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In Case Of Fire, Break Tradition: Fierce Fire Extinguishers

above: the new Lamborghini Reventón unveiled last week at the IAA Frankfurt
photos courtesy of Autoblog

The most expensive Lamborghini to date, and limited to 'less than 20', the Reventón Roadster was just unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

The angular, almost oragami-esque, topless, limited edition Lambo comes in a special grey color only- which is a cooler grey than the Coupé. With under 20 built (and, according to reports already 15 sold) at a price of approximately $1.6 million USD (without taxes), you probably won't see many of them.

That said, I've given you a slew of images here. The V12 engine rockets from 0 to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 205 mph. Should get you to work on time.

The new Lamborghini Reventón introductory film unveiled at the IAA Frankfurt:

The full press release from Lamborghini: Lamborghini Reventón Roadster – ultimately open Designer piece with uncompromising performance Lamborghini presents the ultimate driving machine among open-top two-seaters – the Reventón Roadster is a sports car of breathtaking fascination, menacing power and uncompromising performance. The 6.5 liter twelve-cylinder generates 493 kW (670 PS), catapulting the Roadster from 0 to 100 Km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 3.4 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 330 KM/h (205 mph). The open-top Reventón is not only one of the fastest, but also one of the most exclusive cars in the world – Lamborghini has limited the series.

The Lamborghini Reventón is not destined to remain a one-off. Less than 20 Lamborghini friends and collectors will be able to own this extraordinary car and, naturally, enjoy the incomparable pleasure of driving it. Each Reventón Roadster will be sold for 1.1 Million Euro (without taxes). Deliveries will begin October 2009. "The Reventón is the most extreme car in the history of the brand," comments Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. "The new Roadster adds an extra emotional component to our combined technological expertise – it unites superior performance with the sensual fascination of open-top driving." The Reventón Coupé was presented at the 2007 IAA in Frankfurt and was sold out immediately. Open-top sports cars are a tradition at Lamborghini that stretches back over 40 years. In 1968, the company from Sant'Agata Bolognese built a Miura without a fixed roof as a one-off. The Diablo Roadster appeared in 1995 with its targa roof anchored to the engine cover. Sculpture with extreme dynamics All Lamborghinis are created with an avantgarde approach to design; a fast-moving technical sculpture. The Reventón Roadster is derived from the same creative thinking as the Coupé. Its designers found their inspiration in aviation – the aggressive wedge shape evokes images of fighter jets.

above: Reventón Coupé shown above The powerful arrowhead form at the front, the mighty air intakes pulled way forward, the broad side skirts, the upwards opening scissor doors and the rear end with its menacing edges – the Roadster is clad in a design of maximum functionality and spectacular clarity. Details set stylish accents, such as headlamps featuring bi-xenon units with LEDs forming the daytime running lights and indicators. The rear lamps are also equipped with LEDs. Like the Coupé, the Reventón Roadster measures 4700 mm (185 in.) long. It has a wheelbase of 2665 mm (105 in.) and is 2058 mm (81 in.) wide and 1132 mm (45 in.) high. The driver and passenger seating positions are low and sporty, separated by a substantial central tunnel.

Behind the two seats are two hidden pop-up bars that deploy upwards in just a few hundredths of a second in the event of an imminent rollover. A fixed, horizontal wing-shaped member behind the seats bears the third brake light. The design of the Roadster's long back is also quite distinct from that of the Coupé. The engine bonnet is virtually horizontal and a total of four windows made from glass provide a view of the mighty V12 in all its technical elegance. Stiff bodyshell base The base bodyshell of the Reventón is already so stiff that the Roadster requires only minimal reinforcement. It has a dry weight of only 1690 Kg (3,725 lbs.), just 25 Kg, (55 lbs.) more than the Coupé.

Like the Coupé, the cell of the Roadster is made from high-strength steel profile and carbon components joined with specialist adhesive and rivets. The bodyshell is made almost entirely from carbon fiber elements, with sheet steel used only for the outer door skins. Exclusive grey paintwork A unique paint finish completes the razor sharp design language of the Lamborghini Reventón Roadster. For this exclusive special edition, designers have created a new shade of matt grey called Reventón Grey. As for the Reventón Coupé, which is a slightly different shade of grey, this is a matt paint finish that, in the sunlight, displays an unexpected impression of depth thanks to its special metal particles.

