raxraxrax.com http://raxraxrax.com Rax Blog Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:46:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 links for 2010-03-12 http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/13/links-for-2010-03-12/ http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/13/links-for-2010-03-12/#comments Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:46:59 +0000 Rax http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/13/links-for-2010-03-12/

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]]> http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/12/links-for-2010-03-11/feed/ 0 What’s your Tequila Face? http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/12/whats-your-tequila-face/ http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/12/whats-your-tequila-face/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:43:32 +0000 Rax http://raxraxrax.com/?p=2076

Last Wednesday, I was invited by the team at Splendid to attend a Tequila Party on behalf of their client José Cuervo.

The soirée, aimed at raising visibility of the brand’s current Tequila Face campaign brought together some of London’s finest bloggers (and me) at über-trendy Hoxton’s Cargo bar. The context of the event was an open audition to help enlist bloggers to spread the word about the following José Cuervo competition:

Vince Frank, Cuervo’s very own casting Director, has been working closely with Señor José Cuervo to scour Facebook, Twitter and our fair nation’s nightlife, in the hopes of finding the perfect group of mates with panache, charisma and raw talent to live it up in Mexico. The casting brief has gone out via tequilaface.co.uk, but so far that’s why he needs you!

Got a mate or reader you think has the face to make it to Mexico for an all expenses paid trip and a Movie deal? Just tell them to text their mug to Tequila Face to 64666.

Visit tequilaface.co.uk to for more information and see how it all began (it’s a pretty good site). Check out the other entries online at the dedicated Facebook Page – or look at my pitiful entry below (Adam Vincenzini = cool whilst me = fool):

If you’re wondering about the costumes, they were a central part of the evening. In true Splendid Communications style, the event had a distinctive interactive element built in, whereby all attendees were handed a goody-bag upon arrival which contained a Mexican personae together with accompanying accessories.

My character for the evening was none other than Zorondo Zendajas – part of the Los Juerguistas De Ora DJ Collective:

There is apparently a highly embarrassing YouTube video of me doing an ‘in-character’ interview with Cuervo’s casting director Vince Frank (@vincefrank) which I have yet to see!

Unsurprisingly, the drinks on offer were all delectable but my favourite had to be the Classic Cuervo Margarita (José Cuervo Especial Tequila shaken with fresh lime juice and Triple Sec, served straight up in a salt rimmed glass).

On a side-note, I have to say that whilst the cocktails were all pretty good, I had a particular weakness for the canape menu which included a delicious Thai beef salad, mint, soy and red pepper in a filo cup and an authentic tasting tequila  marinated  salmon cerviche.

Now I know why the José Cuervo Especial brand is the highest selling tequila brand in the world:




]]> http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/12/whats-your-tequila-face/feed/ 1 How the Internet is changing dance (for the better): LXD http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/11/how-the-internet-is-changing-dance-for-the-better-lxd/ http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/11/how-the-internet-is-changing-dance-for-the-better-lxd/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:39:09 +0000 Rax http://raxraxrax.com/?p=2078

TED.com – always inspiring, never fails to drop my jaw. But this time, it has surpassed itself with the following performance from the LXD (The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers). The group’s coordinator is Hollywood Director Jon M Chu. Chu explains his fascination with the relationship between the Internet and Dance:

“Online videos and social networking … dancers have created a whole global laboratory online for dance, where kids In Japan are taking moves from a YouTube video created in Detroit, building on it within days and releasing a new video, while teenagers in California are taking the Japanese video and remixing it with a Philly flair to create a whole new dance style in itself. And this is happening every day.

“…And from these bedrooms and living rooms and garages, with cheap webcams, lies the world’s great dancers of tomorrow. Our Fred Astaires, our Gene Kellys our Michael Jacksons are right at our fingertips, and may not have that opportunity, except for us.

“So, we created the LXD: the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers. A Justice League of dancers that believe that dance can have a transformative effect on the world. A living, breathing comic book series, but unlike Spiderman and Iron Man, these guys can actually do it:”.

