Looks to Kill

Guess what the theme for this new year is? You guessed it... fashion. Un-fucking-deniable badass fashion. Fashion as the jumping point for interior design, technology trends, and social media. Because in the end, we're all trying to be non-conformists in a world that's full of anything but.

In Living Color

This post-neon period should last about 2 more months. Then it's back to black and white.

The Rugged Winter Hipster Guide

Winter's just starting in some parts of the U.S., but that doesn't mean you need copious amounts of snow in order to immerse yourself in some sweet hipster fashion. Popular items this snow season are chambray ties, tweed coats, Indian-inspired scarves, and leather wing tips. 

When Digital Isn't Enough, You Get a V700

I've been on the fence about digital film for quite some time now despite living the digital lifestyle. While it's cool to flaunt around your micro 4/3rds, there's something undeniably attractive about embracing the past and reliving it in a new digital age. This is why the Epson Perfection V700 Photo (IT) now tops my list of "shit I must buy before I die." Yeah, it's $500, but I think the differences in processing shown in the top picture above (the V700 is the negative film image scanned to the right), is more than enough to justify the canyon left in your wallet.

I plan to pick up the Nikon FM10, a vintage 1970's model that seems to have survived through the times and is still quite the hot market item on Craigslist and eBay. Boxes of film will cost $4-12 and a flash attachment may become a necessity. Now, I must start selling my belongings. Ciao.

Paris Fall Fashion

I think I need me a new fancy scarf. And lots of hair mousse.

Ageable Goods

There's something utterly irresistible about goods that age with time. Take this leather drafting kit, for instance. It's dead simple, functional as hell, and appears like it was meant to be used for 20+ years without signs of wearing out. If only technology could translate so well...

Bianchi Gods and Monsters

If you didn't know, I have this sick obsession with Bianchi bikes. For me, they're beautiful, timeless pieces that only the likes of Eames can top. Now, as the hipsters have gotten a hold of them - modifying every aspect of it until it no longer resembles its original form - I find myself getting hooked even more by the sheer brilliance of their designs and boundless creativity.

I've taken a few hours and rounded up the sexiest mods I could find using the Pista and Pista Concept frame by Bianchi. I have a feeling if you've appreciated anything in my blog from the past few days, this should make your weekend.

Miles Piercy's Plug

As I've eluded to in the past, Charge makes damn good fixies. Miles Piercy takes it up a notch and introduces a silver, white and red color scheme to his Charge Plug. Front white Aerospokes, Profile Airwing aerobars, and MKS pedals and straps finish up the setup.

Octave Z from Lausanne

Seeing Octave Z's new track bike in person would probably be more heart-attack inducing than a bacon smoothie.

Frame: Mercier Kilo TT Black Frameset
Wheels: Velocity B43 White
Crank: Sugino Messenger
Stem + Handlebar: Nitto Pearl 10 Stem + Nitto Handlebar
Saddle: Brooks Red Team Pro NACCC Boston

Nice. Best when viewed in full. More here.

Polish My Tra-La-La

Nothing like a shiny Bianchi to put a smile on your face. More Pista porn here.

Charge Plug 700C Fixie

Too lazy to learn how to build a fixie from scratch. Grab one of these pre-built completes from Charge. The 700C runs a sweet $630 shipped online. It's not cheap, but it sure beats sitting around in your living room with a bunch of hubs and gears, scratching your head.

Gilmore Lite Headphone Amp

Looks like today is filled with audiophile porn goodness. Up to bat is this very well-received piece of aluminum kinkiness, packing high quality sound in a tiny enclosure. Now if it didn't cost $399...

Wall Sticker Invasion

I need to start designing some quirky stickers for white walls. It'll be great for renters like me who don't want to lose my security deposit with paint and wall-mounting hardware.

Mastermind's Japan Fall/Winter 2009 Styles

These styles be pretty ill, son. Frickin' skulls, hockey sticks, and Ugg-like gloves - mix 'em, mash 'em, throw 'em in a stew!

The IAM1 Amsterdam Journey

Any city can fire the imagination. Discover Europe's five most creative hotspots through the eyes of their native revolutionaries. Discover Amsterdam through the eyes of blogger/entrepreneur extraordinaire; NALDEN.

Preparing for Indiana Fashion

I haven't had a chance to stay long enough in Indiana to know what the fashion is like over there, but for one thing, I do know that it snows. That it gets under 0 degrees. So the plan is tons of layers, boots, and this friendly looking plaid coat Mr. Al here is wearing...

Do I Need An External DAC When I Have An X-Fi?

It depends. It depends if you're a gamer, if you're running a 5.1 speaker setup, or if you're upgrading simply because you heard it was cool. If it sounds fine right now, you probably won't see much of an improvement after vesting hundreds of dollars into the high end audio tech pool, and in all likeliness, you'll end up hating yourself for it without gaining the proper knowledge beforehand and jumping into a hobby that's just for ultrageeks and extremely picky music listeners.

That said, there are plenty of reasons to get a separate, dedicated digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that runs via USB from your computer or feeds out of your digital line-out jack of your current X-Fi card. Not only will the sound become much more clear through your speakers and headphones, but you'll immediately be able to tell the difference between lossless audio and MP3's right off the bat. You should only use your X-Fi's line-out if you're a gamer, as most DACs have no idea what to do with gaming effects such as EAX and CMSS-3D, and will likely cause a slowdown on your PC if not handled correctly.

There are plenty of options out there for USB DACs, coming in flavors of the very-cheap and great value (such as the EMU 0202), or you could go with stylish ones like the Firestone Fubar III. The only limit is the size of your wallet and how much you're willing to prowl audiophile forums like Head-Fi and travel to stores around the country until finally finding something you'll fall in love with. It's a fun hobby, if not addictive like crack - just make sure whoever gets caught in between is someone very supportive of your habit.

Being a Nerd Is Like, So Cool

The overpriced, retro-inspired Casio G-Shock Data Bank Calculator Watch is just what I need right now. $90 for food? Pfft. Who needs food when I can calculate how many calories I'm not intaking by having this awesome watch?

Your Daily Dose of Bianchi Porn

Oh, you lucious 1981's hottie, I like how your wheels spin. Hmm.. you don't want to spin for me? Bad girl. Bad!

How To: Prep Your Bike For A Paint Job

Removal: Use Aircraft Stripper or sand down with 180grit wet/dry sandpaper. Rinse with water when clogged with old paint.

Coverage: Block off all the holes and trim the excess with an exacto knife. Stick a roll of newspaper in the seat hole.

Painting: Use two coats Rustoleum Painter’s Touch primer and generally two coats of paint for each color. Do light sanding between coats of color with 600grit wet/dry paper. Follow with a couple light coats of clear coat and let them dry in between.