The Summer of Reunions

Hitting the road: The Police, Rage Against the Machine, Van Halen (w/Dave), Crowded House, Genesis (w/Phil), Jesus and Mary Chain...

Urban Explorers

An amazing story of some guys who wanted to see what's behind Niagara Falls. Trust me, it's great.

Also: Sleepy City, Vanishing Point and Urban Explorers: Into the Darkness - a not yet released film documentary.

iThink (Want Vs Need)

I've been reading about the already legendary iPhone over the last few days and I keep thinking about how this device will actually fit into people's lives. I've concluded that the phone's real value (let's not forget it costs five hundred bucks) will only show itself to regular mass transit users. After seriously thinking about where and how people will actually take advantage of the functions (and also considering the amount of attention it requires), I've concluded it's a good tool for someone who regularly uses a bus, train or plane - anyone else is simply buying some cool for themselves. If most of your life involves traveling via car, you don't need an iPhone.

How many people will buy one, just becuse they want to play with the interface?

David Byrne

A nice New York Times feature on David Byrne. This man's music helped me get through high school.

History lesson: Byrne's Talking Heads were part of a large "New Wave Woodstock" that took place just outside Toronto in August 1980. "Heatwave" featured several of the biggest "alternative" acts of that era (including Elvis Costello and The Pretenders) and is probably most famous for being the show where Talking Heads debuted their new African-influenced sound, which they used to construct the fantastic "Remain in Light" album (with due credit to collaborator Brian Eno).

Attention: Drooling Mac People

Jason Kottke has a very good roundup of thoughts and links relating to the newly-announced iPhone.

I'm not an Apple guy (I can't stand the smugness so many of their devotees exhibit) or a cell phone guy, but even I will admit this product has pretty much turned the entire mobile phone industry upside down.

Polar Inertia

The latest edition of Polar Inertia is up. As always, some intriguing collections, including Blank Billboards and Hong Kong Stilt Houses. PE is easily my favourite photography site.

Art Reads

Art Garfunkel's website has a list of every book he's read, dating back to 1968. How many books, you ask? Nearly a thousand.

Very highly recommended: Art's "Everything Waits to Be Noticed" album from 2002.

Dubai = Nuts

The development currently underway in Dubai is staggering. For instance, an amusement park twice the size of Disney World Resorts. Have a look.