Sin is a bust with its face sawn off and replaced by blank tiles, designed as a response to the child abuse scandal in the Catholic church.

In a statement, Banksy said: "I'm never sure who deserves to be put on a pedestal or crushed under one."

The sculpture was unveiled at the Walker Art Gallery [in Liverpool, England], where it is sitting alongside 17th Century religious art."

The Dictator

2011-12-15T11:33:00.002-05:00

Sacha Baron Cohen writes, produces and stars in The Dictator along with Ben Kingsley, John C. Reilly, Anna Faris and Megan Fox. In theaters May 11, 2012.

Banksy - London + Liverpool

2011-12-13T21:18:00.004-05:00

Three new Banksy pieces have been found in the U.K. the last few days. The first two were found in London and the last (the love plane) in Liverpool.

Hypebeast - "Banksy in Poplar, London"

Hypebeast - "Banksy at the National Gallery, London"

Hypebeast - "Banksy in Liverpool 'Love Plane'"

The Dark Knight Rises - Poster

2011-12-10T16:39:00.006-05:00

According to [Christopher] Nolan Fans, "A new trailer will debut next week at Digital IMAX showings of the new Mission Impossible, and in front of the new Sherlock Holmes. The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters on July 20, 2012."

And according to Fast Company, the previously reported 7-minute prologue that will be airing at chosen Digital IMAX theaters on Dec. 16 has "been shot thousands of feet in the air, where audiences can expect to encounter this installment's villain named Bane (played by Inception's Tom Hardy) and a plane that gets its wings plucked cleaner than a chicken."

P.T. Anderson's The Master

2011-12-10T16:00:00.005-05:00

BlackBook magazine posted the first behind-the-scene photos of the filming of Paul Thomas Anderson's next film, The Master, scheduled for a late 2012 release starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams.

Anderson and the cast have vehemontly denied the connection, but the story of The Master has alleged strong parallels (or is the same story) to the founding of Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard.

If you haven't, I suggest reading the New Yorker's February 2011 piece on Scientology that required 971 fact-checking question and answers and a solid week of meetings between the TNY's and the CoS's lawyers.

The New Yorker - "The Apostate"

Mapping the Greatest Journeys

2011-12-10T15:55:00.003-05:00

Good Magazine has created an interactive world map that explores "the greatest journeys" including Jack Kerouac's On the Road (above), the Lewis and Clark expedition, Columbus 1492, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart and the Orient Express among many more.

Good - "Wanderlust: GOOD traces the most famous trips in history"

Blake Lively's Art Collection

2011-12-10T15:51:00.002-05:00

Actress Blake Lively spoke with Artlog about her personal collection and beliefs in amassing art.

Artlog - "Inside Blake Lively's Art Collection"

Tennis - "Origins"

2011-12-10T15:42:00.001-05:00

Gorilla vs. Bear

The Guardian

Dancing through the ages

2011-12-09T07:17:00.001-05:00

The World's Best Ever

Will Ferrell Makes Free Ads for Old Milwaukee

2011-12-06T23:07:00.002-05:00

"Back in September, Will Ferrell approached the Pabst Brewing Co. and asked if he could shoot a series of ads for Old Milwaukee, for no charge. The company said yes. Three spots are now running in local TV ad buys in the Davenport, Iowa, area, and they are hilarious."

Business Insider - "These Ads Will Ferrell Made For Old Milwaukee Will Be Huge"

Taiwan Tower

2011-12-06T22:59:00.007-05:00

The 1,000 foot tall steel structure (the same height as the Eiffel Tower) designed by Tokyo-based architect Sou Fujimoto is, according to Wikipedia, "a futuristic tower planned for construction in Taichung,Taiwan. It will be over 300 meters high, and have eight "Blimps" that carry people to the top of the tower. It will resemble a tree trunk, with the blimps resembling leaves. The "leaves" will be able to carry up to 80 people at a time. Construction is planned to begin in 2012. Its design is supposed to be eco- friendly, using natural ventilation, and dome light for basements and museums."

Gizmodo - "This May Be the Most Surreal Building Ever Created"

Ho Chi Minh City

2011-12-06T22:55:00.002-05:00

Beautiful time-lapse video by photographer Rob Whitworth.

