the mehallo blog. beta.

Graphic designer Neil Caldwell has invented multicolored bacon.

And it apparently retains its color after cooking, but isn’t on the market yet.

Article here.

Found via Jeanne Mehallo

Tags: cool finds, culinary by steve
1 comment  . . .   

‘A minimalist homage to the perfect pasta and sauce, The Geometry of Pasta tells you everything you need to know about cooking and eating pasta like an Italian.’

Book review here.

Found via Retinart

Tags: cool finds, culinary, design, design history by steve
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Lorne Michaels wasn’t always at the helm of Saturday Night Live.

In the early 1980s, NBC was doing other things with his program (he left in 1980, returned in 85). In the meantime, Michaels was making a foray into Prime Time. In 1984, The New Show was to be his sequel, though it only lasted a few months.

SNL-related alumni were part of the sketch comedy program – including SCTV’s Dave Thomas, who is probably the only person on the planet who does a spot on Max von Sydow impersonation. (Max was most recently seen in The Tudors and was iconic as Ming in Flash Gordon)

Why do I know that? Max always had an incredible voice. First saw him as JC in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965).

But I digress.

The first sketch of The New Show (above) parodied Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean video, which was released a year earlier. The show had some really great moments – and featured the Guggenheim and a Reitveld Chair in its credits (also part of the above video).

Tags: cool finds, design history, music by steve
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‘Uninhabited islands, red light district, bloody family disassembly, lovers and husbands, cuckolds, sinking ships and search of treasure, love and pigeons’

Opium Project‘s video for Beautiful.

Found via Oksana Zhuravel

Tags: cool finds, illustration, music by steve
1 comment  . . .   

Tags: cool finds, culinary, photography by steve
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The work of illustrator Jurryt Visser. More here.

Tags: cool finds, design, illustration by steve
3 comments  . . .   

And Craig continues the tradition. Dance Dance Dance!

(includes best of clips)

And strangely enough, I have a friend who used to work for a film company who once told me that Robert Downey Jr. – who was spotted at the next urinal over – likes to make foam when he pees.

And I don’t know for the life of me why I remember that.

Tags: cool finds, music by steve
3 comments  . . .   

Remember the 90s?

The world needs more spontaneous dance numbers.

Tags: cool finds, music by steve
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Finally saw Slumdog Millionaire. Really enjoyed the (Oscar winning) Jai Ho dance number (and titles) at the end of the film.

And
Here’s the Pussycat Dolls’ version (below).

Tags: cool finds, music, typography by steve
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Alexi Wasser is still doing couples counseling.

Tags: cool finds by steve
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I’ve known Marian Bantjes a few years – mostly thru emails and online notes. I found her work years ago, it blew me away so I put it in an exhibition.

And in watching her recent TED video (above), I’ve noticed some career parallels. Though I’m not looking at a parallel of work (not even close), what I see is a parallel of thinking.

design rut
I’ve been a designer working ‘behind the scenes’ for over two decades.

I was a paste up artist and I have the scars to prove it. My first graphic design courses were part of a drafting program – no computers – and today I’m shocked at how important work habits developed during that time have become. I don’t consider my work innovative or new – simply bulletproof. And I’ve made a lot of money for a lot of other people. And mostly, I’ve never quite fit in with my contemporaries. And the battles that come from this have raged on for a long time.

A few years ago I had to ask myself this tough question:

Why the fuck do I no longer enjoy what I do??

The answer was telling. And not very simple. Part of it involves the temporary nature of my field. Most of what I’ve designed, doesn’t exist anymore.

But most of the problems I saw came from letting too many other people have control over what I do and how I do it. Working within perceptions of how others see my field – graphic design – really took the wind out of my sails. For this simple reason:

Graphic design can be so much more than people who work in our field think it is.

I seem to see this. But not many others do.

turnaround
About two years ago I made the conscious decision that I will only work on jobs that I enjoy.

This is a key decision, in that I’d reached a bottomed out, enough is enough point in my career. I had some serious work and financial setbacks and had to put a stop to the   . . .   bleeding. For lack of a better term.

And the work I have in right now, I love doing.

I love teaching, so I just took on SEVEN classes (all typography, one design history course) and this was one of the most fun quarters/semesters I’ve had. And in my spare time, I draw fonts, design really goofy stuff and post whatever inspires me to this blog. Because I love it.

Will it lead to something else? Who knows? Who cares?

But enough about me. Watch Marian’s talk. She’s figured it out, mostly. And what she does – what all visual artists do – is very important.

Don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise.

Tags: cool finds, design, education, illustration, thoughts by steve
1 comment  . . .