01. Ridley Scott Ready To Direct New Version Of Seminal Sci-Fi Film ‘Blade Runner’

“After revisiting his classic Alien with the upcoming 3D Fox film Prometheus, Ridley Scott is committing to direct and produce a film that advances his other seminal and groundbreaking science fiction film. Scott has signed on to direct and produce a new installment of Blade Runner. He’ll make the film with Alcon Entertainment, producing with Alcon partners Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove. This would be the most high profile project for Alcon since The Blind Side. They got control of the franchise earlier this year, but it’s a whole different ballgame with Scott at the helm.” (deadline)

02. Lego to release VW Westfalia camper van model this fall (above)
“Lego will pay tribute to the Volkswagen Westfalia camper with a new kit that goes on sale in October. The model is based on a 1962 Volkswagen Bus with the sought-after pop-top camper option. The interior even features a sink and dinette, along with the all important bench seat-cum-double bed.” (autoblog)

03. Report: News Corp. execs bracing for possible James Murdoch departure

“If things already weren’t looking good for James Murdoch, they’re looking even worse now that the phone-hacking scandal is picking up steam again. Speculation is rising that the 39-year-old son of News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch may have attempted to cover up the misdeeds of journalists at the embattled company.” (thecutline)

04. List of inventors killed by their own inventions

“This is a list of inventors whose deaths were in some manner caused by or related to a product, process, procedure, or other innovation that they invented or designed.” (coudal>wikipedia)

01. Video: R/C car takes hydroplaning to a new level

“Yes, we all remember the classic scene from Speed Zone (also known as Cannonball Run 3 or Cannonball Fever) where the old man is out at the lake teaching his little grandson to skip stones. Just as he’s instructing on how to throw the stone at the correct angle, the training session is interrupted by a red Lamborghini Countach that flies off a short pier, skips across the water and ends up safely on the other side…” (autoblog)

02. Study confirms: Some people are way too invested in their favorite brand

“The study claims that people with high “self-brand connections” were more likely to perceive personal psychological injury when their brand was attacked, while those same people were likely to gloss over or ignore negative news concerning their brand.” (tuaw)

03.T-Mobile announces deal to sell prepaid at Family Dollar, costs more than a dollar

HOTD “A Radio Shack lost is a Family Dollar gained. Now that T-Mobile’s ended its allegiance with The Shack, the carrier’s looking for a few new companies willing to hoist its prepaid service up on a pedestal. Family Dollar, following in the footsteps of 7-Eleven, will be the next business to dole out the LG GS170 blister packs on T-Mo’s behalf. The phones will be sold for $30 and come with a $50 / month plan that consists of unlimited calls, texts, and 100MB data. With such a large emphasis now being placed on its no-contract offerings, we can’t help but wonder if this is the result of T-Mobile making an adjustment in its strategy. Any other companies want a piece of the prepaid pie?” (engadget)

04. Fucked Up – “The Other Shoe” Video (above)

01. Woodbury Dermatology Clinic / archimania

“The Tennessee firm, archimania, have designed an accessible, retail inspired dermatology clinic for their forward-thinking client. Set in a “sea of retail”, the clinic had to be warm and inviting, while still being uniquely modern.” (archdaily)

02. Universiade Sports Center by GMP Architects

“The overall complex is laid out as an extensive landscaped park with typical elements of a traditional Chinese garden. Watercourses and plants symbolize movement and development, while crystalline structures in the form of stones and rocks represent continuity and stability. The dialogue between the fluid landscape shapes and the expressive architecture of the stadia constitutes the conceptual framework of the design. The crystalline shape of the three stadia is additionally emphasized by the illumination of the translucent facades at night.” (contemporist)

03. Trace of Shadow Tableware by Kijtanes Kajornrattanadech (above)

“Recent Central Saint Martins graduate Kijtanes Kajornrattanadech has created a collection of porcelain tableware and metal cutlery with outlines of shadows, in the form of black mats, that are both symbolic and functional.” (moco)

04. The Manual

“Digital design is a precocious discipline, growing up faster than anyone could have imagined and not afraid to mix it with its more established peers. Now Andy McMillan of Fiction has created The Manual, a new printed publication looking at this ever-growing field of expertise, charting its progress and celebrating its successes. We caught up with Jez Burrows, It’s Nice That contributor and designer of The Manual to find out more.” (itsnicethat)