The wheels of the Reventón Roadster also incorporate the interplay of matt and glossy elements. The five spokes of the rims each bear a Y-form, and on each spoke are mounted small crescent-shaped wings made from matte carbon. These provide not only an unusual visual impact, but also a turbine effect that further improves cooling of the mighty ceramic brake discs. Aircraft-style displays The interior of the Reventón Roadster conveys the same powerful design as the exterior. The cockpit is structured with technical clarity, the interfaces arranged for functionality. Like a modern aircraft, the open two-seater no longer has classic analogue instrumentation – instead, information is delivered via two transreflective and one transmissive liquid-crystal displays.

The driver can switch between two modes at the touch of a button – one digital view with illuminated bars and one level with classic round dials, albeit with changing color graphics. Centrally located at the top of the display is the G-force meter. It represents the intensity of the forces acting on the Reventón Roadster under acceleration, braking and heavy cornering; the same format used in Formula 1.

above: Reventón Coupé shown above The instruments are mounted in a casing machined from solid aluminum which is housed in a carbon fiber dashboard. The interior displays uncompromisingly clean craftsmanship and features a host of carbon fiber applications – e.g. on the center tunnel – aluminum, Alcantara and leather. The central panels and the seat cushions are perforated, with precision stitching gracing their outer edges.

above: Reventón Coupé shown above Lamborghini has equipped the Reventón Roadster with full options. An icon of engine design

The twelve-cylinder engine that powers the Reventón Roadster is a Lamborghini icon – and the technical feature that defines the character of the car. It is one of the world's most powerful naturally-aspirated engines. With a compression ratio of 11 : 1 and a displacement of 6496 cc (396.41 in3,) it generates 670 PS (493 kW) at 8,000 rpm. Its maximum torque of 660 Nm (487 lb-ft) kicks in at 6,000 rpm.

