christian bråthen-nordland

My colleague Pål

2010-01-29T06:17:00.000-08:00

Validation

2009-12-22T01:23:00.000-08:00

Dirtgirl World

2009-11-12T05:04:00.001-08:00

Jarvis Cocker's Further Complications

2009-11-12T04:55:00.001-08:00

Your Studio

2009-11-10T03:28:00.001-08:00

Get inspired…

Food Face

2009-11-10T03:19:00.000-08:00

Check it out…

I AM

2009-11-09T01:00:00.001-08:00

I AM from TronicStudio on Vimeo.

John Mayer Augmented Reality

2009-11-09T00:33:00.000-08:00

Click here and try it out…

One of my favorite campaigns

2009-10-23T06:25:00.000-07:00

of course it's mr. Lee Clow.

The Little Shop of Horrors

2009-10-20T02:01:00.000-07:00

Check it out…

Noma Bar: Negative Space

2009-09-29T04:01:00.001-07:00

Take a look…

Ben Watts

2009-09-29T01:43:00.000-07:00

Take a look…

Plane Hanger

2009-09-11T02:04:00.000-07:00

Check it out…

For The Kids

2009-09-11T01:59:00.000-07:00

Chek it out…

USB Desk Vacuum

2009-09-11T01:40:00.000-07:00

Keeps your desk clean!

Words

2009-08-25T03:23:00.001-07:00

Ron Mueck

2009-07-22T03:50:00.000-07:00

Mueck’s sculptures faithfully reproduce the minute detail of the human body, but play with scale to produce disconcertingly jarring visual images. His five metre high sculpture Boy 1999 was a feature in the Millennium Dome and later exhibited in the Venice Biennale.
I had the pleasure to see 'Boy' at ARos when I visited Aarhus a few years ago. Amazing!
(Photo from Flickr)

The Largest Tank

2009-07-21T01:52:00.000-07:00

Evolution

2009-07-17T01:27:00.001-07:00

Timecoded

2009-07-17T01:18:00.000-07:00

Check it out…

Wich I Was In NYC

2009-07-15T00:56:00.001-07:00

Take a closer look…

Cartoons on Sticky Notes by Doug Savage

2009-07-08T02:12:00.000-07:00

More cartoons…

This Video Is Art, Real Art

2009-07-08T01:47:00.000-07:00

Swissarmius cutlery holder

2009-07-08T01:41:00.000-07:00

Swissarmius is a cutlery holder that is simple and beautiful, useful and functional, like the real Swiss Army knife.

Jamie Lindell

2009-07-08T01:32:00.000-07:00

Missbehave

2009-07-02T01:38:00.000-07:00

Brooke Nipar works as a photographer and photo editor for Missbehave.
Take a look…

Joanna Kustra

2009-07-01T01:34:00.000-07:00

Take a look…

Now That's a Pool

2009-07-01T01:31:00.001-07:00

Take a look…

Dan Tobin Smith

2009-07-01T01:14:00.001-07:00

Check it out…

Jason Powell

2009-06-30T02:08:00.000-07:00

Looking Into The Past…

Sorry I'm Late

2009-06-30T02:01:00.001-07:00

Vanity Fair March 2008 "The Hollywood Issue"

2009-06-30T01:52:00.000-07:00

It' not news news, but it's all good!
Amazing concept.

Eamo's Milkbar

2009-06-30T01:42:00.000-07:00

These works of art give me a real good summer feeling.
Want to dive into these drawings.
Eamo's work…

Battle Studies - New Song Leak

2009-06-29T03:50:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia Turned Into Book

2009-06-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

Rob Matthews © 2009
Read on…

Scary Cool

2009-06-18T03:46:00.000-07:00

Best Commercial In A Long Time

2009-06-09T04:59:00.000-07:00

Turn up your speakers and enjoy!
Wow, wow, wow…

My Muse Is Leaving

2009-06-09T02:31:00.000-07:00

My good friend and collega Ole Martin Buene is leaving Recommended Norway to do some serious art direction/photographing/design/text/stuff somewhere else. Hats off. He received much kudos for his work. And will continue to do so…
Respect and good luck man!