Click here if you cannot see the embedded clip above.

The LXD recently performed at this year’s Oscars ceremony and were a huge hit with the audience. You can view the full clip of the performance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94ah1u1ypBY&feature=player_embedded

Imagine two rival factions – one good, one evil – squaring off in an epic battle … an epic dance battle.  The LXD delivers just that in it’s a new online adventure in which heroes and villains combat each other with dance superpowers. With stunning choreography, dancers float over the ground like marionettes or crush the laws of physics beneath their feet when they perform breathtaking aerial maneuvers and transcendental step sequences. Think Matrix meets West Side Story meets Crouching Tiger and multiply it by a zillion.

The series hopes to do more than follow the dance-battle zeitgeist that rules today’s TV ratings. In addition to live performances, The LXD reveals dance superheroes on both sides of the screen—viewers can learn dance moves from instructional videos, and even become part of the story by participating in the web community. The LXD is written and directed by Jon Chu, a veteran of dance productions, including the box office sensation Step Up 2: The Streets and the Internet phenomenon, The Biggest Online Dance Battle.

You can also find out more about the LXD by following them on Twitter @theLXD or by becoming a Fan on Facebook.

It’s also well worth passing by their excellent website: http://www.thelxd.com/

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]]> http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/09/links-for-2010-03-08/feed/ 0 Mapping Forgotten Spaces in London http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/09/mapping-forgotten-spaces-in-london/ http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/09/mapping-forgotten-spaces-in-london/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:10:47 +0000 Rax http://raxraxrax.com/?p=2067

I have a Love/Hate relationship going on with London. Whilst the Capital’s lifeblood flows through my veins there are times when I just need to break out of the claustrophobic confines of the city and find a bit of greenery in which I can pause momentarily and breathe.

Finding a little oasis of peace in London is one of life’s little pleasures and something which is to become easier to do thanks to the new Mapping Forgotten Spaces website which is a joint collaboration between the Space Makers Agency and RIBA (the Royal Institute of British Architects).

The site aims to encourage comment, suggestions and debate about how London’s forgotten/abandoned/neglected spaces could be better used in future.

The Mapping Forgotten Spaces site was originally created to accompany RIBA London’s Forgotten Spaces design competition. You can still visit the Forgotten Spaces site to download an entry form for the competition.

The Space Makers Agency is about rethinking the spaces in which we spend our time and works with all kinds of people and organisations to create sociable spaces and sustainable local economies. I’ve never really heard of their work until now but the more time I spend on their website, the more I fall in love with London all over again.

It’s interestng for me – someone who was born in London and has slowly migrated out to the Zone 6 Surrey suburbs, to look at the changing ways in which people are using space and develop new ways of thinking about the spaces in which we live, work and play.

How the website works:

The website encourages visitors to browse other people’s ‘forgotten spaces’ and comment on them, as well as adding their own spaces to the map.

To explore spaces which have already been added, you can use the Home page. Zoom in to the area you’re interested in and click on a marker to reveal a space. Click on the title of the space to view photographs and further information, and to join the discussion about what should happen to it. You can also view a list of all spaces that have been submitted.

To add a space, start from the find your space page. Type in an address or placename close to the location. If there are spaces nearby, they will be displayed on a map. You can click through to view these. If someone has already added a space you’re interested in, you can add comments and upload your own photographs to that space’s page. If your space is not listed, or there is no map, you can create a new page for your space.

For general discussions about the competition and forgotten spaces in general, you can also start a conversation.

OK, so the site isn’t the slickest looking of platforms, but then again – it doesn’t need to be. Google Map mashups were born for these kind of projects, and I really hope that people log on and take advantage of such a brilliant resource.

In a time when we’re all obsessing about virtual spaces it’s nice open one’s eyes to explore the real space around us which has the potential to restore calmness to our mad, manic Metropolis.