PSFK - "Mesmerizing City Traffic Patterns As Never Seen Before"

Air - "Seven Stars"

2011-12-06T22:49:00.005-05:00

NME - "Air collaborate with Beach House's Victoria Legrand on new song - audio"

French music duo Air were commissioned back in 2010 "to provide a new soundtrack to a hand coloured version of Georges Méliès 1902 silent film Le Voyage Dans La Lune (Journey To The Moon).

Discovered in 1993, the coloured print was restored and premiered this year at the Cannes Film Festival in France, with Air's soundtrack. Air decided to extend the soundtrack into a full album, which as well as Legrand, features vocals from Au Revoir Simone.

The album, 'La Voyage Dans La Lune', is due for release on February 6, 2012."

You may recognize the name George Méliès as the character Ben Kingsley portrayed in Martin Scorsese's new film Hugo.

Grand Theft Auto III Mobile

2011-12-06T22:44:00.004-05:00

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Grand Theft Auto III, Rockstar Games will be releasing the original Playstation 2 game for iPhone and Android phones on Dec. 15 for $4.99.

Mashable - "Coming Soon to Your Smartphone: Grand Theft Auto III for $5"

Heisman Finalists

2011-12-06T22:37:00.004-05:00

Neither the ESPN.com voting public nor ESPN analysts agree, but my (non-counting) vote goes to LSU true sophomore cornerback, punt returner and all-around game changer, no. 7, Tyrann Mathieu, a.k.a. "the Honey Badger."

ESPN - "Richardson tops solid Heisman quintet"

The 26-million-time-viewed original honey badger video

$100,000 High Line Billboard

2011-12-06T05:58:00.002-05:00

The art installation/billboard canvas on 18th Street next to the High Line now features the Woodrow Wilson $100,000 US bill thanks to artist John Baldessari.

Fast Company - "Sign Of The Times: John Baldessari Erects Fake $100,000 Bill At The High Line"

Heineken BeerFriender

2011-12-06T05:56:00.001-05:00

App goes live on Wednesday at Facebook.com/Heineken.

Mashable - "Most Ridiculous Facebook App of the Week: Heineken BeerFriender [VIDEO]"

TDKR Prologue 12/16

2011-12-06T05:50:00.004-05:00

On December 16, select IMAX theaters playing Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol will screen the opening sequence/prologue to this summer's The Dark Knight Rises.

Click here to see the theater list.

Above, Christian Bale as Batman and Tom Hardy as Bane. And, below, Anne Hathaway as Catwoman.

Art Basel 2011

2011-12-04T17:28:00.002-05:00

Check out reviews and many more pictures from this year's international contemporary art fair, Art Basel, held in Miami this past weekend at -

Juxtapoz

The World's Best Ever

The New York Times

Miniatur Wunderland

2011-12-03T08:04:00.002-05:00

"Miniatur Wunderland (German for miniature wonderland) is a model railway attraction in Hamburg, Germany and the largest of its kind in the world."
-Wikipedia

Gizmodo - "The World’s Largest Model Railroad Adds the World’s Largest Model Airport"

The Throne at the Victoria Secret Show

2011-11-30T20:38:00.001-05:00

Jay-Z and Kanye West performing "______ in Paris" during last night's Victoria Secret Show.

Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln

2011-11-30T20:31:00.003-05:00

The first photo of Daniel Day-Lewis in hair/makeup as Abraham Lincoln appeared on Twitter today as a Richmond, VA resident caught him at a local restaurant.

The Steven Spielberg-directed biography film is being shot now for a Winter 2012 release.

Nike Zoom KD IV "Weatherman"

2011-11-30T20:25:00.006-05:00

"Paying tribute to Kevin Durant’s fascination with his second career choice as a weatherman, Nike Basketball officially unveils the “Weatherman” edition of KD’s fourth signature design, the Nike Zoom KD IV. A bold green upper representing a green screen, thermo-mapping scans of Kevin’s actual footprint on the outsole."

Available Dec. 10 at Foot Locker House of Hoops locations.

Hypebeast - "Nike Zoom KD IV “Weatherman”

Also, check out the KD IV "Nerf."

So happy the NBA is on its way back

2011-11-29T22:51:00.001-05:00

Kevin Durant, J Cole and Sam Cooke in this Nike ad.

7 Billion

2011-11-29T20:36:00.002-05:00

Click image to enlarge.

