We’ve posted about Roa’s street art before, and now he has hit Gambia. Working with Wide Open Walls (W.O.W.), a project organized by Lawrence Williams, Roa traveled to the village of Kubuneh in Gambia, Africa. W.O.W.’s objective is to promote Gambia as a tourist destination while also presenting an astounding art installation that “WOW’s” the world.

I love how Roa has incorporated local animals into these pieces while still keeping his style.

via: unurthed

I want these! And if I wasn’t about to leave on a four month vacation, I would have already purchased them online.

These tiny trees are actually ancestors of the giant California redwood. Called Dawn redwood, they were thought to be extinct until the 1940s when one was discovered growing in a rice field in central China. In the Fall its leafy needles turn from green, to yellow, to copper, bringing the pageant of the changing seasons to your desk or kitchen window.

Source: Uncommon Goods

The Power of Photojournalism, made by The Annenberg Space for Photography and Arclight Productions, is a short video which asks winners of the 66th Pictures of the Year International Awards and also editors from several newspapers what photojournalism means to them. Why is their work important? What kind of challenges do these photographers face? Why do they do it?

This video (shown in two parts) is truly inspiring and emotionally moving. It has left me with even more respect than I already have for photojournalists and the risks they take every single day for their work.

You can view the most recent winners of the 68th Pictures of the Year International Awards here.

Source: My Modern Metropolis

I can’t help but watch this video over and over.

Just when you thought that Flavor Flav ‘s foray into the reality TV world with ‘Flavor of Love’, was about the peak of personal branding gone horribly wrong, Flav has come up with new idea that not only tops it but jumps all over it and kicks it out the back door. You guessed it, um maybe not, Flav has gone into the fried chicken business! Of course the transition from rap royalty to reality show star to fried chicken store owner seemed like a natural progression for Flav. However, for the rest of us who may have experienced the wincing awkwardness of  any of  ‘Flavor of Love’s’ episodes, it is just another bizarre step in the living caricature that is the life of Flavor Flav’s. According to Billboard Flav has at some stage gained a culinary degree and has restaurant experience. Perhaps he has worked the fryers before and knows the Colonel’s secret recipe. Whatever the case, you can get it while it’s hot and dripping in fat at Flav’s Fried Chicken opening Monday in Clinton, Iowa.

To help Caribou Coffee launch its hot and fresh Daybreaker breakfast sandwiches, Colle+McVoy decided to heat things up a bit. They created ovens out of transit shelters, complete with real heaters and working clocks. They were able to showcase the “Hot ‘n Wholesome” menu items, while keeping Minnesotans during their frigid winter commutes.

Source: My Modern Met

Tales of the Cocktail (TOTC), founded in New Orleans by Paul and Ann Tuennerman, is hitting the road. For the first time ever, the internationally acclaimed cocktail festival is going ‘on tour’ and Vancouver has been chosen to host this cocktail extravaganza. TOTC hits town on March 13 and runs until March 15.

As well as a line-up of stellar seminars, attendees can also enjoy a flurry of special events including a BC Bar Crawl, Welcome and Closing Receptions, book signings by authors of cocktail and culinary literature, and also an event featuring the Canadian classic cocktail: The Caesar.

I recently spoke with Paul, one half of the TOTC duo, to get the skinny on the Tales of the Cocktail program and the upcoming tour to Vancouver.

Kristen: What is Tales of the Cocktail and how did it all come about?
Paul: The first Tales of the Cocktail was actually a Media Event, documenting the first anniversary of a Walking Tour of New Orleans’ Historic Restaurants and Bars. In Ann’s usual style, she convinced the likes of David DeGroff, Jared and Anastasia Miller, as well as other influential participants in the resurgence of the classic cocktail, to attend this event. It was an unqualified success and as such, the decision was made to make it an annual affair.

