Vote Chicago [via bee-zee]

Since i like bee-zee's initiative and i agree on what she says, here is the link to her last post:

bee-zee's post

There is bathroom and... bathroom

I ran into 'Pimped out John' today. I was reading, in an article by Cynthia Fagen of the NYPost:
"We were trying to think of a way to reach out to younger potential customers," said spokesman Paul Abrams.
"Their parents and grandparents grew up on our jingle - 'Call Roto-Rooter, that's the name, and away go troubles down the drain' - but younger people are so distracted by different media, we thought that's exactly what we should put on.
"We were brainstorming the idea, 'What if we created the ultimate toilet and you would never have to leave the toilet?' " Abrams said, explaining that the average person spends 11,862 hours - or one year, four months and five days - in the bathroom.

Pimped out John is equipped with a 20" Philips LCD TV, an Xbox 360 console, a DVD player, a Gateway EMachine laptop with robot arm , an iPod docking station with a built-in toilet paper dispenser, a TiVo DVR, an Avanti refrigerator with a beer tap, and exercise bike, and an electric cup warmer.
The toilet will go to the winner of Roto-Rooter's online sweepstakes drawing April 25, National Plumber's Day. (Only for U.S.! sorry guys i know some of you europeans would love to have this thing and were already running to enroll for the sweepstakes!)
Total cost of "the ultimate seat of power" as they call it at Roto-Rooter: 5000$



There must be something perverted in those who designed this thing. Plus, back to the real world, s[Babi] came home after one month in Mexico



This is a bathroom of a hostel in Mazunte, South of Mexico. This bathroom comes with no fancy faucets, no flush and a nice bucket to fill before the use. Dont look for the hot water: there's no hot water. It is forbidden to throw anything in the wc because there is no sewage system.

..NO kidding

...not a joke that today many of us tried to attend Jeanne Gang (principal of Studio Gang) lecture at Architecture Foundation on Michigan Ave.
Now: Studio Gang is one of the most influential voices of Chicagoan architecture at the current date. The lecture was clearly going to be crowded but it took place in the usual room that the Foundation uses for its Lunchtime Lectures Series.
Problem: it can host approx (and NO MORE THAN) 60 people!! No kidding!
Jeanne Gang will give this lecture again at the Cultural Center on March the 1st!
I am curious about that room!

Meanwhile, for more info about the Aqua Tower:

the reader's article

1957-2007: 50 years of 500

It was 1957 when the Fiat 500 made its entry to the market, becoming one of the most diffused car in Italy.
Some data:
Wheelbase: 1.84 m
Length: 2.97 m
Width: 1.32 m
Height: 1.32 m
Designer: Dante Giacosa
Cost: 490.000 Italian Lire - ca 245 today's Euros (sounds nice!)

all the models can be found at

fiat500 on wikipedia

500 was (and still is) a stunning phenomenon for Italians: a real cult. We all know it. Some of my generation still were able to take a ride. Then it became a thing for collectors. No more allowed to circulate because they pollute too much, you can find 500s on special days (historic cars shows and rides, fan clubs meetings).

But 500 is a matter of design, a status symbol! And fortunately Fiat sometimes gets what really matters. So here it is...in its new full splendor! The new Fiat 500, ready to go, will be launched on September 15, 2007.




Meanwhile Italians [and not only] kill the time at the official website, customizing, designing, praising the beloved car! with nice results!

fiat500