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2009 Grammys. Good Tunes But God-awful Garb.

Above: Bono performs at the 2009 Grammy Awards

Today, my Grammy coverage is really going to focus on the fashions. Why? Because if you missed the music, you can buy the albums or download the songs. And nowadays you can basically view on the performances on youtube, and get lots of great musical reviews available for you on other sites from critics far more versed in music than me. You can even see the acceptance speeches here. And because ...well... it's my blog.

Yes, Radiohead rocked (they should have opened the show, sorry Bono) and Coldplay was as entertaining as expected. Some fab duets and lots of rappin' added to the entertainment. Utter respect for Sir Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder as the Bonus Jonas abounded.

above: Justin teams up with Al Green as they did at last years' grammys.

Above: Stevie Wonder as the Bonus Jonas

Extra drama? MIA was due to give birth that night (I waited for her water to break as she pranced around onstage in that godawful get up) and the Rihanna/ Chris Brown saga added some dark reality.

above: M.I.A. performing the very day she was due to give birth.

Kid Rock cleaned up nice, lil' Wayne didn't clean himself up at all and it was great to see Neil, Smokey, Stevie, Paul, Robert Plant and other music legends.

above: Lil' Wayne could take a lesson from Justin when it comes to dressing for an awards show.

Although she was one of the few well-dressed women, there were some questions about Whitney's strange enunciation (was she wasted or trying extra hard not to be?).

Suffice it to say, the nominated songs were all pretty wonderful and the winners were not much of a surprise. The show had some really fabulous duets (justin had two) and wonderful tributes, but the fashions....well, they were less than harmonious, to say the least.

Apparently Jennifer Hudson's dinner napkin got stuck to her chest...

but she redeemed herself in her black sequin number in which she performed (and rightly received a standing O) later in the show:

Is Natalie Cole bound in chains to keep her from engaging in substance abuse?

Mama M.I.A!
True, M.I.A was due to give birth that very night, but that is no excuse for these ensembles, I don't care how bad her hormones were raging:

and the outfit in which she performed onstage? Yikes.

While I love Coldplay (who doesn't?), Thank God they acknowledged, and apologized to Sir Paul for, their bad version of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper jackets.

Okay, for those young uns, here's the original Sgt. Pepper jackets:

And although I thought Estelle's American Boy duet with Kanye was one of the best of the night, her alien garb was simply Jestons gone bad.

And frankly, (I may get pummeled for this one) Kanye looked like Michael Jackson with the glitter blazer and gloves, yech:

Rapper T.I. was somewhere in between well dressed and not dressed up, but still looked better than Kanye:

Oh Paula....

Singers will.i.am (left) and rapper T-Pain looked really smart ... NOT:

A bit of an Ed Hardy Overdose:

Katy Perry may be bi-adorable, but her live performance of "I Kissed a Girl" pretty much sucked and lacked any subtlety as she emerged in a phallic banana and pranced around onstage channeling Carmen Miranda:

By the way, ever notice how much she resembles actress Jenny McCarthy??

Is it just me, or is John Mayer coming off creepier than ever these days?

and it's true, Carrie Underwood did have awesome legs:

and Kid Rock cleaned up nice as he channeled G-d by opening with Amen, closing with Rock n' Roll Jesus and giving a tribute to the recently deceased member of Lynrd Skynrd in between:

the few saving graces included the always well dressed Gwinnie (who is also the wife of Coldplay's Chris Martin), but what was with that hair?:

And kudos go to Sheryl Crow, Kate Beckinsdale, Queen Latifah, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift for dressing appropriately. (I know I am forgetting others, but it's easier to remember the horrendous clothes).

Other shockers: Morgan Freeman and Kenny Chesney are best buds? Paul McCartney is playing at Coachella? Apparently, yep.

A complete list of all the winners, courtesy of the Telegraph, can be found here.

Here's a list of all the nominees, the winners have a grammy icon to the left of their name.

The LA Times has a list by category (this one is the easiest to read of them all) of the nominees and winners, where the winners are in bold italics here.