The V12 engine is a masterpiece of Italian engineering. Two chains drive its four camshafts that, in turn, operate the 48 valves. Together with the three-phase adjustable intake manifold, the variable valve timing delivers a meaty torque build-up. Dry sump lubrication ensures that the hi-tech power unit has a constant supply of oil, even under heavy lateral acceleration. The absence of the oil sump means a low mounting position – benefitting the car's outstanding handling characteristics. The V12 catapults the Reventón Roadster from 0 to 100 Km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 3.4 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 330 Km/h (205 mph). It reacts with the eagerness of a racing engine to input from the right foot, revving to 8,000 rpm and beyond, and performing a symphony that sends shudders along the spine. The deep booming bass, the powerful mid-range and the exultant horn section play music that, once heard, can never be forgotten. All-wheel drive for maximum traction In classic Lamborghini style, the aluminum engine is mounted longitudinally in front of the rear axle, with the transmission ahead of it beneath the center tunnel. This layout results in 58 percent of the overall weight being borne by the rear wheels – ideal for a powerful sports car. This layout accommodates the Viscous Traction permanent all-wheel drive. Under normal conditions, it sends the vast majority of the driving force to the rear wheels. Should they begin to spin, the central viscous coupling sends up to 35 percent of the power via an additional shaft to the front axle. Limited-slip differentials are located there and at the rear axle with 25 and 45 percent lock respectively. Lamborghini introduced the all-wheel drive principle with the Diablo. The reason back then was just as clear as it is today - four driven wheels grip far better than two, and the more powerful the engine, the greater the impact of this fundamental law of physics. Also standard on the Reventón Roadster is the e.gear automated six-speed sequential manual transmission. The driver controls the gear shift, which is activated hydraulically via two steering wheel paddles. In addition to the "Normal" mode, the system offers a "Corsa" and a "low adherence" mode. The driver just has to keep his foot to the floor - the rest is handled by e.gear. Running gear layout from motorsport The Reventón Roadster keeps the extreme power of its engine in check with a running gear layout derived directly from motorsport. Each wheel boasts double wishbone suspension, with one spring strut on each side of the front axle and two each at the rear. The front end of the car can be raised by 40 mm (about 1.6 in.) to protect the underside of the vehicle over potholes or on steep entrances into underground garages. The open two-seater runs on 18-inch wheels. The front tires measure 245/35, while the rears are 335/30. Dedicated air channels in the bodyshell cool the four wheel brakes. Carbon-fiber ceramic discs are standard – they have an extremely lightweight construction, operate with virtually no fade, are corrosion-free and achieve the highest service life. Each disc has a diameter of 380 mm (~15 in.) and is gripped by six-piston calipers. As fast as the open two-seater may be, its road manners are impeccable. Its performance limits are extremely high, yet effortless to control. And, on exiting a bend, all four wheels stick tenaciously to the asphalt. The permanent all-wheel drive dovetails the car firmly with the road, delivering decisive benefits in traction and stability. High-performance aerodynamics A further distinctive characteristic of the Reventón Roadster is its calm directional stability even at extremely high speeds – a feature that also turns fast highway stretches into sheer joy. Alongside the bodyshell design and the smooth underbody, which culminates in a powerfully formed diffuser, the rear spoiler carries responsibility for downforce. It deploys from the rear edge at about 130 Km/h (80 mph) and adopts an even steeper angle as of about 220 Km/h (136 mph). The entire aerodynamic concept – around and through the car – is radically laid out for performance. State-of the-art development techniques Lamborghini used state-of-the-art, highly networked processes to bring the Reventón Roadster to life. The design, CAD work and model making that took place in the Centro Stile, which opened in 2004, were accompanied continuously by specialists and test engineers from the Research & Development Department. The Design Department is directly linked to the neighbouring Ufficio Tecnico, ensuring rapid implementation of ideas. Lamborghini's capabilities also include the independent development of the complete electronic platform. This incorporates all control units – including those for the V12 and the innovative cockpit displays. All units of the Reventón Roadster are being built on the Sant'Agata Bolognese production line, with perfect craftsmanship and to the highest levels of quality. If you can't spare the coin for the full-sized version, you can always buy the 1:18 model here. Oh, and in case you were wondering what the closed top Reventon (The Reventon Coupé) looks like:

special thanks to Lamborghini and Autoblog for the movies, info and images IAA Frankfurt

Wrapped Up In Obama: Victoria Rowell At The Emmys & The Dress She Should Have Worn.

I haven't even thought about blogging about the 2009 Emmys (it hasn't even aired here yet on the West Coast), and I probably won't even do a post on them this year. But that doesn't mean I can't share with you what will undoubtedly be the most talked about (dissed?) dress there.

Actress Victoria Rowell showed up in a very tacky, albeit loyal, tribute to our President by wrapping herself in what appears to be an Obama tablecloth at our 61st Emmy Awards show this evening:

above: Akwaaba means 'Welcome' in Ghana

Good sentiment, bad execution. May I suggest Jean-Charles de Castelbajac's Obama dress (shown below) instead?

Maybe next year, Victoria.

Gibson Guitars & Julien's Miami GuitarTown Auction Of Hand-Painted Guitars

above: two of my favorites from the auction catalog

Julien's Auctions and Gibson Guitar have announced an upcoming auction, the Miami GuitarTown live auction, set for September 26th. The Julien auction takes online bidding, bidding by phone, proxy or in person.

You may have read my post on the fun computer and social media pillows from both Craftsquatch and My Suite Stuff. Now another designer, Roberto Hoyos of Throwboy, has thrown his hat...er, pillows, into the ring.

Like the other two companies, these pillows are hand crafted of fleece with polyester stuffing.

The collection includes Chat pillows- text shorthand blurbs as well like LOL, WTF and TTYL.

And mac computer OS icons:

And the requisite RSS Feed pillow:

They even have Halloween versions of Mac Finder icon pillows! Available until Oct. 31

Meet Throwboy and their mac computer and software icon pillows:

From Throwboy's "About Us" Page: Roberto was at work. Brandon was at a Christmas party. Kaelin was, young. "Brandon." Roberto said in that dry, you-don't-know-what-I'm-thinking way he always talks. "You do designing, right?" "Umm. Yeah, Roberto, I do." Brandon replied, hesitant. They'd never so much as texted one another, much less talked on the phone. "Let's meet at Shari's. I've got something I want to talk to you about." After forcing a signature of nondisclosure upon Brandon and Kaelin, his dreams of pillow dominancy were unfolded before their eyes. An empire of geeky, soft and peppy pillows sewn with care in happily familiar shapes.

