end of an era: spiderlike cyberpunk chandelier

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If Big Brother had a chandelier, this would be it. "End of an Era" is an art project created by Ian Burns that attaches 16 small black-and-white TVs to a chandelier-ish frame. Each screen displays a live video feed (presumably received via the extended antennas in the pic), and from the looks of the screens, it's the same one on each. Well, that's kinda boring. I want 16 different live video feeds, Ian. I want this thing to look like some kind of 24 scene cutaway run amok — think you can handle that next time? (via dvice)


gone to zurich, in quest of the geostationary luck charm

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case only saw banks and global financial imperatives in switzerland through gibson's eyes. i'll blog and flickr you out what got through the filters. next post comes friday. (photo via)


future vehicle prototype porn

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The Quaranta borrows its hybrid powertrain from the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the Lexus RX400h: a 3.3-liter V-6 and the Hybrid Synergy Drive system with a combined output of 268 horsepower and 213 pound-feet of torque. Italdesign claims the car will return a city/highway average of 33 mpg, and a pair of fuel tanks that together hold about sixteen gallons of gasoline provide a 620-mile range. "E-Four" is, in fact, a fancy name for Toyota's part-time all-wheel drive system (called "4WD-i" in the Highlander Hybrid), which uses a separate, 68-horsepower electric motor at the rear wheels that kicks in during acceleration or when slippage is detected. (via wired)

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The EMBRIO Advanced Concept is a one-wheeled recreational and commuting vehicle for the year 2025, designed by the Canadian company Bombardier Recreational Products. Although the riding position is similar to that of a motorcycle, the vehicle uses sensors and gyroscopes to balance up to two passengers on a large single wheel whilst driving. (via thecontaminated)

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The Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands is developing another bus, which is able to operate on designated tracks. Future Bus is able to operate at very high speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour (155 mph) and could therefore be an alternative to high-speed railway lines. This highly streamlined electric bus can also be driven at lower speeds on existing roads and bus lanes. With a length of 15 metres (49.2 ft) and a width of 2.5 metres (8.2 ft), the Superbus has similar dimensions to a conventional bus. Due to the seating arrangement without a centre aisle however, the height is just 1.7 metres (5.6 ft). The low aerodynamic drag (less than 0.2) makes the Superbus more efficient than a passenger car. (via thecontaminated)


the gene generation / dna hacker chronicles: cyberpunk comics on the rize, movie rlzd in 2k8


More info on one of the most hyped cyber/biopunk movies in the past few years. I spoke to Pearry Reginald Teo, director of THE GENE GENERATION and he confirmed that they're "working on distribution rights in different countries/regions and the comics will be out in March".dnahack.jpg
Which directly leads me to the point - there is a visual supplement to the movie itself, although I'd say that after having waited more than two years for the release, it's more of a teaser until the DVD release than something we could rightfully grab as a stand-alone comics. Still.

The DNA Hacker Chronicles are released by Bloodfire Studios and as far as the official press release goes, the comics will delve deep into the DNA hacking aspect and readers will have to solve puzzles and break codes while reading the story - which is a brilliant idea in itself. Expect three issues (Genesis, The Suffering, Blood Alliance) this month. Unfortunately the last trailer hit YouTube some ninth months ago and the latest thing on MySpace is Bai Ling arrested at the airport for some pretty theft (which is more like forgetfulness and misdemeanour, they say).


shanadoo: globalization hits rock bottom

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There's a slim chance that if you're reading this, you're aware of eurobeat. If not, think italodisco with high-pitch sawtooth synth leads and lyrics based on the word inventory of a lowrider fansite link deposit. Eurobeat's practically produced for Japan by European (mostly Italian) labels, so whenever my quasi-musician acquaintances need instant gratification (or divine assistance), I tell them to go to Napoli with a laptop and a new copy of Reason to establish a flourishing but equally shallow career (gnyah!).

Now, apparently, life has just reverse-engineered the concept. Shanadoo is a Japanese girl group who're produced in Germany and what's worse, the great majority of their tracks is based on E-Rotic, an otherwise terribly bad eurodance group back in the nineties (if you remember max don't have sex with your ex and sex on the phone, that's them). Thankfully, most of the lyrics are rewritten into nihongo but even that and the gothier/kinkier outfit for the 2007 album The Symbol cannot really save these girls from utter failure (teens love them, though. PD doesn't). They have shitloads of videos on YouTube and honestly, there's not even one I would have the stomach to embed. Gomen ne.

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To keep you interested in the unholy but otherwise sweet sin of eurobeat, check the youtube below, that's the Italian interview with Nuage, ex-bellissima and vocalist of Dawe Rodgers (mega producer of the genre) with some live footage from the Rodgers HQ, sweet!


mirror's edge: cyberpunk meets parkour (and apparently, nic endo)

faith.jpgWe'd have a secret crush on Faith at the office: she's young, Asian, makes a living by doing parkour runs as a courier in a future where information has to be distributed physically (Gibson's Virtual Light plays the very same card) and has barcode-looking tattoos that give an extra. Instead, this very lady also looks like Bai Ling with her face pressed conveniently flat in a foundry, genetically merged with an alien and ripping off half a mascara off Nic Endo. No pussyjob for Faith.

But seriously. She's just a jpeg off DICE and a fanpage for a game DICE develops entitled Mirror's Edge. (Faith is the protagonist but there's a slim chance that the Asian chick is just a geek hit factor, nothing more.) This is going to be a FPS parkour game in a cyberpunk future with no weapons use at all, the body's gonna have all the focus, which is nice, as parkour is all about perfect body use in an urban environment. At the present On Mirror's Edge has all the info you need. Below, two screenshots and below that, a brief scene from one of the hottest parkour action movies ever, called Banlieu 13. The movie also headlines David Belle who is the founder figure of parkour.

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