Jawbone 2: Father's Day Giveaway

by Josh Rubin

The latest and second iteration of the Yves Behar designed Jawbone, a mobile Bluetooth-enabled headset, delivers the superior sound quality and noise-canceling technology it's known for in a unit that's 50% of the size of the original. As a form factor, the subtle geometric texture on the diminutive curved earpiece makes it an object that doesn't offend the eye either. In use, we've found it to be about the only way to hear a conversation on an iPhone in a loud area (though like everyone else we have high hopes for next week's 3G release).

Using proprietary "NoiseAssassin" technology (originally developed for military purposes) that cancels noise up to 15 times more than others, the Jawbone is ideal for use in busy streets and restaurants, driving with the top down or any other loud area. The device also constantly monitors the user's voice, adjusting to filter out ambient noise.

Behar's invisible buttons lend the Jawbone a sleek aesthetic (the only visible indicator is a red or white light indicating whether the device is in use or not), but I've found that their placement can take some familiarity. They sometimes get accidentally pressed when in a bag or pocket (perhaps a small travel case is in order?) and I was initially disconnecting calls when trying to put the device in my ear.

A selection of ear buds and ear loops (some covered in leather) ensure a proper fit and the quality materials make for a sturdy look and feel. Other details, like the acrylic box it comes in and the updated USB charger (it also comes with a wall adapter and attaches to the device magnetically) make the overall experience just the kind of product we can get behind.

In fact, we have three Jawbones to give away to three readers with the idea that they'd make a great Father's Day gift. Just follow the contact link at the bottom of the page, select "Jawbone Giveaway" from the pull-down menu and tell us why your dad deserves one (and be sure to include your address) by Monday, 9 June 2008, 11:59am EST.

You can also pick one up for yourself from Jawbone for $130.

Bill Cosby's Koos Van Den Akker Sweaters Auction

by Seth Brau

Like most children of the '80s, Bill Cosby has always held a special place in my heart. Whether hanging with the Huxtables or enjoying some Jello pudding, Mr. Cosby played an integral part in my development, which is why I was particularly touched when I discovered these sweaters up for auction. Each sweater was actually worn by Bill Cosby on "The Cosby Show" and is being auctioned off for charity with a starting price of $5,000. It's a way to own a piece of television history and wear that warm fuzzy Cosby/Huxtable feeling with you all the time. Hopefully you can pull of that ironic flashy '80s grandpa look.

The sweaters were worn by Mr. Huxtable on episodes between seasons three-eight. and each comes with a hand-signed letter from Mr. Cosby himself as well as an additional letter from the sweater designer, Koos Van Den Akker, validating that these are the real thing. The best part is all the profits go to the Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation which equips teachers, parents and students with the practical information and educational tools needed to understand and address the needs of all learners before they experience the corrosive effects of frustration and failure.

Finnish Summer Houses

by Doug Black

Nobody appreciates the summer more than Scandinavians. After seven months of winter they savor the brief spell of long days and temperate climates like a precious resource. Many residents—particularly those from Finland—choose to spend this period communing with nature, often in private summer homes. Finnish architects are no different. Their secondary homes are used as blank slates where they can construct their personalized visions and experiment with more daring design concepts.

Documenting these distinctive houses was the task of Jari and Sirkkaliisa Jetsonen, an artist and architect, respectively. Their book, "Finnish Summer Houses", details them, employing original artist sketches and archival photographs, along with contemporary shots. The 20 villas, cottages and cabins selected highlight summer houses dating from 1895 to the present. Featured homes are the products of architects like Alvar Aalto (pictured above on book cover), Juhani Pallasmaa and Bertel Saarnio (pictured at right). Common design themes include a focus on recreational comfort and an intimate incorporation of natural surroundings. Many also employ uniquely Finnish cultural features, like the inclusion of traditional saunas.

A particularly good read for the coming months, "Finnish Summer Houses" will appeal to fans of Scandinavian design and rustic architecture in general. It's available from Princeton Architectural Press and Amazon.

Chris Rubino: The Center of Something

by Ami Kealoha

by Scott Lachut

In its current state, Times Square's clash between fading authenticity and idealized homogeneity make it the perfect setting for artist Chris Rubino's "limited tourist attraction" titled “The Center of Something," showing now through 15 June 2008 at the Chashama Gallery. Circa 1990, Times Square was a den of iniquity and vice, boasting a porn shop on every corner and a "squeegee man" at every red light. Fast forward to today (post-Giuliani) and it's hardly recognizable from its former self. Radically transformed into a vast corporate landscape, it now sells fantasies of a different sort to the throngs of tourists flocking to see the flashy advertisements stretching to the sky.

Conceived as a twist on the neighborhood's ubiquitous souvenir shops, the exhibit lends a critical eye to the neatly packaged version of NYC displayed on countless t-shirts, postcards and disposable trinkets, while simultaneously paying respect to a vanishing New York that has seemingly lost touch with itself. By re-imagining memorable slogans and icons from the perspective of a resident, Rubino sets out to reclaim the city as a place to live, work and drink.

Highlights of the show include hand-painted maps depicting Rubino's vision of Manhattan divided up by its eleven biggest landowners. If you're too poor to afford your own stake, you can always appease yourself by purchasing actual samplings of Central Park, the East River and Coney Island beach, among others. Not finding what you're looking for? The sale of “do-it-yourself" time capsules encourages visitors to preserve their own slices of New York life to be enjoyed by ensuing generations. Add in unsigned “knock-offs" of prints already in the show and Rubino has created a microcosm of the city for sale all in one store.

“The Center of Something" raises questions about the future of New York City with an eye towards the past, asking the audience to consider the fundamental differences between the place where some people spend their entire lives and so many more just come to visit — disparate worlds existing in the same town that are each appealing in their own way. Rubino sums up these feelings best with a line from one of his shirts, “You're Not As Beautiful As You Used To Be, But I Still Love You," reminding us that despite it all, there's no place else we''d rather be.

Chris Rubino
The Center of Something
Through 15 June 2008
Chashama Gallery
112 West 44th Street map
tel. +212 391 8151

Trollback+Co: Things We Think About Before Sleep

by Seth Brau

Trollback+Co, a NYC-based visual and conceptual creative studio, is responsible for some of the most cutting-edge video and motion graphics around. They're the team behind the visuals in the lobby of the Frank Gehry-designed IAC headquarters in NYC, the largest high-res video wall in the world. More recently they challenged their designers, Tetsuro, Peter, Anna, Paul, Emre, Christina and Tolga, to create short films that capture the semi-conscious thoughts they have as they drift from wakefulness to the realm of sleep.

The results depict everything from diapers to train rides using an array of creative visual techniques. Typically studios such as Trollback+Co rarely have time for non-commercial work and it's great to see them pull back the curtain and let each of their designers say something in their own voice. The wide variety of styles and aesthetics and the way each short piece manages to capture that subconscious moment is a testament to their unique talents. See "Things We Think About Before Sleep" on their site.

via Motionographer

Resist Today Accessories

by Max Gold

A Florida-based art collective, Resist Today, serves as a direct outlet for independent artists to reach wide audiences and sell their work in the form of wallets, pillows, t-shirts and prints.

We especially like the wallets and pillows adorned with artworks making otherwise mundane accessories into lively, colorful alternatives. Demonstrating their commitment to the artists, Resist Today provides profiles of each contributing artist along with an archive of past works. Also, check out their blog for their latest and favorite works and inspiration.