In evolutionary biology, there’s a concept called convergent evolution in which unrelated organisms independently evolve similar traits in response to the same environment. For instance, dolphins (mammals) and fish have similarly evolving streamlined bodies and dorsal fins. What I find most fascinating is how the very different technologies or products independently arrived at the same unlikely morphology.

I love old bikes, especially old bikes in workshops looking for some TLC.

Short quote from the show “In an increasingly global production scenario, speed and acceleration are synonymous with “added value”. Eager to maximize cost-effectiveness, mainstream production is reduced to churning out irrelevant variations on existing models, old ideas with a revamped look.”

YDN Design Guide travels to Lisbon, Portugal for the Experimenta Design Festival 2009. Our first visit there is the Lapse in Time Show curated by Hans Maier-Aichen. Lapse in time highlights several young designers who have chosen to explore something new, on the crossroads of design, thought, science, environmental concerns and cultural exchange.

If you believe in elegance and simplicity over techno overlaying it’s likely that you would appreciate the older S class dashboard.

Shocking trends about global warming and the awful implications for us all. This is a beautifully shot narrative with some wonderful documentary moments of people, children and the dramatic landscape of Delhi. One person’s view of living with global warming. Color correcting the footage helped give it a nice, rich and balanced look to this spot.

Stand back for a particularly well designed modernist bridge spanning the world of Foster. It’s futuristic yet reassuring simple and smart. The inner mechanics and out of sight engineering sophistication is hidden like a sleek machine. The viewer enjoys this breathtaking sensibility by driving through the clouds like a bird. It’s an experience to be savored. What a magnificent way to start the new week.

The Millau Viaduct (French: le Viaduc de Millau) is a large cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the river Tarn near Millau in southern France. Designed by the structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster, it is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world, with one mast’s summit at 343 metres (1,125 ft) — slightly taller than the Eiffel Tower and only 38 m (125 ft) shorter than the Empire State Building. The viaduct is part of the A75-A71 autoroute axis from Paris to Béziers. It was formally dedicated on 14 December 2004, inaugurated the day after and opened to traffic two days later. The bridge won the 2006 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award.

Large Landscape

People can try and diminish the significance of this effort but as the Chinese say, “It’s a journey of a thousand steps” and this felt like the first step in the right direction. Huge public response to the event in April.

Timeless vintage cars from Cuba. Hoping to shoot some scenes in Cuba for a project next year.

If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.”~ Colin Powell

Thanks to nolola for the props – sweet image for a graphic tee.

This song, Half Acre, by the group, HEM, was written by Dan Meese. It’s as if Shakespeare met up with Lennon & McCartney to compose and perform a truly perfect song.