01. In pictures: The Yakuza (pictured)

“Belgian Photographer Anton Kusters has spent two years with one of Japan’s notorious Yakuza gangs, known for their brutality, tattoos and strict code of honour.” (BBC)

02. ‘24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz’ begins with bang

“If you had power while Hurricane Irene had her way Saturday night, I hope you watched HBO’s first episode of “24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz.” If you lost power, make it a point to catch a replay or watch the show on demand. Even if you’re not a boxing fan, this is great television.

This one was about as riveting as it gets — and was maybe the best episode of “24/7″ ever.” (ESPN)

03. Behind the scenes at Fantastic Man

Paul Barbera takes a look at the offices of Fantastic Man. (Where They Create)

04. Lana Del Rey

“Lana Del Rey is old-school Hollywood glamor meets splice-friendly YouTube culture with a fair share of coquettish attitude and smoke-parlor Stevie Nicks vocals thrown in. She became a blog concern this spring after her visual for creaking, strung-out Best New Track “Video Games” caught eyes and ears. The clip, created by Del Rey herself, shows its star pouting into her webcam as found footage of skateboarders, drunk starlets, and American flags flicker by. The juxtaposition of its seemingly-put-together singer and its DIY aesthetic proved intriguing.” (Pitchfork)

01. Hair Salon Defends Domestic Violence Ad, but Apologizes Too

“A hair salon in Edmonton, Alberta, is getting quite snippy this week following international outrage (OK, outrage in the U.S. and Canada) over a new ad that features a woman with a black eye getting a diamond necklace from her partner. “Look good in all you do,” says the ad for the Fluid salon—a somewhat ambiguous suggestion which, to its detractors, implies that it’s OK to get beaten up as long as your hair remains pretty (or judging by the photo, maybe just a little bushy on the sides). Advertisers in this situation usually cut and run, pull the ad and slink back off into obscurity. But store owner Sarah Cameron is playing by a different rule book. On Monday, she was indignant” (adweek)

02. World’s Oldest Person Found Thriving in the Amazon
“While the Amazon rainforest is certainly known to be teeming with life, it turns out that the people who live there are too. Maria Lucimar Pereira, an indigenous Amazonian belonging to the Kaxinawá tribe of western Brazil, will soon be celebrating her birthday — her 121st birthday, to be exact. The truth behind Pereira’s remarkable longevity was recently discovered by the Brazilian government while performing a routine review of birth records — which, in her case, date back to 1890 — making her the world’s oldest living person. And the best part of all? Pereira credits her long-life to an all-natural diet derived wholly from the Amazon.” (treehugger)

03. iVictrola

“We’ve seen our fair share of non-electronic sound amplifiers, but never one this… grand. The iVictrola ($985) merges an antique Magnavox phonograph horn with two pieces of American walnut along with your iPad to create what’s basically a giant megaphone for its normally not-that-loud speaker, filling your space with sound without using a drop of electricity. Available this November in limited numbers.” (uncrate)

04. Fake Iraq Applestore

“This bodes well for Iraq’s post-war recovery: the once-and-kind-of-still-ravaged nation is now doing well enough to boast counterfeit haute electronics stores in its malls. This one looks a little… off, though.” (gizmodo)

01. Mobolaji: Man of Many Styles

“The story of Mobolaji Dawodu is one of a well-traveled individual that’s experienced and realized that this world as a whole, shares more similarities than differences. Currently residing in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights by way of Nigeria, and a few places in between, Dawodu has always leaned towards the arenas of style and fashion. Dawodu’s insight is deeply rooted in an affirming culture and family that would only assist in molding his direction and place in this cyclical and fickle fashion industry.” (Brooklyn Circus)

02. Bookshelf: Richard Embray

“As publishers who seek a happy medium between championing writers or artists who have been erroneously overlooked and the brilliantly considered Familiars series which reintroduces us to the classics – it is safe to say that Four Corners Books know their stuff. The wonderfully original interpretations include illustrated books for adults, Dracula and Vanity Fair being notable, and some great referential art book editions – like Eduardo Paolozzi and Sister Corita. We invited Richard Embray, one half of the Four Corners duo, to pick five books from his shelves and in turn, offer an insight into their own publishing motivations.” (It’s Nice That)

03. Rappers Who’ve Collaborated With Michael Jackson

“Today, August 29th, marks the Born Day of the one and only late, great King of Pop, Michael Joseph Jackson. Though frequently sampled for rap songs MJ himself has only collaborated with rappers a handful of times in his illustrious career (and we don’t mean those “remixes” everybody and their cousin throws up on youtube). Originally published in ego trip’s Book of Rap Lists, here we re-present (with a few unreleased curiosities) an official run down of those emcees truly down with the King. MJ RIP.” (Egotripland)

