Affordable Personal Jet Pack!!!

Posted by English | Posted on 10-03-2010

  • martin-aircraft-jetpack-4 For years, man has been trying to build a   jetpack which would actually be safe and cheap enough to be used by anyone other than Lee Majors on the title sequence of The Fall Guy.  This is what the New Zealand Martin Aircraft Company did, resulting in the Martin Jetpack.

The jetpack is made from carbon fiber, with a touch of kevlar in the rotors, and generates 600 pounds of thrust. Because the center of gravity is below the “center of thrust” (a notional point between the engines), it is self-righting: If the pilot lets go of the controls, he hovers steadily in one spot. Unlike other sci-fi vehicles, the jetpack doesn’t require plutonium or even garbage for power. Instead, it runs on ordinary gasoline, chugging down around 10 gallons per hour (a full tank of five gallons will give you half an hour of flight time, enough to get you to the office).

Martin’s jetpack is classed as an ultralight aircraft, so you don’t need a pilot’s license fly it. Martin will force buyers to undergo training first, though. As its FAQ so rightly points out: “to attempt to fly any aircraft without professional instruction is extremely foolhardy.” There are some safety features, though. If the engine dies, a parachute pops out like an airbag in a car, so the only thing you need worry about is crashing into passing planes.

Want one? Of course you do. Right now you’re looking at a 12-month wait, and you’ll have to pay 10 percent upfront, but at just shy of $90,000 — the same as a fancy sports car — it’s actually a pretty good deal. And just imagine landing this thing on the forecourt of the local gas station.

R.I.P. Notorious B.I.G.

Posted by English | Posted on 09-03-2010

Nas said Hip-Hop Is Dead in 2006 but I believe when Christopher Wallace passed away this day, 13 years ago, a part of our culture died along with him. Right now, mainstream Hip-Hop suffers from a lack of the things that emcees like Biggie brought to the table. B.I.G. was charismatic, one of our better lyricists, made great songs (no matter the subject), and had the ability to create amazing stories. I’m not one to write long, editorial-like blogs so I won’t start here but I figured I’d make a post to pay homage and respect to the Notorious. Rest in peace.

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Reflection Eternal: In This World (Official Video)

Posted by English | Posted on 07-03-2010

Talib Kweli and DJ Hi Tek, together known as Reflection Eternal, are about to make their long awaited return. This is the official video for Reflection Eternal’s first single In This World. It was directed by Punit Dhesi with Steven Tapia handling the digital effects. Revolutions Per Minute will be available for purchase on April 20th.

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=103372394

OK GO: This Too Shall Pass (Rube Goldberg Machine Version)

Posted by English | Posted on 07-03-2010

This is the official video for the recorded version of “This Too Shall Pass” off of the album “Of the Blue Colour of the Sky” by the OK GO.  Not only is the song really cool but the video itself is a brilliant engineering marvel. The video was filmed in a two story warehouse, in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. The “machine” was designed and built by the band over the course of several months. I like how you can see a smashed piano and smashed TV’s in the background from previous tests. Amazing. I wonder how many takes it took to get right.

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DJ Muggs x UNDFTD Commercial

Posted by English | Posted on 06-03-2010

UNDFTD is definitely one of my favorite brands. They are consistently creating great gear and constantly innovating creative limited edition collaborations with the best brands.  Check out this video of DJ Muggs (Cypress Hill/Soul Assassins) displaying his DJ skills in this commercial for UNDFTD. Video directed by Punit Dhesi. Big Shout Outs to Jupiter and Eddie Cruz.

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CREATIVE CONTRABAND PRESENTS: LUNCH BOX

Posted by English | Posted on 06-03-2010

This past Sunday I attended one of the best parties Los Angeles has to offer at Teddy’s in the Roosevelt Hotel -  Creative Contraband and Belvedere IX curated a special night of libations and celebration.

