COOL! www.eternalmoonwalk.com

A cool online tribute to MJ, www.eternalmoonwalk.com - enjoy!

Thanks to Oliver Oike for posting this to the GDC Listserve - cheers!

COOL! Marian Bantjes - Empathy Penny...

Marian Bantjes' Empathy Penny. Obtained during my recent trip in Toronto and brought back as souvenirs for my design colleagues at Circle (much to their delight - see Rob's News+ post, here).

Read more about this cool project on Marian's website at http://www.bantjes.com/ - cheers!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Morales...

Congratulations my friends! All the best wishes as you embark on this next chapter of your lives together... cheers!

COOL! Rorschach Inkblots...

A recent article over on the Globe and Mail, brought to my attention the existence of Rorschach's original inkblot images on Wikipedia. These inkblots of the Rorschach test were printed in Rorschach's Rorschach Test - Psychodiagnostic Plates (Hogrefe, 1927, ISBN: 3-456-82605-2). They've been in the public domain in Hermann Rorschach's native Switzerland, since at least 1992 (70 years after his death), according to Swiss copyright law. They're also in the public domain under United States copyright law (based on when they were first created and published - before 1923).


The images were scanned and posted to Wikipedia along with the most frequent responses for either the whole image or the most prominent detail (according to Samuel Beck). This, as the article in the Globe and Mail details, has prompted some interesting response (like numerous websites/blogs now hosting the images + common responses) and protest... read the article over at the Globe and Mail - here.


What do you think? Was the poster of the images 'in the wrong' or should the protesters just deal with it? ;)

In any case, I think the inkblots are cool, and recommend that you check them out if you've never seen them before, visit the posting on Wikipedia, or check them out on my Flickr (Rorschach Inkblots set) - enjoy!

Recommended Viewing | GOOD Transparencies Archive...

A recent query on the GDC Listserve for books discussing the topic of information graphics inspired me to post a link to the GOOD Magazine Transparencies Archive set on Flickr

The kind folks over at GOOD Magazine, whom I've blogged about previously on MUHSASHUM, here, never cease to impress with their handling of complex information in graphical formats.

Well, I'm an obvious fan, so this set on Flickr is pure 'eye-candy' to me... ;D check out the GOOD Magazine Transparencies Archive set on Flickr, here - enjoy!

If you're still interested in books about information graphics, I'd recommend you check out the works of Edward Tufte - cheers!

COOL! Canada Post Recording Artists Stamps...

It's not very often that I blog about the work I do at Circle - for reasons of security, confidentiality, etc... but I'm making an exception with this post. ;)

Today, Canada Post released the second set of the Canadian Recording Artists stamps. Circle designed the previous series a few years back, which was a great success. I'm very proud to say that I had the privilege of working on this series. Featured artists include Robert Charlebois, Édith Butler, Bryan Adams and Stompin' Tom Connors...


...the stamp series was featured in the latest edition of Details magazine, Canada Post's quarterly publication for stamp collectors. You can view some pix of the article on my Flickr, here - or even better, read it online, here - enjoy!

Additional information regarding the project can be found on Circle's News+ section of the website, here.

Here are some additional links to stories in the media regarding the release:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/arts-and-letters-and-stamps/article1202400/

http://www.radio-canada.ca/arts-spectacles/musique/2009/06/29/001-timbre-charlebois-butler.asp

http://www.spinner.ca/2009/06/23/bryan-adams-honored-with-his-own-stamp/

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Canada-Post-1012337.html

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/putting-its-stamp-on-canada-49922632.html

COOL! Book Cover Archive...

A very cool and handy website to share, www.bookcoverarchive.com - is a website dedicated to the appreciation and categorization of excellence in book cover design (all covers are the copyright of their respective publishers).

Browse covers via designer, book title, genre, etc., - go and check it out for yourself at http://www.bookcoverarchive.com/ - enjoy!

Thanks to Ian MacCausland and Rob Peters for the link! Cheers!

May the 4th Be With You - Happy Star Wars Day...

(WARNING: Video may not be suitable for minors and is potentially NSFW - view at your own discretion)

Apparently, today is Star Wars Day... or, one of many Star Wars days/events which honours the epic Star Wars franchise. Well, in light of that fact, I offer you the above Youtube video, originally seen on Gizmodo.