]]> http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/09/mapping-forgotten-spaces-in-london/feed/ 0 Britain’s BEST streets revealed by Google http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/09/britains-best-streets-revealed-by-google/ http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/09/britains-best-streets-revealed-by-google/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:25:09 +0000 Rax http://raxraxrax.com/?p=2058

Google Maps and Street View launched Google Best Streets Awards a while ago, showcasing virtual walks through the streets of Britain. Users helped decide the Best Foodie, Best Fashion and Most Picturesque street.

The votes have been counted, and  he winners have now been announced:

Britain’s Best Foodie Street

Winner: Stockbridge High Street, Hampshire

The winning street should offer a unique mix of mouth-watering options which could include fine dining, cafés, market stalls and delicatessens, all covering a diverse mix of food types and price points.

Britain’s Best Fashion Street

Winner: Milsom Street, Bath

The winning street should offer an eclectic mix of boutique and high street, designer and high street for all clothing tastes and ages. The winning street should satisfy both bargain-hunters and label-lovers.

Britain’s Most Picturesque Street

Winner: The Shambles, York

The winning street should be uniquely British and visually charming. It could be vibrant, full of character, diverse, walker-friendly or architecturally interesting.


The shortlist for the Google Street View Best Streets Award was compiled by the following panel:

Panel of Experts

VisitBritain

VisitBritain has contributed to every category. VisitBritain is Britain’s national tourism agency, responsible for marketing Britain overseas. They work in partnership with thousands of organisations in the UK and overseas and seek to ensure that Britain is marketed in an appropriate way in 35 markets around the world. They also work to promote the tourism industry within the UK itself.

Best Foodie Street

Roopa Gulati, Deputy Channel Head of Good Food, Chef and Author

A Cordon Bleu trained chef, Roopa blends western and Asian styles of cooking and has previously worked as a consultant chef with the Taj group of hotels. She is currently Deputy Channel Editor for Good Food Channel. She is a regular broadcaster for BBC Radio 4, and a restaurant critic for Time Out magazine and guides. Her features have been published in many magazines, including BBC Good Food and New York-based food and travel magazine, Gourmet.

Henrietta Green, founder of FoodLoversBritain.com

Henrietta is a leading expert on British local and regional quality food. She has won several awards including a Guild of Food Writers Award for the greatest contribution to British food and The Good Housekeeping Award 2006 for Outstanding Contribution to Food.

Nicholas Lander, Restaurant Correspondent at the Financial Times

Nick opened London’s L’Escargot restaurant and became the Food Critic at the Financial Times in 1989 writing under the byline of ‘The Restaurant Insider.’ He has written a number of books and works as a consultant for a wide range of clients including Fortnum & Mason’s and The British Museum.

Richard Harden, Co-Editor of Harden’s Restaurant Guides

Richard founded Harden’s Guides with his brother Peter in 1991. Initially just for London, Harden’s Guides launched their UK guide in 1998. Prior to founding Harden’s Guides Richard was a Barrister.

Chloe Scott-Moncrieff, Food & Drink Editor of Metro

Chloe has worked for Metro since 2003, initially as a freelancer, becoming the Food and Drink Editor 3 years ago. She writes Metro’s popular Gastro Girl blog and sits on the panel of the Great Taste Awards and World Cheese Awards. She has also written about food for the Saturday Telegraph Magazine, Country Life and Waitrose Food Illustrated.

Best Fashion Street

Jeff Banks, Fashion Designer

Jeff has been a pioneer within the UK fashion industry since he founded Clobber in 1966. He’s been a regular on TV since launching The Clothes Show on BBC in 1987, presenting over 320 episodes. His clothing is sold in leading department stores and he’s opened a range of Jeff Banks stores around the world. He designs a range of corporate clothing for companies such as BAA and Barclays.

Jo Elvin, Editor of Glamour

Jo has worked on a number of British magazines including TV Hits, Sugar, B Magazine and New Woman before launching Glamour in 2001. She is a regular guest on GMTV and LK Today and has written for The Observer, Evening Standard and The Independent.

