The Bloggomist: The Local Boy
Political Opinion

Some say any press is good press.  But after an incident that’s eclipsed the visit of an Indian prime minister, embarrassed the Secret Service, and generally shocked the American public it looks like it could be time to reassess the claim.  Apparently no one informed the Salahis that fame–or perhaps notoriety–comes at a price.  The spotlight means scrutiny under the public, and in a short span of time it seems the greedy hands of the media are digging up more authentic dirt than the tabloids could ever hope to fabricate. →

Photo courtesy of Library of Congress

The U.S. and China are  set to engage in talks about climate pledges in Copenhagen. Both nations are currently the world’s highest emitters of greenhouse gases and have the potential to spur on other nations to follow suit in mitigating global warming. Thus far, the two nations have not made significant strides in working toward that effort. Recent talks have amounted to a lot of bluffing, posturing and feet-dragging, with China taking a slightly greater lead in taking on responsibility for the environment. Alex Pasternack at TreeHugger has a report on the current talks among policy experts and politicians. The central question that needs to be addressed is how and to what extent can developing and developed nations be held accountable? →

Graffiti Gone Global
Art Basel Miami Beach – Miami, FL
12/4 to 12/6/09

Graffiti Gone Global, presented by SUSHISAMBA, will take place December 4 to 6, during Art Basel Miami Beach. Curated by James and Karla Murray, authors of best-selling titles Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York, Miami Graffiti, Broken Windows and Burning New York, the exhibition will feature a selection of work from today’s top street artists. This groundbreaking exhibition, set to take place in a 4,000 square-foot venue in the Midtown Arts District, will be the largest of its kind in Miami. →

WHY? – These Hands / January Twenty Something (Dir. Ben Barnes)

Merging the unexpected and simple, this new video from psych-folk three-piece WHY? begins with a sheet of smoke, where an old man emerges with arrows protruding from his back. He walks through a vacant apocalyptic suburb and rescues an injured boy from the smoldering wreckage of a car. Halfway through the video, the scene cuts to the band’s performance, funereal and solemn as if mourning the scene of the accident. →

Invasion 67: Prague (Opening Reception)
The Freedom Tower – Miami, FL
12/1/09

The Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida is the third stop on the tour for Invasion 68: Prague, an exhibition and accompanying book presenting legendary Magnum photographer Josef Koudelka’s remarkable work documenting the 1968 Soviet invasion of Prague. The show in Miami follows a successful kick-off at Aperture Gallery in New York in the fall of 2008, followed by stops at the American University Museum, Katzen Arts Center, in Washington, D.C., and Centro Cultural Universitario Tlatelolco in Mexico City. →

There is nothing as great as the collaboration of two authentic concept designers coming together to combine their ideas to create their intermingled product of genius. Hurley, standing strong for the past ten years and Pendleton Heritage with 100 years and counting, come together for their new collection. Simply put, the collection is the iconic Beach Boys plaid board shirt modernized with a touch of Hurley, you guys better be ready. To get your own piece of the collection, go to the nearest American Rag, Fred Segal, Villains, Bloomingdales or the Hurley website, hurley.com.

Remember when your parents got you your first set of LEGOs? The creative juices start flowing as the different-sized pieces are laid out on the floor… maybe you’ll make a robot that can kick everyone’s ass or a flying car that will be parked in your own garage one day. The possibilities were endless when those colorful rectangular blocks were placed in front of a kid. Believe it or not, LEGO now went to a whole new level by adding the possibility of attaching flat and →

Whether the message is sent through a video, music, film, art, or any other medium, the fact that we have done damage to our beautiful home called Earth is undeniable and we must take responsibility for our actions. Yann Benedi and Céline Desrumaux have created this short animation, by blending both 2D and 3D animation techniques. Check it out, the video is comparable to a cuter, shorter and sweeter G-rated version of Gore’s famous film, An Inconvenient Truth. The short film serves as a promotional tactic for the website Challenge Your World. →

The Bloggomist: Three Times a Trend
Fashion Opinion

Lately I’ve been on the search for a dress. Something simple, probably black, nothing crazy. No studs, no abstract crocodile patterns, no slashed fabrics and definitely nothing that resembles Dynasty-era Joan Collins. Sparkly, shoulder-padded gowns already had their decade, thank you very much. However as I start my semi-annual dress excursion I already know it will end badly. →

Based in The Rift Valley Kenya, East Africa, The Leakey Collection founders Katy and Philip Leakey, combine their talents in interior design and the arts with their love of nature to develop stunning handcrafted products for an international market. Using natural elements such as fallen wood, grass and porcelain, these renowned designers create unique products while protecting the environment and providing economic opportunity to the local communities.

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