K: Why did you choose Vancouver for the first ever Tales of the Cocktail outside New Orleans?
P: There are numerous places around the world where the resurgence of hand crafted spirits and cocktails are flourishing. In the end, we had to pick one. The cocktail scene in Vancouver is very mature and those who are participating in this movement are unbelievably passionate and committed.

K: What does it mean to be chosen as a Tales of the Cocktail Apprentice, and what can you tell me about the winners? Was it a tough choice when it came down to choosing the winners?
P: We are very excited about the Cocktail Apprentice Program (CAPS). The CAPS hold a special place in Ann’s and my hearts; they along with a small army of other Industry Professionals make the event what it is. CAPS from previous years, who have taken ownership of the program, manage the selection process. When you look at the list of CAPS Alumni, it is a prestigious who’s who in the industry. In essence, by being selected you have been recognized by your peers as either an up-and-comer or someone who is making a substantial contribution to the movement. As a CAP, you become eligible to participate in the CAPS Scholarship Fund, for the existence of the program. This is our (Ann and mine) way of giving back. It allows the CAPS to further their education, chase down and dream and in essence, further their passion for hand crafted spirits and cocktails.

We literally get hundreds of applications, from around the globe, for a few handfuls of opportunities. If you’re an aspiring Industry Professional, it is well worth the sacrifice.

- Famous New Orleans Cocktails – Chris McMillan & Philip Green
- For the Love of Gin: How the Historic Spirit is Making a Comeback – Dan Warner & Desmond Payne
- The Birth, Death and Rebirth of Canadian Whisky – Allen Katz, David Wolowidnyk, Drew Mayville & Neal McLennan
- The History and Important of Ice in Cocktails – Charlotte Voisey & Jon Santer
- The Science of Cocktails: New Techniques Behind the Bar – Dave Arnold & Eben Klemm
- Who’s Your Daddy? A Mai Tai Paternity Test – Jeff Berry

K: Are any sessions in particular proving to be extremely popular amongst those who have already snapped up tickets?
P: It’s difficult to say. I have a few personal favourites, such as “For the Love of Gin”, “Who’s Your Daddy” and I can guarantee that Dave Arnold and Eben Klemm will put on quite a show at “The Science of Cocktails”.

K: What do you think makes for a great cocktail culture in a city?
P: That is a tough question. In some instances, great cocktail culture in a city can simply be an extension of their culinary culture and appreciation for finer things in life, i.e. New York and San Francisco. In others, it can simply be a part of the city’s DNA, such as New Orleans. Then you take a place like Dallas, Texas, where you can trace the roots of the resurgence of the classic cocktail back to a small army of very passionate, talented, and tenacious Industry Professionals. In the end, what is paramount, is the consumer. If the consumer doesn’t get it; if we as an industry forget that they are the most important element in our success, then it will never take hold.

K: Why is it important to know something about the history of cocktails and spirits?
P: I’ve said from the beginning of this movement, that it’s more experiential and less about a single aspect. It isn’t just about the Bartender, or the bar, or the spirit(s), or the cocktail, or the history of that particular cocktail, or the other patrons, it’s about the entire package. I think driven consumers are very sensory perceptive. These same consumers are essential to our success and tenure. In essence, you need a little bit of everything, including a knowledge of history, to be a success.

K: What is your favourite New Orleans cocktail?
P: It really depends on the time of year and what mood I am in. Right now, a very well made Brandy Crusta sounds fantastic!

K: What trends do you see in Cocktail Culture in 2011?
P: I think we can expect more of the same along with a return to what really matters. First, I would expect that you’ll find more herbal infusions and a wider and more eccentric collection of Bitters on the back bar. I think we will find more culturally inspired cocktails, we’re in a much more global community these days and as such, I would look to find cocktails with roots in Latin America and other cultures appearing on the menu. Lastly, I think we will see more Bartenders and less, well, “Drink Divas” as we all return to our roots and remember what’s ultimately most important…

K: Do you have plans to take Tales of the Cocktail to other cities in North America, and beyond?
P: We do… but if I told you about it… I’d have to kill you; and neither of us want that to happen now, do we? (Kristen note: Um… no, no we do not. I will wait…patiently….).