01. Church in a tree

“This is Chêne Chappelle, a large tree holding a small church in the French village of Allouville-Bellefosse. Today, worshippers entered the tree for the Assumption of the Virgin. ” (boing)

02. Newswordy

“Buzzwords are frequently used in news media. These are words that do not typically occur in everyday speech, but are common among newscasters, talking heads, and pundits on cable news. Newswordy is a growing collection of these words, updated every weekday. Along with each word is a definition, a quote with its use (or misuse) in the media, and a news and Twitter feed on the subject.” (coudal)

03. Alarm Clock by Punkt

“The AC 01 alarm clock by Jasper Morrison, designed for electronics manufacturer Punkt, was envisioned as a no-nonsense item, reduced to its essentials. The purpose of this design is to reintroduce us to the traditional alarm clock and stir us away from using a cell phone as a waking devise. With this simple timepiece by our bedside there will be no fumbling around in the dark, no radiation, and no unwanted calls in the middle of the night.” (minimalissimo)

04. Just How Green Is Your Bicycle Commute? (above)

“With bike sharing and committed bike lanes on the rise, it seems like biking would be the no-brainer option for an eco-friendly commute, and yet some critics ponder if biking is actually better than taking the bus or a cab. But fear not, bike riders of the world. The evidence is in at Slate.com, and it is convincing: biking is the greenest way to get to work.” ” (inhabitant)

01. Danzig Legacy show coming to NYC & CA

“Danzig has scheduled a “Legacy” show in NYC at Hammerstein Ballroom. “Legacy” = Danzig material, Samhain material, and Danzig performing Misfits with fellow original Misfit Doyle von Frankenstein Tickets for “Danzig – The Legacy Tour” at Hammerstein Ballroom on Oct 29th are on sale now. Tickets also just went on sale for for an October 23rd Gwar show. It’s going to be a Happy Halloween (I just wish Pete Steele would come back from the grave and schedule a Type O show that week too).” (brooklynvegan)

02. Sigur Rós’ Inni Is a Film (above)

“Yesterday, we reported on a mysterious teaser video that was posted to Sigur Rós’ website for something called Inni. What is Inni? Well, The Playlist reports that Inni is a film directed by Vincent Morisset (Arcade Fire’s Miroir Noir) that’s set to screen as part of Venice Days, an offshoot of the Venice Film Festival, which kicks off on August 31.” (pitchfork)

03. VIDEO PLAYLIST: 40 Classic Lollapalooza Clips, Including Rare Footage of Nick Cave, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam and More

“Since self-titled skipped Lollapalooza this year, we thought we’d do something that’s way more entertaining than a wrap-up involving Coldplay, Eminem, and Fall Out Boy’s very own Patrick Stump. And that’s a thorough collection of live clips from the festival’s golden era, including such random MTV-related selections as Billy Corgan interviewing Nick Cave and L7 doing their best John Norris impression…” (self-titled)

04. R.I.P. Jani Lane

“Jani Lane, lead singer of glammed up rock outfit Warrant, was found dead at the Comfort Inn hotel in Woodland Hills, CA. No official cause of death has been released so far, according to TMZ. He was 47. Jani was at the forefront of a flock of very famous, very pretty frontmen, a singer of MTV-staple power ballads like “Heaven” and absurdly excessive sex-innuendo rock like “Cherry Pie.” Both of his band’s first two albums, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich and Cherry Pie, went double platinum. Then Nirvana happened. Warrant will not go down as one of America’s most artistic bands, nor one of its best, but Jani helped define and represent a particular, and briefly, very commercially viable strain of lipstick machismo, alongside the likes of Bret Michaels and Sebastian Bach (harder as he may have rocked).” (stereogum)

01. DIY Dining Table

“After completing my first DIY desk using hairpin legs, I instantly dreamed about making a round dining table. I had to wait months until we moved, but I never stopped daydreaming about how perfect it would be, and even started buying supplies before we moved into the new place.” (For Me, For You)