Battle Studies vol.3

2009-06-05T01:28:00.001-07:00

White Magic

2009-05-22T01:07:00.000-07:00

Jack White Debuts New Band the Dead Weather: A Full Report From Private Nashville Show.
www.rollingstone.com

Pod Yourself

2009-05-20T07:36:00.000-07:00

An OfficePOD provides a working environment that is separate to home life. The hassle free OfficePOD service deals with everything from site survey and installation through to customer services and POD relocation in the case of moving house or employer.
Check it out…

JVC shakes things up for RED

2009-05-13T00:56:00.000-07:00

Read on…

Farfars Super Campaign For Diesel

2009-05-08T03:29:00.000-07:00

Shop Online

2009-05-06T06:12:00.001-07:00

Get Punk'd

2009-05-04T00:41:00.000-07:00

You don't need to have pink hair or safety pins in your eyebrow to be a punk rocker.
Buy or download your attitude from someone else.
D*Face

The Monocle Radio - It Works

2009-04-30T06:18:00.000-07:00

Their magazine is one of the best out there - so is the webpage. If you spend a lot of time infront of your Mac while working - tune in to their radio. It's like getting a Monocle intravenous drip while you do your chores. Enjoy!
The Monocle Weekly

Street Art

2009-04-30T05:42:00.000-07:00

mentalgassi

John Mayer The Mastermind

2009-04-21T01:05:00.000-07:00

If there's one man who knows how to use new media, it has to be mr. John Mayer. While other musicians and music companies complain about how they lose sales on downloads and uploads on different communities, John Mayer lets his fans into his artist world.

For example, on his webpage/blog he shares bits and pieces from the upcoming album. He shows you how he creates his tracks and how they become complete songs. On Twitter , Twitpic and Flickr he shares thoughts, personal pics and links to give you a better understanding of who he is and what he stands for. If he buys a new axe or amp he shows you, if a friend of his has designed some new kicks you get a glimpse of it. It's like having your own V.I.P - backstage pass and then some.

On Myspace and Facebook he shares all the information you need to know about upcoming concerts and events. And fans can give feedback through comments and links. On YouTube he is one of the most uploaded artists, the fans share their concert experiences with fans who didn't have the pleasure of being there. On iTunes he creates his own iMixes with his favorite music. That's like if he gave you a peek into his personal record collection.

All this is very personal, but not personal personal, it's more like "the artist John Mayer personal". Another personal thing he shares with his fans is his humor. On Funny or Die you can take a look and give comments on John Mayer's own videos or funny videos he has added himself. He never gives you the whole story. But you feel a connection to him, he is more real and down to earth than the rest of the artists in the music business. You can feel his love for what he's doing and that he appreciates the positions he's in. He knows that it's not just his talent that made him who he is, it's his fans, and he shares everything with them.

You can download a collection of bootlegs from his entire 08' Summer Tour for free. And to give his fans a personal souvenir of the tour he just had, you can buy small pieces from the tour on the old tour webpage. If you want to have a vacation with John Mayer you can join the Mayercraft Carrier. This is the second year he does this cruise, and it all spread thanks to John Mayers and his fans' will to share links, pics and vidoes.

To sum up, it takes a great mind to share just the right amount of information to the fans and followers. But if you are real and stick to your story it can't go wrong. All brands, in person or as a product, has a lot to learn from this. Social medias are here to stay, and it's going corporate.

Photo by John Mayer

Take a Look At This

2009-04-20T02:15:00.000-07:00

Steven Heller

VW & Spotify Does Eco

2009-04-14T01:56:00.000-07:00

This site from Volkswagen brings cars, music and eco together.
Love this kind of co-branding.
Take a ride…

The Blog For People Who Don't Have The Balls To Make Art Or Write Novels

2009-04-14T01:37:00.000-07:00

Scamp is Simon Veksner, a copywriter at BBH in London.
This Blog is a great place to take your mind of things.
Take a breake here…

Analog Weather Forecast

2009-04-14T00:13:00.000-07:00

Take a look at the weather…

True Historie

2009-03-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

Ever wanted to read Playboy's first edition from january 1954?
Take a look…

Just Tacky 0r Tacky In A Nice Way?

