After months of research, fastcompany.com has released their selection of the top 30 urban centers that are shaping our world in terms of culture, technology and environmental sustainability. A very interesting study increasing awareness of up and coming centers of art and commerce. Topping the list of the "greenest" cities in 2007 was Chicago, which has planted 2.5 million square feet of heat-reducing rooftop gardens since 1999. Check out the list and give your opinion here.

 

Copenhagen-based Saatchi & Saatchi have masterminded yet another genius marketing campaign for Quicksilver, set in Scandanavia. This time for the brand's skateboarding program. Below are some images of the current campaign as well as a short video of their previous 'Dynamite Surf' Campaign which they ran for Quicksilver a while back. I'm really a big fan of these guys' work. 

 

source: www.somethingrotten.dk 

Having skated for a solid fifteen years now, I'd like to think I can point out who actually skates and someone who can't. Typically, the latter wears matching Supreme x Nike Dunks,  a Supreme Tee Shirt and a Supreme Box Logo Tee. So my first inclination is to say the brand is for posers. However, the dichotomy of the situation is that you'll see the best and most influential professional skaters in the world betray their clothings sponsors to don gear from Supreme. So you then have actual skateboarders - for whom the shop/brand was originated - wearing Supreme, as well as an army of followers who will camp out in the cold New York City weather for a chance to buy a deck that they'll probably never grip. Maybe it's like any other brand in the sense that anyone can wear it, but I still have no way of explaining why kids will elect to miss work and school to buy a 5-panel hat or a mini-bat. Such a weird way to describe a brand, and I don't know what the point of my diatribe was other than I wanted to announce that Supreme updated their website with these decks (below) early this morning. They're probably all sold out, so you might want to check out eBay.

 

source: www.supremenewyork.com 

Having lived in the EU for a spell, the small body of the Smartcar is not an unfamiliar site. Seeing it packed in between a Hummer and an Escalade the other day in the heart of Orange County traffic was a bit awkward. But encouraging. Beginning in the early '90's as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Swatch, the Smartcar has become a worldwide phenomenon. The brilliant design minimizes fuel consumption, space usage and price while maximizing safety with revolutionary Safety Cell technology. America is probably the last country to catch on (aside from Sierra Leone). Recently we have noticed the strong push Smart has been making in promotion of the fortwo, which will begin US sales in 2008. Reservations can be made at smartusa.com.

 

Alta Bikes, a Norwegian co-op, was developed by graphic design firm Bleed, furniture designers Norway Says, product designers at Frost Produkt and Shnel&Melnychuck Advertising Agency. The collaboration produced a sleek and functional single-speed designed for the city lifestyle. The bike is simple and light, making it easy to self-repair and ideal for carrying indoors and up staircases. A specially designed wall mount is also available for showing off  this beauty in your apartment. For specs, purchasing info and to see their cool ad campaign visit altabikes.no.