Visualization-information firm Fathom created 'Dencity' to show where our world population lives now at seven billion. Colors get lighter and dots get smaller the denser the population.

Fast Company - "Infographic of the Day: A Strange, Brilliant Map Of The World's Population"

Basketball vs. Football

2011-11-29T07:39:00.003-05:00

"But here is the tricky part for the N.B.A. as it moves forward with its most potent teams inhabiting the glamour markets of Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Boston, Dallas and possibly soon New York: Will the sport ultimately benefit or bomb without superteams playing deep into June?

Professional football — wildly popular as metaphorical war, manned by costumed foot soldiers — is seldom marketed as a game of stars or even as a showdown of cities. It is primarily about Cowboys and Giants, Steelers and Ravens."

New York Times - "Parity, Great for N.F.L., May Hurt N.B.A."

Lego Christmas Tree

2011-11-29T07:33:00.003-05:00

After two months of construction, the LEGO Christmas tree in London's St. Pancras Station is finally complete.

"The project utilizes 600,000 LEGO bricks to compose 172 branches and 1,200 Christmas balls, all of which make up a 10-meter festive installation."

DesignBOOM - "LEGO christmas tree in london"

A$AP Rocky + Crew Selector Freestyles

2011-11-29T07:22:00.003-05:00

New York rapper ASAP Rocky and his collective group ASAP appeared on Pitchfork.tv's Selector show yesterday.

Selector, hosted by Larry Fitzmaurice, is like the 2011 version of Rap City the Basement. Each episode features an interview and then each featured rapper is offered two beats to perform a "freestyle." Varying from the old BET show though each episode's setting is different. Anywhere from a stoop or bodega in Brooklyn to a laser tag place in Queens.

Click here to see previous episodes of Selector with freestyles from the Clipse, Big Boi, Das Rascist, Lil B, Curren$y and more.

McDonald's French Fry Billboard

2011-11-29T07:18:00.003-05:00

Chicago creative agency Leo Burnett came up with the light up French Fry billboard that will stand in Chicago, on North Clark and West Ontario, until December 8.

PSFK - "Chicago Billboard Beams Lights That Resemble McDonald’s Fries [Pics]"

Innovation

2011-11-26T17:02:00.004-05:00

"America–the country that invented the modern assembly line, the skyscraper, the airplane, and the personal computer–has lost its belief in the future.

[Peter] Thiel thinks that Americans who are beguiled by mere gadgetry have forgotten how expansive technological change can be. He looks back at the fifties and sixties, the heyday of popularized science and technology in this country, as a time when visions of a radically different future was commonplace."

- New Yorker - "Peter Thiel's Rise to Wealth and Libertarian Futurism"

Phones Intervening in Life

2011-11-25T15:28:00.004-05:00

"Idea Wizard" (-FastCo) Renny Gleeson, Global director of digital strategies, Wieden+Kennedy.

The Weeknd - "The Knowing"

2011-11-25T14:10:00.002-05:00

The first music video from Toronto native Abel Tesfaye.

Vice TV

2011-11-25T14:01:00.003-05:00

"Taste merchant" (-FastCo) Shane Smith, cofounder of ViceMedia, is currently working with HBO and Bill Mahrer to produce a "younger" 60 Minutes.

"Programming could include segments on topics ranging from slave labor in the Sudan or wars in the Congo to domestic issues such as America's methamphetamine epidemic."

"Vice TV" could air on HBO as soon as next fall, he said, although Vice will likely have to shoot a pilot before HBO agrees to air the series."

WSJ - "Vice, HBO Develop New Show for 'Young People'"

Jay Gastby, Daisy Buchanan and Nick Carraway

2011-11-24T01:48:00.005-05:00

The first photos from Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge)'s The Great Gatsby filming in Australia above and below.

December 2012.

Banksy - Shop till you Drop

2011-11-24T01:17:00.002-05:00

New unconfirmed Banksy in London.

Juxtapoz - "NEW BANKSY IN LONDON?"

Stanley Kubrick Photography

2011-11-24T01:07:00.005-05:00

Before he was making legendary films, Stanley Kubrick was a photographer for Look Magazine in NYC.

VandM.com is currently selling prints of these formerly unearthed Kubrick's photos. Click here to see many more.

Artist - JR (TED video)

2011-11-22T22:05:00.001-05:00

French artist JR