Tuesday Grab Bag

Architecture. (pic via Contemporist)
The Three Stones House by Nick Deaver
Amazing Camouflaged Stone House in Greece
Flip This Home! 10 Unbelievable Upside Down Houses
Charred Cedar House / naf architect & design

Global Warming.
RFK, Jr. 15 months ago: Global warming means no snow or cold in DC
I thought of killing myself, says climate scandal professor Phil Jones

Animals.
Best dog birthday “cake” ever
Dogs and sleds - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Fountain Pens / Writing.
The Pen Addict: Ink Links
delta profili – a silver wrapped candy
coffee with marlen - lady dandelion
BIC Triumph Roller
Rhodia Paper Loves Fountain Pens - Rhodia Drive
Ink Review - J. Herbin’s Ambre De Birmanie Ink
How to Start Writing a Journal - Tiger Pens Blog

Cars.
BMW R69S Photos
Guest contributor: Brandon Miller on his Five and Dime
First Look: 2011 BMW X5 Gets New Engines And Slight Visual Tweaks
Review: 2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged, A Worthy Leaping Cat

Union Shenanigans.
Public-sector Unions Bleed Taxpayers to Help Dems
N.J. Gov. Christie, lawmakers propose sweeping pension, health care changes for public employees

Census.
Census Bureau Will Create Temporary Jobs

Food.
Whisky Left by Explorer in Antarctica Retrieved

Style.
How to make a silk tie - The Guardian
The Natural Aristocrat: The Thrift: Americana
Shopping Amsterdam - Tenue de Nîmess - A Continuous Lean.
My Kind of Tailoring
One-armed man hunted for stealing single cufflink

Shoes / Boots.
Gaziano & Girling: The Benefits Of Both Sides
FLORSHEIM IMPERIAL WINGTIPS WITH V-CLEAT (part 2)

Computers.
UltraDefrag Is a Portable and Open-Source Disk Defragmenter

Gadgets.
Etón Solarlink FR 360 Radio - Gear Patrol
RAT Cutlery DPx H.E.S.T - Gear Patrol

Photography.
The Frame: The Baduy of Indonesia
Canon's new Rebel T2i shoots 18 megapixel stills, ups the video options
Canon revs up Rebel video - Crave - CNET

Education.
Imprisoning Kids - John Stossel

Misc.
Ancient dialect extinct after last speaker dies - Yahoo! News
Conterfeit Goods Can Lead To Purchasing The Real Thing - Portfolio.com
Largest book in the world goes on show for the first time
mental_floss Blog - 5 Outrageous Alarm Clocks
Olympic Science - Physics of Skiing, Skating, Hockey, Bobsled & Curling

Today's Quotes

Americans have the will to resist because they have weapons. If you don't have a gun, freedom of speech has no power.
-- Yoshimi Ishikawa

...the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
-- Voltaire

If I were to select a jack-booted group of fascists who are
perhaps as large a danger to American society as I could pick today,
I would pick BATF [the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms].
-- U.S. Representative John Dingell, 1980

War has all the characteristics of socialism most conservatives hate:
Centralized power, state planning, false rationalism, restricted liberties,
foolish optimism about intended results, and blindness to unintended
secondary results.
-- Joseph Sobran

The state is essentially an apparatus of compulsion and coercion. The
characteristic feature of its activities is to compel people through the
application or the threat of force to behave otherwise than they would like
to behave.
-- Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973

Wristwatch Updates: Breitling, Cartier, Hublot, & More

The Cartier developments are impressive, Omega has a new web site, Hublot refuses to be left behind, and who will fill in for ETA? Cool Breitling pic courtesy of our friends at Perpetuelle.

Baselworld 2010: Breitling Avenger Seawolf Chrono Blacksteel - Perpetuelle: "Water resistant to 3,300 feet (1,000 meters), the big and bold Breitling Avenger Seawolf Chrono Blacksteel is definitely a watch that will turn some heads. The case is 45mm in diameter and very tough looking with a lot of depth to it as well. The movement is Breitling’s Caliber 73, a Breitling “SuperQuartz” certified chronometer movement. Also worth noting is that the watch utilizes a Breitling patented “magnetic pushpiece” system which enables the chronograph functions to be fully functional even at 3,300 feet deep (most chronographs can not be used at meaningful depths because it can compromise the watertight-ness of the watch." (more)

Does The Movement Really Matter? – The End Of The ETA Era - The Watch Lounge: "In anticipation of this many brands have turned to another Swiss movement maker, Sellita. I recently read an excellent article about this manufacturer, specifically focusing on their new chronograph movement, on Perpetuelle’s excellent and always informative blog. If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, I highly recommend it."

Until the End of the Earth: Cartier's ID One: "Close your eyes. Now imagine a concert piano that never needs retuning or a racecar that miraculously never needs to be serviced despite being ridden hard and put away wet each and every time you turn the key. Foolish, you say? Well, you’re right. The point is, the world’s most high-performance objects are in constant need of readjustment — beneath their indomitable majesty, there lays an underlying fragility."

A Glance At The New Hublot: Jean-Claude Talks Giving Back, BNB, & The Future of the Big Bang - Hodinkee: "While we were there, we were graced with the presence of someone whom we've admired from afar for quite some time, and while that is not untrue to say about Ms. Varekova, we are talking about Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of Hublot. Below is a small sampling of what we learned from Mr. Biver both in his public presentation and in a personal chat we had with the watch industry legend."

Official Press Release : Panerai - Galileo Stockholm: "STOCKHOLM - On the occasion of the International Year of Astronomy 2009, the Nobel Museum in Stockholm hosts the exhibition “Galileo’s Telescope - The Instrument that Changed the World” conceived by the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence to mark the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first celestial discoveries. The exhibition, opening on October 10th, is adorned by the extraordinary display of one of the only two surviving telescopes made by Galileo and this unique occasion to discover one of the treasures of all time history of science is possible thanks to the financial support of Italian high-end watchmaker Officine Panerai, main sponsor of the exhibition."