May the 4th be with you... ;) Cheers!

Antique Road Trip...

This past Saturday, I attempted to go see the Marilyn Monroe: Life as a Legend exhibition at the WAG with good friends, James, Doug and Raelene. Unfortunately for us, we were a bit late in arriving, and opted to visit the Forks Market instead.

For those of you who are familiar with Winnipeg and the Forks, you can see in the picture above, the river walk is completely invisible, covered by a thick (and rising) layer of ice. Flood worries are definitely running high as the ice 'jams and dams.'


We ended up exploring the Antique Mall located on the lower level of the Johnston Terminal. It's quite an interesting place to say the least...


I've always enjoyed classic pop bottles... for nostalgic reasons perhaps? I wonder what Snow White pop actually was? I'm guessing cream soda? I wonder if it was actually white like Calpis or Calpico (a Japanese beverage).


James offered $10 to anyone who would drink this (after signing a waiver of liability that is)... ;)


Doug aka The Orange Kid, posing with his Elvis shades amongst the Elvis antiques(?)...


One of the more interesting finds was this creepy, Colonel Sanders statue/bank (enhanced creepiness via Photoshop). It was immediately dubbed the 'Why so serious?' Colonel (ala Dark Knight - Joker).

View the rest of the pics from my antique road trip on my Flickr, here - enjoy! Cheers!

Life is...

Crazy.

Apologies for the radio silence... but, things have been crazy as of late. I hope to be retuning to more regular postings soon... stay tuned! ;)

In the meantime, here's a little music video treat (a favourite of mine), Crazy by Gnarls Barkley, watch the embedded video above or check it out, here - via Google Video.

Cheers!

Recommended Viewing | The American Package Museum...

If you're a fan of nostalgia or packaging, I highly recommend that you take the time to visit The American Package Museum... where curator, Ian House has taken his personal collection of early 20th century packages and created an online gallery/archive to share with everyone.


There are some really neat old packages in this gallery, it's interesting to recognize some familiar brands and see how they've evolved... check it out at http://www.packagemuseum.com/ - cheers!

COOL! Helbotica by Jonathan Yule...

Digging through a folder of bookmarks on my desktop the other day (labeled 2B_Blogged), I came across this little gem... Helbotica by Jonathan Yule is one in a series of Font-Bots, typographic illustrations based on his favorite san-serif typefaces. Very cool IMO... see the rest on his website at http://www.invdr.com/ - enjoy!

Gung Hei Fat Choy! Sun Lein Fai Lok!

Gung Hei Fat Choy! Sun Lein Fai Lok!
Happy Chinese New Year!

The Lion Dance is a part of traditional Chinese New Year festivities. If the dance is done correctly, it's believed to bring happiness and luck, and will ward off evil spirits. The amateur video footage embedded above (from YouTube user, ghodax), was shot in Victoria, BC a couple of years back during their Chinese New Year celebrations. I doubt that they'll be having any Lion Dance celebrations outdoors in Winnipeg today as it's a balmy, -40 degrees celsius (with the wind chill).

2009 marks the year of the Earth Ox. May the Year of the Ox bring all humanity, good health, peace, love and happiness - cheers!

Wicked! Blue Vertigo...

Another wicked link to share (at least for creatives)... Blue Vertigo is an online archive of web design resource links. The links are vast and varied, covering topics such as fonts, stock photos, vector artwork, logotypes, Photoshop brushes, icons, 3D Poser downloads, colour tools, text generators, patterns, sounds and design contests (whew!).

Definitely worth a look (or bookmark) IMO. Check it out for yourself at http://www.bluevertigo.com.ar/ - enjoy!

Thanks to 'Segun Olude for sharing this awesome link via the GDC Listserve - cheers!

Recommended Viewing | Dinosaur Dynasty...

This past weekend I had the opportunity to visit the Manitoba Museum to check out the Dinosaur Dynasty exhibit. Excerpt from the Manitoba Museum website:

Get ready for a Jurassic experience when Dinosaur Dynasty: Discoveries from China opens on November 20th. This immense, large-scale exhibit from China features over 20 full size dinosaur skeletons, fossil dinosaur eggs that are millions of years old, and a dino dig pit for kids. Dinosaur Dynasty is open during regular Museum hours.

