Faile Temple

Stick 2 Target has an intriguing article on the creation of the Faile Temple in a public square in Lisbon Portugal. This beautifully made and incredibly bizarre structure, created by the street art collective Faile, is absolutely dripping with surreal imagery and cultural messages. I'd love to see it in person!

The V-8 Hotel

Auto Motto has an article on the V-8 Hotel in the Meilenwerk Stuttgart in Germany. This luxurious hotel features 34 rooms, each of which is decorated with a different theme related to cars and travel. Filled with furnishings made of cars and parts, this unique hotel offers a whimsical stay for auto enthusiasts.

Sistine Chapel VR

Want to visit the Sistine Chapel, but can't get to Italy? This online VR 360 degree photograph allows to to pan in all directions and zoom-in to the minutest details. It's a view you could never see in person.

The Art of David Leventi

David Leventi is a photographer who has traveled the world to capture stunning images of famous opera houses in an effort to historically document these cultural landmarks. He has photographed each house systematically from the spot at center stage to reveal the view of the performers.

Tangga House by Guz Architects

Trends Now has images of the Tangga House in Singapore. Created by Guz Architects this stunning home is open to the elements, and features an amazing pool that can be seen into from the outer glass walls and from the lounge of the lower level.

The Art of Charles Ray and Robert Therrien

Phase 1-0 assisted artists Charles Ray and Robert Therrien in creating these absolutely fabulous giant versions of everyday objects. They are currently showing in several US galleries and I expect we'll see more of their work in the future.

Look Listen Feel

This is a lovely music video for the song "Look Listen Feel" by the Maple Mountain Sunburst Triolian Orchestra. The text was written by Laura Archera Huxley, widow of Aldous Huxley, and the elegant narration is by Isabella Rossellini.

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Wind Power Ltd. is a UK company that has designed a completely new wind turbine called the Aerogenerator X. The 885-foot-wide structures will be placed offshore and can generate twice the power of previous turbine designs.

A New Transportation Icon for Great Britain

Priestman Goode is a design firm which aims to uphold the legacies of Rolls Royce and the Concorde with its' stunning design for the new double-decker Mercury train. Featuring one of the most extreme extended noses in the world, and light-filled luxurious interiors, this high speed train design hopes to champion British design and engineering.

The Art of Suren Manvelyan

Suren Manvelyan is an Armenian photographer who, aside from being a wonderful photojournalist, takes some amazing macro photographs. His images of human eyes are absolutely amazing, and reveal textures and folds that you never knew existed!

The Art of Karen LaMonte

If It's Hip It's Here has an article about the cast gowns of glass artist Karen LaMonte. She studied at the Rhode Island School of Design, and received a Fullbright Fellowship to study and work in the Czech Republic. Though cast from a seemingly cold material, LaMonte is able to convey the light and diaphanous quality of draped fabric and the subtle beauty of the female form.

The (relentlessly cheerful) Art of James Hance

James Hance is a Muppet and Star Wars fan, and a talented painter. His self proclaimed "Relentlessly Cheerful Art" mixes pop cultural references, classic paintings, and wit which results in images that are sure to make you giggle.

Turkish Ice Cream Seller

This is a funny video of some poor Japanese tourist trying to buy an ice cream cone in Istanbul. The seller is quite the juggler.

The Art of Alvaro Sanchez-Montanes

Alvaro Sanchez-Montanes is a Spanish photographer who has tried to document the ghost towns around the abandoned diamond mines of Namibia. The images of the Namib desert encroaching on disused spaces are eerily post-apocalyptic.

Lagoa Multiphysics Engine

This video is a demonstration of the new Lagoa Multiphysics rendering engine. The computer generated effects of dirt, particles, water, fabric, etc. are jaw dropping and will lead to new computer model studies of erosion etc. I'm sure we can expect some new movie special effects too.

Was our universe born inside a black hole?

io9 has a fascinating article about a new theory by Nikodem Poplawski of Indiana University, who's latest paper attempts to explain the conflict between the expansion of the universe and Einstein's general relativity theory. A very interesting read.

