Going Green: Extracts from Getty's MAP Report 2.

Image by Tommy Stockel 

_Extract 1 PDF

_Extract 2 PDF

Just released, the above links will take you to these quick downloadable PDF's of Getty's MAP Report into environmental awareness and its impact on marketing now and in the future. You have to pay big bags of money for the full report but the extracts are interesting in themselves - for both up to date information and some quality graphics.

Elephants.

Elephants are my favourite of the beasts. Here's a nice pic from an assignment by TIME Magazine's photo essays archive.

Incredible!

The mysterious people of the Envira region of the Brazilian-Peruvian frontier. They're thought to have NEVER made contact with civilization as we know it and to them, the strange craft hovering above could well be an Evil Spirit. More from Mail Online>>

Horror Frog.

I may have a sore neck and painful face from the stress of living but I can't break my own bones and puncture my own skin in order to defend myself. But this hairy and scary frog can! When under the risk of attack, the Trichobatrachus Robustus has the ability to go all X-Men on itself as a last ditch effort to stay alive.  More here>> 

Bottle-Ooooh.

I've been trying to locate this recycled bottle ceiling in downtown Rundle Mall over the last couple days, but without luck. However, thanks to this article I just discovered on Coolhunter, I'll at last be able to find it in the new Aesop store.

Rotating Sphere Lounger.

This garden structure from Ornate Garden would be perfect for games, drinks, parties, reading a book and sex. At a cool price of £6'700 why wouldn't you?

Via theworksteady

By Dan Hillier (Click me!)

Perverted Powers of Ten.

A couple of years back I was in melbourne and happened to get to see the Eames exhibition.  As part of this exhibition they showcased an interesting photo gallery and film by Charles and Ray Eames called Powers of Ten. Here is the film in its original format:



And here is a somewhat disturbing parody by John Cheese:

Good clean branding.

Lovely.

I discovered this image somewhere (again, I don't know were from) but I love it. And I'm not really sure why. It's reminiscent of something from some time and some other place but I don't know when or where. The misty pallette reminds me of a moonlit scene from a Disney Feature Film but all I know of this is it was done quite recently and not by Disney. Maybe it's the still blue colours, or the primal security of shelter. Or maybe the pathway leads the viewer to imagine something unseen? At once I am comforted by this image but also frightened. It instills a familiar sense of childhood, or of a lonely anxiety when waking up in twilight hours after an afternoon nap.      

Life explained.

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Mexican.

"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life."

The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

"And after that?" asked the Mexican.

"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."

"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the Mexican.

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

And the moral of this story is: ......... Know where you're going in life... you may already be there.

Nature inspired sculptors I'm loving right now.

Jason deCaires Taylor. The above is just a smidgen of Jason's underwater sculpture garden which also acts as an artificial reef. Jason uses sound processes that address ecological issues, promote reef recovery and explore the relationship between art and the environment. 

Paul Villinski. He makes various sculptures out of aluminium cans.

Peter Donnelly. A Kiwi artist who reminds me a little of Andy Goldsworthy but on the beach. 

Chopstick Wrapping.

Via Tommy

Sloth.

The 3 toed sloth is a marvellous creature. They are entirely herbivorous, and spend most of the day relaxing, reclining and generally not scavenging for flesh. They are mostly famous for being slow - perhaps an evolutionary low when your species is famous for sucking at motion. This is me on a good day:

Sleeping Beauties.

The Aamby Valley Experience.

A couple weeks back there was a story on the ABC about Aamby Valley - about two hours outside of Mumbai in India. Having traveled there, I'd never heard of it so it piqued my interest. When one thinks of India, first thoughts generally hover on images of dirt, squalor, poverty, industry. But not so in Aamby Valley. In fact, you can buy yourself out of the reality of India - at a price. The roads to Aamby Valley are some of the cleanest, well maintained in India and lead toward the HUGE Megalopolis that is Aamby Valley City. Definitely for the privileged, you can reside in this 10'000 acre estate (not a typo) among "misty hilltops and scented flowerbeds" in your choice of a chic and cozy timber chalet or perhaps a fabulously modern and customized villa.

With high fences and 24 horse-mounted security roaming its perimeter you're sure to feel secure from the scurge of India's lower class, as you tee off on the 18th or maybe take in a game of hockey on ice. Heck - you don't even have to leave the compound (at all), given Aamby Valley also comes stocked with shopping malls, a first class hospital, an international school and much much more.

Experience Aamby for yourself>>

Natural Japanese Packaging.

Dumplings wrapped in bamboo grass.

Bamboo stem covered with a sasa (bamboo grass) leaf.

Natto in a boat shaped package. The inside is made of a natural wood shaving.

Natto wrapped and unwrapped in a natural wood shaving. 

A lunch set wrapped in a natural bamboo sheath with bamboo ribbon. Inside are three delicious onigiri rice balls. 

Straw wrapped natto. No spills here!

Via Ping Mag

SUPER Markets.

MPREIS is a family-owned supermarket chain in Austria. Instead of using the same generic blueprints for each new store, MPREIS employs the skill of up and coming architects to create site-specific stores that are in harmony with their environment. Each store is unique, with an unusual attention to detail inside and out. Super.

Via Bad Banana Blog