Mirrored. Battles. See + Hear = Nice.

Nice video collaboration from the NYC band Battles and UVA (United Visual Artists). Using a visual medium to compliment a sound track sound easy - but just try it and see if you can make it look good.

Proteck yo' deck....

Sweatshop free doesn't mean sweat free. Especially if you're a model.

American Apparel. The indie darling of the fashion set. A brand able to push the boundaries of good taste and walk the fine line between sexual energy and full-on pornography. Either way, the ads are memorable, but have the most recent ones pushed the line too far?


The images become even more questionable when you consider the irony that a company borne out of the an ethical ethos of sweatshop free products, continues to push the objectification of women farther and farther. As Newsweek observed, "They are sending the message that social responsibility is about money alone—as long as you pay the women inside the factory a legal wage you’re absolved from exploiting them in other ways."

I think the following graffiti'd caption captures the idea best. In case you can't read it, someone wrote: "Gee. I wonder why women get raped."



And they keep pushing and pushing and pushing... Adendum - see below ad from France!

If we all spend together, maybe we can keep this thing going.

It's that time of the year again and everyone is reaching for their wallets. Black Friday came and went and while the final tally is still out, things don't look that merry. In fact, things seem about to get a lot worse, if you believe the NYTimes. No worries, as a true good spending American, I am throwing down the plastic and going all out - same as I always do. Christmas and the holidays come but once a year, so why not blow the bank and pay it all off in '08 (along with with '07, '06 and probably a little left of '05 and '04)....

Anyway - here's a list of some good resources to help you exercise your national ego. Go nuts America and spend, spend, spend like there's no tomorrow!

There's NOTCOT’s Holiday Gift Guide and the TreeHugger’s How To Go Green Gift Guide as well as Core 77’s 77 Design Gifts Under $77 which if you ask me is a good deal! Then there'sCool Hunting’s 2007 Holiday Gift Guide which is definately cool... Don't forget to check out Design Public’s Holiday Gift Guide and especially ThisNext’s 2007 Christmas Gift Guide. For the boyfriend, check out Gizmodo’s Old Gadget Gift Guide and if you're feeling a little a little kermit-like, check outInhabits green guide. A personal favorite, Etsy's world of DIY handmade holiday cheerNew York Magazines Holiday Guide and don't forget old faithful, good ol' Ebay

The Look. The feel. The Sound. Too Real!

Branded. You're Never Too Young.

brand·ed /ˈbrændɪd/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[bran-did] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –adjective

1.	marked with a branding iron to show ownership: branded cattle.

2.	Commerce. carrying the brand or trademark of a manufacturer: branded merchandise.

You can do it!!!!!