02. Glodeane and Barry

“I miss Glodeane. As Barry White’s muse and inspiration for a number of years, the Long Beach, California, native, along with her sister, Linda, developed their skills as vocalists in the church choir before meeting up with their third–Linda Taylor. Together, the girls worked as the Croonettes, making their way as best they could in a world where there was no shortage of black, girl singers, until providence arrived in the form of blue-suited, big-chested, and marcelled Barry White (1944-2003). The ultimate impresario signed them to a deal, and produced two of the most unforgettable soul records of the nineteen-seventies: “Walking In The Rain (With The One I Love),” And “I Belong To You.” (Et Als)

03. Ghostface Killah Sues Universal

“Last month, we reported that TV composer Jack Urbont was suing Ghostface Killah because Ghost’s 2000 album Supreme Clientele allegedly unlawfully sampled “The Iron Man Theme”, which Urbont wrote for the 1960s TV show “The Marvel Super-Heroes”. At the same time as Ghost fends off that lawsuit, he’s filing one of his own. Billboard reports that Ghost is suing the Universal Music Group for unpaid royalties.” (Pitchfork)

04. Dennis Rodman to Enter Hall of Fame Via Helicopter

“Earlier this week, there was a bit of a letdown when we learned that Dennis Rodman would be on his best behavior during his Hall of Fame ceremony. But fear not, the event will not be a bore.

It will be featuring Dennis Rodman after all, as the headliner no less.” (Slam Online)

01. Sony/PIAS Warehouse Burnt Down in UK Riots

“A Sony distribution warehouse in North London was burned to the ground around 4:00 a.m. GMT this morning during the third straight night of riots in the UK. The 200,000 square-foot center housed the entire inventory of PIAS UK, the primary distribution hub for more than 150 independent labels.

No injuries were reported in the blaze, but all inventory is feared lost. XL/Beggars, Warp, Rough Trade, Domino, 4AD, Sub Pop, Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, Drag City, Thrill Jockey, FatCat, Kompakt, Mute, Ninja Tune, Vice, and Soul Jazz are among those affected.” (Pitchfork)

02. Round and Round (Pictured Above)

“When you think about light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins, the first phrase that comes to mind is, no doubt, “fashion model.” He’s such a pretty boy, that one. So naturally he — along with junior welterweight Amir Khan and amateur standout Roberto Cammarelle — is now modeling Prada sunglasses. Usually, as Don Steinberg pointed out, a boxer wearing shades is trying to cover up a big old bruised eye, so it’s an interesting choice by Prada, to say the least.” (Queensbury Rules)

03. Precious Things Aren’t Always Perfect: Why The Queen Is Dead Is No Classic

“One month on from the 25th anniversary of The Queen Is Dead, and the rhapsodising has finally started to subside. For even without the added boon of that quarter-of-a-century milestone, we’re told that the LP is The Smiths’ magnum-opus; their most divine creation; their definitive album; nay, the definitive indie album of the last two-and-a-half decades, bar none. With snaps of Morrissey, Marr et al outside the Salfords Lads’ Club adorning nearly every music mag and enraptured editorial gushing forth from blogs and broadsheets alike, trying to ignore The Queen Is Dead last month was akin to pretending that there wasn’t some shindig or other taking place at Worthy Farm.” (The Quietus)

04. Eugene McDaniels: Dance For Freedom

“Eugene McDaniels passed away this past Saturday, at the age of 72. I can’t do his long and illustrious career proper justice – most of what I know of his catalog constitutes a small fraction of the total number of songs he wrote and recorded. However, the few McDaniels songs I’m most familiar with rank among some of the most interesting and socially relevant I know of.” (Soul Sides)

01. Design History Of The Budweiser Can

“In its role as the great American beer–or self-described ‘King Of Beers’–Budweiser has come a long way from being a steel-canned, eagle claw-adorned beverage for Americans in the mid-1930′s. It has become an iconic, global brand that continues to grow. This week, Anheuser Busch-partnered with London-based agency JKR to redesign the Bud can in order to embrace its growing global success and resonate with consumers around the world.” (psfk)

02. Metropolis II by Chris Burden (the movie) (above)

This is amazing. “A short doc about a kinetic sculpture that took four years to build. We had the honor of spending three days in Chris Burden’s studio filming this sculpture before it was moved to the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art (LACMA) where it is being reinstalled.
The installation opens fall 2011.” (youtube)

03. Sex Doll Swimming Race

“A sex doll as a means of transportation!’ That was a slogan of the annual race on inflatable sex dolls that took place next to Saint-Petersburg on August 6. Over 800 people were willing to see how the dolls can swim.” (englishrussia)

