Quality of line? Candykiller has it. And then some.

Right now, I am not on board with this whole Dubai thang. If Dubai wants to have any credibility with me it will greenlight this. As their submission to the Thyssenkrupp Elevator Architecture Award (rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?), VisionDivision submitted a design for a gigantic animatronic eunuch storyteller to be placed in Zaabeel Park in Dubai. That’s right: a giant animatronic eunuch storyteller.

You had me at giant animatronic eunuch.

The idea is that the statue represents al Hakawati, an ancient Arabic storyteller. It’s arms and head move as it recites ancient Arabic stories that are broadcast through speakers that are placed throughout the park. The proposal calls for a children’s library in the base and numerous other rooms throughout the body of the sculpture including a gold room, a crystal cavern, a green room and a room full of fish tanks. Take away the children’s library and you got one helluva strip club there.

The only question is, how could this NOT win!? Look, if it doesn’t, I invite the VisionDivision guys to set this up on my front lawn. No charge. Only instead of ancient Arabic stories it will make it recite crazy non-sequitur jibberish. Or Henry Rollins spoken word stuff. Or how about if it just shouts, “Hi, neighbor!!” every three minutes? Oh, the fun I could have…

(via designbloom)

I find this both exciting and inspirational. I remember hearing about plans to take a portion of the elevated train system in NYC and turn it into a park a few years ago but I wrote it off as just being a beautiful pipe dream that would never come to fruition. I have never been more glad to be wrong.

The High Line was built in between 1929 and 1934  on Manhattan’s West side. The High Line went right through the middle of city blocks so that freight trains (it could support 2, fully loaded) could roll right in to warehouses and factories to pick up and drop off goods. This alleviated any interference with street traffic that was starting to become a problem in the bustling city. By the 50′s, trucking began replacing the railway and, after some demolition in the 60′s,  it finally stopped seeing any use in 1980.

To make a long story short, advocates spoke, protection of the abandoned railway was granted and funding was raised. A design competition was held and architects were chosen. And now, it is physically happening. The first section of the High Line (Gansevoort Street to 20th Street) is projected to open in the Spring of 2009. That is almost now, people!

Here is a great video kind of showing what it will be:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here is the Friends of the High Line blog that has some great info and updates.

These wooden Mac laptop cases designed by for Rainer Spehl are oh-so impractical but for some reason, I really want one.

I love these paintings from Brooklyn based artist Kevin Cyr. One was up on 20X200 a while ago but I missed my chance at the cheap one. Durn it!

Nice collection of vintage Vespa Images over on Flickr. I still want one of these things…

(via Bibi’s Box)

A great video of an elegant new twist on the airship. I believe this is an actual timed race filmed at the World Air Games. Get yours and we’ll race!

Check out this awesome poster from El Jefe. It is a beautiful two-color silkscreen, hand pulled, with an addition of 100. Did I buy one? Damn straight. There is also one that is red instead of green with a smaller edition.

Yes! Wolfdog over at Metafilter just added a great post on two transistor radio collections. Then, in the comments, Slack-a-gogo sweetened the pot with two more links. This can definitely be a time waster. Someone tell me how it turns out ’cause I gots work to do, durn it. Click at your own risk:

Radio Walla transistor radio collection
Sarah’s Transistor Radios
Transistor Radio’s Flickr stream
More Fifties Radios

OK, Mac nerds. Go get your (wife’s) credit card and head over to Cafe Press and pick up this smart Startup mug.