Monday, November 30, 2020

Add some fun and spice to your music with the Spamp

The versatility that comes with it, plus the cool backstory behind its creation, makes the Spamp a great novelty for those who love music.

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Casa Cook Chania Combines Modernist-Inspired Architecture With Village-Style Living

Conceptualized by K-STUDIO – a design practice rooted in architecture with an unique contextual approach to producing holistic and immersive living experiences – Casa Cook Chania is the third manifestation of the Casa Cook resort brand. Continuing the brand’s image of texturally enriched comfort within a laid-back luxury concept, this modernist Mediterranean resort which lies across a hillside location on the Cretan coast, is the product of K-STUDIO’s close collaborations with Berlin-based interior design studio, Lambs and Lions, and interior stylist, Annabell Kutucu.

Casa Cook Chania Combines Modernist-Inspired Architecture With Village-Style Living

Using modernist-inspired architecture as an elegantly dynamic solution to the challenge of providing a lot of single-story space on a sloping site, the designers were able to create a ‘village’ layout with emphasis on external space that combines larger, open gathering points which facilitate smaller, quieter moments amidst breathtaking views. Regarded a passion project by Casa Cook, each hotel fits seamlessly together along a similar yet highly distinct theme.

Whether framed by a mountain or the sea, all Casa Cook locations draw inspiration from the surrounding landscapes and local culture, inspiring onlookers with immaculate architecture and design that feels both cosmopolitan and down-to-earth. Emphasising wellbeing for body and soul, Casa Cook Chania represents the brand’s collective effort to uphold mindfulness through health-conscious food, spas, yoga, music and outdoor excursions, for an enriching getaway experience.

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British Airways is revamping First Class accomodations

British Airways first class passengers can now enjoy reverse herringbone seats, which, along with a state-of-the-art entertainment package.

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Hublot goes tactical with the Big Bang Unico Camo Yohji Yamamoto

Similar to the All Black version, the Big Bang Unico Camo Yohji Yamamoto will be in short supply. In fact, only 200 examples will see distribution worldwide.

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The Westwind Farm Is A Beauty Inside and Out

The Westwind Farm is a high-end country estate that sits on over eight acres of land and boasts luxurious interiors and furnishings including a chef kitchen, nine fireplaces, seven baths, a gym and media room, and more.

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The Three Best Investments For Your First Car

This got us thinking, what did we spend our money on when we got our first cars, and what we would buy if we all got our first car today.

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This 2021 Flying Spur V8 does not compromise Bentley’s signature luxury

To meet the demands of its discerning clientele, Bentley is offering the Flying Spur V8 with outstanding customization options to make each unit unique.

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Let The Transparent Light Speaker Help You Create The Best Campfire Mood

The Transparent Light Speaker proves crisp and rich bass using dual True Wireless speakers and a light that glows and f lickers in harmony with the music.

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Motorola gives us a 3-in-1 true wireless earbuds system called the Tech3

With 7 hours of playback and an additional 11 hours from the accompanying charge case, the Tech3’s battery life should be more than enough to get you through the day.

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One of Banksy’s Earliest Pulp Fiction Prints Fetches Over $160K at The Tate Ward Auction

Visible along the streets of London, near Old Street tube station up till 2007, the infamous ‘Pulp Fiction’ stenciled composition first appeared in 2002, before being released in 2004 as an edition of 150 signed and 600 unsigned prints. Conceptualized by none other than the UK’s most notorious street artist, Banksy, the instances depicted included characters played by Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta in the 1994 film ‘Pulp Fiction’, with their guns replaced by bananas.

One of Banksy’s Earliest Pulp Fiction Prints Fetches Over $160K at The Tate Ward Auction

Covered by Transport for London, Banksy’s mural is regarded a magnet for art enthusiasts and tourists alike, drawing crowds despite an atmosphere of social decay and neglect in the capital. When the mural was covered, a local artist sprayed-painted the words “Come Back” in its place, addressed to Banksy. Not long after, the artist re-tagged his original Pulp Fiction in exactly the same place, though this time the characters held real pistols and donned banana costumes instead.

