Crazy Busy

Because I’ve been crazy busy at work, and because I’ve been busy socially this week, and because I am in the process of remodeling this website, and because I’ve been training someone at work, and because my eyes are burning right now, I ask for your patience and understanding over the following three days.
This is a warning… lots of stuff going on. That doesn’t mean that I won’t post at all. I am not sure how this will affect posting, but I am starting to hear the “Hey! What’s going on Jamie?! You’re not posting enough! I’m bored!” comments from you readers and they always hurt my feelings. Maybe later, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, but I promise I’ll take care of you.
If you’re really as bored as you say you are, you can always check my archives.

Love,

Jamie

Sunpass Commercial

The lady with the blue top that appears in every Sunpass commercials is painfully annoying! Don't you think?
She's the fifty-something woman that screams: "Yayyyyy! We dddid it!!!". I mean... how irritating can that be?
Now, check out this Sunpass commercial that was never aired on the tele.... thank God!



According to this lady, owning a Sunpass is the best way to tell if you are compatible with the person you're currently dating....

...Really...

Hologram

This is an amazing hologram video! Here's supermodel Kate Moss in holographic image as part of the Alexander McQueen's Fashion Shows.
Dimensional Studios, a holographic projection company, created this high definition video 3D projection system allowing spectacular free form 3D holographic moving images to appear within a live stage setting. Just breathtaking!

Wineries Don't Relate To Dirty Paths Anymore

If you go to a winery, you would think that you’ll have to walk through an agricultural outing, with dirty-muddy paths and dark creepy cellars. That idea has been changing gradually.


Lately, wineries are following today’s design ideas. Now wineries are being redesigned by famous architects around the globe, incorporating hotels, spas and shops to the design.

Architects and designers are using the wine brand/style as an inspiration for not only their winery but also the napkins, towels… almost everything. The better the wine, the more passion and attention is put into designing the winery.
A good examples is the Hotel Marques de Riscal, designed by Frank Gehry and located in Elciego, Spain.

The hotel/winery/tasting house has 43 suites, a cooking school and two elite restaurants.

Via Cool Hunter

Revolver!

There’s a lot of clubs in south Florida, but most of them have to do with merengue, salsa, Reggaeton, trance, house, disco… but what if you want something different? More eclectic? More rock ’n roll? Well, the Revolver nights at The Pawn Shop have a great alternative/Indie music scene.

Now if you’re visiting an Indie rock/pop club for the first time, here are a couple of tips. First of all, the dress code isn't quite the same as dance clubs. Feel free to dress up or grunge down as you please… but black is definitely the color to wear (Mind you, this is NOT a gothic place).
Second, just relax…You don't tend to get the attitude you get at some clubs in here. It's generally a very friendly and laid back atmosphere.

Personally, Revolver is a favorite on the Indie club scene, especially if I am with my ‘Revolver Crew’.

You get to hear a lot of Brit-pop, French pop, and Indie rock, but don't be surprised if they slip in a little 80’s here and there. Revolver it’s sublime and distinctly groovy. You'll think you've walked on to the set of the Pulp Fiction movie.

It can get very packed, though, but the venue, the people and the music make for a fantastic night.

Good Shoes

Good Shoes is an emerging English Indie rock-pop band based in London. They're slowly becoming popular with their upbeat, technical guitar pop. Their debut album "Think before you speak", released on March 26th, 2007, is wonderfully catchy and performed with fantastic energy.
They also have one of the best music video I've ever seen from a brand new Indie band... which I will share with you. Here's "All In My Head" (I wish I could do at least one of those tricks!):



Click here to visit Good Shoes website

Lago Product Design

I recently discovered an Italian product design group called Lago, while reading through the design weblog It's Nice That. I was amazed by Lago's design work. It's clever, original, practical, cool... you name it! Here are some samples of their work. Visit Lago's website to view their entire collection.






Via It's Nice That

Featured Artist Of The Week: Olimpia Zagnoli

Italian born, Olimpia Zagnoli, is a talented young illustrator. Her work is a delicious mix of colors and vibrant expressions that are fun, charming and endearing. Her illustrations are truly amazing. Wanna get to know her a little bit better? Well, here’s an interview I had with her:

The Pompomist: Why are you an artist, Olimpia?
Olimpia Zagnoli: Maybe because at the beginning of the story I choose pencils rather than Barbies.

TP: Could you tell us some more about your paintings and illustrations?
Olimpia Zagnoli: I think i can describe my works saying they're made of illustration and graphic design inspired by the 50/60s with an eye on music, design and food.

