Archive for December, 2006

The self-proclaimed “hardest-working man in show business”, the “Godfather of soul”, the “Minister of the New New Super Heavy Funk”, passed away on Christmas morning yesterday of pneumonia-induced heart failure. He was 73.
His musical contributions to 20th century popular culture cannot be easily measured. Credited with transporting r ‘n’ b into soul, and again taking [...]

Sure, I fully expect it to blow chunks when it comes out next July 4th, but still, OMG OMG OMG. The full trailer for Michael Bay’s Transformers will go online at exactly 2am local time tomorrow morning, and only on Yahoo! Movies. Click the link to go to the splash page for that. Also, screenwriters [...]

UK graff artist and kick fiend INSA recently exhibited his new collection, entitled “Sneaker Fetish” in London’s BEST Gallery. I don’t know which looks fresher - the Nike Air Maxes in INSA’s trademark pink doodles or a completely transparent pair of kicks. I know Nike listens to me - they’re almost there with the Clear [...]

Now see, I wouldn’t mind if they gave me these bags to take my weekly purchases of Maggi home rather than those blah pink plastic bags. Or I could just be a total book snob when I step out of Borders.

Found this on Jamie Wieck’s portfolio page. You like?

Before any of you start crying out “political insensitivity!”, I’m not trying to advocate anything in this post. I found this stencil just outside the Puduraya bus station yesterday evening on the way back from work. Many might not be familiar with Rashid Maidin, but to those who remember, he was in effect #2 down [...]

I have no idea what the people in India Arie’s marketing team were thinking. Caught this off some site. Promo images for India’s new album Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship, were plastered all over portaloos. Yes, portable toilets. I know getting the message out there to as many people as possible is of paramount [...]

Common, Common, Common. You done did it again. The on-and-off face of conscious hip hop stars in a new Christmas TV commercial for The Gap, in which he and a whole gang of cherubic b-boys and girls push the new Gap hoodie collection. It’s all good, Com’s done this before, selling Reebok’s Classic sneakers way [...]

Sometimes, good things happen when you key in the wrong URL. I came across the official website of clothing brand Nau, based in the sleepy American state of Oregon, with a name which means “welcome” in Maori (how Oregonites - Oreganos? - can make references to Maori culture I’ll never know) and, most importantly, pays [...]

Let me back track to the canal now, after all that Banksy-worship, I can’t attribute these works to anyone since I don’t recognise the artists but thought I’d share ‘em anyway. The first left makes me laff. Partly because it does try hard to be scary, but also I have the distinct feeling I have seen this [...]

207 pages of words and colour pix from Banksy. This subversive, witty, visual commentary on war, religion, poverty, surveillance and more follows his Existencilism, Banging Your Head Against A Brick Wall and Cut It Out mini-books. Wall & Piece will set you back between RM80 and RM140 if you order it off Amazon, but is possibly one of the best things you can [...]