House in Amsterdam by i29

Mocoloco has pictures of a private house in Amsterdam designed by the firm i29. Though all the laser cut wackiness is interesting, it's really the subtle use of materials and the exquisite finish details that make this home so gorgeous. The cutting edge design does not detract for the serenity of the place.

Booze Under a Microscope

Geekologie features these images created by Lester Hutt, who places drops of alcoholic beverages onto slides, lets them dry out until the carbohydrates crystalize into sugars, then photographs them under a microscope. The image above is pina colada.

Apple Store, Opéra

The French Apple site has images of Apple's new store in Paris, and it's their most gorgeous store ever! Foregoing their usual metal and glass interiors, they kept the original bank's interior, which creates a stunning backdrop for their minimalist fixtures. When you get to the site, click the "Plus de photos" button.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-cell Gullwing

Not Cot has images of the new Mercedes-Benz prototype. The SLS AMG E-cell is an all-electric sports car featuring their classic gull-wing doors. It's slated to be available in 2013.

Cardon Copy

Artist Cardon Webb is doing some very interesting work. He finds handmade flyers and signs, that people have posted on telephone poles etc., redesigns them, then posts them in their original locations. Surely the new versions gain more attention; I wonder if they improve the results?

Marina Skypark by Moshe Safdie

Design Boom has an article about architect Moshe Safdie's skypark that just opened at the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore. It's an amazing structure that spans the roofs of three towers, and features an "edgeless" pool that allows guests to swim high above the skyline. Zowie!

Catalog Living

Catalog Living is an amusing site where people take the overly staged images from catalogs, and write a caption for it commenting on the lives of the people who supposedly live there. For example: the caption for the above image is "Elaine wasn't about to let some hot flashes get in the way of balancing the checkbook with the abacus.

Have You Seen This Newspaper?

Slash Film has an interesting collection of images from many movies and television shows featuring the same newspaper prop. It's interesting that there is a single royalty free prop that is used whenever a newspaper is needed for a scene. What's more interesting is that someone figured this out and searched for examples!

Speaking of Pencil Art

Crooked Brains has a short blurb on a Brazilian-born artist named Dalton, who spends vast amounts of time carving the lead in pencils into tiny works of art. He may be insane, but the pencil he carved a chain out of the middle is absolutely remarkable!

The Art of Paul Lung

Environmental Graffiti has posted some of the incredible animal drawings of artist Paul Lung. Yes! These are pencil drawings not photographs! Truly amazing skill. If you follow the link to Lung's image collection, you will also see lots of drawings of cats, and lots of portraits of people (which aren't as interesting).

1930's Matches

Entronica has images of someone's flea market find; a collection of lovely matchbooks from the 1930's. The clever details are just wonderful. All promoting nightclubs or product brands.

Wonder What a Solar Flare Sounds Like?

Professor Robertus von Fay-Siebenburgen, of Sheffield University, has converted the magnetic loops, that vibrate on our sun, into sound waves. Click play to hear what a solar flare sounds like.

Cookie Monster VS Coffee Maker

This is some very early Muppetry; Cookie Monster even has teeth and nails! This typically absurd little skit should make you laugh.

Physalia

Physalia is a concept created by Vincent Callebaut Architectures. This floating garden produces more energy than it uses and is designed to clean the waterways on which it sails. The vision is that rivers all over Europe could have these whale shaped vessels cleaning their polluted waters making it drinkable. Fascinating!

The Art of Alexandre Farto

Trends Now features the work of young Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto. His series "Walls - Scratching the Surface" is a collection of murals created by hammering and carving into the layers of various walls using the language of stencil artists. I especially love the way he leaves the chipped remains at the foot of the piece.

Nuit Blanche

This film explores a fleeting moment between two strangers, and it's a true work of art! The incredible super slow motion filming, amazing special effects, and the overall style and design make this exquisite short a must see!

The End

Another wonderful animated short about a scarecrow who is tried for treason because he makes friends with a magpie. Strange and creepy yet ultimately touching. I love happy endings!

The Lady and The Reaper

This short movie by Javeir Recio Gracia is just wonderful! An old woman dies and her doctor and the Grim Reaper battle for her soul. It's quite silly and wonderfully animated.