Fetching approximately USD$ 166,331 at the recent Tate Ward auction, ‘Pulp Fiction’ was amongst diverse variety of contemporary art available for sale. Hosted online, the auction titled, “By Collectors for Collectors,” featured works by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Anish Kapoor, Damien Hirst, and Cy Twombly, among many others. The print which dates back to 2004, marks the second ‘Pulp Fiction’ stencil sold on auction since 2012, though a great number are still available online for an estimated £1,000.

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Sunday, November 29, 2020

The Ducati Diavel 1260 Lamborghini Takes Cues From The Best Builds of Both Brands

Inextricably tied by geography and corporate business, Automobili Lamborghini and Ducati are closer than we thought. Based in the Motor Valley region of Emilia-Romagna in Italy, both brands represent singular branches of Volkswagen Group. Paying tribute to the highly prestigious Siàn FKP 37 hybrid supercar, the all-new Ducati Diavel 1260 Lamborghini is arguably this esteemed conglomerate’s next most interesting project.

The Ducati Diavel 1260 Lamborghini Takes Cues From The Best Builds of Both Brands

The two-wheeler which “transfers the core concepts of the Sián FKP 37 to the motorcycle world (and) redesigns the components that most characterize the Diavel”, packages the capabilities of a hybrid supercar within less surface area.

Designed using the same stylistic language that distinguishes the Siàn FKP 37, the Ducati Diavel 1260 Lamborghini sports a similar ‘Verde Gea’ glow, and enhanced forged wheels finished in gold. Swapping all evidence of plastic in its air intakes, radiator covers, exhaust cover, mudguards, and headlights, for carbon fiber, this bike weighs approximately one kilogram (2.2 lb) less than its predecessor.

Built upon the Ducati Diavel 1260, this machine maintains almost all its original mechanical specifications. Powered by a 1262cc Testastretta L-twin engine, the Ducati Diavel 1260 Lamborghini showcases intricate design elements analogous to each brand in the form of Y-shape detailing on the seat, Ducati’s signature Brembo brake calipers, Lamborghini‘s hexagon motif on the exhaust, and an Oro Gold Electrum finishing reminiscent of the Sián FKP 37 on its frame.

Expected to undergo a limited run of only 630 motorcycles – 10 times the number of Siàn FKP 37 cars made – the all-new Ducati Diavel 1260 Lamborghini is currently priced at upwards of $31,995 and will be available from the end of December 2020 at Ducati dealerships. Characterized by an abundance of tailor-made carbon parts and its collectible nature, brand and motor enthusiasts alike can anticipate a specially designed matching helmet and livery in each purchase.

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Forbes’ World Billionaires 2020: Three Casino Moguls Exemplifying a Changing Industry

Forbes’ annual list of ultra-wealthy individuals is always a fascinating read for those of us who like to crunch those big numbers. Of course, at the very top of the list, it’s fun to see who is ‘winning’ between Bill and Jeff. But the World’s Billionaires List also acts as a guide to business and social trends, and how quickly they change.

Indeed, consider the names that topped Forbes’ rich list when it was first published in 1987 – Yoshiaki Tsutsumi (1st, $20 billion), Taikichiro Mori (2nd, $15 billion) and Shigeru Kobayashi (3rd $7.5 billion). The top three were all Japanese, and all made their fortunes through real estate. Today the emphasis has shifted to the western hemisphere, with the greatest wealth mostly belonging to American tech entrepreneurs.

Nevertheless, further down the list, we can get an insight into how industries change and what their future might be. And for that, we want to look at the top three individuals on the list who made their fortunes from the gambling industry – Sheldon Adelson, Lui Che Woo and Johann Graf.

Sheldon Adelson ($26.8 billion)

It’s no surprise to see Adelson as the top gambling mogul, as he owns some of Las Vegas’ most notable casinos, including the spectacular Venetian. He also owns the Marina Bay in Singapore, and several Macau properties. Adelson also owns the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Adelson is something of a minor celebrity, known for his support of President Donald Trump, who gave his wife, Miriam, the Medal of Honour.