Official Grammy site here.

Love or Hate Valentine's Day, I've Got The Gifts For You

Love Valentine's Day?

I'm bummed at all the crap people are posting on social shopping sites for V-day gifts. Just because it's red or heart-shaped doesn't mean it's a great gift! Here are some gifts that truly are unique, memorable, hip or collectible.

From love spells and naming a star to customized rings made from your profile and sexy bed sheets. My 'Seriously Good Valentine's Gifts' list contains over 80 hip items, in a wide price range, for the one you cherish. No crappy gold-filled jewelry or heart soaps on here. Just the good stuff.

Click on each image below for details and place to purchase.

See more of my Seriously Good Valentine's Gifts list at ThisNext.

Hate Valentine's Day?

So... what if you're single, spurned, bitter or just plain against the commercialization of Valentine's Day? Well then I have gifts for you, too.

Valentine's Day isn't all hearts and candy for everyone. With the single population higher than ever, divorce rates increasing and those whose hearts are on the mend, here are some products for those who'd rather celebrate the St. Valentine's Day Massacre than the holiday.

click on the images above for details and place of purchase.

See more of my I Hate Valentine's Day list at ThisNext.

Betony Vernon's Luxe Erotic Jewelry & Jewel Tools

Above: Betony Vernon makes as nice a model as she does jewelry

Looking for something special this Valentine's day? A litle naughty but still luxe?

This past Wednesday, Feb 4th, Mission One's EV Sport Bike, the world's fastest electric motorcycle, designed in conjunction with Yves Behar and his Fuse Project, was unveiled at the TED 2009 Conference. It's mean, it's green and I wish I had the 70k to buy one.

above: designer Yves Behar

Forrest North of Mission Motors and his two co-founders, Edward West and Mason Cabot, have assembled a real dream team with incredible depth and experience and whose resumés list companies like Tesla Motors, Ducati and Google. The first 50 bikes produced will be a special Limited Edition model delivered in 2010 with a $68,995 price tag, while a standard, more affordable Mission One model will be announced this summer.

The Batteries:
Mission motorcycles use the most energy dense lithium-ion batteries available on the market. That makes them different from most other electric vehicle companies. Most vehicle manufacturers opt for lower energy cells that are simpler to manage, but result in vehicles with limited performance and limited range. The high-energy lithium-ion cells in a Mission Motorcycle get the 150 miles of range that riders expect when on a sport bike. And their patented battery cooling and management technologies allow the bikes to safely draw more power from these cells, giving them the acceleration of a race bike.

The Electric Motor:
Mission motorcycles' induction motor provides over 100 foot-pounds of torque. Unlike an engine, however, the torque curve on their electric is completely flat. The rider feels 100 foot-pounds of torque at a standstill, at 60 mph, and everywhere in between. Gasoline motorcycle require multiple gears in order to provide power at different speeds. The torque curve on our electric motor means that a Mission motorcycle can achieve gasoline sport bike performance with no gears. And all that power comes in a package about the size of a soccer ball.

Wireless Technology:
On a Mission Motorcycle, the on board computer does more than run the bike. It comes fully equipped with data acquisition system and wireless communication capabilities. On a Mission Motorcycle, riders can capture ride data in real time and wirelessly download that data to a computer to share with friends. Gone are the days of tuning your engine with a wrench, you tune your ride in minutes with your laptop computer.

Top Line Components
We have complimented our groundbreaking powertrain with the best components money can buy. The Mission One is a superbike in all aspects of the word. The 2010 model comes equipped with: Ohlins inverted front forks, 43mm TiN coated tubes, Ohlins fully adjustable shock, Brembo 4 piston monobloc calipers, Marchesini wheels, and race compound tires.

Regenerative Braking
The Mission One recaptures the kinetic energy of the motorcycle during braking and turns it into electrical energy stored in the batteries. By recapturing energy, the Mission One goes further on a single charge. The Mission One also allows riders to tune their regenerative braking to fit with their riding style.