2009-03-23T02:16:00.000-07:00

Synaptic Stimuli

Farfar Academy

2009-03-11T03:25:00.000-07:00

Nice concept from Farfar in Stockholm, Sweden:
Farfar Academy…

Now This Is The Shait!

2009-03-09T06:57:00.000-07:00

Get your groove on…

Nice banner Pitchfork!

2009-03-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

Take a look…

The Bird Is The Word

2009-03-02T01:28:00.000-08:00

2 new custom John Mayer guitars

2009-02-27T04:26:00.000-08:00

Fender and John Mayer are teaming up to create two different model replicas of his favourite axe which he calls 'The Black One'. This will be the second time Mayer has teamed up with Fender, having previously developed a John Mayer Signature Stratocaster which was released in 2005.

"I'm meeting with Mike Eldred and Justin Norvell from Fender Custom Shop and we're talking about something we've kicked around for two, three years.

"We are going to recreate this black guitar, which I call The Black One... We're going to recreate this in two different ways, two different models. One of them: super limited edition, master built, custom shop, like dead-on balls accurate, as you see it."

"And the other one - because I don't want to say to fans, 'Hey, you can own my guitar, it's six grand, there's 83 of them, go for it!' I think I want to do 83 of the custom-shop master built version and then offer (a more affordable version), an unlimited production line version of it."

Jill Greenberg The Manipulator

2009-02-26T07:30:00.000-08:00

Reality is never enough. Always remember to give it that extra drop of manipulation :)
Reality looks better this way…
Jill Greenberg

Edwin Ho

2009-02-26T07:28:00.001-08:00

Take a look…

Marcel Wanders

2009-02-24T00:09:00.001-08:00

Marcel Wanders (July 2, 1963) is a Dutch industrial designer.

He was born and grew up Boxtel and graduated cum laude from the School of the Arts Arnhem in 1988. Marcel Wanders’ fame started with his iconic Knotted Chair, which he produced for Droog Design in 1996. He is now ubiquitous, designing for the biggest European contemporary design manufacturers like B&B Italia, Bisazza, Poliform, Moroso, Flos, Boffi, Cappellini, Droog Design and Moooi of which he is also art director and co-owner. Founded in 2000, Moooi has grown into an internationally renowned design label. Additionally, Marcel Wanders works on architectural and interior design projects and recently turned his hand to consumer home appliances. In 2007 Wanders collaborated with German sportswear and apparel manufacturer Puma AG on a range of lifestyle products such as beach accessories.

Marcel was the editor of the International Design Yearbook 2005. In the same year, together with chef Peter Lute, he established the extraordinary LUTE SUITES hospitality-concept, the first “all over city suites” hotel in the world. He also designed the interior of Blits, a new restaurant in Rotterdam and the interior of restaurant ‘Thor’ at the Hotel on Rivington in New York including bar, lounge and private club. Marcel is the first and among the most important designers of Droog design. He was a juror for various prizes like the Rotterdam Design Prize (for which his own products were nominated several times) and the Kho Liang Ie prize. He lectured at SFMoMA, Limn, the Design Academy, Nike, IDFA, FutureDesignDays and has taught at various design academies in the Netherlands and abroad.

Various designs of Marcel Wanders have been selected for the most important design collections and exhibitions in the world, like the Museum of Modern Art in New York and San Francisco, the V&A Museum in London, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam, the Central Museum in Utrecht, Museum of Decorative Arts Copenhagen and various Droog Design exhibitions.