K.D. Lang sings Hallelujah

I love K.D. Lang, and I love Leonard Cohen. This performance from the 2005 Juno Awards in Winnipeg is a tour de force!

Rotating Kitchen

This somewhat interesting art piece, created by Zeger Reyers, was first put into motion during the opening of an exhibition called "Eating the Universe" held at the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Germany. It's fun to watch for a few minutes.

German Loft by GRAFT

If It's Hip It's Here has posted images of a modern loft created by GRAFT for a client in Hamburg Germany. The centralized kitchen module defines the spacial arrangement for the rest of the large loft. I find the interesting use of geometry and materials to be quite stunning.

La Corde á Linge

Pixiome has some images of a new cafe in France named La Corde á Linge; or The Clothesline. Interior and graphic designers worked in tandem to create this charming "wash day" themed brasserie. I love how its' overall simplicity is enriched by lovely details throughout.

Wilkinson Residence

Green Diary has images of the Wilkinson Residence; an amazing sort of tree house in Portland Oregon. The spacial organization flows like music and is built with the finest craftsmanship. A startling yet completely livable home.

The Art of Matthew Albanese

Artist Matthew Albanese has a series of work called "Strange Worlds". His small scaled and incredibly detailed models are made from everyday items, such as the chocolate and paprika Mars landscape shown above. He uses forced perspectives and other photographic techniques to create a sense of vastness though the models are only a couple of feet deep. His work is worth the look.

LittleDog Robot

I've posted about Boston Dynamics BIGDOG robot, and now the University of Southern California has been perfecting the smaller version called LittleDog. This robot is truly amazing; and scary! With autonomous navigation and sensory systems, this little guy can traverse a variety of unexpected terrains with ease. Though I'm awed by the advancements in robotic technology, I'm also a bit concerned that they'll be coming after us soon!

Aircruise Hydrogen Airship Concept

The Design Blog has images from the London-based design company Seymourpowell's new concept in air travel. Their "Clipper in the Clouds" is a cross between a ship and a floating hotel which can move passengers in total luxury, while leaving no carbon footprint.

The Art of Phillip Toledano

Artist Phillip Toledano has created a portrait series of people who have undergone "extreme" plastic surgery. On his website he asks "Is beauty informed by contemporary culture? By history? Or is it defined by the surgeon's hand?" Toledano's images transform what might be seen as "freakish", into gorgeous portraits; reminds me a bit of JP Witkin.

The Story of Stuff

Here's an ecological lesson for us all. Annie Leonard takes us on a journey that examines the global impacts of the "stuff" we consume; from extraction through sale, use and disposal, and the cultural morays that cause us to consume in the first place. A very well made educational video that should be watched by everyone.

The Known Universe

This video was created by the American Museum of Natural History and is based on the most complete four-dimensional map of the universe. Every star, planet, and quasar is derived from astronomical data collected to date. Get ready to feel insignificant!

Hail Storm in Oklahoma City

My husband often tells me that Californians don't really know what storms are. This video would support that statement. A family videotapes a May 2010 Oklahoma storm in which golf ball sized hail stones turn their pool into a roiling hell! Amazing and frightening at the same time.

Rotary Phone Sheep

Inhabitat has images of the amazing sheep created by artist Jean Luc Cornec as displayed at the Museum of Communications in Frankfurt. Each member of the large flock is made from old rotary phone parts. The deft posing of each sheep makes them seem all the more naturalistic. Lovely work!

A Tool to Deceive and Slaughter

A Tool to Deceive and Slaughter is the amazing creation of artist Caleb Larsen. This simple acrylic box has a single port to connect it to the internet, at which point the box lists itself for sale on Ebay. Purchasers must agree to connect the piece to the internet, and when it sells again, they must give it up. The price, of course, continues to rise, and the artist gets a small percentage from each sale. Absolutely brilliant!

Most Beautiful Mushrooms

Fizzy Energy has some lovely pictures of mushrooms. Unfortunately, they don't provide any names or information on each species, but still they're amazing to look at. I doubt any of them are edible.

Subway Architecture

Design Boom has a wonderful collection of images from subway systems around the world. Subways play such an important role in cities, and convey the cultural aesthetics of their built environments. Shown above is the Tunnelbana of Stockholm.