Friday’s passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) signaled a definite shift in US policy towards energy use and climate change. Though the bill had its detractors — most notably Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and even progressive Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) — ACES, or Waxman-Markey, set new standards for clean energy adoption, energy efficiency, and, most notably, greenhouse gas emissions.

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MoMA will be showing the first ever  major retrospective of designer Ron Arad in the United States starting August 2, 2009. The show will run through October 9, 2009 and will feature the Israeli industrial designer’s furniture, sculpture, and chandeliers for Swarovski, which display text messages from strangers that are sent to the lamps by incorporating light-emitting diodes.

Regardless of material, which include crystal, metals and plastics, Arad’s work always has a humor and charm. And the work almost always plays with proportions to dramatic effect. You should check it out

Back in early February 2009, fireworks during the finale to the annual Spring Festival/Chinese New Year celebration sparked a fire that quickly “engulfed one of the Chinese capital’s most architecturally celebrated modern buildings.” The nearly completed 32-story, 241-room Mandarin Oriental Hotel was designed by famous architect Rem Koolhaas.

James Fallows points out over at The Atlantic Monthly that the burned out hotel still stands in Beijing looming over the city like something out of the dystopic future of a science fiction novel. Fallows writes, “Sometimes structures in big Chinese cities appear — or disappear — practically overnight. Other times, they sit for a very long period in limbo. I’m not sure of all the reasons why the hotel has this frozen-in-time aspect, but it’s startling whenever I see it.”

The big sexual health news this week was that a guy can increase the quality of his sperm by having sex every day for a week, and thus improve his fertility; he might have fewer sperm on his team when he goes for the gold, but the ones he does have will be stronger players. (In contrast, many fertility experts recommend that guys abstain for a few days before her ovulation to increase sperm count.) Reading about this study brought two questions to mind:

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Tomorrow is Fourth of July, a holiday devoted to a whole lotta patriotism, defending our planet against alien invaders, and lastly consumption of hot dogs. Most of us will just go with the boring dog on a bun with mustard, ketchup, and if feeling adventurous, maybe some sauerkraut. Well, if you’re looking to venture beyond the hot dog norm this year, here are 10 crazy variations that will either inspire or make you gag…

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I really “dig” this beautiful house designed by architects at Single Speed Design and built with material salvaged and reutilized from Boston’s infamous and epic “Big Dig,” the most expensive highway project in US history. Originally estimated in 1985 to cost $2.5 billion, by 2008 the Big Dig’s bill ran upwards of $22 billion.

The project demonstrates an untapped potential for the public realm: with strategic front-end planning, much needed community programs including schools, libraries, and housing could be constructed whenever infrastructure is deconstructed, saving valuable resources, embodied energy, and taxpayer dollars.

[Via]

The concept of July 4th as “Oil Independence Day” or “Energy Independence Day” has been floating around for several years: everyone from bloggers to magazines to the Speaker of the House has touted the concept. This July 4th, New York-based artist Michael D’Antuono will add his voice to the debate with the unveiling of the paintings Dependence and Independence in Washington Square’s Garibaldi Plaza.

D’Antuono recently raised a furor with his painting The Truth, which celebrated President Obama’s 100th day in office. The painting portrayed the president wearing a crown of thorns and posed as if crucified — the religious right was not amused. The new paintings like won’t stir up the same level of vitriol… let’s hope they do stir up more meaningful conversation on our energy future, though.

The paintings will be on display in Garibaldi Park from 10am - 4pm.

Since Michael Jackson’s death last week the King of Pop’s fans have shown respect in a myriad of ways. This video has to be the most unique, and if you think about it, the most fitting.

1500 inmates in the Philippines paying tribute to the fallen pop star. This isn’t their first Jackson performance. Take a look at their Thriller video. Inmates dancing to Michael Jackson? Odd. Bizarre. Messed up. And near perfect.

“It happens when nobody is looking” is the tag line for this award-winning Amnesty International PSA about domestic violence. Installed in a bus stop in Germany, it features an eye-tracking device so that when people look at it, the image morphs from a scene of domestic violence into a scene of domestic bliss. (The image of the bus stop above is in English for publicity purposes.) Copyranter said “Pretty clever and pretty useless, since this lone installation was built … by agency Jung von Matt primarily to win ad awards.” But after reprimands in the comments section about how this ad is making the rounds on the Internet due to its innovation and thus effectively spreading the word about the insidiousness of domestic violence, Copyranter conceded “…becoming less useless by the hour.”

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Jacky Terrasson at Iridium Jazz Club, NYC, June 25, 2009.

BETWEEN SETS WITH JACKY TERRASSON

Just three blocks north of Times Square in Manhattan, you’ll find the world-famous Iridium Jazz Club (51st Street and Broadway). Iridium is a great place to celebrate and support live music. If you’re in the City, unplug your earbuds and check out Iridium’s stellar lineup of upcoming concerts.

Iridium recently hosted the outstanding French pianist, Jacky Terrasson with Ben Williams on bass and Jamire Williams on drums. We thought it was pretty brilliant, and apparently, we were not alone (see New York Times Review)!