Coverage on Marcel has been published in all leading design magazines and newspapers such as Domus, Interni, Blueprint, Design Report, Frame, I.D. magazine, Abitare, Wallpaper, Nylon, Elle decoration, Icon, Esquire, the International Herald Tribune, Washington Post, the Financial Times, the New York Times and Business Week.
(Got these facts from Wikipedia)
Take a look…

Nice page by McCann Erickson Japan

2009-02-24T00:02:00.000-08:00

Take it for a spin…

Aaron Koblin

2009-02-18T00:43:00.000-08:00

This is a man with more than just a brain!

Take a look…

It's Not A Shop, It's Advertising

2009-02-18T00:41:00.001-08:00

Jen Stark

2009-02-16T01:17:00.000-08:00

Love Jen's work. Colors and shapes like no others.
She creates sculptures made from hand-cut stacks of multi-colored card stock paper, felt-tip pen on paper drawings and stop-motion paper animation.
Take a look… or read some news about Jen…

Sandy Carson

2009-02-16T00:36:00.000-08:00

Sandy Carson is a self-taught photographer from Scotland. He's available worldwide for editorial, print and documentary assignments.
Take a look at his work…

Grow Works

2009-02-13T04:38:00.001-08:00

Get to know them…

Petter Karlstrom

2009-02-09T05:05:00.000-08:00

Moore…

Leica M8

2009-02-08T23:59:00.001-08:00

The LEICA M8 doesn't only look like an M - it utilises all the benefits of the analog Leica M system for sophisticated and creative digital photography. It is the only digital camera for enthusiasts and professionals alike to incorporate the rangefinder system with its advantages of discreet and quiet operation, speed and precision. Full compatibility with nearly all M lenses means that their unique imaging performance is available for digital photography, too. The CCD image sensor has been specifically matched to the compact lens design to guarantee superlative photographic quality. The controls and functions of the digital M still concentrate on the essentials.

True, true…

2009-02-03T06:40:00.001-08:00

Impossible Is Nothing

2009-02-03T06:12:00.000-08:00

For you people that always give up when the going gets tough…
This IS outside the box!!!

Butter It Up Johnny

2009-02-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

The One And Only… – Serial Cut

2009-01-28T01:39:00.000-08:00

Serial Cut™ is a creative studio established in 1999 by Sergio del Puerto, focused on art direction + graphic design + illustration.
Quality design from Madrid, Spain.

Sølve Sundsbø

2009-01-26T00:40:00.000-08:00

Sølve Sundsbø is a Norwegian photographer who lives in London. His career began when four months into a course at the London College of Printing he became Nick Knight’s assistant. Now Sundsbø is a regular contributor to magazines including Pop, i-D, Dazed and Confused, Numéro, Visionaire and Vogue Nippon. He has also worked with various high-profile clients including Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes, Nike, Lancôme and Mac cosmetics, as well as shooting album covers for Royksopp and Coldplay. Sundsbø was voted best newcomer at the ‘International Festival of Fashion’ in Hyeres in spring 1999 and was chosen as Fashion Photographer by Creative Review for their ‘Creative Futures’ exhibition in Autumn 1999. He also contributed to the Biennale Florence with Alexander McQueen and held a personal exhibition at the International Festival of Fashion in Hyeres in 2003.

His latest work includes a photoshoot for Vougue showing Victoria Beckham's new collection.

Jean-Yves Lemoigne

2009-01-16T06:37:00.000-08:00

Now this is amazing work, what a reel!
Wow…

Street Art

2009-01-13T05:38:00.001-08:00

This photo blog comprises of photos of urban pieces taken all over the world over the past two years.

