Monday, January 16, 2006

Target, Good Ol' Target


You know I was excited when the missus walked in with a goodie-bag from the Minneaopolis-based retail giant. Whenever I visit every couple of weeks or so, I'm pleasantly surprised by some new product, like the bamboo dress socks from a ways back. America's favorite high-design/low-cost big-box has done it again. I'm happy to report silky-soft bamboo sheet sets and towels are now available at your local red dot.


The sheets are only 60% bamboo rayon (40% cotton), but they're 300 thread count and very soft. The current colors are a little earthy (sage, blue, violet, natural) and I'm looking for a plain white set, but otherwise they sleep very nice. There's even a 440 thread count set in sateen (whoa Nelly) for the big-ballers with the vibrating king-size mattresses.

The towel sets are impressive as well. They are soft but have good abrasive qualities, and they dry quickly. Just waiting on them to get dirty/funky to test the washability.

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Humanity's Sine Qua Non

Back at work and readying for a windpower conference, I began some thinking on the necessity of energy in our everday lives. Now it goes without saying...the people of today are pretty reliant on energies, be they derived from coal, natural gas, oil, biomass, wind, water, or the sun itself. From the basic cellular level (stuff like mitochondrial protein production and intramolecular transport of adp) to, oh, the manufacture of condoms and aluminum foil and underwear and cotton candy, everything really...well it's pretty evident we require energy to function. The recent 'crisis' in the Ukraine with regard to their natural gas supplies from Russia only brought the issue home to millions in the former Soviet republic. I fear it portends things to come elsewhere in the globe. A recent Hollywood take on this coming battle for resources is Syriana. Admittedly, I have to watch it again as the storylines are so interconnected. Quite enjoyable though, even if they missed a few key points about energy as it relates to corruption, poverty, human rights abuses, and any number of other growing global problems.

On a lighter, more musical note (clever pun, I know), who's had a chance to experience the Philips GoGear HDD6330 Jukebox? I need a new mp3 player, and this seems to be a viable non-Apple contender. To go along with it, maybe I'll pick up some speakers from Holland Electro/Marcel Wanders....

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Oh Man, 2006?

Happy New Year, according to the Gregorian calendar here in the good ol' USA. "The Team" is enjoying a great time here in LA at Suite17D studios...and yes that includes lots of rain. I didn't think it rained in Southern California, but apparently that's a lie I've told myself in lieu of reading weather.com. The forecast is for sunny and 75, as soon as we leave. HA.

I won't delve into any philosophical realms today. It's much too early, after last night anyway. A round of shouts and hugs and kneeslaps to the Popeye's on Hollywood Blvd (what's that crossstreet, Dre?), a drunken "Tom" and the Myspace limo parked outside of Excess, Mr. Nice Man at Brazil Cafe on Venice (they seem to like Bob Marley), the strippers in the regular club that "only dance for tips," bathrooms and alleyways, copper-colored shimmery dresses (!) and green bracelets, the guy that offered me eggs (he did say eggs, didn't he?), and so many more in this land of enchantment and silicone. A hat-tip to you, Los Angeles. Maybe today I'll find some Richard Neutra architecture, then dance all night at the Little Temple.