The Tastemakers Society

I Read this article from the New York Times about OCD. It’s an interesting read on OCD and how restaurants can cause it to trigger in those who have it. I just can’t ever seem to make decisions at restaurants, I don’t have OCD per say but I for sure have OCD like habits that’s why this article was so interesting to me. I mean having to walk through the restaurant door 3 times, chew 3 times and drink 3 times, or checking your waiter/waitress’ hands before they serve you, and burning forks over flames to disinfect, that’s making an event out of dining out.  

Living with your sister has its certain attributes, you know having not to cook a lot on my own. Getting the occasional decent piece of female advice but you also get things like America’s Next Top Model, Dancing with the stars and One Tree Hill also comes with that package. Which brings plus and minus to having her around but the best things of all, is her Victoria Secret catalogs. Now I’ve been looking through VS catalogs for years and been watching their yearly televised fashion show but it just hit me the other day, that VS probably reaches more males than any men’s mag. Except maybe Playboy. Ok, ok, granted its for women and is only just a catalog but everyone knows that men look through those catalogs just as much as women do. And VS models are by far more largely known than any model from a men’s magazine. Let’s not forget how they have a frequent circulation which is always a plus. So again with the title, I’ve come to this realization which is the best men’s magazine is actually a catalog.

Conde Nast’s new biz publication Portfolio is def to my liking. And I appreciate them publishing more times a year then they originally planned for. This month their cover was this huge burger with the caption “how FAT won” with a feature on the topic. But what stood out to be was how they straight up called out some food places and put their unhealthy burgers on blast. I would not like to be Hardee’s or Carl’s Jr right now. Go For Bloat, baby.

 

Time magazine has put together a super time killing arrangement for you to cruise through while you’re at your desk pretending to work. They put together the top 10 list of things for 2007, there’s 50 categories covering all aspects of life ranging from top news stories, top movies, top fiction books, top natural disasters, top toys, top t-shirt worthy slogans (# 1 slogan pictured above) and top magazine covers are just a few of the 50 categories the list is made up of. Have fun sorting through all these because if you’re going to be wasting your jobs money by surfing the internet instead of working you mine as well have fun doing it. Two things we can look back at and learn from this year is, no matter what the situation is never try chastising John Kerry and never I mean never use these words when talking to a cop, “Don’t tase me bro” because that’s a sure fire way to get that ass tased.

Let’s face it Playboy isn’t what it used to be, back in the hey days when the number 1 pimp of all time Mr. Hefner started playboy it was classic. Now you can get those golden years and beyond, playboy has put out a new 720 page book with every centerfold in its illustrious history. The book begins with the one who started it all Maryln Monroe and all the playmate centerfolds therefore after. Did I mention that the book weighs 3o pounds and comes with its own brief case, now that’s how you treat your centerfolds.

In a world filled with market saturation, world issues and economic problems there isn’t as much being done as it should be, or as it needs to be. But there are some who try no matter if its a whole new ball game to them, they’re the ones who can recognize what issues are out there just lying in the wind, and they’re the ones who aren’t afraid to be proactive instead of just reactive. A certain individual who fits this profile is David Gensler who is notably more recognized by his work in the fashion/marketing/branding worlds, even lending a push for the street wear culture to open the door to. But now he’s stretched his reach out further, he’s amped up his consulting, put together one of the largest creative collectives in the world, the KDU (Keystone Design Union), and has a new focus on tackling economic and world issues, one step at  time. In a world full of people running around thinking of just ‘me, me’ all the time, there are those who are thinking of ‘others’.

Magazine’s are a dime a dozen these days, new one’s popping up monthly while others are folding daily, how many of the same repeated magazines do we really need? I think we can strongly say that people aren’t creating magazine’s to fill a void (which is the purpose of a magazine) they’re just trying to re-tweak a vision. Do we really need anymore, music magazines, film magazines, sports magazines, fashion magazines, and don’t I even want to begin to discuss the home/decor, wedding and celebrity magazines, how many chooses does one need to find a good lamp, nice wedding dress and read about Lindsay Lohan’s rehab addiction. If you don’t have a genuine new idea and focus you’re just wasting shelf space, but if you can tackle something in a deserted playing field than you might be able to create something worthwhile, and that something could be called THEME. A magazine that brings the asian culture from another angle than seen before, giving readers a more real look inside of the culture and what’s going on with it. I would love to take credit for this idea, but I’m sure that wouldn’t sit to well with Jiae and John.   

The world of publishing has been scratching its head of late, trying to figure out what to do with this boom in online publishing. It’s causing print magazine’s to fold like clothes on laundry day, and leaving the print publications in a scramble to catch up to the already ahead online industry. And one of those internet publications giving print people headaches is the men’s daily Thrillist. Thrillist provides the new generation of men something to look forward to in the morning when checking there inbox, besides maybe a new friend request from myspace. They provide a daily dose of relevant information for the new 2.0 male, it also has a local touch for those living in NY, LA, and soon to be San Francisco. Its relaxed style of writing and wide range of interesting information allow for an easy morning transition into your normal boring daily routine. The internet is on a fast rise and Thrillist is right up there leading the pack, so I suggest the print heads either step there game up, or carry extra strength Tylenol on the daily. 

Books are a major part of our lives, even if you aren’t a big book reader they still carry such an influence in life. Take J.K. Rowling the author of the Harry Potter series, we have all seen the impact of her novels. Now you do have to take in consideration those who are more visually stimulated, liking the expression of creativity a little more than a few witty lines, and I’m one of those people. This is where the publishing house that is powerHouse Books comes in, they put together books of amazing stature, beyond just art books they have something for everybody, no matter what your passion is for, they have you covered. They don’t deal with a specific type of book format or style, according to founder Daniel Power, they just make sure that its interesting to them. The catalogue of books powerHouse has put together could turn you into a creatively induced hermit living off of water and ho ho’s (swiss cake rolls).

Staring today, Friday the 13th of Oct. Powerhouse books is having a weekend full of events and all giving a new feel and different look than the party the day before. So aint NO Sleeping! This weekend.

Enjoy, more flyers after the jump!

This book has every style of lighting imaginable, so many different forms and styles to represent light. It’s amazing to see how different designers perceive light and how they take there own interpretation of how they think light should be seen, then making that idea a reality in the 3D realm. The paperback comes with 704 pages of well illustrated work and this book should help anyone with trying to find a new light fixture for there home. The book is available at Amazon and at only $16.49 it’s a really good deal.

via: MocoLoco

Aperture will be releasing The Black Panthers a book from Stephen Shames’ collection of photos taken of the controversial group during 1967 to 1973. The Panthers sparked a movement in the black community many decades ago, that have allowed for many of the black rights and equality that are present today. This book should be a really good buy for all, it’s a piece of history everyone should have, and know about, not forgetting the past helps mold the future.

via: Coolhunting