The Luxury bermensch: Interview with Jean-Claude Biver: "Jean-Claude Biver, the CEO Hublot should teach a mandatory class for all watch industry leaders. His track record speaks for itself. On three separate occasions, he’s brought his brands, Blancpain, Omega and Hublot, from relative obscurity to dizzying levels of success. In the frothy pre-crisis era, he was the uncontested hero of the luxury watch world who stewarded Hublot into a sale to the LVMH Group."

Additional links:
BaselWorld 2010: Sellita SW500 Chronograph Movement
A closer look into "Handmade"
Matching Grandfather Clock & Wriistwatch anyone?
Jake's Rolex Watch Blog: Rolex Dreams...
Watch photos No. 3 - Watches and Water
The Chuck Yaeger GMT: Japan Goes Crazy For The Flyboys Again And Creates Some Rolex Kitsch
RESCO Patriot - Gear Patrol
Ever been a guinea pig for watches? Well, that might happen if Ludwig Oechslin suddenly appears...
*** Paneristi Public Forum ***: New strap for interviews
Hublot Photofest: visit new factory, new (and old) watches and new movement

Liberty & Govt. At Work: Wine Trains, Andrew Cuomo, Martial Law, & More

A lot of things to keep one's eyes on. I see that Andrew Cuomo has started his gubernatorial campaign early.

Federal Stimulus Program Pours $54 Million Into Wine Train Project: "NAPA - The corporate shareholders live in tribal villages in the outback of western Alaska. The CEO is in South Carolina, where his prior multimillion-dollar venture - a dot-com for sail boaters - collapsed in bankruptcy. But the main action today is in Napa, where, without competitive bidding, this unusual construction company won a $54 million federal contract to build a new railroad bridge and other structures for the famed Napa Valley Wine Train tourist attraction."

Andrew Cuomo v. Bank of America: Prosecutor, Charge Thyself - WSJ.com: "With his fraud lawsuit last week against Bank of America, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has joined the long queue of politicians blaming bankers as the chief culprits in creating the financial panic and recession. We dealt with the merits of those BofA charges on Saturday, but that isn't the end of this story. There's also the not so small matter of Mr. Cuomo's own role in promoting policies that fed the housing mania and set the stage for the meltdown. Before he pursued statewide office in New York, Andrew Cuomo was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during Bill Clinton's second term. And lest you think his tenure is forgotten, the HUD Web site has an instructive item in its Archives section."

Residents Fumed Over Weekend Alcohol, Firearm Ban - Winston-Salem News: "KING, N.C. -- Residents in King were fumed over the weekend after a state of emergency declaration restricted the sale of alcohol and the carrying of firearms in vehicles. King Police Chief Paula May said she’s received hundreds of threats related to the restrictions, which banned driving from 12 a.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. The state of emergency for King was declared by members of the City Council after Stokes County authorities also declared a state of emergency. Under North Carolina law, May said, when a state of emergency is put into place that includes a ban on driving, the sale of alcohol and carrying of firearms in vehicles is also banned."

Additional links:
Law Enforcement and DWI Roundup - Hit & Run
Blair: US Govt Can Kill Citizens Overseas as Part of ‘Defined Policy
Rash of retirements pushes Social Security to brink
Signs of waste? $1 million used to tout stimulus funds at work in Ohio -

Soccer Fact Of The Day

I had no idea these guys were so short!

Soccer Referees Hate the Tall Guys - WSJ.com: "Many of soccer's greatest players have been small fries. Diego Maradona is only 5'5'. Lionel Messi (pictured) is 5'7'. Pele towers over both of them at 5'8'. According to new research, these little guys have, in addition to their superhuman quickness and skill, an extra advantage: Shrimps get all the calls."

Monday Grab Bag

Patronizing Our Sponsors By Clicking On Their Ads and Visiting Them Helps Keep This Blog Going, THANK YOU!

Architecture / Design. (pic via Contemporist)
Clever and Creative Tea Packaging
Kimber Modern Hotel by Burton Baldridge Architects
Brick House Architecture Goes Ultra-Modern
South Yarra Modern House from RT Edgar Real Estate
The Edge House by Jarmund / Vigsnæs

Cars.
BMW R69S custom - Bike EXIF
Years Later: Pair of NSU Wankel Spiders
Triumph Bonneville Tridays Edition - Bike EXIF

Economics.
Repeal Rent Control, and Sow Salt Where Once It Stood

Style.
Top 10 Lists - Prepidemic Magazine
Icons of our time - Sir Edmund Hillary

Animals.
Spectacular Baby Anteater Photos from Discovery Cove

Economics.
Who Has the Power? - The Unbroken Window
Capitalism Comes to the Kibbutz
Going Broke - Ideas On Liberty

Liberty / Govt.
US Out of Yemen by Ron Paul
School bombing exposes Obama’s secret war inside Pakistan
After desk doodling and toy gun incidents, it's clear educators lack common sense
Listing reveals totals N.Y. lawmakers spent - Democrat and Chronicle

Fountain Pens / Writing.
pilot bamboo – a verdict - lady dandelion
County Comm - Embassy Pen
letts of london (LoL) x 2, rhodia, moleskine
Productivity Pr0n: 5 Unusually Useful Notepads
Inkyjournal: Diamine Registrars Ink (ink review)

Food.
Bobby Flay's Spiked Milkshakes - Serious Eats
4 Amazing Things Chili Peppers Can Do
7-11 Double Big Gulp Holds 200% More Than the Average Adult Human’s Stomach

Photography.
The Frame: Giant pandas head to China
How To Properly Use The Image Playback Feature On Your Digital Camera
Colorful India - The Big Picture - Boston.com
How to Use Almost Any 35mm Film Camera (with pictures)

Watches.
Ultra-Precise Quantum-Logic Clock Puts Old Atomic Clock to Shame
Bremont To Release Limited Edition Supermarine At Basel World 2010
The Portuguese 2000 Rose Gold Limited Edition - WatchingHorology
TimeZone: Public Forum: Tokyo watch fair - AHCI
Just because JLC needs more exposure on the Public Forum ...

