Out of The Strong

McChesney Architects has just completed their "intervention" in the atrium of the Angel Building in London. The title and form of the piece are both references to tinned treacle. It's an interesting sculpture/bench in an otherwise austere space.

Yunak Evleri Hotel

Inhabitat has a slideshow of Turkey's most incredible five star hotel. The Yunak Evleri Hotel is made from five converted 6th century cave dwellings, and a 19th century Greek mansion. Guests stay in ancient caves appointed with 18th century Ottoman antiques and all the modern conveniences. It's very expensive, but I'd like to stay there someday.

The Wood and Ceramic Furniture of Yoncho Cao and Kesem Yahav

Reflexdeco has a few images of some lovely furnishings made by cabinet maker Yoncho Cao and ceramicist Kesem Yahav; both based in Amsterdam. They've designed some beautiful contemporary peices.

Inside the San Francisco U.S. Mint

Haighteration, a blog about the Lower Haight district of San Francisco, was granted access to the U.S. Mint building which is usually closed to the public. It's a wonderful article with some nice images of the interior. No photos of the minting equipment though.

SFMTA Replacing Muni Tracks

Ken Murphy set up a time-lapse camera in the window of his Church and 30th Streets apartment, and captured workers of the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority replacing tracks for MUNI commuter trains. He's condensed three and a half days of work into about twelve fascinating minutes. It's really worth watching all the way through. I've watched it twice.

Stairway to Heaven

i09 has this amazing video of an engineer with a helmet mounted camera free climbing a radio tower that's over 1,700 feet tall. It's scary, but fascinating to watch. (not for those with acrophobia!)

1950's Housewife takes LSD

After reading Aldous Huxley's mescaline inspired book 'The Doors of Perception', researcher Dr. Sidney Cohen began testing LSD as a potential mental health treatment. This woman was one of the many volunteers he dosed at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Los Angeles. I especially like that she's interviewed in a "normal" state, then filmed as she tries to describe her experience. Weirdly charming in a way.

My Little Piece of Privacy

Niklas Roy's office window looks out onto a busy sidewalk. He wanted privacy but didn't want to lose his window view. With a surveillance camera, an old laptop, and some servo motors he created a "smart" curtain that detects passersby, and moves the small curtain panel to block their view into the office. Because it's so quirky, it actually attracts MORE attention to his office window. It's pretty cute.

Woman Destroys Her Mercedes

While watching this, one has to wonder "what is this woman thinking?" After rear ending another car, she tries to make her getaway, only to become snagged by the bollard she's run over. She keeps trying though, and causes a lot of damage. Ineptitude is funny!

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.