Read on…

The Year 2008 In Photographs

2009-01-09T03:20:00.001-08:00

Check it out…

Outside The Box

2009-01-09T02:59:00.000-08:00

BBH New Yorks swedes Maja Fernqvist and Joakim Saul made this coooool TVC:

In Perspective

2009-01-09T02:32:00.000-08:00

Keith Loutit makes some rad videoes.
Check it out…

Metal Heart from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Sticker To The Man

2009-01-09T00:31:00.000-08:00

Someone started a sticker project where they send people some free stickers. in return they want a photo of a sticker posted somewhere in their city. The goal is to get photos from as many different places around the world as i possibly can. Read on…

The Standard sets the standard

2009-01-07T23:57:00.000-08:00

Nail your reservation here…

"Hair" On The Chest

2009-01-07T07:28:00.000-08:00

This is my ultimate t-shirt. Wear with care…

iPod & Mp3 Erased The Mixtape

2009-01-06T03:25:00.000-08:00

A human touch to mp3. Make a mixtape and give it to someone you love.

Get it…

Drive-By Truckers & The Felice Brothers

2009-01-06T00:36:00.000-08:00

If you like Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones, you might just like this band; Drive-By Truckers.
Check out the song "3 Dimes Down".

And if you like Bob Dylan'ish music, you might just like this; The Felice Brothers.
Check out the song "Wonderful Life".

Hi, I'm A Junkie

2009-01-05T01:08:00.000-08:00

JUSTIN LONG in Hunger Relief by Justin Long

Cool Your Jets

2009-01-05T01:02:00.000-08:00

Navigating an ice storm at 30,000 feet is bad. South Korea's Agency for Defense Development decided to find out just how bad. It built two 14,500-square-foot hangars that can subject planes to myriad atmospheric situations. Set to fire up in February, the facilities—one electromagnetic, the other climatic—can mimic bursts of EM radiation and temperature swings from -65 to 129 degrees Fahrenheit.
Read on…

Me Want; Martin J-41

2009-01-05T00:52:00.000-08:00

Next time I'm in LA I will have this axe with me as a souvenir!
Martin J-41, vintage Style 45 snowflakes, forward shifted bracing, grained ivoroid trim, gold butterbean tuning machines, 1 3/4" neck width, a "through" saddle ebony bridge, and a polished gloss lacquered body with aging toner on the soundboard.

Why be good?

2009-01-04T23:12:00.000-08:00

Was Jackson Pollock a good painter? The critics at the time certainly didn't think so.

Twyla Tharp's London debut was panned.

The Prius was largely ignored by car magazines, mostly because it wasn't a very good car.

If we define 'good' as showing reasonable skill in the expected areas of performance, then good is not only useless, it's dangerous. Good authors rarely change minds. Good politicians rarely get elected.

The worst thing you can be given as a marketer is a good product to sell.
Read on…

My First Million

2009-01-03T02:12:00.000-08:00

I'm now a member of the "million club" on You Tube.
(It's nothing out there on You Tube called the "million club", but hey…)

So, anyhooo…
Feels good having made a TVC that still gets viewers afters it's gone of the air.
I want to thank the academy, my wife and last but not least Kælle-matros!

Jay Leno's Dream?

2009-01-03T01:25:00.000-08:00

A 1937 Bugatti was kept in a Tyneside garage for half a century by its eccentric owner Dr Harold Carr.

When the reclusive genius died aged 89 last year, his nephews and nieces inherited what they thought was an ordinary suburban lock-up.

But inside they found a treasure trove of cars including a classic Aston Martin, a Jaguar E-type, and the rare Type 57S Atalante, now unveiled as the highlight of Bonham’s Retromobile car show and sale in Paris.

Left to gather dust for 48 years in a run-of-the-mill garage, since its last tax disc expired in December 1960, the black roadster could fetch as much as £6m for its new owners when it goes under the hammer.

If it raises only its reserve price tag of almost £3m, it will have increased 117-fold in value from the £895 Dr Carr paid Jack Barclays for it in 1955.

Other previous owners include Le Mans 24-hour race winner Earl Howe and Northumberland member of the gentry Lord Ridley.

The house of Bugatti is known for producing some of the fastest, most exclusive cars of all time. In his company's early years, Ettore Bugatti earned a reputation for advanced engineering and avant garde design, despite a lack of formal training. Only five cars were built in the company’s first year, but by 1911, Bugatti began its domination of the racetrack, winning the first ever Monaco Grand Prix.

