They placed the 98 residential units on 19 floors, using the pattern of outdoor spaces to determine the overall appearance of the project.The slightly irregular pattern alternates these outdoor spaces to create what are in effect double-height spaces. Each unit then receives more sunlight than a typical stacked composition.
The shots here are from around 1920 and 2003. Certain similarities remain, like the fairytale pinnacles of the Prudential Insurance building in the distance, the location of the streetlamps in the centre. And equestrian Prince Albert still raises his hat to salute nearby Victorian engineering marvel Holborn Viaduct. But look at all those cocksure Edwardians, jaywalking round the junction like they haven't a care in the world. They didn't have dedicated crossings back then.
The earlier photo also shows two important and now defunct London retailers. Gamages (on the right, where the awnings are) was one of the great department stores of London, before going out of business in the 1970s. Today, the site is occupied by a newly refurbished (and strangely likeable if you see it in the flesh) Richard Seifert block. On the other side of the road, the impressively glassy Sainsburys HQ has taken the place of Thomas Wallis the drapers, on which the curtains came literally down during a WWII bombing raid. Between the war and the new Millennium, this corner was taken by an absolutely shocking office block, home to the Daily Mirror.
Stock up on Doritos before New Year's, LA, because there's a man who's planning on rolling and smoking a three foot jay on December 31, which means there are going to be some people with the world's largest case of munchies soon afterwards.
Brett Stone, the brains behind DaBronx News, a website that claims to contain "All the 'dope' on marijuana in the news", recently heard about a group of Dutch pot smokers who had to nix their plans of rolling a joint filled with 17 ounces of weed, because such a spliff would be illegal in Amsterdam.
Because Stone is a card-carrying medical marijuana patient here in California, he realised that he could legally roll and smoke a joint that large right here in LA. And that's just what he plans on doing.
"I thought the world's largest joint would have been a lot larger," Stone was quoted as saying in the Daily Breeze, adding that it would be legal since it would be toked in a place designated for such things. "It will be smoked in a local medical marijuana collective here in L.A."
Laura Richards, head of analysis for Scotland Yard's Violent Crime Command, analysed evidence from the case using modern police techniques to form what is claimed to be the most accurate portrait of the Ripper ever put together. She says that the 118-year-old evidence shows he was aged between 25 and 35, stood between 5ft 5ins and 5ft 7ins tall and was of a stocky build.
A break at last. This should be a relief for any prostitutes still working in the 19th century as police finally draw closer to apprehending the fiend. Experts believe that we can expect a resolution to the case sometime soon because now that the police know he had a moustache it will make it easier to spot the 148 year old man in a crowd.
Once this is cleared up police will move onto other pressing cases such as the menace of Spring Heeled Jack. Don’t expect them to get round to your burglary until 2118 though.
1. Laksmi Mittal
Who he? The world’s fifth richest chap. Made a few bob from trading in steel. A magnetic magnate?
Worth? $23.5 billion – with which he could buy enough pints of beer to fill Wembley 1.5 times over. Bet he won’t, though. Boring bastard.
2. Roman Abramovich
Who he? Smarming Chelsea uberlord and alleged love rat. Swimming in oil money. Worth? $18.2 billion…at least until the divorce bills.
=3. Leonard Blavatnik
Who he? Another oily Russian.
Worth? $5 billion.
=3. Charlene de Carvalho-Heinekin
Who she? Beer heiress. Refreshes the boutiques other purses can’t reach.
Worth? $5 billion. Or about a billion four-packs of Heinekin. Now that’s a party.
I love to do new and wonderful things twih my PC, but I want to pay zip, nada, zero, zilch and bupkis for the privilege. What are some great free tools that will make my heart sing and my wallet happy?
There's some amazing free software out there, and you can do some amazing free things with it. Here's a few of my faves:
The grandaddy, the winner and champeen of all the Internet browsers: Firefox! It just turned 2.0, and it rocks. Grab it at getfirefox.com -- it loads pages like a weasel on speed, it's safer by far than Internet Explorer and its ActiveX nightmares, and it's beyond customize-able with hundreds of amazing extensions like Adblock and others that let you tune your Internet experience to fit you. The new version 2.0 adds spell-checking in text entry areas, session-saving so you can pick up right where you left off, and some other great enhancements.
Google gives great search, but how about a super-cool photo downloader and album program that's quick like a bunny even with several thousand pictures, lets you do some pretty sophisticated image correction, and create slideshow CDs, e-mail pictures and more? Get Picasa at picasa.com -- it's a great tool for images, it's well-written, easy to use, and free.
Speaking of Google, if you've got a Blackberry, you've got to grab the new Google Maps application -- it's free, it will do mapping and directions, and it's even got live freeway traffic info. If you don't have an unlimited data plan from your cell carrier, this may not be the application for you, but if the thought of bringing up a satellite photo from your phone makes you feel like Jack Bauer, go to http://google.com/gmm with your Blackberry's browser.
There's no excuse for being without up-to-date antivirus software when one of the best programs is free. A trip to http://free.grisoft.com will give you access to a free (for home use only -- businesses, educational institutions and other entities, for profit or otherwise, will need to pony up) antivirus program that's low-footprint, rapidly updated, and far less intrusive than the big boys like Norton and McAfee. Config tip -- turn off "Certify" in the E-mail settings, and you won't get their little ad on every e-mail you send.
Attention LAXers, BURbankinos, ONTarioids, John Wayne SNAholes and LGBeachettes… !!
Six airlines announced yesterday that they will be adding iPod connections to their fleet of big Tylenols. For those flying the friendly skies on United, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and Air France you will soon have the power to run and charge your iPod while in flight, as well as watch videos on the seat-back display of the fidgety, sweaty guy in front of you.
And ooh, ouch Microsoft. This announcement came practically in unison with the launch of their much ballyhooed “iPod killer” Zune. Current estimates show Apple as the proud seller of nearly 70 million iPods, and more than 1.5 billion songs through iTunes. In addition, 70+ percent of all new autos sold in the United States this year are expected to have iPod integration.
Naysayer-doomsdayer analysts have “voiced concern that there is limited room for growth in the iPod's market share because it already has more than 75% of the U.S. market for digital music players.” Sounds like someone’s not thinking outside the pod.
Let’s reminisce about what Apple has done so far… They made an iPod with a scroll wheel and a few gigs. Then one with a touch wheel and way more gigs. Then pictures. Then minis. Then nanos. Then smaller nanos. Then video. Then shuffles. Then bigger video. Then smaller shuffles. You get the point.
They will keep making better what you already like, and/or create something new that you’ll love even more. And now, their shiny little devices can jive with your car and your airplanes. Soon, all you’ll have to do is think about what song you want to hear, and it will play in your head. To recharge, just take a nap. And payment? Direct payment from brainwaves to bank account. Nothing short of complete and total assimilation will suffice.
Resistance is futile.
Westminster Abbey, the tube map, red telephone boxes, Wimbledon and the Thames itself have now joined previous London icons Big Ben, Routemasters, Brick Lane, Notting Hill Carnival, The Globe Theatre and The Tower of London.
The full list can be seen here.
The idea is for the icons to develop into a vibrant portrait of England.
The 21 additions, which also include English weather, Iron Bridge and Doctor Who, have been revealed by the government's online Icons project. Officials plan to expand the list to 100 by the end of the year.
This project is funded by Culture Online, part of the Department for Culture, Media, Sport and Stating the Bloody Obvious.
The Dr. Who iconic? I look forward to seeing Black Cabs and Hating the French being added in the next round.