Lui Che Woo ($11.7 billion)

There’s quite a drop from Adelson to Woo, who is the second-highest on the list with a casino industry fortune. Woo owns the Galaxy Entertainment Group, which operates several of Macau’s biggest casinos. The 91-year-old resides in Hong Kong and is famed for his work ethic. Woo is also a huge donor to good causes, particularly medical research.

Johann Graf ($7 billion)

Graf is the third richest gambling magnate on Forbes’ list. He is, however, arguably the most influential of the three even though most will not know his name. Graf owns Novomatic, which supplies many of the electronic gaming machines for casinos. Importantly, Novomatic is also one of the powerful software companies supplying online sites like Mr Green Casino. In short, if you have played a slot machine, you have probably played one of Graf’s.

At a glance, you could say that all three of the above have more similarities than differences. For a start, like most of the Billionaires List, they are all elderly males (Woo is 91, Adelson 87, and Graf 73). Secondly, two of the trio, Adelson and Woo, made their fortune in casino resorts, with properties in Macau playing a big role in wealth creation.

However, the differences are also stark. Woo, for example, is a member of the standing committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. In the briefest terms, Woo is a de facto member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and one of the many individuals who became wealthy in the “new China”. He and Adelson would have been at opposite ends of the political spectrum as Trump and the CCP threatened a trade war over the last few years.

As for Graf, well, even at 73 he might have the brightest future of the three. We mentioned earlier that Novomatic supplies online gaming software, and that’s where many believe that the future of gambling fortunes will lie; not in resorts and fancy restaurants, but with software and code. Indeed, if you look at the 4th, 5th and 6th gambling fortunes on Forbes’ list – Mark Sheinberg, Denise Coates and Teddy Sagi – they have all made their fortunes through online gambling. Sagi, for example, founded Playtech, which is one of Novomatic’s rivals in supplying online casino games.

Can we learn anything from this? Perhaps. Then again, maybe not. Adelson is still the richest by some distance, and he is very much in the old school of casino magnates. Woo, like many others in China, has had to balance business interests with political ones. Graf, meanwhile, has had to ride wave of digital disruption as people begin to look to the internet as the home of casino entertainment. But the list also tells us that the internet is the fastest route to a gambling fortune these days. 10 years from now, we would bet that those at the top didn’t build resorts in the desert to offer blackjack, but learned how to code those games instead.

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Saturday, November 28, 2020

Showcase your wine collection within the WineCab Wine Wall automated system

WineCab can customize the Wine Wall to match the cabinetry of your residence which is a great way to keep everything cohesive without major rework.

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The curved display and body of the Amazfit X promises great comfort and style

Huami's Amazfit X is a remarkable smartwatch with a curved titanium case and touchscreen which will be available in Eclipse Black and Moon Gold upon release

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What is the Best Defensive Carry Handgun?

The overall ballistic characteristics of the .357 Sig perfectly complements the durable, compact, and reliable structure famous in Glock handguns.

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The Winnebago Ekko RV Makes Off-Grid Living A Fun Adventure

The Winnebago Ekko Motorhome is a four-person all-weather RV equipped with a 3.5L EcoBoost, 455W solar panels, a 31-gallon fuel tank, and a 50-gallon freshwater tank.

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The TurboHub Boasts Over 1GB Transfer Speed In A Pocket-Friendly Design

The TurboHub is an SSD and 6-in-1 adaptor that boasts up to 2TB of storage space, 1200Mbps read and write speed and 6 useful ports including a 4K HDMI and Thunderbolt 3.

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Friday, November 27, 2020

The 9,036-piece Colosseum is the most number of bricks in a LEGO Creator set.

To date, the LEGO Creator Colosseum is the Danish toy company’s largest one yet as it comes with a staggering 9,036 pieces in total.

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Alexandre Pain presents the modular Citroën ME concept EV platform

Occasionally, industrial designers are struck with inspiration and with enough time on their hands dabble on cool projects such as this Citroën ME.

