Hasta La Ideas

For the city’s second annual winter celebration, Vivid Sydney tapped the immensely talented and ultra creative performance artist Laurie Anderson to transform the famed Sydney Opera House. “Lighting The Sails” does just that, turning the shell-like rooftops into a slideshow of vibrant images, projecting everything from leopard-print patterns to hair. (Click images for detail.)

While the project is something of a departure for an artist more widely-known for her experimental instruments and avant-garde song writing, Anderson curated this year’s entire program along with longtime companion Lou Reed—following their contemporary, musician Brian Eno who helmed the event last year. Vivid Sydney’s full schedule includes many arts and culture events throughout the city, visit the website for a complete list of happenings. Lighting The Sails will runs through 20 June 2010, see more images of the spectacular display in the gallery below.

via Flavorwire

With Brooklyn’s artisanal, back-to-basics food movement well underway, it seemed only a matter of time before jams and jellies joined the flurry of small-batch chocolates, beers, pickled goods, and popsicles. But that’s as predictable as Anarchy in a Jar gets.

Founded by self-proclaimed “Jamarchist” Laena McCarthy, Anarchy turns out seasonal selections of flavorful and eclectic jams, jellies, preserves and chutneys that—despite only consisting of a handful of ingredients—couldn’t be further from basic. Current options include Grapefruit Marmalade with Smoked Salt, Hot Fireman’s Pear Jam that carries hint of cinnamon and subtle smokiness from chipotle peppers and the exceptional Strawberry Balsamic Jam.

Made from local handpicked ingredients, including produce from the Brooklyn Grange Farm (above left), the menu reflects ingredients at the peak of their growing season. Look out for Brooklyn Green Tomato Chutney next fall and Strawberry With Pink Peppercorn or Chocolate Mint in the next few weeks.

Jars range from $5-9 and sell from local-goods vendors throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan, as well as Whole Foods’ Bowery location. Their Traffic Jam delivery service via bicycle also makes a charmingly viable option to residents of Brooklyn and downtown Manhattan who buy three jars or more.

Our friends at Design 21, the UNESCO-sponsored, globe-spanning social design network, have announced the results of their latest competition. “Game Changers” challenged Design 21 members to devise “a game that aims to create change by improving lives or inspiring new behaviors.” After reviewing 90 entries from 29 countries, jurors Emily Pilloton and Richard Hutten awarded first place (and $2,000) to Brooklyn-based Danielle Pecora for her “be-B: Braille Education Ball” (pictured in prototype). Pegs that are magnetically attached to the ball each feature a Braille letter on one side and the corresponding Latin letter on the other. The ball is also indented with circles that each contain a Braille letter. The object of the game is to match each Braille peg to its corresponding spot on the ball. “The aim of be-B is to create a fun and interactive learning experience for children learning Braille and to invite sighted users to learn about another way of seeing the world,” noted Pecora, an alum of Parsons and Pratt, in her entry. The judges found the concept exceptional for its success “in combining purposeful aesthetics with an empathetic approach that sheds light on the experience of being visually impaired.” Israeli designer Elad Goldshmidt took second prize ($1,000) for his innovative wheelchair driving simulator, which combines a racy video game interface with a real wheelchair controller, while Indonesian programmer Fazri Aziz and his team won the popular vote for “Go Go Recycle,” a video game that promotes environmental awareness.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

So… Esquire UK made this (watch after the jump).

Click here to view the embedded video.