Ah, the accidental and delightful gifts of ample free time! I came across this article on Simone de Beauvoir's fashion taste or rather her altogether couldn't-be-bothered and couldn't-care-less attitude towards dressing. Chuckle-worthy.

As Father's Day nears, people are racking their brains and are willingly opening their wallets to come up with gifts to show their Dads just how great they are. The thought and care that came with choosing the gift is just as precious as the gift itself. So before you dash to the stores, think about these first:

> What gift would be very useful to my father?

First and foremost, what activities, if any, do your Dad engage in? Needless to say, camping gear wouldn't be appreciated if Dad rarely goes camping. Wouldn’t matter how pricey or fancy it is.

If fishing is his favorite past time, head on to the fishing gear shop and get him the gadget most fishing enthusiasts rave about at the moment. It'll be wonderful if you took the initiative to ask the store clerk how to use it and then go on to explain to Dad how it'll make his fishing trips more fun. Your dad could be a runner, a gardener and fill-it-in-here and this will still apply. Think about it.

Is there something that Dad has mentioned that he needed or wanted?

Barring unrealistic expectations, (taking a picture of the Earth from outer space; a Lamborghini Reventon Roadster - heck, I’d like one for myself, too; a health care system structured with the citizen’s best interest at heart -duh!) you can get them a gift you know they’ve been wanting all along. Aside from the extra points you get from actually listening and paying attention to what your Dad says, it’ll make your Dad really appreciative and happy.

>Wouldn’t it be wiser to ask Dad what he would like as a Father’s day present?

It can be tricky getting a suitable gift so why not save yourself the anxiety and just go up to the big guy and ask what he would like. Chances are, he will be pleasantly surprised and will come up with gift ideas that has never even crossed your mind. Barring unrealistic expectations, of course.

If you would rather consign the work of running through the great variety of choices available, why not start by checking out what online sellers have to offer?

This does not necessarily mean that you won’t take the time to think the options over. What it’ll do is generate options that you have missed or simply didn’t know existed. Narrow down your choices to those that appeal to your Dad as you know him and then ordering is as easy as clicking a mouse. As most online sellers take care of wrapping and delivery, you can then sit back content with the fact that you did your part.

Happy Father’s Day to all Dads!

Going green is not just fashionable these days; it is increasingly becoming the best way to live. With Mother’s day just around the corner, what better way to show your love to Earth and to Mom than by getting gifts that do not harm the environment. Here are my picks for green gifts ideas:
Home Décor – For Moms with an an eye for beautiful and unusual pieces to decorate her home.
1. Recycled Glass Tree Globes – made from broken shards of glass that’s been melted and handcrafted by artist Stephen Kitras. Beautiful glass globes with vibrant splashes of color. Perfect ornament for the environment-conscious Mom.
2. Votive Flower Holder – Haitian Votive flower holders made in Haiti from recycled steel oil drums. Handcrafted by artisans from Comite Artisanal Haitian. Exquisitely made, and brightly colored, these will serve as beautiful flower vases or as pretty display pieces on their own.
3. Vintage Flash camera Clock – A clock made with vintage flash camera that’s bound to appeal to a photography-enthusiast mom. Wonderful combination of history and style with recycling in mind.
4. Ammunitions Case Wine Rack – a reimagining that’s bound to make wine lovers happy. Made from vintage ammunitions boxes dating from the 60~70s, it can now hold wine bottles for storage.


Jewelry – Gift ideas that merge functionality, recycling and style. She’ll definite love these recycled, handmade items.
1. Earth-tones Sea Glass watch – A timepiece made from recovered glass that’s been broken, tumbled and washed by the combined force of the sea and the sands. A piece of jewelry that any eco-conscious mom would be proud to wear.
2. Earrings and bracelets – whether made from recovered sea glass, recycled sterling silver or vintage glass cabochons, jewelry that’s been handcrafted from recycled and recovered items fuse personality, style and a personal statement of regard for the environment.

Wine – For a mom that entertains with style and a green conscience.
1. Capri hand painted Balloon Wine Glasses - wine glasses from recycled glass that’s been fired and hand painted in Italy.
2. Seltzer Vintage Bottle Wine Holder – made from recycled Argentinian circa-1930s Seltzer glass and metal bottles. Combines elegance and class.
3. Mini Wine Display – made with retired oak wine barrels. Handcrafted in Georgia.

Environmentally-friendly Bags – Must-have for green Moms with style.
1. Confetti Clutch made from recycled candy wrappers - A stylish and colorful clutch bag made with criss-crossed recycled candy wrappers. Handmade from Mexico and Peru. Available in recycled newspaper, too.
2. The UM Carry Bag – made with excess industrial wool, Josh Jackus gray hand bag packs the elegance and utility in this exceptional bag. Made in San Francisco, USA.

Pampering with the environment in mind – enjoy luxurious pampering without hurting the environment
1. An all natural Spa basket - A sauna kit that includes everything Mom needs to cleanse, hydrate and beautify: a massaging brush, pumice stone, loofah, nail and hair brush plus a selection of Burt’s Bees relaxation essentials. Just perfect for that hardworking Mom.

Have a Happy and Green Mother’s Day!

Losing an iPhone isn't easy but what if what you lost was the next generation iPhone prototype? The faux pas was too great it seemed to me too ridiculous! How can you even misplace something of that value?! From Gizmondo's pics and the scoop from New York Times here

Music Festivals

August 19th 2010 marks the beginning of the 25th anniversary of the three-day Pukkelpop Festival in Belgium. The small town of Kiewiet in Hasselt is home to this yearly festival that highlights Punk, Heavy metal, Electronic music, Hip hop, Indie and Dance music.
Headliners for this year's events are: Iron Maiden; Queens of Stone Age; Placebo, 2MANYDJS and Prodigy. Continue reading here.

Glastonbuy Festival or Glasto is one of the hottest music festivals of the year. Read about it.

The 2010 Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival or Waka officially kicks off on the 3rd of June and lasts until the 6th at Mulberry Mountain, Ozark, Arkansas. The foremost music festival of the Midwest boasts of more than a hundred local and national acts and bands coming together for a four-day non-stop music extravaganza. More here.

On Classical Music.

Alex Ross on his blog, Unquiet Thoughts, wrote last week how his search for Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony led him to Eric Grunin’s Eroica Project. Mr. Grunin studied composition and computer programming and was very interested in how the tempo has changed through the years. Mr. Grunin has amassed a vast collection of the Eroicas and continues to work on the site. Read the rest of the article here.

Travel destination suggestions, anyone?

2009 is drawing to a close and in a few days we would be celebrating the arrival of a new year. What better way to greet 2010 but to travel? Here's a list that sure to inspire your traveling plans. What's your pick?

Meet James Hansen, the director of NASA's Goddard Institute of Space Studies and one of the world's most prominent climate scientists. He was featured on Cosmos Magazine in August. Read the article here.