Recharge Anywhere
The Mission One's onboard charger allows riders to recharge from any standard wall socket. Recharging from empty to full takes 2.5 hours off of a 220V outlet (8 hours off of a 110V). In California, which has the 11th highest electricity prices in the US, "filling up" your bike only costs you $1.96.

Real Time Data Acquisition
The Mission One's data acquisition feature allows riders to capture ride data in real time. Riders can record ride data, such as speed, location, or lean angle; or bike data, such as motor current, battery voltage, or efficiency. Riders can take that data to their computer to analyze their performance, brag to other riders, or prepare for their next ride.

SPECS:

P O W E R T R A I N
Battery Pack High Energy Lithium-Ion with Integrated Safety
Motor Liquid-cooled, 3 phase AC Induction
Torque 100 lb-ft @ Zero RPM
Transmission Single speed, #525 O-ring chain
C H A S S I S
Front Suspension Ohlins, 43mm inverted fork, fully adjustable
Rear Suspension Ohlins, single schock w/piggyback reservoir
Front Brakes Brembo forged 4 piston calipers.
Rear Brakes Brembo, 220mm disc; single-piston caliper
Wheels/Tires/Front Marchesini forged Al 3.5"x17", 120/70Z
Wheels/Tires/Rear Marchesini forged Al 6.0"x17", 190/55

T A R G E T P E R F O R M A N C E
Top speed 150mph
Range 150 miles per charge (Est. under EPA drive cycle)
Recharge Under 2 hours @ 240V (8 hours @ 120V)
Features: Adjustable regenerative braking,
Intuitive/adjustable data acquisition system

PRESS RELEASE

America's Newest Motorcycle Company, Mission Motors, Launches at TED2009
Mission One, World's Fastest Production Electric Sportbike
Design by Yves Béhar & fuseproject

LONG BEACH, CA - February 4, 2009 –Today, Mission Motors unveils a revolutionary vehicle, the Mission One, the world's fastest production all-electric motorcycle, at TED2009. Mission Motors CEO, Forrest North, along with lead designer Yves Béhar, founder of fuseproject, will present the vehicle in development onstage to the TED audience on February 4. Mission Motors will exhibit the vehicle throughout the conference at the Kohler LivingHome at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, and will be on hand to discuss the company's vision for a radically new brand of motorcycles. The company will also provide attendees the opportunity to see inside the product development process through the installation of a motorcycle design studio inside the Kohler LivingHome.

"The Great Unveiling," the TED2009 theme, makes a fitting platform for the launch of Mission Motors' first vehicle, the Mission One. It is the first production electric sportbike that features uncompromised performance and an iconic new design created by world-renowned designers Yves Béhar and fuseproject. With a top speed of 150 MPH and an estimated range of 150 miles, the Mission One rivals gasoline sportbikes while dwarfing the performance of any other electric motorcycle on the market. The electric drivetrain creates a riding experience unlike anything currently available on a production vehicle. The electric motor's linear torque curve provides peak torque at zero rpm, a feature gasoline engines cannot match. The motor delivers faster acceleration than most gasoline sportbikes without ever having to shift gears.

The announcement formally debuts Mission Motors, a San Francisco-based company geared to redefine the world of performance motorcycles, which was founded in 2007 by entrepreneurs Forrest North (CEO), Edward West (President), and Mason Cabot (VP of Engineering).

Building on their backgrounds in engineering, a desire to develop clean vehicles, and a passion for motorcycles, the Mission Motors founders developed a proprietary high energy lithium ion battery pack that could provide both the range and acceleration needed for a high performance sportbike. The company (named Hum Cycles at the time) placed second in the transportation category of the 2007 California Cleantech Open, the largest cleantech business plan competition on the West Coast.

"As a motorcycle enthusiast and engineer I knew I could combine my passion for motorcycles with my passion for innovation and create a motorcycle that truly sets a new standard in the perception of electric vehicles," said Forrest North, Founder and CEO, Mission Motors. "With the Mission One, we're writing the next chapter in motorcycle design, delivering a new riding experience without sacrificing performance or design in a zero emissions vehicle."