Style.
Small Changes: The Black Blazer Re-Fitted
Permanent style: The Rake: Harrod's By Appointment
Best Spring Trends Ties Watches Fedoras Pocket Squares: Wear It Now: GQ

Shoes / Boots.
LEATHERSOUL'S ULTIMATE INDY BOOTS ALDEN 405
Alden Trunk Show Friday - Winn Perry, Inc
Florsheim by Duckie Brown Autumn 2010
A Suitable Wardrobe: G&G On the Way
PoohBang - Vintage Gear for Guys: ALDEN 405 INDY BOOTS
PoohBang - Vintage Gear for Guys: SPECTATOR SHOES

Misc.
Is ChatRoulette the Future of the Internet or Its Distant Past?
Commemorating The 75th Anniversary Of The B-17 Flying Fortress
By Stuff Possessed - Weekly Standard
Instant No Button! Star Wars funnies FTW!
Top 10 ways to avoid a tax audit
11 Things You Didn't Know About Pinball History - Popular Mechanics

Today's Quotes

With thanks to Mike Miller.

If you would not confront your neighbor and demand his money at the point of
a gun to solve every new problem that may appear in your life, you should
not allow the government to do it for you.
-- William E. Simon

... most of us are committed to the Biblical injunction, "Thou shalt not
steal." This is based on the moral principle that each person has the right
to the fruits of his own labor. The point I wish to make--my major point-is
that this as a principle defies compromise. You either take someone else's
property without his consent, or you do not. If you steal just a bit--a
penny--you do not compromise the principle; you abandon it. You surrender
your principle.
-- Leonard Read

What our generation has forgotten is that the system of private property is
the most important guaranty of freedom, not only for those who own property,
but scarcely less for those who do not. It is only because the control of the
means of production is divided among many people acting independently that
nobody has complete power over us, that we as individuals can decide what to
do with ourselves. If all the means of production were vested in a single
hand, whether it be nominally that of "society" as a whole or that of a
dictator, whoever exercises this control has complete power over us.
-- Friedrich A. Hayek, The Road to Serfdom [1944]

If the bureaucracy is not checked, it will tend to build, in the name of
peace, a defense against every conceivable contingency -- so much 'security'
that 'the secured' are without resources -- helpless and hopeless.
-- Leonard E. Read, Anything That's Peaceful [1964]

Wristwatch Updates: Armin Strom, Sellita, Greubel Forsey, & More

BNB's collapse and quick rescue by JCB/Hublot is an interesting story. (pic via Perpetuelle)

Armin Strom: 8 Days a Week - Perpetuelle: "So, come this March 18th in Basel visitors to the fair will be properly introduced to Armin Strom’s ARM09 (ArminReserveMarche09). After a full 3 years of development, on November 17th, 2009 at the Armin Strom headquarters in Bienne and manufacturing facilities in Biel, a select group of international press agents were introduced to the ARM09 and were able to witness it being produced in its various stages; from milling the base plates to the final assembly and decorating all, of course, performed by hand."

PROFESSIONAL WATCHES™ - Luxury Watches: Parmigiani Fleurier Restoration Collection at SIHH 2010: "In addition to being a passion that has remained alive for thirty years, restoration is seen by Parmigiani as a constant dialogue between the excellence of the past and the quest to use its expressions in watchmaking of the future. But it is above all a sequence of key encounters. Firstly with the genius of the masters of yesteryear, but above all with exceptional private collectors possessing an undiminished passion for period watchmaking gems."

BNB: RIP - WatchTime.com: "Last week, Hublot, one of BNB’s biggest customers, hired Buttet to head a new “Haute Horlogerie” department to make complicated movements for the Hublot brand. Hublot chief Jean-Claude Biver told WatchTime he will hire 30 to 40 watchmakers from BNB. Biver said he is in the process of trying to buy all of BNB’s machinery. BNB machines and people will be relocated to Hublot’s new factory in Nyon, which opened last year. Prior to BNB’s collapse, but as a precautionary measure in its event, Hublot, which is owned by the LVMH luxury-goods group, had bought from it about $2 million of finished and unfinished movements so it would not be cut short."
Earlier BNB links:
Who has ever heard of BNB Concept?
Watch Movement Maker BNB Concept Said To Be On The Verge Of Failure
La Clef du Temps by Confrerie Horlogere
Independent Horology: BASEL/SIHH NEWS BNB Concepts goes Bankrupt?

BaselWorld 2010: Sellita SW500 Chronograph Movement - Perpetuelle: "It’s been known for some time that movement maker ETA is slated to stop selling ebauche movements ['blanks'] to any company outside of The Swatch Group by the end of this year. Since the announcement a few years ago we have heard that other Swiss movement manufacturers were aiming to fill in the giant hole that will be left open by the lack of ETA movements available. Names like Ronda and ISA have been kicked around for quartz movements, and Sellita has come up often regarding mechanical movements. Many brands that fall into the moderate to lower end level have already begun using movements from these two brands in anticipation of the cut off from ETA. The SW200, which is Sellita’s version of the ever popular 2824-2 has been popping up in watches quite a bit."

Ateliers deMonaco Officially Announces In-House Minute Repeater - The Watch Lounge: "High-end new comer Ateliers deMonaco yesterday officially announced the introduction of their very first, fully in-house developed and manufactured Minute Repeater: the Carré d’’Or Squelette Grand Tourbillon Répétition Minute TB-RM1. An exceptionally attractive and complicated piece, this latest invention grants Ateliers deMonaco entrance to a very exclusive club, made up of just a few select watch makers around the world, that have the ability to design and manufacture such a complication in-house."

Jake's Rolex Watch Blog: Pan Am Vanilla Coke GMT-Master from Stafano Mazzariol: "Stefano Mazzariol is one of my favorite vintage Rolex collectors. He lives in Italia and his passion for vintage Rolex is intoxicating. He took these STUNNING photo of his STUNNINGLY rare and magnificent 1958 [Reference: 6542] Albino Pan Am Vanilla Coke GMT-Master."

A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Daymatic Watch - aBlogtoRead.com: "Regardless, A. Lange & Sohne has finally caved in, and designed a new automatic movement for its esteemed Lange 1 line of watch. The movement movement is the Calibre L021.1, with 426 parts, and a 50 hour power reserve. The new movement replaces the iconic power reserve indicator with a retrograde date of the week indicator."