I found the exhibit to be quite interesting... the scale of some of the dinosaur skeletons was rather surprising...


...ranging from poodle size...


...to the size of a small building.


The velociraptor was quite a bit smaller than I expected... though I still wouldn't want to be chained to a bunkbed with one. ;)

It's great to be able to see such a diverse range of dinosaur skeletons/fossils on display in the city and I applaud the Manitoba Museum for doing so! I highly recommend that you check it out while you can... visit the Manitoba Museum online to learn more, here - cheers!


Images from my visit to Dinosaur Dynasty can be found on my Flickr account in my Zoos, Museums, Aquariums, more... set, here - enjoy!

Recommended Viewing | LIFE Photo Archive hosted by Google...

An awesome link to share today... excerpt from the website: search millions of photographs from the LIFE photo archive , stretching from the 1750s to today. Most were never published and are now available for the first time through the joint work of LIFE and Google.

To awesome for words to describe. You have to check it out for yourself! Goto http://images.google.com/hosted/life - enjoy!

Thanks to Dean McNeil, MGDC for posting the link to the GDC Listserve - cheers!

COOL! Hot Toys Joker...

About a week back I received a parcel in the mail from my sister in Hong Kong. Inside was the Hot Toys 1/6th scale Joker figure from the Dark Knight Batman movie... needless to say I was blown away! I've finally had the opportunity to open it...


The attention to detail on this figure, and it's accessories is second to none... sadly, I don't think my pics can do the real thing justice. It's truly one quality piece!


Why so serious?... ;)


I've uploaded pics from the un-boxing to my Flickr account. If you're interested you can see them, here - enjoy!

Thanks Sis!

COOL! Car Logos Quiz...

A great little bit of fun, Car Logos Quiz... guess the automotive logo with just a part of it showing. Try it out for yourself, here.


I ended up with 45/50, and I totally guessed on a few of them. ;)

Thanks to Marie-Aline Oliver for posting the link to the GDC Listserve - cheers!

Wicked! Poladroid...

A really neat link to share today, via Tina Roth Eisenberg over at swissmiss, from her blog post:

Poladroid - a polaroid image maker:
1. Download the free POLADROID application and launch it
2. Drag & Drop your photos
3. Wait... wait.... wait again... or shake the picture. Then look at or print your POLADROID picture.

It's an awesome little application IMO. You can even save the image in the various stages of 'poladroid' development. I've embedded the official demonstration video below. Go check it out for yourself at http://www.poladroid.net/ - enjoy!

Official POLADROID demo video - v0.9.5
Uploaded by paul_ladroid

Thanks for the link Tina! My first few 'Poladroid' attempts have been collected in a new set called My Poladroids... on my Flickr account. Check out what other people are doing via the be Poladroid! group pool on Flickr, here - cheers!

Image: 'Messing around with the Godfather', created from a picture taken at Madame Tussauds Interactive Wax Museum in Las Vegas... me thinks I'm going to have lots of fun with 'Poladroid'.

Viva Las Vegas...

For anyone who may be interested, I've uploaded pictures from my recent trip to Las Vegas, Nevada to my Flickr account. Vegas is one crazy place... from the vastness of the hotels and attached shops, to the crazy variety of shows, casinos and entertainment for all. I'd recommend visiting at least once in a lifetime... ;)


Highlights from the trip for me, aside from checking out the vast variety of shops inside the casino/hotel resorts included (above image: The giant wooden 'Trojan' horse at the entrance to F.A.O. Schwartz toy store inside the Caesars Palace shops):


The Shark Reef exhibit at the Mandalay Bay...


...where we saw all types of cool sharks and aquatic/marine life.


Visiting Madame Tussauds Interactive Wax Museum, which was a total blast! ;)


While we were there, we also had the opportunity to see Ka: Cirque du Soleil (at MGM Grand), which was awesome and the Bodies Exhibition (at the Luxor). It was quite an experience to say the least! My only complaint (if any), all the second-hand smoke... ugh.

View my Viva Las Vegas photo set on my Flickr account, here - enjoy!