04. RETRO (AND HUMAN/ANIMAL HYBRIDS)

“We don’t fixate on the new. We certainly fixate on the next, but that’s not necessarily progressive, just a movement or artifact that’s reproduced 1:1 to fill a gap before we’re onto the next slice of past that’s superfluous yet very necessary. I’m not too troubled by the absence of space cars. I’m alarmed at things I felt were borderline contemporary being deemed “old school” but that’s part of the ageing process, where we’re two steps from being embarrassing dad despite our best efforts to stay “down.” I’m curious to know why we like to recycle old movements though — this blog is defiantly steeped in ancient and unnecessary things because I still can’t shake off those preoccupations.” (Gwarizm)

01. Seven Independent Coffee Roasters

“Thanks to the likes of Portland’s Stumptown and Chicago’s Intelligentsia, the favor of independent micro-roasters over corporate coffee houses is not only seen among connoisseurs but mainstream Americans as well. To survey the latest we’ve dedicated our morning—and afternoon and evening—cups of coffee to finding the best artisinal purveyors from across the U.S. Below is a selection of seven cups of black gold that will not only keep your moving, but taste good too.” (coolhunting)

02. Forum Frenzy: Ekranoplans and Other Military Monsters

“An interesting thread for military buffs and transport geeks is lighting up the discussion boards. Check out halocooter’s link to a livejournal post with incredible images of the MD-160 ekranoplan, one of the largest sea planes ever constructed weighing in at over 400 tons. Share about the history of ground effect aircraft or other monster-sized military vehicles over on the discussion forum and check the pics ” (core77)

03. Writer’s Studio Cooper Joseph Studio

“Located in the woods near the owner’s main house, this one-room personal retreat is sculptural and abstract in its form, but traditional in use of materials. The client, a scientist, wanted open views out to the corners so that from his desk looking south to the fireplace, he could see the full expanse of his property.” (archrecord)

04. Yuri Suzuki: Three Radio Theremin

“Fans of comedian Bill Bailey will be well-versed in the musical potential of the theremin, an instrument usually associated with 1960s psychadelic rock. Now the curators of Object Abuse at The KK Outlet have challenged a roster of top artists and designers to reimagine everyday objects as something else, and the mercurial Yuri Suzuki has produced his very own theremin, using three ordinary radios. It has certainly set a high standard for the rest of the show, which opens next week.” (itsnicethat)

01. The questionable birth of Times New Roman

“Times New Roman has, as we know, become the default type for everything from school term papers to magazines. It’s usually attributed to Stanley Morison, who “oversaw” the design for The Times of London newspaper in the 1930s. (Their previous font was, appropriately, Times Old Roman.)” (boingboing)

02. AD Classics: Moscow Metro / Robert Pogrebnoi and Yuriy Zenkivich (above)

“The city of Moscow experienced a huge size and population boom following the industrial development and railway construction of the late 19th century. At this time, horse-drawn cars and trams were the main form of transportation, but soon the horses were not enough to fuel the city’s rapid expansion. As a result, plans were made for development of a new peripheral ring railway that would carry freight throughout the city. Many years later, underground lines for passengers were linked to the original railway. These lines quickly turned the railway into a booming metropolitan transit center, eventually becoming what is today known as the Moscow Metro. More on the development of the Moscow Metro after the break.” (archdaily)

03. Where and How We Work

“There is something nice about taking a break from your own work to see how and where other creative people work. It’s great voyeuristic fun to see how designers, artists, and makers of all kinds surround themselves with inspiration, tools, and certain comforts. More photographers are jumping in to document the kind of wonderful, crazy creative spaces of the kind that the Selby and Sight Unseen cover so well, and we recently came across a few with some good studio eye candy. With straightforward names like the Makers Project (by Jennifer Causey) and Where They Create (by Paul Barbera), both publish photographic stories of the unique worlds built by creators.” (core77)

04. String Theory

“Pairing mathematics with craftsmanship, the textile designers behind Montreal label String Theory weave quality yarns into beautifully-patterned super-soft scarves and throw blankets. The two-person team behind the brand works closely with small-batch manufacturers, allowing for wide experimentation with techniques. This artful combination of tradition and innovation results in everyday accessories with Modernist geometric appeal.” (coolhunting)

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)