Serendipity Book

We can all now vulgarise society

Bill Bernbach once said: "All of us who professionally use mass media are the shapers of society. We can vulgarise that society. We can brutalise it. Or we can help lift it on to a higher level."

I think we can now safely remove the words 'professionally' and 'mass' from that quote.

Now anyone who publishes on the internet or creates any kind of public content -- even through small actions like commenting on a blog or rating a review on Amazon -- now has the power to vulgarise society.

Use it wisely.

For £70 million you'd expect a decent photo

This 70,000 ft palace in Windlesham in Surrey on the outskirts of London is currently on the market for £70 million.

For that you get 48 acres, 24 bedrooms, 5 swimming pools, a bowling alley, an 8 car garage and even your own beauty salon.

Still, you'd think that Savills or Hamptons would have stumped up for a new photo to earn their commission wouldn't you?

100 degrees

This picture was taken two years ago this week as we drove to Vegas from Palm Springs via Joshua Tree and the Mojave Desert. It was 100 degrees.

One day I'll go back.

Everyone needs a paintball tank

I don't know about you but I'd feel a bit exposed in one of these.

Shelf Life

I do love Zaha Hadid's pavilion design for Chanel (via Contagious)

Being a pavilion it presumably won't be up long enough to suffer the fate of one of her earlier buildings, the Landesgartenschau (LF1) in Weil Am Rhein near Basel, which at only 10 years old is looking very much the worse for wear...

Via Archidose

Pneumonic Plague

Music mag guru David Hepworth (of The Word, Mixmag and Smash Hits fame) has posted on his blog about a topic that has been bothering me for some time...

"It's here. The first day of truly vile weather since the smoking ban came in. This is the day to test the resolve of all those people who've been gathering outside pubs and cafes to do their puffery. What's their fall-back plan?"

I, for one, am very worried about the increased risk to health posed by the smoking ban.

How many innocent smokers will have to die of pneumonia before the government makes smoking legal again?

Ideology Plays Strategy

I love this t-shirt by Barnbrook design (available at 2K and sold in the wonderful Magma in Covent Garden and Clerkenwell). It's just a shame that the one I tried on was fives times as wide as it was long!

It says:

"THERE ARE NO LONGER POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES, THERE ARE ONLY CORPORATE STRATEGIES"

"Barnbrook Design is one of the most well known design studios working in London today. It has been producing innovative work since 1990. The studio works across a broad range of disciplines including print design, industrial design, typeface design and commercials for television. The studio's clients range from international museums to underground music magazines and self-initiated exhibitions. Barnbrook design also teach and lecture widely."

"Jonathan Barnbrook and his studio have been active since 1990, working across a broad range of disciplines including graphic design, industrial design, typeface design and film. Barnbrook Design is based in Soho, London and consists of three designersÊand a coordinator, originating from England, Japan and Brazil. They are Jonathan Barnbrook, Elle Kawano, Pedro Inoue and Marcus McCallion."

They're also known for their contributions to 'Adbusters' and for designing Bowie's last two album covers.

Scratching School

DJ Sara - 8 years old DJ Ryusei - 5 years old

After 25 years we'll give you a free trip to Miami

The BBH 2008 Grad Recruitment Film ...

Nice. But the 2008 grad entrants might have a while to wait until the next BBH all-agency trip to Miami don't you think? I might even be another 25 years!

One day I will see the Northern Lights in person, until then this will have to do ...

Video: lapland aurora 3 More here. Via Miss Cellania @ Neatorama