Sea-Gull M 177 Automatic Classic Styled Watch Review - aBlogtoRead: "I am fortunate to present you with this special watch review from aBlogtoRead.com guest Mr. Paul Hubbard, a distinguished fellow watch lover and reviewer online. You'll find more of his work at WatchReport.com, and you'll find that these days Mr. Hubbard practically runs the site. This quality review is of a quite controversial watch. Why? Because it is not only a Chinese watch with a Chinese movement (actually the base movement might be Japanese), but it is labeled as such."

Additional links:
SIHH a collector’s paradise - Ottawa
Greubel Forsey tourbillons - From the workbench
Fine Watchmaking says "be my fan!" - In the market
New Blancpain Villeret Moon Phase - Monochrome
TimeZone: Public Forum: My new IWC!
Pre-BASEL 2010 - Zenith Elite 681 Ultra Thin
Friday - What's on the wrist today?
Oris Divers Date Watch - aBlogtoRead.com
Horological Meandering: A pocketwatch for carrying ...

Jeffrey Tucker On The Hayek vs. Keynes Rap

Definitely worth watching again. ;-)



The Brilliance of That Hayek vs. Keynes Rap - Jeffrey A. Tucker - Mises Institute: "The debate between J.M. Keynes and F.A. Hayek, both living and teaching in Britain in the 1930s, was one of the great debates of the century. Sadly, the charming globetrotter Keynes had the podium and the audience, to the point of influencing policy the world over even to the present day. Meanwhile, the quiet and studious Hayek never really did gain an audience. Like his colleague and mentor Mises, Hayek wrote in scholarly journals and was heard only by those with skeptical minds, people who doubted the theoretical and policy conventions and looked beneath the surface."

Saturday Grab Bag

Architecture.
Postcard Row San Francisco, Estate of the Day (more)
Modern Contemporary Townhouse Stands Out
Netherlands Architecture Inspired by Seashell and Dali

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Rohrer & Klingner Ink Collage - An Inkophile’s Blog
Hermès Ulysse Agenda – The Ultimate Gentleman’s Accessory
Inkyjournal: Diamine Registrars Ink (ink review)
Flickr Friday: Rhodia and a Cuppa Joe to Go
moleskinerie: The John Mayer Custom Moleskine Notebook

Liberty / Govt.
The Super-Sized Census Boondoggle
Weapon of Mass Destruction Found in Florida Elementary School (more)
Chavez’s Socialist Worker Militias Swell to 150,000 in Venezuela
Government Motors at Work - John Stossel
Everything Getting Better…Except Gov’t Spending

Lost.
LOSTblog.com Interview: 16 Questions We Asked Mac Slocum of Filmfodder’s LOST Blog

Style.
Custom-Made Is Spreading Far Beyond Savile Row - NYTimes.com
Langlitz Leathers : leather motorcycle garments
The Style Blogger Men's Style Blog
Franco's Fine Clothier - On 95 Last, this chukka boot

Shoes / Boots.
Leffot Blog - Polishing Cordovan
Update: The Red Wings Irish Setter Restoration Project 2010

Cars.
CarMD - Gear Patrol
2010 Triumph Rocket III Roadster - Uncrate
US F1 Team Faces Massive Time Crunch - Popular Mechanics
Bugatti Veyron Comes With Matching Transport Truck
Best Cars for a Family Road Trip - WSJ.com

Watches.
SIHH 2010 Panerai Luminor 1950 Ceramic (PAM 335)
Exotic Wittnauer Chrono With Valjoux 72 Movement
1 Hamilton & 1 Rolex Both From The Sultanite of Oman: Who Knew Oman Was Nutty For Watches?

Economics.
Element-ary Economics
You DO Have to Be an ‘Orthodox Keynesian’ to Accept Reich’s Argument

Animals.
Tallie the Retriever Mix - Daily Puppy
“Did I ever tell you about the time…”
I’ll Also Need a Booster Seat and a Step Ladder, Thanks
Thank You For Flying Air Cygnus

Photography.
How To Get Started With Macro Photography
Tough Guy Challenge 2010 - The Big Picture
Leica Create M7 Edition Hermes
Hasselblad H4D-40 - Gear Patrol

Gadgets.
Tunebug - Uncrate (more)

Food.
Explorers' century-old whisky found in Antarctic
Chocolate & Vines
For Goodness Taste - Your Personal Chef Service
New Heinz Ketchup Package Video

Computers.
How Wi-Fi attackers are poisoning Web browsers
Lab Testing Antivirus Software - Reviews
Sub-$60 Video Cards Face Off - Reviews by ExtremeTech

Misc.
oobject - 12 prefab ships

Review: Uni-Ball Jetstream Hybrid Pen

This is the Uni-Ball Jetstream Hybrid Pen with blue ink, courtesy of our friends at Uni-Ball. The inspiration for this review is my friend Brad at The Pen Addict.

My general impression of this pen?: "Meh"

Didn't really care for it. I can't seem to find this specific model on the Uni-Ball website. Nonetheless, whatever it is, it really felt no different from a cheap ballpoint pen and skipped at times.

Be sure to click on the pic to see it full-size.

Milton Freidman on Free Trade and Chinese Steel

From 1978, the brilliant Dr. Friedman at his best in a 1978 appearance. Thanks very much to Dr. Boudreaux for the link. The lessons here are important and clearly explained. A must-watch.

Review: Uni-Ball Vision Elite Rollerball Pen

This is the Uni-Ball Vision Elite Rollerball with blue-black ink, courtesy of our friends at Uni-Ball. The inspiration for this review is my friend Brad at The Pen Addict.

I like this pen quite a bit, particularly for the ink. There's nothing notable about the pen itself, but the ink is a nice shade of blue-black, something I don't see very often, and Uni-Ball claims it:
* Won't leak in flight
* Helps prevent check washing
* Fade-and Water-resistant ink

This is one worth checking out:
Uni-ball - Vision Elite

Be sure to click on the pic to see it full-size.


Additional links:
The Pen Addict: Review: Uni-Ball Vision Elite 0.5mm Blue

Wristwatch Updates: Hermès, George Daniels, Max Büsser, & More!