From LA’s latest to LA’s greatest, tons of our favorite Los Angelino’s and transplants were in the house having a ball. The music was absolutely amazing!! The best of  West Coast Funk and East Coast Classics was  provided by the legendary DJ D-Nice,  and DJ Ruckus.

Although a few of Hollywoods celebrities were in attendance, this wasn’t the place to go to be scene, this was the place to cut loose and party!! Bottles poppin, people dancing and tons of pretty women smiling. Truly a blast!! Big shout outs to Mitch Kapler, Bee Ngyuen, Joanna Simkin, Neran Dhas, Mik Jigga, Rob Garcia,  and the entire Creative Contraband Network for bringing out such beautiful people, hosting tables and keeping the Belvedere flowing!!

It was an amazing sight to see everyone  come together and partake in the goodness that our main man, Kenny Mac, likes to call LUNCH BOX.   See for yourself . . .

resevered-belve

It was a riot!!!

TheyGotDownatIX

BriannaandFriends

twinsIX-lolipops

lunch box is yummy

DJ Ruckus Goes In!!

D-Nice Dropped Gems!!

DJ D-Nice, DJ Ruckus & Kenny Mac

Duffy, MK, LRo

Mirtha and friend

sexy. . .

Belvy-Lollipops

IX was in full effect. . .

team simkin

It got a little goofy. . .

It was sexy. . .

Fresh to Death (MK-English)

It was sexy. . . .

Black Scale Familia

The Fam had fun!!

Thanks for coming daaaar-lings!!!

Twitter in Plain English

Posted by English | Posted on 03-03-2010

As most of you know I am an avid Tweeter aka A person who activeley particpates on the Twitter Micro Blogging network. In the past I have posted numerous articles about Twitter and why I use it. And just about once a week I am confronted by some Non-Tweeting hater who ask me “What exactly is  Twitter? I don’t get it.”  So here is A quick and plain English intro to the micro-blogging service for all you digital late-bloomers created by commoncraft back in 2008. Watch and learn.

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Pulp Fiction Action Figures? Really?

Posted by English | Posted on 03-03-2010

Pulp Fiction

Is this not the coolest thing you’ve seen all day? Clearly Pulp Fiction has zero business having any action figures but I want these NOW. The amount of analysis is endless.  Let’s dig in:

First. Ages 18 and up.  Not sure I’ve ever seen that on a “toy” before.   Second. I love how “The Gimp” text is bigger than all the others.  Third.  That they chose to feature only characters associated with the rape scene not to mention feature them bloodied up is beyond my comprehension.

I wish they could have thrown in The Wolf and Jules.  Well, they were almost there.  Check out these little guys.

Sir Ken Robinson asks: Do Schools Kill Creativity?

Posted by English | Posted on 02-03-2010

Do Schools Kill Creativity? I thinks so and apparently so does Sir Ken Robinson. In this TED conference presentation he makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.  He champions a radical rethink of our school systems, to cultivate creativity and acknowledge multiple types of intelligence. Why don’t we get the best out of people? Sir Ken Robinson argues that it’s because we’ve been educated to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers. Students with restless minds and bodies — far from being cultivated for their energy and curiosity — are ignored or even stigmatized, with terrible consequences. “We are educating people out of their creativity” This is a must watch for everyone, espsecially all new parents out there!!

http://www.vimeo.com/9029148

Gorillaz|Mos Def|Bobby Womack: Stylo [Video]

Posted by English | Posted on 02-03-2010

This is the Official HD Video for Gorillaz‘ fantastic new single ‘Stylo‘, taken from the new album ‘Plastic Beach‘. The video is great. It’s like watching cartoons with the world’s greatest soundtrack backing the scenes. Fast cars, Mighty Mos is rappin’, Bobby Womack singin’ and Bruce Willis makes a cameo firing shots from a Dirty Harry revolver. They’ve disabled embedding so you’ll have to go to YouTube to see it, but it’s worth the click.

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