04. An Appreciation of Menus: Art of the Menu

“The folks over at Under Consideration (the astute parent co. examining all things graphic design through Speak Up, the Design Encyclopedia and Brand New) noticed, and have begun to catalog menus from around the world in a new blog, Art of the Menu.” (core77)

01. Stream a new Flying Lotus mix

“To mark the occasion, FlyLo has posted a mix of Thundercat material on the Brainfeeder site, under the name ‘Shenanigans Pt. 2′. In Lotus’s words, ‘I thought it would be good to get you familiar with the man who’s contributed his unique sound to so many records I love. Here’s some things, a prelude to the LP. Some new, some you might know, some we may never release.’” (factmagazine)

02. How Islamic punk went from fiction to reality

“Islamic punk was just an idea in a novel by a disaffected Muslim convert – but for the bands he inspired around the world the scene became real. Now, as The Taqwacores is about to be released, has the scene already betrayed its ideals?” (guardian uk)

03. Björk – Crystalline(Omar Souleyman Remix) (above)

An absolute banger of a remix from Syria’s Omar Souleyman of Bjork’s “Crystalline.” There may not be a better remix this year. You also get to hear a Souleyman track in hifi (his CDs are a collection of tape and 4-track recordings). (youtube)

04. Morbid Angel Vinyl Reissued
“Not much to say about Morbid Angel. This band is an undisputed genre heavyweight, and their new material has been, well, not as good as the four albums being reissued here. Altars of Madness, Blessed Are the Sick, Covenant, and Domination are all being served up on colored vinyl in gatefold jackets thanks to Earache Records. Lots of limited colors have already disappeared, so apologies to the collectors. But if you just want to actually listen to these classic albums on vinyl” (omgvinyl)

06. Around The Classical Internet: August 5, 2011

“Conductor and Mostly Mozart Festival music director Louis Langree is a good sport for answering the same query over and over again: What are his five favorite pieces by Mozart? (During the August news slump, everyone loves the listicles!)” (nprmusic)

01. shingo masuda+katsuhisa otsubo + yuta shimada: little hilltop with wind view (Pictured)

“Tokyo-based practice shingo masuda+katsuhisa otsubo architects has shared with us images of ‘little hilltop with wind view’, an 8 meter-tall viewing tower on the hill of a wind farm in shimonoseki city, japan. a collaborative effort with japanese architect yuta shimada, the design offers a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape that highlights other elements of the site such as the wind, flowers and clouds.” (designboom)

02. The Life & Times Of M. Serge Gainsbourg

“It’s 20 years since Serge Gainsbourg died, an event that went practically unnoticed in Britain both on the day it happened and on the anniversary, though across La Manche, March 2nd 1991 was a day of mourning unparalleled. The language used then by François Mitterrand – “He was our Baudelaire, our Apollinaire… he elevated the song to the level of art” – was not dissimilar to the gushing “people’s Princess” rhetoric deployed by Tony Blair when Diana Wales also died unexpectedly in Paris one night in the 1990s. Though politicians are adept at wringing the auspices of a good tragedy to help boost their own popularity, the high praise afforded Gainsbourg by the president was seemingly genuine towards a man who was often boorish, drunk, a philanderer, agent provocateur and general pain in the arse who got a hard-on pushing the buttons of the establishment whenever he could. The people of France loved him in spite of his bad boy behaviour, and somehow always found a way to forgive.” (The Quietus)

03. How Islamic punk went from fiction to reality

“There was a time when the words “Muslim radical” painted a clear enough picture – a young man strapped with explosives, perhaps, or a bearded cleric calling for Sharia law from Land’s End to John O’Groats. But things have changed. The protestors of the Arab Spring are both Muslim and radical, as are the bungling jihadis of Chris Morris’s movie Four Lions. And now a new film, The Taqwacores, attempts to further stretch the definition.” (Guardian)

04. Bouba/Kiki Thought Experiment

“Went to Bar Pitti last night with Malu and Will, and at some point one of them asked, regarding the many waiters running in and out, “Do you have to speak Italian (or be Italian?) to work here?”

I replied, “Imagine if they weren’t. Imagine if the menu and the specials scrawled on the little backboard were all in English—and there’s no reason they couldn’t be—would it be the same experience?” (David Byrne’s Journal)