TP: What artists have influenced you, and how?
Olimpia Zagnoli: My heroes are Picasso, Jim Flora, Saul Bass, Matisse, Bruno Munari and many more. I think they all deal with a sparkling and colorful interpretation of the "less is more" concept.

TP: What inspires you to paint/illustrate and how do you keep motivated when things get tough in the studio?
Olimpia Zagnoli: I take inspiration from television, real life, food packaging, vintage advertising, Italian design, my sister, song lyrics and so on. And when the things are getting though, I always focus on myself as an eighty years old lady still working on her sketchbook in her dusty room. That's what I want to be.

TP: How have you handled the business side of being an artist? Olimpia Zagnoli: Usually my friend Livia does math for me, the bank makes the rest and then I have to face the hard work of spending all that money in shoes, books and candies.

TP: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Olimpia Zagnoli: In 10 years I’d like to: live by my own, be a rock star, have a baby called "Arancia" (it means "Orange" in Italian) and of course be a famous (FAMOUS) illustrator.

TP: Which artists and which illustrations are your favorites, and why?
Olimpia Zagnoli: I go crazy for illustrations with a lot of objects inside like Richard Scarry used to do and I love food illustrations made by unknown artists from the fifties and the sixties. You can find some example in "my favorites" page on Flickr. I also live for two/three-colored illustrations.

TP: What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
Olimpia Zagnoli:
• Draw every fucking day.
• Get a visual culture.
• Be serious.
• Enjoy your snack time.

Hop on over to her web site: www.olimpiazagnoli.com and discover amazing characters and atmospheres… powerful and enchanting images that just oozes with magic.

About The New Interpol Album

Interpol might not be very good at choosing a cover for their new album ‘Our Love To Admire’, but for those who are familiar with this wonderful Indie rock band, can clearly notice that they have changed their image. Musically speaking, Interpol hasn’t changed much compared to their previous releases, but they have done a much better job at perfecting their sound and song writing.

Personally, I think Interpol is one of the finest Indie rock bands out there and this new album being the latest addition to my music collection. I believe the strongest song of the album is "Rest My Chemistry" (the song is too new for me to post)… probably one of the best songs I’ve heard from them since their debut album ‘Turn Up The Bright Lights’.

'PDA' - From their debut album 'Turn Up The Bright Lights'

The band does a good job at implementing a few new sounds to their songs without losing their identity. This is not yet my favorite Interpol album, but it certainly has the potential. It is quite a pleasure to hear.
If you like Indie rock, I highly recommend it.

'Slow Hands' - From their second album 'Antics'

For your information, Interpol will be visiting South Florida sometime next month, an event that I will be broadcasting for all of you.

A CEO's Salary: Then And Now

Visit this site for more infographics.

Via Notcot

Ikea Opens a No Charge Hostel For Shoppers

Yep, you read that right! Now Ikea is opening up in Oslo, a free Ikea Hostel for shoppers who want to stay overnight so they can continue shopping the next morning.

It will have standard and luxury suites, including all the accommodations a normal hostel would bring. Guests also get to keep their sheets, slippers and bathrobes as a souvenir. Many Norwegians could consider this the ultimate getaway.

Spectacular Building

This bizarre structure looks abandoned, but looking at it from a design standpoint, I think this is a really cool building. It was featured in the exhibition "Spectacular City" at the NAI in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It was displayed only as a photo exhibition, without giving any information about the architect or location. I did my little research and this wonderful structure is the Department of Transportation in Tifflis, Georgia... designed by Z. Djalagania and G. Tschachawa back in 1976.

Photo credit: NAI

Another Open Letter

Dear girl with a brand new cellphone:

Can you please not test all your 40+ cellphone ring tones while you’re in a nice, fancy lounge? I was having a conversation with my friends while trying to enjoy a Warsteiner the night of my birthday when you spent some good 15 minutes choosing a new ring tone.

Then you ended up choosing an awful Jessica Simpson ring tone and set it up real loud so you can hear your phone ring… great.

Can’t you turn down the volume a little bit?

Thanks,

Jamie

Tonight...

Well, posting has been low on the priority list tonight. I will probably be out of town for business for about a week and I've been getting ready for it.
I tried to post a couple of times, but I decided I was too busy for words and the world of blogs was better off with no post at all.
I will be posting during the week though, so for now, I leave you with an old The Simpsons clip.



Feel free to visit the archives...

My Birthday

So, today I am 28 years old... 28, yikes!
Being 28 years old confirms something that I’ve been suspecting for a while: I am in my late 20’s.

Yep. 27 was a great year of fame, fortune, rock and roll, expensive traveling with style, surrounded at all times by Paul Banks, John Krasinski, Daniel Craig... well, the last one is not true... okay, okay! none of this is true with the exception of the rock and roll part.