Brix Smith-Start, fashion retailer and TV personality

Brix began her career within the British band, The Fall in 1983. In 2002 she launched the clothing store, Start, with her husband Philip Start. Brix is now a regular face of fashion on TV appearing on Gok’s Fashion Fix, The Culture Show and LK Today.

Hannah Sandling, Stylist and TV personality

Hannah can regularly be seen on TV commenting on fashion, style and celebrity on BBC Breakfast, Five News and GMTV. As a celebrity stylist Hannah has worked with Sienna Miller, Dita Von Teese and Emma Bunton. She has a column within Fabulous Magazine and has written two books.

Scott Henshall, Fashion Designer

In 1998 Scott became the youngest designer to show during London fashion week and since then he’s grown famous for dressing celebrities in show-stopping red carpet designs. The Scott Henshall Mainline Collection is stocked around the world and he’s developed a successful label specifically for Japan.

Amber Morales, Fashion Editor of the Daily Mirror

Most Picturesque Street

Julia Bradbury

Credited with revamping Sunday night primetime television and dubbed “The Lady of the Lake District”, Julia is one of the small screen’s most popular and versatile presenters. Having taken the helm on BBC One’s rural affairs show Countryfile alongside Matt Baker in 2009, the show’s ratings have since soared to over six million viewers.

David Else, Lead Author of The Lonely Planet Guide to Great Britain

David wrote his first travel guide book in 1983 and since then he has written or co-written over 25 Lonely Planet guides covering the UK and many other parts of the world. David also writes and broadcasts about travel and outdoor activities for newspapers, magazines and websites.

Frank Barrett, Travel Editor at the Mail on Sunday

Frank joined the Travel Trade Gazette as a graduate trainee and has worked in travel journalism his entire career. He has written for The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Times before becoming the Travel Editor of the Mail on Sunday in 1994. He has written several travel books and has won multiple awards, including the prestigious British Press Award for travel feature writing.

Lisa Minot, Travel Editor of The Sun

Lisa started her career in journalism at just 15 and by 19 was Editor of her local newspaper. She has worked at The Sun newspaper for 20 years, 10 of which as their Travel Editor.

(thanks PSFK for the tip-off)

]]> http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/09/britains-best-streets-revealed-by-google/feed/ 0 Audio killed the video game… just ask Papa Sangre http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/09/audio-killed-the-video-game-just-ask-papa-sangre/ http://raxraxrax.com/2010/03/09/audio-killed-the-video-game-just-ask-papa-sangre/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:08:57 +0000 Rax http://raxraxrax.com/?p=2054

As featured in this month’s Wired magazine, Papa Sangre is forging a whole new genre of gaming: the world’s first audio-only, 3D audio no less, video game for mobile.

The game (commissioned by 4iP) has been in development since mid-last year, and is set for release later this year.
Now I’m no gamer, but this project really excites me as creates a fully immersive environment which incorporates cutting edge audio technology with a very dark and sinister narrative.

Papa Sangre describes itself as a video game with no video. It’s a first-person thriller, done entirely in audio by an award-winning team of game designers, musicians, sound designers and developers. The developers have created an entire world using the first ever real-time 3D audio engine implemented on a handheld device.

Here’s a sneak preview of Entering the Palace of Bones from Papa Sangre on Vimeo:

You should follow @papasangre himself on Twitter where he’ll be revealing more about the game.

For more information on the Papa Sangre philosophy, check out the following blog post: http://www.papasangre.com/blog/#post-119

“You are lost, deep in the darkness of the land of the dead. Your eyes are useless to you here — but your ears are filled with sound. And what is it you can hear … ?

All you know is someone is in grave danger and desperately needs your help. Can you save them and make your escape or will you be trapped in the blackness forever?

You’re in Papa Sangre’s palace. His palace is in an afterlife that takes the form of a malevolent, unpredictable carnival: imagine a Mexican graveyard on the Day of the Dead — with the lights off. You’re the piñata for a host of partying monsters. They probably look a lot worse than they sound. You should count yourself lucky it’s too dark to see them.

Get out. Save the one you love. Do the right thing…”

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