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Found a pdf that NASA released detailing the cargo that Space X's Dragon capsule brought up to the ISS on May 25th. All in total, Dragon's cargo weighed in at 1455 pounds including packing materials. Space X says that the average cost of a trip for Dragon to reach the ISS will be $133 million, so that calculates to $91,000 per pound for this trip. 

640968main_spacex_manifest_042012.pdf Download this file

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'kok' by japanese practice ICU architects office (naoyuki nagata) is a three-storey collective 
residential project in chofu city, tokyo, japan. integrating void forms in a three-dimensional 
composition between units, the design is a practice in generating private and communal space
that enables the inhabitants to 'come together' while maintaining a relationship with the urban 
context of the city.

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site area: 342 m2
building area: 160 m2
total floor area: 489 m2
storeys: 3
structure: reinforced concrete

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There are 6 people on the ISS right now.

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Director: Mischa Rozema
Production Co: PostPanic
Agency: Sek Grey (Finland)

The retro-feel present throughout the commercial, comes from the JAFFA brand itself. On the Finnish market since 1949, the orange drink is still in the top 3 of most popular soft drinks in the country. JAFFA is part of Hartwall, which is owned by Heineken International.

Director Mischa Rozema wanted to create a commercial based on Bruun’s legacy. This time though, Mischa had to base his visual direction on someone else’s graphic aesthetic rather than his own. The result, another trademark visually unique mixed media film, combining live action with 2d/3d animation, motion graphics, stock footage and visual effects.  His background in graphic design and an intense admiration of film, set him on a path of creating unusual visual directions by combining whatever technique was available, be it live action, CG or motion graphics. Today Mischa is best known for his ability to take seemingly ordinary projects in unexpected creative directions.

I had the opportunity to ask Mischa Rozema a few questions regarding his work on this production and how it was working with the internationally awarded 85 year old graphic designer Erik Bruun.

RL: Given that Erik Bruun was a major influence over the aesthetics of the commercial, how important was the retro-feel to the JAFFA brand?

MR: Very important. It's what the commercial is about. Not about new flavors or other fuzziness. This is about getting in touch with that old school Jaffa feeling. The way you might have experienced it as a kid. Bruun's illustrations transcends advertising. His work really reaches personal memories for anyone familiar with the brand

RL: Was Erik Brunn content with all the production decisions regarding the commercial or did he have any suggestions?

MR: Erik was really happy throughout the process. Our job was to translate his illustrations into animations. A thing he's never experienced before so he was really corporative. We also spend a lot of time to recreate is actual working environment so he really felt at home.

RL: How difficult was it for you to base his visual direction using someone else's graphic aesthetic? 

MR: It was the first time ever but not difficult at all. I love his contemporary style. It was a challenge to animate and extrapolate his 2d drawings into a 3d environment without losing Erik's soul.

RL: What equipment and software was used in the production of this commercial? 

MR: All footage was shot on a RED camera at 4K resolution. Graphics and compositing were done in After Effects. 3D and animation in Maya.

http://www.postpanic.net/

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Agency: DDB Belgium
Creative Director: Peter Aerts
Art Director: Johan Van Oeckel
Copywriter: Bart Van Goethem
Graphic Designers: Isabelle De Vos, Phyl Bautzer
Account Team: Sylvie De Couvreur, Francis Lippen

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This is believed to be the iceberg that sank the Titanic on April 14-15, 1912. The photograph was taken from the deck of the Western Union Cable Ship, Mackay Bennett, commanded by Captain DeCarteret. The Mackay Bennett was one of the first ships to reach the scene of the Titanic disaster. According to Captain DeCarteret, this was the only berg at the scene of the sinking when he arrived. It was assumed, therefore, that it was responsible for the sea tragedy. The glancing collision with the iceberg caused Titanic's hull plates to buckle inward in a number of locations on her starboard side and opened five of her sixteen watertight compartments to the sea. Over the next two and a half hours, the ship gradually filled with water and sank.

Titanic at 100 Years - The Big Picture

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A brief overview of how the Absolute towers came to be.

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Zira Island is a 1,000,000 sq meter island In the Caspian Sea that will soon be developed into an incredible eco-community and sustainably built resort. Master-planned by Denmark-based BIG Architects, the carbon-neutral eco-island is based on the seven peaks of Azerbaijan and its mountainous ecosystems. Located in the bay of the capital city Baku, Zira Island is a ferry ride away from a growing metropolis and will stand as an example to a region so dependent on oil, that it is possible to live off the wind and sun.

BIG Architects‘ Zira Island will feature seven major structures modeled after the peaks of Azerbaijan that are connected by trails, greenbelts and the coastline. The Seven Peaks will each house a residential development and public space, and there will also be 300 private villas near a golf course in the central valley. Zira’s new skyline of organic buildings will resemble a mountain range that merges with the natural topography of the island.

Mipim_brochure.pdf Download this file

Read more: Azerbaijan’s Carbon Neutral Zira Island – Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

via Inhabitat

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There are two rules for success:

  1) Never reveal everything you know

Pop_Art_Blue.mp3 Listen on Posterous

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Danish architect Bjarke Ingels rockets through photo/video-mingled stories of his eco-flashy designs. His buildings not only look like nature -- they act like nature: blocking the wind, collecting solar energy -- and creating stunning views.

Get the book on Amazon

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St. Lucia is the project of Johannesburg-born Jean-Philip Grobler. After leaving South Africa for Liverpool, and Liverpool for Williamsburg, Grobler settled into making the music that would eventually become the basis for St. Lucia.

'Before the Dive' is an eclectic mix of straightforward pop with the '80s prog sensibility of Peter Gabriel and a light dusting of tropicalia, as the name St. Lucia suggests.

04_Before_The_Dive.mp3 Listen on Posterous

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Monocle 24 is a pacy, global mix of current affairs, business, culture and design. In addition to the global news coverage and weather it also features some of the best new artists making it one of the best radio streams available for free. From Seoul to Stockholm, Monocle selects an international playlist to fill your day (or night) with sounds from classic bossa to J-pop to the latest remixes from Berlin. The only problem I had was that Monocle 24 is only available through a web browser. A standalone app makes the radio stream easily accessible while keeping your desktop clutter free. Enjoy. 

Download Monocle 24 (OSX)

Monocle

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Decided to give tilt-shift photography a shot. Fun fact, you can make out the Center Pompidou if you look closely.

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