Sundancechannel.com: You’re a very international guy – and your playing really reflects that.

Jacky Terrasson: Yeah, well my background is… my mom’s from North Carolina – she grew up in Durham, and my father’s French. My mom’s black American and my father’s French French (laughs). I grew up near Paris, France – and I moved to New York City around 1990.

Sundancechannel.com: What or who prompted you to enter the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition in 1993?

Jacky Terrasson: Actually a friend of mine who was here at the first set. He was one of my first fans and he was at Bradley’s Jazz Club when I used to play there. He used to come to every set and he said, “You know, man, there’s this competition…” And I studied classical music for like eight years, and when that word came out of his mouth, “competition,” I was like “No, man, I’m not going there!” (laughs) You know, to me it was so part of the classical world. And he showed me some press about it and some articles about it and said, “This could really help you…” And I talked to other people and, finally, you know, I submitted a tape and I was accepted.

Sundancechannel.com: Did you realize beforehand what kind of a big deal it would be when you won?

Jacky Terrasson: No, absolutely not. I didn’t have any clue.

Sundancechannel.com: What kind of specific opportunities opened up for you immediately after you won the Monk Competition?

Jacky Terrasson: Well, before the competition, Tom Everett and Bruce Lundvall from Blue Note Records were coming to a lot of gigs. And so, everything kind of happened at the same time. And this guy, Richard Salters, a friend of mine said, “You should do [the competition] before you sign any kind of deal – you never know.” So what it did for me was it put me in a situation where, basically, there was not only Blue Note that was interested in me, but other labels and, you know, I was 25 years old or so and, well, everything helps. It created more buzz, more hype… more in the spotlight and, basically, it was a good position to be in.

Sundancechannel.com: What artists did you listen to growing up in France?

Jacky Terrasson: You know, I was so stuck, I was so limited – in a great way – but I was listening only to classical music and piano trios. I was listening to Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk. I loved, always loved Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, big Miles Davis fan, Bill Evans. And later, when I was 18 or so, I discovered Herbie (Hancock), Wayne Shorter, Keith Jarrett then later, Chick Corea.

But, I mean, during the whole teen age years, I was really not into… and I regret it in one way, because I realize there’s a lot of social - just normal growing up things that I was totally void to. I didn’t know anything about pop music or rock and roll, you know? All my friends, when I was in high school, were listening to AC DC and I was, like, “Arrgghhh” (laughs). It was great, but at the same time, it was funny because I just felt like I was on this little island listening to this other music.

Sundancechannel.com: You are so inventive and creative on the piano and get more mileage out of the instrument than a lot of others do – when did you first start experimenting with plucking the strings and playing the board as a hand drum?

Jacky Terrasson: You know, I just think of the instrument as something that has a lot to offer… and, uh, I’m not the first one who’s done it, you know, I mean, I’ve seen Herbie [Hancock] pluck strings, Keith Jarrett get inside the piano and do all kinds of crazy stuff… Cecil Taylor. I just like discovering sounds, you know – something that nobody’s done. So that’s my next thing – finding a new sound…

You know, a lot of people say the trio format is kind of limited because it’s been done for so many years now. My challenge is to find another expression with the same instruments – it’s wood, it’s metal, it’s skins - well, now it’s plastic (laughs) – but still very noble and primal. I like the idea of primal - primitive? primal? elements and the idea of expanding until that stuff, well, bursts!

Sundancechannel.com: What artists would we see on you iPod?

Jacky Terrasson: I have an iPod in my pocket right now! (laughs) A lot of stuff – a lot of jazz, a lot of classical music – some Beyoncé, some Tracy Chapman, a lot of Sting. Today I was listening a little to Michael Jackson, of course. [This concert and interview occurred on the day Michael Jackson died.] And I love ethnic music… some names that I can’t even pronounce, but, Indian music and African music.

Sundancechannel.com: What’s coming up for you in the next year?

Jacky Terrasson: Well, I just signed with Concord Records and we’re planning on recording this summer.

Sundancechannel.com: With the trio we saw tonight? (Ben Williams on bass and Jamire Williams on drums)

Jacky Terrasson: Yeah, this trio will be part of it, and I’m planning on having a few guests on it… just to do something different from the records I’ve been doing previously with Blue Note Records. So, I’m going to have a few guests and maybe it’s going to be more on the “push” side like tonight.

Sundancechannel.com: Any touring this summer?

Jacky Terrasson: I’m doing a few festivals in Europe in August and then I’m working on the album. The new album will probably be out February or March of 2010.

Learn More:

Jacky Terrasson Official Site

Iridium Jazz Club

Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz

Walking around art galleries in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood, photographer Andy Freeberg noticed a certain trend and began documenting it in his series “Sentry: Gallery Desks in Chelsea.”

[At] some of the biggest galleries there are giant entry desks, where the top of the head of the desk sitter is often the only other human presence. This leads me to wonder, in this digital world of email and instant messaging that supposedly makes us more connected, are we also setting up barriers to the simple eye to eye contact that affirms our humanity?

Check out Freeberg’s amusing “Guardians of Russian Art Museums” series as well.

[Via]