I like the look of this new U.N. A little over the top, but I like it, the Hermes model, too. (pic via Jessica/TZ)

TimeZone: Public Forum: Pre-BASEL 2010: Hermès Clipper Chronograph: "For 2010, the Hermès Clipper collection adds the Clipper 44 mm Mechanical Chronograph, with a 44mm case in titanium. Inside the case, a mechanical self-winding Valjoux 7750 chronograph movement, a marvel of reliability and precision, gives rhythm to time and, for an instant, suspends its flight."

TimeZone: Pre-Basel 2010 – Ulysse Nardin El Toro: "The striking aesthetic of El Toro combines modern materials with a timeless dial design that inspired its name. The bezel and pushers are made in ceramic. The squeletted hands permit easy reading of all calendar functions and the sapphire caseback allows to observe the mechanics of time. The only perpetual calendar that adjusts forward and backward in seconds over the quick corrector position of a single crown, even in the year 2100."

AHCI: A visit to Max Büsser at the Hotel de la Paix: "A meeting with Max Büsser is always special: his vision of the market, his strategy, the stories behind the different HM make it very exciting. The purpose of the meeting was to discover the new Sapphire & Titanium HM2-SV and also the 'Black Box', in fact the HM 2.2 created in collaboration with Alain Silberstein."

BBC - Isle of Man watchmaker Dr George Daniels is awarded CBE: "Dr George Daniels, a watchmaker from the Isle of Man, has been awarded a CBE for services to horology, the science of making timepieces. In an illustrious career spanning 60 years, the 83-year-old from Ramsey has been responsible for some of the most important advancements in his field. The most successful of his inventions, the co-axical escapement, won him international acclaim."

Stephen Hallock, President of MB&F USA, Presents The Entire MB&F Collection In Video: "Continuing our video series from Geneva (see our clips of the entire Linde Werdelin SpidoLite SA collection here and two breathtaking Piece Uniques from Jean Dunand here), we now present you with a rare look at one of today's most popular and provocative boutique brands, Maximilian Busser & Friends, or MB&F."

Omega Exhibits Nine Decades Of Innovation For The IOC - The Watch Lounge: "Amongst the pieces that could be seen at Les Champs-Elysées, is this magnificient 1930 flyback chronograph, which reminds us that the original chronograph is above all functional with a very pure design ! Equipped with a Bréguet spirale, it already offers a fifth or a tenth of a second measurement."

Additional links:
Tempered - Artisan Watchmakers
Insert Clock by Leo Yiu
Piaget Altiplano Automatic 43mm Ultra-Thin Watch
TAG Heuer Targa Florio - Calibre 11
TimeZone: Public Forum: Mr. Majestyk!
Public Forum: Picked up a new Panerai...
Dan's Watch Collection
Jake's Rolex Watch Blog
WatchNet: Trading Post: PAM Homage Luminor Style

Friday Grab Bag

Architecture. (pic via Contemporist)
The Queens Park Residence by CplusC Architects
The Blue Hills House In South Africa
Preston's iconic 1960s bus station set for demolition
The Black House by Andrés Remy Architects
Unconventional Design or How to Check In a Cold War Aircraft

Food.
New ketchup packet allows for dunking or squeezing

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Whatever: Featured Pen - Pilot VPen and Varsity
Ink Review: J. Herbin Orange Indien
Bean Tip #2: If Your Fountain Pen Writes too Wide, too Wet, too Thin, too Dry...
Review: Pen and Paper Test in Leuchtturm’s Pocket Journal with New, Ink-Proof Paper
Notebook Stories: Notebooks of William Blake and Leonardo da Vinci

Style.
The Ivy League Look: Ivy Hits Milwaukee, 1957
How to: Be the best-dressed man ever, in the history of clothed men
Ready to wear, made to measure and bespoke – part 2

Shoes / Boots.
A Suitable Wardrobe: The Patination of Brown

Animals.
Rescued Dog Starts Life With New Master : NPR
What It Feels Like... to Be Bitten by a Shark - Esquire
Sharks spotted one day after fatal attack -West Palm Beach
ZooBorns: Painted Puppies Go for a Dip

Food.
How To Clean a Cast Iron Skillet - Home Hacks
Sustainable Seafood Stew

Engineering.
Hydropower Plant Dam Explosion – What Went Wrong with Russia’s Dam on Yenisei

Global Warming.
Walter E. Williams - Global Warming Update
Investors.com - The Ruse Unravels
IPCC Chair Seeks Asbestos Bath for Critics

Computers.
Become a Gmail Master Redux - Lifehacker
Bean: Simple Word Processing for OS X
Turn Your USB Printer Wireless with a Print Server
Apple Now Lets You Preview iPhone Apps In Your Browser
PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB drives
ATI Radeon Introduces a $60 Ultra-Budget Graphics Card with DX11 Support

Economics.
Profit motive is necessary for quality health care
Division of Labour: My Friend Sarah

Healthcare.
Can I at Least Opt Out?
Beginner’s guide to barefoot running

Cars.
Toyota Admits Prius Brake "Software" Problem, Not Because Of The Woz
Toyota Gas Pedal Fix Explained – With Exclusive Photos
2010 Vyrus 987 C3 4V is the most powerful production motorcycle in the world
Solvang Meet Winner: 1964 Datsun Fairlady

Liberty / Govt.
Rapid Rail Is Really Just Political Pork

Photography.
The Frame: Singapore airshow 2010
Compare Aerial Images of WWII Destruction With Today in Google Earth
Polaroid revives instant camera line with the pic 1000

Gadgets.
Gerber Shard - Uncrate (more)
Find the Right Leatherman Tool
The Home Stereos That Refuse to Die - WSJ.com

Misc.
The Venus Flytrap's Lethal Allure - Smithsonian
This is why the cowboy who draws first always gets shot!
Chef Business Card – Mini Menu Format
Famous Literary Drunks & Addicts - Photo Gallery

Thursday Grab Bag

Style. (pic via The Selvedge Yard)
Steve McQueen - Hollywood's Anti-Hero
Cufflinks Made From Prince Charles' Aston Martin
Sartorially Inclined: The Working Man's Working Button Holes