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Lisa and Richard C. Perry’s Sutton Place Penthouse is So Beautiful It Almost Blinded Pedestrians

Built in 1927, the limestone-clad Sutton Place building was designed by famed NYC architect Rosario Candela, and regarded one of Manhattan’s most exclusive addresses, beloved by financial titans, celebs and media barons. Going on sale for an estimated $45M, this 6,600-square-foot, 12-room mansion-in-the sky, spans across the entire top floor and roof of the 14-story Sutton Place.

Lisa and Richard C. Perry’s Sutton Place Penthouse is So Beautiful It Almost Blinded Pedestrians

Listed by fashion designer and consummate house-flipper Lisa Perry and her billionaire hedge-fund husband, Richard C. Perry, this penthouse is characterised by a highly diverse collection of exclusive art pieces, wrap-around outdoor terraces with incredible views of the cantilevered Queensboro Bridge and East River, and a vast array of floor-to-ceiling windows which flood the home with an abundance of natural light.

Once the home of philanthropist Janet Annenberg Hooker, and fashion designer Bill Blass, the penthouse has since undergone an exhaustive renovation, by the Perrys, in an effort to re-configure two separate wings for day living and entertainment purposes. Boasting two private elevators, a private gallery-like foyer, a 34-by-22-foot living room, a skylight-lit corridor, private study, cozy den, dual dressing rooms, and an industrial-grade kitchen with stainless-steel twin islands, stainless steel-faced cabinets and an enormous Viking gas range – the Sutton Place penthouse will come complete with all its pop-art artwork, fixtures and funky furniture, alongside a meticulously curated selection of 60’s inspired clothing in the master closet.

Following the sale of their $9.1M Palm Beach spread, the Sutton Place penthouse is expected to be the couple’s next big “flip”, leaving everything to the new owners except their flashy-green Jeff Koons diamond sculpture which lies on deck.

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Thursday, November 26, 2020

What is the Definition of an Emerging Artist? The Metamorphosis of Tunku Khalsom

Printer jams always happen when you least need them. Like when they’re supposed to spit out beautiful high-resolution butterflies. And because it’s a fancy printer, it’s also supposed to have cut them out, ready to be applied to your latest mixed media artwork. But this is 2020, and no one can get their hands on Heinz Tomato Sauce at the supermarket, let alone trust an expensive printer slash cutter to do what it says on the tin. So it’s back to hand trimming depictions of winged creatures for now. At least it is for Tunku Khalsom, the charmingly down to earth artist creating vivid artworks for collectors from London to Lombok. But it makes you wonder – when the fleet of paper butterflies that serve as your inspiration are grounded, in addition to your wander lusting spirit, does it change your art?

What is the Definition of an Emerging Artist? The Metamorphosis of Tunku Khalsom, Written by Skye Wellington, Lens & Pen Projects

“I might need to do a Damien Hirst and get some assistants,” jokes Khalsom. It’s an interesting dilemma. Painstakingly cutting out butterflies by hand is slow work. Possibly slow enough to consider a new direction if your output can’t generate enough sales – after all, everyone needs to eat. The aforementioned prolific British artist cottoned on to this early and employed an army of assistants to paint uniformed dots for him so he could focus on the bigger picture, so to speak. Despite artists from Michelangelo to stroke-affected Turner Prize nominee Angela de la Cruz, employing assistants, Hirst copped criticism for farming out labour: Is it really art if you didn’t make it yourself? Can you charge those prices if you never held the paintbrush? Is art in the idea or the execution?

“I might need to do a Damien Hirst and get some assistants,” jokes Khalsom. It’s an interesting dilemma. Painstakingly cutting out butterflies by hand is slow work.

In Khalsom’s case, she’s quite content getting her hands dirty. That meant tracking down chemicals in industrial estates to create her own resins before art resin was available in Singapore. It meant crafting her own wood surfaces to paint on and honing her own frames, “That was very messy! I now get someone to make them for me but I still frame the artwork myself,” she says. And it now means wielding scissors in the wee hours to craft her signature butterflies that give her pieces an otherworldly 3D effect when they’re layered over the inky depths of her backgrounds.

Khalsom’s signature butterflies give her pieces an otherworldly 3D effect when layered over the inky depths of her backgrounds.

