This is not exactly a world exclusive, but pretty darn near. Adam Hughes, one of the most popular comic artists working today, is to premiere his first movie online over the summer in installments. From what he's told me it's an action packed effects extravaganza starring a bunch of dolls a range of collectible action figures :)

The trailer is up, so go check it out at The Cursed Chest.

I'll try and bug him for an exclusive “making of” interview for YBNBY. I just hope he doesn't see that 'dolls“ crack. Although I shouldn't really worry because dolls can be a guy-thing too (NSFW).

Anyone remember Mr. Quin's self-portrait in his own congealed blood from the Brooklyn Museum Sensation show. According to this article, it's just been sold By Charles Saatchi, for about 1.5 million pounds more than he paid for it.

With his recent sale of the Damien Hirst shark, he's right around 10 million dollars in profit. That's quite the garage sale Mr. Saatchi's having

How'd I miss these babies?

Bacon Strip Bandages.

I'm beginning to think that the production company working on the "Fallen Idol" expose didn't have to dig too deep to find dirt on the American Idol finalists. All they really had to do was just read The Smoking Gun. Some stories just seem to write themselves.

Many of you have seen the image of Donny Deutsch, and heard the whole story about the art director who e-mailed the pic and got fired for it. If you haven't, check out the AdfFreak story here, or the AdRants story, or the Adjab story or the...

So, why am I adding to it. Obviously, Donald didn't want the pic getting out (one would then ask why was it on the company servers to begin with) and because of his action, it's now been seen by millions that probably wouldn't have otherwise. My point is this...I just want to do my part, so if you read this, please pass it along to every single person you know.

And remember, people who create advertising are important. The advertising business is very important, and all of us associated with it are very, very important people.

Now go away...I'm very busy.

Couldn't wait til next Tuesday. Too much good stuff out there.

5)Float glassware, by Molo Design. They're also responsible for the paper softwall that's gotten so much press.
4)Paint by Numbers Wallpaper, by 2Jane. Been around for a while, but this Venus Flytrap design is new.
3)Lehti Leaf Tray, also by 2Jane. Obviously, I like this site.
2)Daydreams mirrors, really beautiful, and apparently will be at ICFF. Via CoolHunting
1)Molecular element seating system, via Moco Loco. Just too freaking cool for words.

Last night I attended a performance of “An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion” by magician David Copperfield at the NJ Performing Arts Center.

Is it going to damage any street credibility I have left to say how much this show blew me away? Because I had one of the best nights at the theater I've had in years.

I like cool flash animation AND I've been wanting to learn Italian.

And if you enter, be sure to wear your new JP2 kicks.

Just like everyone else, I'm pretty fascinated by the Google Maps satellite application. I've been checking out my neighborhood, my friends' neighborhoods, my relative's neighborhoods...I'm basically a stalker now, so never tell me where you live.

Mostly, I've been checking out the town where I grew up, Amsterdam, New York, population: 18,355. And with all due respect to current residents...a town that's past it's prime, a prime that included a robust industrial sector (Amsterdam rugs were known around the globe) a professional sports team (Yankees single A club) and a vibrant downtown.

This is an image of the killer, the Amsterdam Mall. Celebrated as the future of the city when it went up. Holzheimer and Shaul women's clothing, Mortan's Men's Store, Lumart's shoes...stores that had been part of the community for decades, they all moved in immediately, as malls were the rage in the 70's nd 80's, and we needed one. Now it's a hollowed-out shell, a few professional offices and a chinese take-out place are all that remain. You see that road that it's basically sitting on? That was Main Street. The few buildings to the left that remain...they're all empty.

And you know what's about three miles up the road now? Yup, Walmart.

The only reason I post this, apart from just depressing the hell out of myself, is that it's probably the tale of dozens of towns across the U.S. How cool would it be if someone leveled that monster in the middle of the picture, and brought downtown Amsterdam back to the way it was? Any takers.

Stare at just the eyes of any Hello Kitty image. You see those empty, lifeless black dots? In battles, they have a name for that gaze...it's called shell shock.

The really interesting, and also unsettling notion behind most Japanese manga and anime art, is that it's origins are based in the post-apocolyptic world of occupied Japan. That's the driving notion behind Little Boy, currently at the Japan Society until July 24th. The name refers to the otaku subculture, translated as "pop-cult fanaticism". These were the children that grew up watching Godzilla movies, seeing entire cities taken out by a terrible monster, born from the effects of nuclear radiation.

Halfway through the show, there is an entire wall devoted to Article 9 of the Japanese constitution:

Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

Makes sense that all those antique tin toys came from Japan, right? It's all they were allowed to do.

This is what you'll find in every room, The physical and psychological damage sustained during World War II is linked to the art and culture of modern-day Japan. There are images of urban devastation and fire breathing monsters positioned adjacent to toy displays pulled right from any Walmart. Stare at the loop of Japanese kid's show Time Bokan, and you'll notice the opening sequence ends in an exploding mushroom cloud

I can't recommend this show highly enough. It's a great lesson in not only the art, but the very psyche of japan.