Hasta La Ideas

In 1952, Popular Mechanics magazine ran an article about science fiction author Robert Heinlein’s then-new 1,150-square-foot minimalist home. Titled “A House To Make Life Easy,” the article written by Thomas E. Stimson, Jr., explores the “house that’s called extreme today but may become conventional before the 20th century has run its course.”

More than half a century later, it’s interesting to look back on this article and see which of the futuristic ideas caught on and which ones didn’t. One of the more interesting items that didn’t become a mainstream feature in American homes is the “commuting” table on page 66:

The “commuting” table allows you to set the table in the kitchen and then push it through the wall into the bookshelf-lined dining area. As full-time housekeepers were becoming more rare in the 1950s, I’m sure this was seen as a luxury for Heinlein’s wife. Nowadays, most new homes simply have open kitchen and dining floor plans where no walls exist between the two areas.

Check out the article (be sure to catch the jump from page 69 to 228, and then again to page 230) and learn about Heinlein’s minimalist home that supposedly only took “about an hour” to clean. Then, come back here and tell us your thoughts on this house that was supposed to make life easy.

Thanks to reader Robert R. for leading us to the article.

Back in April, we told you that Christian Lacroix was looking for a buyer to help salvage his long-suffering line. Then, very quickly after, but without much surprise, the month of May brought the news that the company was filing for bankruptcy. Although at the time, Lacroix CEO Nicolas Topiol had said, “The company expects to emerge quickly from those proceedings and to continue developing the brand,” it appears that was just wishful thinking, as a ruling has finally come on the bankruptcy which will leave the company almost entirely dismantled. Lacroix’s staff will be trimmed by more than three-quarters and the company will most likely stop producing anything of their own and instead focus primarily on licensing deals. It’s not the very end of the company, as a buyer could still step forward and revive the company, but given how it has struggled over these past few years, that seems unlikely, even though officials once again say otherwise:

Lacroix’s chief executive, Nicolas Topiol, said he was relieved by the decision, and did not rule out prospective buyers from coming forward in the future. The label had avoided total liquidation and discussions with interested parties were ongoing, he said.

Last night the French minister for industry, Christian Estrosi, said he “had not lost hope” for the house.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

by Julie Wolfson

In an L.A. neighborhood between Koreatown, Silverlake and just west of downtown, you’ll find the tiny haven Valerie Confections where chocolatiers make some of the best artisanal chocolates in Southern California.

What Valerie Gordon and her partner Stan Weightman Jr. began in 2004 as a few types of hand-crafted toffee since has blossomed into a full service confectioner. In addition to her signature toffee, Valerie makes truffles, nougats, caramels, and gorgeous lemon, rose petal, orange, and ginger petit fours.

The finely crafted treats expertly balance bitter and sweet. Then there’s the cakes with flavors like gianduja hazelnut, Earl Grey and lemon, bittersweet chocolate almond, and the famous Blum’s coffee crunch cake.

This holiday, new gift boxes come filled with chocolate, candied fruit, toffee, and jam. They also offer mint mendiants, holiday nougat, salt-and-pepper truffles, and fresh jams. With an upcoming holiday gift set collaboration with Heath Ceramics and Patz & Hall Winery, Valerie confections may just be the perfect gift to impress the chocolate lover on your list. That is, if the candy makes it to the recipient.

I just got an email from Suzanne Shearer she is one of the artists from a collective of contemporary Shetland  textile designers and they call themselves Text-Isles…I immediately fell in love with their work…you probably understand when seeing the images above from Andrea Williamson…and below from Suzanne Shearer her printed textile designs…Phatsheep …

Rob Dobi ha aggiunto altri 5 scenesters alla gallery di Your Scene Sucks.
Non vi dico qual’è il mio preferito 😉
[Via]