Architecture. (pic via Contemporist)
The Frick Residence by KRDB
Boy Scouts Get Shipping-Container Cabins in California
Pictures of a Multi-Home Mega-House
Southern Ocean Lodge by Max Pritchard Architect
Ansley Park Glass House in Atlanta

Food.
Chicago: Pizza Lunch Feast at A Mano
Chocolate Avocado Cake With Avocado Buttercream

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Review: Diamine Yellow Fountain Pen Ink
Review: Private Reserve Midnight Blues Fountain Pen Ink
Pocket Blonde: Pilot Custom 74 Clear Demonstrator
Review: Diamine Imperial Purple Fountain Pen Ink
A Very Rare Group of Eight 19th Century Notebooks from a Kasuri Dyeworks in Omi

Gadgets.
Sony Ericsson Aspen - Acquire
Timbuk2 Classic Messenger 2010 - Gear Patrol
Thanko’s Motion Sensor Spy Pen records video
SplinterWorks Dime Kitchen Reveals Your Classy Taste
PermaFlow Never-Clog Drain - Uncrate

Cars.
Report: Toyota Prius brakes under investigation (more)
Watch the Honda VFR1200F Be Built Every 90 Seconds
Toyota’s FJ, Reborn As a Bad-Ass Icon - Autopia
LaHood Backs Off 'Stop Driving Toyotas' Remark - NPR

Photography.
Olympus announces the E-PL1 Micro Four Thirds camera
Olympus PEN E-PL1 - Acquire
Ricoh CX3 - Acquire
Everything You Need to Know About Image Compression
Photos of my models - a set on Flickr

Sports.
10 'great' surf wipeouts - Gadling.com
Icy Hot: Ice Girls from around the NHL
Padraig Harrington to use controversial clubs?

Unions.
The Public-Union Ascendancy - WSJ.com
SEIU Fat Cats Behind First Lady's Anti-Obesity Campaign

Animals.
The Best of Baby Turtles
Basse the Mixed Breed - Daily Puppy
BBC News - Rescued otter continues recovery
The whale whisperer: Andrew Armour strokes a sperm whale
100-pound rodent kept as pet - Yahoo! News Photos
Rodents of Unusual Size: Capybaras Aren't for All
Capybara Madness

NASA.
Retro Thing: NASA Unveils Free E-Book Series
Iran Launches Turtles Into Space, Plans Satellite Mission Soon

Liberty / Govt.
Defenders of Government Spending Spring into Action
The President’s Permanent Political Slush Fund
FHA Bailout Watch - Cato @ Liberty

Finance.
Charge cards versus credit cards versus debit cards

Computers.
Cool Websites and Tools
3 ways to recover a corrupted Excel workbook

Healthcare.
Can I at Least Opt Out?

Misc.
6 Products Named for Real People
12 Cool Garage Door Stickers
Sandwich Sack, Secure! Plastic Zip Anti-Theft Lunch Bags

What Does VaccineGate Mean For Global Warming?

More correctly, what can we learn about the climate change (née global warming) scare from the recent announcement re: autism and vaccines?

I think we have learned that regardless of how convincing something may seem, no matter how "official" and selfless the agitators claim to be, we must always be wary of people who would distort science for their own financial or political gain. The sad and frustrating irony here is that the purveyors of the AGW accused those who questioned their science to be on the take.

See all previous ClimateGate posts here.

Walter E. Williams - Global Warming Update: "That means data loss was not simply the result of station closings but deliberate decisions by CRU to ignore them in order to hype their global warming claims. D'Aleo and Smith report that our NCDC engaged in similar deceptive activity where they have dropped stations, particularly in colder climates, higher elevations or closer to the polar regions. Temperatures are now simply projected for these colder stations from other stations, usually in warmer climates."

The Vaccine-Autism Scare - WSJ.com: "The British medical journal The Lancet yesterday offered a mea culpa of sorts for its role in launching a global vaccine scare. Its regrets come about 12 years too late. The journal finally issued a full retraction of a study it ran in 1998 linking measles-mumps-rubella vaccines to autism. The paper, with Dr. Andrew Wakefield as lead author, sent British parents fleeing from inoculations and fed U.S. alarm over preservatives in vaccines. Even in 1998, overwhelming scientific evidence showed vaccines to be safe. Yet the press-savvy Dr. Wakefield had been getting headlines for his research, and the Lancet's publication fed the controversy by giving him an aura of respectability."

No apology from IPCC chief Rajendra Pachauri for glacier fallacy - The Guardian: "The embattled chief of the UN's climate change body has hit out at his critics and refused to resign or apologise for a damaging mistake in a landmark 2007 report on global warming."

Previous posts:
ClimateGate Updates: CO2, Consensus, Fraud, & More
ClimateGate Updates: Shakedowns, Charlatans, & Royal Mountebanks
ClimateGate Updates: Source Code, Fudge Factors, & More!
ClimateGate Updates: Propaganda Video, Cooling, & Danish Shipping
ClimateGate Updates ...

Additional links:
2,780 Climate Lobbyists and Counting - Hit & Run
Glacier scientists says he knew data had not been verified
UN climate change expert: there could be more errors in report
Climategate: CRU Was But the Tip of the Iceberg
More dirt in the IPCC melting Himalayas scandal

Wristwatch Updates: Abercrombie & Fitch, Harry Winston, & More

Love the old Heuer w/ the Valjoux chrono. (pic via Hodinkee) And it certainly looks like the high-end watch industry will have a "correction."

A Heuer Carrera Signed By Abercrombie & Fitch: This Watch Makes No Sense, and That Is Why We Love it - Hodinkee: "The watch you see to the right is an iconic Heuer chronograph, some would say it's the one that any true Heuer fan should own. The reference 2447s is a simple, clean three register racing chronograph version of the Carrera that happens to be powered by the legend-in-itself Valjoux 72 movement (think Rolex Pre-Daytona)."

Hard times for luxury watch makers - The Globe and Mail: "In the suburban Geneva workshop of de Grisogono timepieces, a lab technician unlocks a steel case and removes the Meccanico. It's a clunky-looking thing, equipped with a sporty rubber strap and a busy, complicated face. Eye-catching yes; handsome, not really. It must be expensive because it takes three weeks to make under a microscope. Maybe €20,000 (about $29,600) Try €200,000 – the price of a new Ferrari."