But one thing is true, I feel good about my life so far up to 28. I have a degree and two jobs: writing (which I enjoy the most) and working as a production planner.





[The picture on the left is when I graduated from high school. During that time, I was already working as an animal handler for the local circus.]


I have a great family. I have really cool friends (special thanks to Lety, Anny, Kim, Henry, Brian, Paola, Fran, Ari, and Karen). I also got the gifts I asked for, and more:

• A piece of chocolate cake… Check!
(Thanks, Ari.)










• Phone calls, emails, comments and/or a visit to congratulate me and to tell me how awesome I am… Check!










• A pack of diet Coke or Pepsi… Check!
• Flowers… Check!
• A slice of pizza at Andiamo. - This one is coming soon, so… Check!
• A bottle of Warsteiner. Killian or Bass at the local bar… Check!

• A bowl of Atlanta Bread Company's pumpkin soup… didn’t get it but there was plenty of food, so no need for soup.








The picture below was taken when I was around 1 year old. As you can see, I've been a little chubby most of my life (in this picture I was probably looking at a piece of chocolate that someone was eating).

To sum up, my birthday weekend was great! I had an awesome time with friends and family.

Thank you everyone for all your birthday wishes.

Pika Pika

"Pika Pika 2007" is an experimental film created by taking long-exposure photographs of people waving flashlights and stitching the photos together. It was made by Takeshi Nagata and Kazue Monno. You can view the short film here as well as some previous clips created by the duo and their crew, at Pika Pika.

This Is How Much I Care About Lindsay Lohan

Some Ads Just Don't Make Any Sense...

Company: HSBC
Headline: "Are you ready for an upgrade?"
Product: 'Premier' accounts.
Ad Image: Four boys jumping in the water from a bridge.
The Point: I have nooo idea. Can somebody explain to me?
[Click on image for bigger view]












Image: Copyranter

Muppets: 'All Through The Night'

I used to be a fan of The Muppets back in the days when I was a little kid... I still am. Now that I think about it, maybe the reason why I love music so much is because of the Muppets drummer, Animal!. Love that guy!
If this video doesn't make you shake your pompoms, then you have no heart!
Enjoy!

From The Music Department

‘Monster Hospital’ - Metric
Driving, catchy, scary and original, it grabs you right away! I absolutely love rock bands with a girl as lead singer. This song is one of my favorite songs of the summer.

’Paris’ – Tacks, The Boy Disaster

Talk about beautiful… holly crap! This song gives me the chills. I don’t like to pick favorites, but if you only download one of these songs, download this one! Keep this band in mind… it will be a Featured Artist at The Pompomist in the following weeks.

‘Rest My Chemistry’ - Interpol

I got their new album ‘Our Love To Admire’ just a few days ago, and it truly rocks! Interpol is one of my absolute favorite Indie bands. I actually haven’t been able to get past this song, which has been stuck in my head since I picked up the album.

’Lazy Lover’ – Brazilian Girls

This song is so soothing, so wonderful, it should’ve been used in a movie. So ambient, I actually float away when I listen to it, physically and mentally.

‘The other Man’ - Sloan

Is there another band out there like Sloan? One capable of writing a song about cheating that is both cool and rocks? I don’t think so. This song has been added recently to my ‘Getting ready to go out’ playlist… Why? I don’t know… I just simply like it. My Canadian friend Chris mentioned this song a few days ago on her weblog The Scottish Lemon.

The Swear Jar

Two Apartment Blocks On The Coast

This building look sort of like an optical illusion, right? Well, this nice looking structure, located in Izola, Slovenia, is actually affordable housing for young families and couples. The building, designed by Ofis Arhitekti, was nominated for a Mies van der Rohe award last year. It contains 30 units of various sizes ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments.

The apartments are small, given that the investors aimed to construct this as low budget housing. The main purpose of the trapezoidal-shaped balconies is to offer a nice view directly to the sea even when the blinds are closed.

World's Best Shoe Store Designs

So which one is your favorite?













Via Cool Hunter

Perforated Curtains

This beautiful perforated, rolled-up, black-out curtain, called Better View, was designed by Finnish interior designer Elina Aalto. She's part of the Fiasko Design team. Each piece is custom made by hand.

This curtain design is part of SAUMA , a traveling exhibition created by the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York. SAUMA is currently at the Los Angeles Architecture and Design Museum until August 28.

How To Make Shadow Sculptures

Do you remember that article I posted a few days ago about the artwork of some shadow sculpture artists? Well, here are the step-by-step instructions to create your own shadow sculpture. Here's the link!