J. Howells Werthman: We Are Making Plans

by Tim Yu

J. Howells Werthman (JHW), a brooklyn native and co-founding member of the Nuclear Family music collective, recently released his first solo album We Are Making Plans. Taking advantage of Nuclear Family's "extensive community of music makers and artists, guys we've been doing shows with for years," the carefully crafted album features a curated list of guests that proves hip hop lives on.

Although JHW admits he doesn't really like "producer albums"—when an individual creates all the beats and gets emcees to rap over them—he comments, "I wanted to make a project that featured everybody, to leave some evidence of all this talent. In the end, that became the theme of the record and led me to the title of the thing, We Are Making Plans."

A versatile and well-rounded musician, JHW blends a variety of sounds from jazz to old Afro-Brazilian beats, creating a distinct musical amalgam. Of the album's 17 tracks, he produced them all (with the exception of "Clamato," produced by Javelin). Most feature guest emcees and some of my favorite tracks have to be the beautifully composed and heavily jazz-influenced instrumental interludes.

The cover art for the record also goes for the highly-produced gold, but takes a DIY approach. To translate the communal nature of the project, a photograph featuring life size print-outs of the 18 collaborative emcees, posed in an abandoned lot on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, graces the cover. A background mural of the album's title on a decaying brick wall completes the the living collage. Created by Nuk Fam’s own Tone Tank (also of Scum Life), they did it all without Photoshop tricks.

For more from this producer, who's been making original music since high school, check out tracks for Iller Than Theirs' self-titled debut, as well as his executive production credits on Junk Sciene's “Feeding Einstein” and “Gran'dad's Nerve Tonic." He also plays with the Brooklyn based band Ro Agents sometimes.

We are Making Plans is available for free download from Radio Belly. Be sure to look out for more from the Nuclear Family soon. As always, they are making some plans.

PhoneSuit MiLi Pro Video Projector

by Karen Day

Turning iPhones into on-the-go movie theaters and presentation tools, PhoneSuit's MiLi Pro combines the power of their MiLi Battery Pack with an LCOS, LED micro video projector, allowing for ultimate viewing fun.

The rechargeable MiLi Pro—available September 2009—will feature quality built-in speakers, a mini-USB cable for syncing the device and the capability to display 640x480 high resolution images on any surface up to 40 inches large.

In addition, the MiLi Pro offers a number of AV inputs. Compatible with the standard dock connectors used with iPhones and iPods, PhoneSuit also includes two additional cables, the VGA and RCA, allowing for connectivity with laptops and DVD players respectively.

The accessory works with iPhone 3GS, 3G, 2G and iPod Touch and will be available for purchase this fall from the PhoneSuit website. Click on above right image for detailed view.

iPhone HP Calculators

by Brian Fichtner

Math geeks will be excited to learn that Hewlett Packard recently released a series of calculator applications for the iPhone. Based on vintage designs, the applications serve as virtual replicas of the HP 12C and HP 12C platinum financial calculators (both above) and the HP 15C scientific calculator (below), while offering the same functions, algorithms and calculation sequences.

The designers at HP clearly spent a good deal of time tweaking the buttons on these apps, creating a rich three-dimensionality that puts the iPhone's standard calculator to shame. Taking advantage of the iPhone's accelerometer, the calculators also offer a horizontal and simplified RPN vertical orientation. With a download price of $15 for the 12C and $30 for the 15C, however, these calculators make for a pricey trip down memory lane; these are more for serious computations on the go.

via designboom

Society6

by Nathan Suberi

Aspiring artists looking to be discovered will find new micro-patronage site Society6 to be nothing less than a godsend. The service provides a virtual showroom for artists to display their work and vie for viewer support. Like Threadless, the more viewers who vote on a particular work, the higher up on the "Charts" the image will rise with the winning artist receiving a grant. These precious grants are sponsored by third party companies or organizations who want to support the arts and come either as cold cash or golden opportunities.

The "Studio" feature, a social networking platform, allows viewers to follow the artist's progress, building the artist-viewer relationship even further. By providing a format that goes beyond the usual bio and bibliography pages, the site enables a more intimate glimpse of the artist's craft and skill.

While only operational for a month and change, the talent already shines through. Will Bryant's Warping Space Cubes, Yuta Onoda's Soon It Will Be Cold Enough (pictured above L-R) and Mark Kulakoff's Teenocide are but a few of the evocative works on display right now.

Frequent readers may notice some new art in the showcase at the top of CH's pages. We've picked some of our favorites Society6 and clicking on the images takes you directly to the artist's site.

Visit Society6 to see more and support new artistic talent.

Bedol Eco-Friendly Water Drop Clock

by CH Contributor

by Julie Wolfson

An example of function-inspired form, the Bedol Water Clock takes the water-powered capabilities of the original and adds a new drop-shaped design. The new perky look conjures a miniature wave (or is it a fin?) in a brilliant blue color and, like the original, it tells accurate time without the need for batteries or an electrical cord.

A squeeze of lemon will make it run even longer between water changes.

The Drop Clock sells for $30 and will be available mid-August from Bedol's online store.