TZ: Pre-BASEL 2010 Harry Winston Project Z6: "A zirconium-based alloy also used in aeronautical engineering, the hypo-allergenic and corrosive resistant properties of Zalium allow for the creation of watches with ultimate durability and design. The ultra-light metal is known for its lustrous gunmetal finish and is exclusive to Harry Winston timepieces. Project Z6 introduces a new complication to Harry Winston’s timepiece offering – a hand-wound, 24-hour alarm clock movement developed specially for Project Z6 and exclusive to Harry Winston Timepieces. Comprised of 340 pieces, the intricate movement is meticulously engineered to optimize performance, with the function and complication developed from scratch and fully integrated. The 45 jewel movement is engraved Harry Winston and hand finished with Côtes de Genève on the bridges."

Baselworld 2010: Blancpain Villeret Half-Hunter Moon Phase - Perpetuelle: "Here is a preview from Blancpain this year for Baselworld 2010 – the Blancpain Half-Hunter Moon Phase. This is part of Blancpain’s Villeret Collection, which seems to be getting a bit of an overhaul from Blancpain this year but I’m still not clear on all the details of this. Anyway, here’s the watch - a complete calendar model with moon-phase display."

Additional links:
Luxist - Pro-Hunter Rolex GMT-II
Seagull 1963 reissue air force
Sinn 103 ST SA Chronograph Review
HOROLOGY CRAZY: My CWC military watch
Seiko Green Monster magazine scans
Weird Watch Wednesday: The Upside Down Watch
TeNo Steel DyRon Sport II Chronograph
IWC Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph Watch

Today's Quotes

The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe
the people with their own money.
-- Alexis de Tocqueville

It is indeed a singular thing that people wish to pass laws to nullify the
disagreeable consequences that the law of responsibility entails. Will they
never realize that they do not eliminate these consequences but merely pass
them along to other people? The result is one injustice the more and one
moral the less.
-- Frederic Bastiat

The principle that the end justifies the means is
in individualist ethics regarded as the denial of all morals.
In collectivist ethics it becomes necessarily the supreme rule.
-- Fredrich August von Hayek

The government who robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul
-- George Bernard Shaw

Economics consists of looking not merely at the immediate but at the longer effects of any act or policy; it consists in tracing the consequences of that policy not merely for one group but for all groups… The economic goal of any nation, as of any individual, is to get the greatest results with the least effort.
-- Economist Henry Hazlitt, Economics in One Lesson

Wednesday Grab Bag

Architecture. (pic via Contemporist)
The Bellevue Club by Baylis Architects
Synagogue Turned Into a Modern Penthouse
Kevin Griffin In Silver Lake, Estate of the Day
Diandra Douglas in Montecito, Estate of the Day

Fountain Pens / Writing.
Daycraft Signature Notebook with 100g Paper
How the Moleskine Rocked My World
Moleskine Passions - Book Journal
Retailer Spotlight: Goulet Pen Company
Review: Pilot Precise V5 RT 0.5 Click
Moleskine Passions Book Journal giveaway

Computers.
avast! Internet Security 5.0 - Review by PC Magazine
Free Twitter Automation Tools Roundup
USB 3.0 FAQ: All Your Questions Answered!
How To Make A Printer Wireless
Get Over 150 Free PowerPoint Templates

Cars.
The Unicat
Wozniak cites 'scary' Prius acceleration problem
Armor Horse Vault XXL - Uncrate
The Fix for Toyota's Sudden Acceleration - Popular Mechanics

Global Warming.
Newmark's Door: GIGO

Healthcare.
Autism And MMR Vaccine-Link Lancet Article Retracted
CBC News - Nfld. & Labrador - Danny Williams going to U.S. for heart surgery

Economics.
Frank on Fannie and Freddie

Union Shenanigans.
Senate rushing to do favors for Big Labor before Brown is seated

Watches.
How to Buy a Vintage Watch (under $2000)

Style.
An Affordable Wardrobe: Black and Blue All Over
The Natural Aristocrat: Per Il Sole
Kinekt Gear Ring - Uncrate

Shoes / Boots.
Leffot: It Must Be The Shoes!
Sartorially Inclined: More McNairy Monks
Ready to wear, made to measure and bespoke – part 1

Food.
Easy Access to the Country's Best Coffee
Ho Chiak: Gastronomy in Paris: Chez Dumonet

Travel.
Travel Library - National Geographic Traveler
10 great romantic destinations - Gadling.com
The World's Dirtiest Cities - Forbes.com
Marginal Revolution: What are the thirty best travel books?

Animals.
The Frame: Japanese Macaque monkeys
Felix the Labrador Retriever - Daily Puppy
10 Amazing Vids of Dogs Hangin’ 20

Photography.
Olympus SP-800UZ - Acquire
Here’s the Olympus SP-800UZ & SP-600UZ megazoom cams
Olympus and Panasonic rumors - E-PL1 leaked!
Lomography introduces Fisheye 2 Pink camera for Valentine's Day
The Awesomer - Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Misc.
Awesome Airplane - The Kalanin K
BBC News - The solidarity of street smokers
GQ Eye Exclusive: The FSC Straight Razor Sharpening Service

Liberty & Govt. At Work: Russian Watches, Afghanistan, Lobbyists, & More

Corruption in Russia and Chechnya? I guess "leadership" is a good racket.

Watchdogs and Watches - Reason Magazine: "There is plenty of crookedness to be exposed in Russia. Transparency International’s “Corruption Barometer” placed the country a desultory 143rd out of 160. But exposing sleaze can be a dangerous undertaking in a nation where journalists who criticize powerful people often end up dead. In 2009 the human rights group Freedom Watch ranked Russia 174th out of 195 countries in freedom of the press. ... Deputy Moscow Mayor Vladimir Resin, who has overseen a construction boom plagued by persistent corruption scandals, is shown sporting a watch that retails for more than $320,000. In another shot, he’s wearing a watch valued at more than $1 million. Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov’s watch goes for about $300,000 in the U.S., while Samara Gov. Vladimir Artyakov’s timepiece retails for $230,000."