Although forbidden to race by his father, the Atlantic's designer Jean Bugatti was killed while test-driving another Type 57.

Why is this Jay Leno's dream? Read on…

Funniest Man Alive

2008-12-22T00:50:00.000-08:00

If you need some meaning in your life; this is THE blog: Ricky Gervais

Ricky about himself:
"Something of a late-starter, at least in terms of comedy, Ricky is well aware that his chosen route to success whilst preferable, was certainly not typical.

Born in Reading in the early sixties, he made it to university in London where he breezed his way through to a degree in philosophy. After a brief career in a pop band he dallied with the odd job here and there making ends meet before a longish stint running the entertainments at a students' union.

The long years of discos, pub quizzes and guitar bands were punctuated with brief dabblings in the music business. He managed a band called Suede for a bit (walking away shortly before they were signed), promoted a Queen tribute band and generally bothered music industry types with his unfocussed ambitions.

Following that came a portentous appointment with the then fledgling and unlicenced radio station Xfm. It was here that Ricky took on a new assitant, Stephen Merchant, who would later become co-writer/director of 'The Office'.

Although Ricky wasn't hired to be a broadcaster, he quite fancied giving it a go and a nightly programme was slotted into the schedule ready for the station's proper launch on 1 September 1997 (not the best choice of dates as it turned out).

Five nights a week plus the day-job is clearly too much for anyone to manage. And all that talking to do in between records? Obviously you need at least one other person involved to share the burden. So a lone late-night ten-hours became 120 minutes on a Sunday afternoon chatting to a mate. "I'm Ricky Gervais... obviously. With me; Steve Merchant". They've been doing it off and on ever since.
In 1998, Xfm was aquired by Capital Radio and format changes to Xfm saw Ricky free to explore his comedy talents in other media. A bit of sketch writing here and there, popping up on Radio 1 every so often, followed by first appearances on the TV;

Ricky wrote and starred in a one-off called 'Golden Years' about a businessman who is obsessed with becoming a David Bowie lookalike. Remember, write about what you know.

'The 11 O'Clock Show' - a topical comedy magazine series. Ricky adopts the persona of a half-knowledgable biggot to drop in on the regular team of presenters. An outrageous and refreshingly funny foil to the satirical Oxbridge pretentions of the show itself.

'Meet Ricky Gervais' came hot on the heels of Ricky's popularity in the 11 O'Clock Show. Concieved as a chat show with games, the structure mainly served to allow Ricky the opportunity to say rude words, make guests say rude words and make it all official by virtue of the fact that it was being shown on TV. That said, a running gag filmed and written by Ricky and Stephen Merchant as links between ad breaks showed a glimpse of what was to come.

The show finished in October 2000, but Ricky and Steve had already been developing their ideas for an office-based mock documentary, and months if not years of work would come to fruition on 9 July 2001 when the BBC aired the first episode of 'The Office'.

Twelve episodes and a two-part Christmas special later and The Office is consigned to broadcasting history as one of the most perfectly crafted comedy series in British TV ever. Showered with awards and critical acclaim the series' pivotal creation David Brent became a household name and so, of course, did Ricky.
Perhaps slightly embarrassed by the accolades and not having earned his comedy spurs by years of telling jokes to drunks in smoky bars up and down the country, Ricky put together a stand-up show to while away the evenings away from home during filming. The resulting tour, encompassing at least two theatres within a mile radius of his house, was a smash and must have dispelled any lingering doubts about doing live work as he's followed the 'Animals' show this year with a new show entitled 'Politics'. And it was a proper UK tour this time too with shows in as many as six places outside London.

With seven and a half hours of The Office produced in a three year period you wouldn't think there'd be time enough for anything else would you? But you'd be wrong of course. Voice-overs in ads, animated films and the like, small parts in films - generally for mates, a cameo role in an American TV series called 'Alias' plus regular appearances on top chat shows like 'Parkinson' and 'Friday Night With Jonathan Ross'. He even found time to take part in a four-week training regime culminating with him beating a minor celebrity in a televised boxing match.