Roberto, the grandson of a Peruvian Seamstress, birthed his Icon pillows years earlier to impress a female of his same Nerd Clan. And thanks to the modern technology which they embraced, the internet caught wind and surfer's interests were perked. Almost a year after the bland dinner at Shari's, this website emerged in all of it's groovy goodness.

See the post on Craftsquatch and My Suite Stuff pillows here. Buy your Throwboy pillows here.

You're Never Too Old To Play With Blocks: The Coolest Wooden Designer Blocks Available.

Seems that many artists and companies are convinced that grown-ups, especially design-loving folk, still want to play with blocks. And from the looks of these, they are right.

Here's a round up of beautifully designed wooden blocks available on the market:

PhotoLettering Blocks from House Industries:

• 12 Wood Alphabet Blocks
• Blocks 1 3/4" (4.5 cm) square, Kit 11.625" x 4.625" (29.5 cm x 11.5 cm)
• Made in the USA!
• Replenishable Michigan-grown, kiln-dried basswood.
• Printed with non-toxic, lead-free child-safe inks.
buy them here.

Alexander Girard Blocks from House Industries:

• 12 Wood Blocks
• Each six sided block is 1.75" x 1.75"
• Includes wood tray
• Made in the USA from replenishable Michigan Basswood
• Non-toxic, child-safe inks
• CPSIA Compliant - ASTM-F963 / EN-71 Compliant
buy them here

Make Art Not War Blocks by Bob and Roberta Smith

A Tate Exclusive: Bob and Roberta Smith Blocks

These delightful wooden alphabet blocks have been created exclusively for Tate by London-based artist Bob and Roberta Smith. Each set contains 16 colorful blocks in a wooden box with clear lid. 96 facings are included with letters, numbers and punctuation '&?!'.
buy them here.

Naef Blocks

Naef Blocks are more like art puzzles than building blocks and they have tons of styles, here are a few of my favorites:

Naef Mosaik:

Naef Modulon:

Naef Wooden Collection:

Naef Animal Blocks:

There are tons more wooden puzzles and blocks from Naef, see them all here.

You can purchase many of the Naef products in the US here.

Bok handmade wooden blocks by Petit Flaneur:

learn more about them and where to buy at Petite Flaneur
The etsy store
Or buy the garden ones here

HABA architectural blocks:

If you're raising a little architect, HABA wooden blocks come in tons of different architectural styles, representing cities all over the world.
Buy them here.

Worth mentioning:

These wooden Hand Gesture Icons by Roebuck Studios are fun for both adults and children alike:

Crafted of baltic birch wood, all the edges are rounded for safety and a safe, shellac finish is applied. Available in seven colors. Sold as a set of seven or individually.
Buy them here.

Technically, Tree Blocks are not square, but they are fabulous.

TREE BLOCKS®, Exquisitely hand cut branch blocks.
Freeform pieces come in precision-cut 2-cm. increments (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 cm.) with large 2 cm. disks and bridges to support successful building and early math and metric system learning. Diameter of blocks varies. Typical set includes "Y" or forked pieces. They lovingly finish each unique set with flax oil. Tree Blocks come in a colorful, cotton twill, drawstring sack with attractive logo block. Ages 3 to adult. Safe, lab tested.

The standard measure of maple unit blocks (regular kids wooden blocks) is 3/4", virtually the same as 2 cm. The sets can be combined flawlessly.
buy them here.

Okay, not blocks, per se, but these wooden dominoes by Keith Haring demanded inclusion:

Keith Haring Wooden Domino Set:

Keith Haring orange wooden domino set printed with colorful pop art characters. Keith Haring made his name with graffiti style art around New York.
Each set has 28 pieces and is presented in a wooden box. Comes with games rules.
Suitable for ages 2+.
100% wood
buy them here