The Neoconservative Empire by Ron Paul: "This grand debate is welcomed but it could be that this is nothing more than a distraction from the dangerous military confrontation approaching with Iran and supported by many in leadership on both sides of the aisle."

Former lobbyists in senior Obama administration positions: "Although Barack Obama promised lobbyists would not serve in his White House, and issued executive orders restricting former lobbyists, more than 40 ex-lobbyists now populate top jobs in the Obama administration, including three Cabinet secretaries, the Director of Central Intelligence, and many senior White House officials."

YouTube - Obama's Doublethink Doubletalk (State of the Union Remix): "When it comes to war, spending, and more, President Barack Obama's 2010 State of the Union address showed that doublethink is alive and well in Washington, D.C."

State of the Union Breakdown - 16 Lies In 7 Minutes: "This video is actually called “16 lies in 7 minutes” but I don’t like the title, mainly because I don’t think it productive to call a politician a liar … it’s a bit redundant right? Nevertheless, the video is effective and makes some good points."

Light at the End of the Afghan Tunnel? by Eric Margolis: "Is it finally light at the end of the Afghan tunnel, or an oncoming express train? Total confusion erupted last week as the US, NATO, the UN and the Kabul government all issued differing views on new plans to end the nine year Afghan war by bombarding Taliban with tens of millions in cash instead of precision bombs. One thing is clear: the US and its NATO allies are losing the war in Afghanistan in spite of their fearsome arsenal of high-tech weapons and war chests of billions of dollars."

Largest-ever federal payroll to hit 2.15 million - Washington Times: "The era of big government has returned with a vengeance, in the form of the largest federal work force in modern history. The Obama administration says the government will grow to 2.15 million employees this year, topping 2 million for the first time since President Clinton declared that 'the era of big government is over'"

Additional links:
Obscene
Here's Why The Spending Freeze Is A Total Lie
U.S. Military Serving as Chauffeurs, Babysitters for the Pelosi Kids: Receipts That Will Blow Your Mind
And in Other News … - The Unbroken Window
Congressman Ron Paul - Spending Freeze Not Likely

Wristwatch Updates: Grand Seiko, Chinese Movts., Alpina, & More

The Grand Seiko is a beauty. The article about Chinese movements is not to be missed. (pic via Perpetuelle)

Grand Seiko SBGH001 Hi-Beat review - Watchuseek Watch Fora: "Hello everybody Here is a review of my SBGH001. Sorry but I'm french and I'm not enough courageous to translate it ..."

Officine Panerai: The return of a Myth: The Mare Nostrum: "Announced a few years ago, eagerly awaited every year, it finally landed. Why is it a Myth? The Mare Nostrum, I mean the original one, was a Prototype conceived for the Italian Deck Officers in 1943, but as the Story says, it was never produced. So, this watch is a kind of Loch Ness Monster, a phantasm, every Panerai fan never played with it, never saw it in the flesh, except at the Panerai Museum, and badly dreamt about it."

The Sophisticated Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Moon: "The movement inside this watch is a in-house Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 891/448 automatic movement, ticking at 28.800 beats per hour. These movements are tested against Jaeger’s own high standards on accuracy and therefore approved Master Control for 1000 hours. 1000 hours of testing before leaving the factory! The day, date and moonphase corrector are positioned in the side of the case."

Thunder out of China: Chinese movements no longer just on the horizon: "To be honest, Fossil put Chinese movements on the map and on the right track. Fossil’s initial order of 800,000 Sea-Gull mechanical movements (total purchase to date is estimated at over 1.2 million and counting) sent a message to the watch world that Chinese movement manufacturers were and would become a force with which to be reckoned. Currently, the Chinese market is growing, even in the face of a worldwide recession. Estimates are that there is a 300 million person middle class and they are soon becoming, if they are not already, interested in the finer things in life, and for men that means watches."

Baselworld 2010: Alpina 12 Hours of Sebring Automatic Chrono GMT - Perpetuelle: "Here is the Baselworld pre-release from Alpina. It is a sporty looking GMT chronograph that is a take on Alpina’s continued sponsorship of the 12 Hours of Sebring which is a very popular international car race held every year in Florida, USA."

A Gilt, Explorer Dial Submariner Ref 5513: You May Not Understand It, But You Should Want It - Hodinkee: "The reason that we like this Explorer Dial Submariner so much is that it comes with Rolex Service papers that actually describe this watch as having an Explorer dial, making the authentication process that much easier. It is also a reference 5513, which as we've said before is really the iconic Submariner to own."

Pi Watch By Ben McCarthy Review - aBlogtoRead.com: "You can tell that the Pi Watch is clearly a 'modern minimalist' item. Stripped of many things we are used to in watches (crown, hour markers, lugs), the Pi Watch nevertheless is a good looking, and easy to use timepiece."

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!!! We have a Winner!! the AP ROO BUMBLEBEE!! My 1st & last watch for 2010 ;): "look at the stars... look how they shine for you... and everything dat u do... yeah they were all yellow... ~ coldplay it just fits so well together... the sheen of the ceramic bezel, the glint of the steel screws, the matte textured forged carbon body... its one sexy beast..."

A few Chinese movement tear-downs.
How do Seagull and Hangzhou compare to a ETA
Claro-Semag CL-888 versus Sea-Gull ST16 tear down
Another inside look: the Seagull 1901
Grades of Chinese watches - Chinese Watch Industry Wiki

Additional links:
MIH-WATCH
Promoting the art of watch making
Panerai Jupiterium Solar System Clock
Corum Releases Two New Golden Bridges In Preparation for Baselworld 2010
Wilson Watch Works Navigator Review
Million Smart Enterprise Limited

Today's Quotes: Sobran, Mason, Orwell

Anything called a "program" is unconstitutional.
-- Joseph Sobran

To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.
-- George Mason

Political language . . . is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable,
and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.
-- George Orwell

The people of the various provinces are strictly forbidden to have in their
possession any swords, short swords, bows, spears, firearms, or other types
of arms. The possession of unnecessary implements makes difficult the
collection of taxes and dues and tends to foment uprisings.
-- Toyotomi Hideyoshi, dictator of Japan, August 1588