THIRTY-SEVEN.

Looking for a change of pace? Or trying to avoid neighbors? Located in the Swiss village of Vals, this underground house is a hidden jewel amongst the other mountain houses. Eco-friendly, with a gorgeous Alpine view. A really curious thing to see.

THIRTY-SIX.

(via fffound!)
The Gossip - Heavy Cross (RAC remix)

THIRTY-FIVE.

There is no doubt that 2009 has seen a serious rise in blogging, both as a growing phenomena and a cultural tool.

The New York Times' Sunday Style section this week features an article on blogging and its rise to power within the fashion world - bloggers have now moved into the coveted first row at many of the shows.

Says Kelly Cutrone, a fashion show organizer since 1987, "There has been a complete change this year. Do I think, as a publicist, that I now have to have my eye on some kid who’s writing a blog in Oklahoma as much as I do on an editor from Vogue? Absolutely. Because once they write something on the Internet, it’s never coming down. And it’s the first thing a designer is going to see.” (NYTimes, Sunday Style, 11)

Of course, the rise of blogging popularity gives new and peculiar insight to just how quick and sudden the market and the fashion audience is adjusting to this change. Bloggers are able to give real time reviews of collections, posting imagines and comments even before shows end - this is much faster than a magazine, say Vogue, and the length of time it takes to put together an issue complete with their insights and trend views. Say the famous Fall issue. Another added perk to the rise of bloggers is that it offers a direct, if not functional connection to the customer. Not only are these bloggers able to quickly put together any sort of review or recommendation, readers of a particular blog are able to interact. It's the internet at its finest, a showcase of information sharing and passing.

Go here to read the Times article in full.

THIRTY-FOUR.

FASTCOMPANY has a great interview with the new Design Within Reach CEO, John Edelman. He talks about knockoffs, DWR's desperate need for a better Web presence, and China.

The Mark Ballard exhibit, the All of Everything, features the artist's apocalyptic vision of art's history; it's an ambitious installation that covers London's The Arts Gallery from top to bottom. It's also something that you must see before The Arts Gallery faces demolition in 2010, another fallen victim to the ever-controversial Crossrail’s new railway project.

Two young designers are launching a new printing process that is capable of printing on all natural materials. Previously impossible prints can be made on leather, suede, wool, felt, wood, cotton, and more.

THIRTY-THREE.

Christmas shopping is a curious thing; it can go either way, of course, as the stuff of nightmares and ... well, a headache. Then you have the after holiday sales that may serve better as a real life interpretation of a Jerry Springer show, complete with screaming children, over-caffeinated shoppers, and, if you're desperate enough to venture into a Target, shopping cart accidents - people will definitely aim for limbs with their shopping carts in there.

Needless to say, online browsing has lead us to a few strange corners of the internet. Paris Hilton, ultimately famous for branding herself into ... that's for another rainy day. But she has designed a tank for Forever21, that comes in gray or pink, as well as a complete display of her artistic talents, a drawing of herself and all her pets.

But it's for charity.

Which is really great - The Starlight Children's Foundation does a number of wonderful things for sick children and their families. It brings together experts of all fields that hope to educate and provide care for these families as well. You can make a direct donation here.

But would you wear it? And ultimately Forever21, who is geared towards girls from 13-22 - would they wear it?

It's always a bewildering aspect of our culture, watching the celebrity world mesh with everything else; of course, a charitable venture is a noble and great, great thing. And it begs to question as to who is really serious about giving back, whether or not giving back is a show of the sorts. How relevant is Paris Hilton as well? As woman who has marketed herself into a brand in this celebrity-obsessed culture, why a t-shirt and not the proceeds from the many perfumes that she comes out with every year? Or from her appearances?

This is today's food for thought.