Painted mostly on wood, Khalsom’s pieces are a mixture of layered abstract backgrounds, figurative elements, geometric shapes, saturated and neon colours, dense swirls that almost feel like water, and her iconic motifs of butterflies. “I’ve been obsessed with them for as long as I can remember.” To prove it, Khalsom gives us a tour of her tattoos. Inked on her back wrist, ankle and above her elbow, are hand-designed butterflies in various states of flight and profile. “I got my first butterfly tattoo when I was 16,” she explains. “They’re free, full of change and they have a dark side too. That’s everything I’m interested in exploring.” That both can reside inside a person and in the world around us is the subject of Khalsom’s evolving artwork – paintings with jewel-like hues that evoke smoke, foliage and fabric to both reveal and screen hidden depths.

“I’ve been obsessed with them [butterflies] for as long as I can remember.” ~ Tunku Khalsom

The cocoon to chrysalis theme resonates with Khalsom. Having grown up in Malaysia to a Malay father and British mother, Khalsom spent her childhood in Malaysia before relocating to the UK for university studies where she graduated with a degree in Interior Architecture from the University of Brighton. She left the UK returning to Kuala Lumpur for a spell, followed by a move to Singapore where she began work designing hotels including designing her family’s Rawa Lombok resort from scratch. Khalsom has been transitioning into visual art over the last few years and (having always drawn and painted on the side), taking on an enviable list of commissions from clients far and wide. “It’s been really busy, and I’m very grateful. I’ve actually been able to work very solidly during the lockdown. Now, I’m looking forward to creating a new body of work. I’ve just created a new collection for Addicted Art Gallery that inspired a new direction in my style and I’m keen to see where it goes.”

With an evolving style and a love of butterflies, Khalsom is the very definition of an emerging artist. And if our bodies can’t fly at the moment, our souls sure can soar living vicariously through her visceral art. We can’t wait to see what Khalsom does next.

With an evolving style and a love of butterflies, Khalsom is the very definition of an emerging artist.

For more information about Tunku Khalsom and her beautiful artwork get in touch with Blair or Elena at Addicted Art Gallery.

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It’ll Take At Least 1,000 Hours of Tireless Labour To Craft This $7M Boarini Milanesi Handbag

Celebrating Italian elegance, exceptional craftsmanship and the diversity of each client, Boarini Milanesi emphasizes the creation of refined, pure lines, and unique, precious hues in all of its products. Specialising in feminine and bespoke accessories, Boarini Milanesi upholds an inherent dedication to sustainability and commitment to achieving absolute excellence.

It’ll Take At Least 1,000 Hours of Tireless Labour To Craft This $7M Boarini Milanesi Handbag

Through producing impeccable handbags of much higher quality, in significantly lower quantities, Boarini Milanesi promotes conscious consumerism in an effort to reduce waste and protect our planet. Made exclusively for each client, Boarini Milanesi only purchases materials in the exact quantity needed for every order, ensuring to eliminate any unsold items that need to be destroyed. Scrupulously choosing the very best hides and exotic leathers from certified farms, Boarini Milanesi handbags are “timeless” rather than “fashionable”.

Incorporating a strong inner membrane made of the best quality hide from Tuscany, each bag is responsibly vegetable-tanned and highly durable – allowing the brand to limit their use of petroleum-based products. By utilizing natural materials such as, wool and cashmere, instead of acrylics and plastic, the brand avoids contributing to the 8 million tons of waste which pollute our oceans today.

In an effort to combat the effects of global warming, climate change, and pollution, Boarini Milanesi has crafted the world’s most expensive handbag worth $7M. Crafted for the sole purpose of raising awareness on the need to protect our seas, the brand has pledged to dedicate a total of 800,000 Euros from the sale of each bag to institutions dedicated to ridding the sea of plastics.

Showcasing elements of alligator skin, alongside 10 white gold butterflies studded with sapphires, diamonds and Paraiba tourmalines, which total more than 130 carats, this opulent $7M Boarini Milanesi handbag, which celebrates the brand’s love for the sea, will require at least 1,000 hours of tireless labour and will be limited to a mere three examples.

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