K: These days there a lot of terms floating around – ‘Mixologist’, ‘Bar Chef’… but I like to stick with my old favourite ‘Bartender’. How about you?
P: I think they each represent something different. When I think of a Mixologist or Bar Chef, I think of someone who has an abundance of knowledge and passion, for the creation and/or resurrection, of hand crafted spirits and cocktails. When I think of a Bartender, I think of someone who can deliver those creations, with panache!

K: Any final words of cocktail wisdom?
P: I used to close out our radio show by saying “if you’re going to drink, the least you can do is drink well”.

Tickets for Tales of the Cocktail are on sale now, and I recommend you get in early to avoid disappointment! Tickets are $155 and allow you access to all seminars and events. With a lot of buzz about this event already, I am envisioning a sell out! Buy your tickets online here.

I really want this birdcage.

Source: Ferm Living

Rescuers help a woman to move a safer place from flooded Ghaghar river after heavy rains in Punchkula in the northern Indian state of Haryana September 8, 2010. REUTERS/Ajay Verma

A man wounded by a rubber bullet looks at burning rubber tires during a protest in Villa Hayes, 34 km (21 miles) north of Asuncion, Paraguay, against the dismissal of workers at Acepar's factory July 22, 2010. At least 15 people were injured during the protest held by the workers trade union, police said. REUTERS/Stringer

Insects fly in a dump yard as a ragpicker collects scraps, on the outskirts of the southern Indian city of Hyderabad November 24, 2010. REUTERS/Krishnendu Halder

A protester urinates in front of a row of policemen during riots following the death of a 15-year-old boy in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 18, 2010. According to local media, provincial government officials have confirmed that four police officers, involved in the incident which left the boy dead during an alleged robbery, have been removed from their posts. Three people have died and at least 12 have been injured during the clashes. REUTERS/Alejandra Bartoliche

Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest jumps into the arms of team-mate Kobe Bryant after scoring the game-winning basket against the Phoenix Suns with less than 1 second on the clock during Game 5 of their NBA Western Conference final playoffs in Los Angeles May 27, 2010. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A hand of an acid attack victim hangs from a bed during a therapy session at a secure shelter run by non-profit organisation "Cambodia Acid Survivors Charity" outside Phnom Penh July 7, 2010. After years of indifference to a rise in acid attacks across Cambodia, authorities are drafting up legislation to restrict acid sales and to punish perpetrators. The move comes as Cambodia seeks to tidy up its reputation for human rights abuses, rampant corruption, and lax law enforcement, some of many factors that have deterred foreign investors. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Riot police spray water on a high school student during a protest in Valparaiso city, about 121 km (75 miles) northwest of Santiago August 18, 2010. Students protested against changes to the public state education and are demanding that government increase their budget to fund universities, according to local media. REUTERS/Eliseo Fernandez

An undercover Israeli police officer holds a weapon as another detains a Palestinian suspected of throwing stones during clashes in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Wadi al-Joz March 16, 2010. Palestinians mounted violent protests in a "day of rage" in Jerusalem and a U.S.-Israeli crisis over a Jewish settlement project deepened with the cancellation of a U.S. peace envoy's visit. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

You can see the full set here at Reuters.

Source: Reuters

Wow. This video is very, very cool. An amazing way to recap the films of 2010!

“This year’s movies have legitimately transformed my idea of what is creatively possible. To commemorate, I’ve remixed 270 of them into one giant ass video,” says Genrocks, who put together this masterpiece.

He has even listed out all of the 270 films for you with this note: “My film selection process was fairly open; anything that was either produced or distributed in 2010 was fair game (I also consulted this Wikipedia entry). This is why some movies are labelled 2009 or 2011 on IMDB. Also, this by no means constitutes a comprehensive list of films that came out in 2010. That would have been exhausting.”

Posted by Kristen.

Source: Kottke