In the run-up to Christmas this year, Ricky will be busy telling us about his new book - 'Flanimals'. Ostensibly aimed at younger readers, but the richness of the illustrations and the inventiveness of the text give it universal appeal.

DVDs of the Politics show and The Office Specials are also out for Christmas so expect to see lots of cardboard cut-outs of Ricky in stores over the next few weeks.

After that it'll be full steam ahead for 'Extras', his new TV series - more about that to come.

One last thing - many online biographies make reference to Ricky having worked as a pizza deliveryman. Just to put record straight, Ricky has not ever delivered a pizza... eaten, yes. Lots. Too many probably. But delivered them? Never."

photo credit: Ellis Parrinder

Tom Ford - The Man!

2008-12-19T05:22:00.000-08:00

Born in Texas in 1962, Tom Ford has become the most influential designer of the last decade.

Tom made his move to the Big Apple as a teenager and enrolled at the NY University, in Art History, before changing to take up Architecture at Parsons School of Design in New York.

In 1986 he joined the creative staff of the famous American designer Cathy Hardwick, and two years later he became the Design Director at Perry Ellis. By 1990 Tom had moved to Milan and joined the team at Gucci, as Women’s Wear Designer. Within two years he’d climbed the corporate ladder to become Gucci’s Creative Director.

After Gucci bought a controlling stake in Yves Saint Laurent, Ford was appointed creative director. Ford says the secret of his success is his energy, and he only sleeps around three hours a night. His celebrity fans include the likes of Madonna, Bianca Jagger and Trudie Styler!

Tom caused a bit of an advertising stir with the promotion for his M7 fragrance. The campaign featured naked model Samuel de Cubber in a full-frontal pose. But as Tom says: "Perfume is worn on the skin, so why hide the body? The M7 campaign is really pure, it’s a very academic nude. I wanted to show a man who represents a natural and relaxed image of male beauty".

Tom also hit the headlines with his sensational Gucci ad, featuring a naked woman whose bikini line has been waxed into the shape of the letter `G`.

In 2004, Ford parted company with Gucci, after a disagreement over his contract.

Tom Ford is now; Tom Ford!

Recommended x-mas

2008-12-18T07:10:00.000-08:00

Get in the mood…

Derek Trucks

2008-12-18T05:15:00.000-08:00

The Derek Trucks Band highly anticipated sixth studio album, "Already Free", hits store shelves on 13 January.

Self-produced by Trucks in his home studio in Florida, it represents the band's natural evolution as they move forward integrating influences that span a variety of musical genres. Known for their blues roots, the group takes this album well beyond blues to incorporate the largers sounds of rock and soul.

Trucks said that, "this album was completely organic. We had no expectations. We just came down and started writing. Then one thing led to the next. I had all this time off so I just started calling up friends. And once the process started rolling and once we realized that we were onto something, we were writing tunes and all the sounds we were getting were amazing and it was starting to feel great. It felt like something was happening and we wanted to keep throwing musicians on the fire."

The band consists of Derek Turcks on guitar, Todd Smallie on bass, percussionist Count M'Buto, Yonrico Scott on drums, Kofi Burbridge on keyboards and vocalist Mike Mattison. The band was joined by pals like Doyle Bramhall II, Oteil Burbridge and Trucks' wife, Susan Tedeschi in the studio. Bramhall takes over vocal duties on two songs, "Maybe This Time" and "Our Love."

The first single from the album - a cover of "Down In The Flood" from Bob Dylan and The Band's "The Basement Tapes" was released 4 November. It has almost more relevance now post-Hurricane Katrina than when it was written in 1967. "I think it really turned out to be one of the most powerful tracks on the record. I think lyrically it's pretty timely. Crash on the levee, down in the flood, are so significant post-Katrina. There are some good metaphors, as there are in most Dylan tunes," says Trucks.