With core engineering underway and an attractive business model, North and his co-founders turned to Yves Béhar's fuseproject to create Mission's unique brand and creative direction, as well as an iconic industrial design for the first product. The engineering team at Mission Motors and the design team at fuseproject worked in close collaboration to design the Mission One from the ground up, creating a machine that makes a bold statement about performance, technology, sustainability and design.

"This project was a dream come true: a statement about how design can make performance and sustainability come together without compromise," said Yves Béhar. "I believe Mission is an icon for a new era of efficient and exciting vehicles. Designed to express speed and efficiency in it's overall sharp lines, the Mission bike is also highly detailed with special attention to a riders needs, bringing a high level of product design and ergonomics to a new generation of performance transportation."

About Mission Motors:
Mission Motors is building the fastest production electric motorcycle in the world. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the company combines innovative technology, iconic design, and superb performance with the freedom of a zero emissions riding experience. Mission's elite team of engineers is creating the first motorcycle company built on the innovative spirit of the Silicon Valley. The concept is simple: Redefine the world of performance motorcycles.

For more information on Mission Motors, visit www.ridemission.com.

special thanks to Mission Motors, Autoblog Green and Yves Behar for info and images.

Deadgood's LOVE Furniture For Barker And Stonehouse

In honor of Valentine's Day, I wanted to share with you a sweet furniture collection that is the result of a collaboration between Deadgood design and British furniture retailer Barker and Stonehouse.

From their own press release:

The Love Collection - an exciting new capsule furniture collection with a cunning twist - is a collaboration between Barker & Stonehouse and Newcastle-based design team Deadgood.

The collection comprises three products - a console table, Chesterfield chair and mirror - all designed to showcase the best of British craftsmanship and inspired by a passion for fabulous furniture.

“The collection is beautifully designed and made here in Britain using traditional techniques. It’s quirky without being too gimmicky and I think it might well become one of those looks that our customers just love.”

Deadgood was set up in 2004 by Dan Ziglam and Elliot Brook, graduates in 3D Design at Northumbria University. Dan is from Nottinghamshire while Elliot hails from Huddersfield, both opted to stay in Newcastle after graduating. Dan and Elliot have exhibited their work nationally and internationally from 100% Design in London to the Salone in Milan, but set up their own Newcastle-based design exhibition called Launch in 2005 to help promote local talent and boost the profile of the North East design scene.

They sell their own products through their website and individual retailers – they recently won a contract to supply Northumbria University with 250 of their Form stools – but this is the first time they have had the opportunity to work with and for a leading British retailer.

The pieces contain such sweet details as the following.

heart shaped fabric covered buttons:

heart shaped wood joinery:

Their chair graced the cover of the Feb 2008 issue of idFX:

Barker & Stonehouse has seven stores in Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Gateshead Metro Centre, Knaresborough, Leeds and Hull.

Deadgood's site.

Jean Yves Lemoigne: Pixelated People & Pictograms In Photography

French photographer Jean Yves Lemoigne has an impressive and large portfolio of work. Having shot commercially for several impressive clients and agencies, he is clearly very talented. But two of his series in particular stand out, I Am A Pictogram and his editorial, PIXXXEL for the french magazine Amusement, a videogame and lifestyle magazine, because of their interesting interpretation of the main figure within them.

The computer has altered the way we look at things and in these two separate series of photos, the main subject is represented first as a pixelated figure and then as a pictogram-- placing virtual and cyber iconography into realistic environments.

Take a look.

PIXXXEL:

His Pixxxel editorial (the above shots) is a statement on the popularity of porn on the internet. According to the the photographer; 28, 2598 people click on a pornographic site on the internet every second. 35% of downloads, over a billion and a half images and videos, are pornographic and in 2006, 12% of all websites (about 4.2 million URLs) were of pornographic content. That's a lot of pornographic pixels!