saving old-fashioned bookbinding from extinction

I just ordered the Morris Lessmore DODOcase because 1) Keeping the original plastic packaging on my iPad to prevent it from getting scratched up was starting to feel a little silly, 2) My brother told me that his friend, a PhD in engineering, started this small local, sustainable business, and 3) I am just a sucker for old-fashioned bookbinding.

Electronic readers are convenient and they might, at least in theory, save trees, but they will never be as aesthetically pleasing as a well-worn, well-loved book with it’s own, distinct cover.

– Gina

seattle street style: whitney houston love

When I lived in Seattle, I wrote a street style column for The Stranger. It was not entirely a success due to various factors, but it was definitely a hit with a certain segment of the readership, many of whom sent me excited emails and/or tried to nominate themselves for future columns. I’m going to re-post some of my favorite pictures from that series here.

Julia and I had a lot of friends in common but never really hung out. I ran into her outside of a Capitol Hill bar called the Bus Stop, where she was working at the time.

It was a hot May afternoon in 2010. I asked her what the initials shaved into her hair stood for, and got an unbelievable answer: “Whitney Houston.”

Couldn’t help but think of this today. I was on the same plane as Bobby Brown last night, as he was en route to LA from his canceled concert in Nashville. Got caught in his crush of paparazzi. Felt overwhelmed.

– Gina

bad girls do it well

… and M.I.A. does it the best. Her new video directed by Romain Gavras is provocative, political, visually arresting and dripping with swag.

– Gina

sweet red roses that will never fade

The perfect gift for your sweetheart, this February 14.