"Already Free" reflects all of Trucks' many influences and experiences, and highlights the quintessential Derek Trucks Band sound of mixing soulful vocals and expert guitar playing on what is poised to be the band's definitive album.

Morten Sangvik

2008-12-17T04:20:00.000-08:00

My friend and colleague Morten Sangvik is one of Norway's most impressing authors, copy writers and last but not least dedicated fly fishers I have ever known.

This is one of his pieces from "Magasinet" by Dagbladet, enjoy:
(If you don't know the Norwegian language, to bad for you).

Det er størrelsen det kommer an på

Det var en perfekt kveld. Fjærmyggen danset tango i vannskorpa og det begynte så smått å vake. Kompisen min stilte seg opp på det han mente var drømmeplassen. Jeg skrattet litt i skjegget og gikk bort til den virkelige drømmeplassen.

Det første kastet la jeg rett over et vak som bare var noen sekunder gammelt. Jeg så at det var en liten fisk, men jeg ble ivrig etter å få hull på vannet. Flua drev langsomt over fisken, vippet litt i bølgene, og jeg kjente at alt var som det skulle. Jeg hadde puls i hundre, krum rygg og øynene naglet til flua. Så. Et lite smatt fra vannskorpa. Flua ble borte og der satt’n! Jaggu satt’n, gitt. Der satt’n, ja. Jommen sa jeg smør, det var fisken sin, det. En tass av en tre hundre grams ørret, som jeg tauet inn så lydløst som overhode mulig. Min gode venn på den andre siden måtte ikke se at jeg ledet.

Vi fisket en stund. Jeg fikk to til på samme størrelse, men var ikke helt sikker på at det ville holde til seier. Etter en stund så jeg at han pakket sammen utstyret og kom traskende mot meg. Jeg kastet med livet som innsats for å utytte de siste minuttene. Jeg bad en stille bønn om en fisk over halvkiloen. Og smatt. Der satt den! Jeg kjente adrenalinet i kroppen og seieren i lomma. Etter en liten, men nervepirrende kjøring, lå ørreten omsider på land. En gylden og fin 750 grams gullmedalje. Kompisen klappet.

Da vi la fangsten fram for å oppsummere fikk jeg et stygt slag i ansiktet. Slyngelen hadde fått nøyaktig samme mengde fisk som meg - tre små og en stor. Jeg anslo hans til 740 gram og håpet at han ikke ville begynne å krangle. Vi snakket ikke så mye på hjemturen. Det lå noe anstrengende og uforløst i luften. To menn som begge ville og ikke ville på vekten.

Men det måtte kåres en vinner. Det fikk stå sin prøve, vi kunne ikke skilles i uvisshet.

Jeg skyllet fisken under springen, i håp om å få lurt litt vann ned i buken. Men kompisen min hang over meg som en oppsynsmann. Tallene på vekta viste 732 gram og det var hans tur. Hjertet hamret i brystet og jeg følte meg uvel. Han la den på vekta og oppgjørets time var kommet: 732 gram!

- Sløye?, spurte han.
- Sløye, svarte jeg. Vi sløyet fisken og veide den på nytt.

Da han dro, hørte jeg at han nynnet. På kjøkkenbenken lå drittfisken hans og skulte på meg. Jeg nektet å gi meg. Jeg målte fiskene med tommestokk. Og ja. Det var det jeg visste. Min var en centimeter lengre en hans. Jeg visste det. Jeg visste det hele tida.

Illustration: Gunnlaug Moen

Art + Architecture

2008-12-17T04:14:00.000-08:00

Read on…

Nice One…

2008-12-01T06:25:00.000-08:00

This I like:

Jeremy Fish

2008-11-28T03:40:00.000-08:00

This is soooooo amazing. Respect!
See more…
or…

The Longest Draw

2008-11-28T00:25:00.001-08:00

Capturing the nuances of expression in the human face is no simple feat. However, Swedish illustrator Jenny Mörtsell does so with a skilled and delicate hand.
See it…