Absinthe. Legal, Delicious and on a Stick!

Ever since Absinthe made its legal comeback last year, it's been the speakeasies' spirit of choice. Now the acid-green and sometimes colorless anise-flavored liquor known for turning bohemians stark raving mad is available in lollipop form. The combination of absinthe's mystique and the inherent sexiness of lollipops is a Most Excellent one.

Illicit? Hardly - the alcohol is removed in the candymaking process. I think these pops make for wonderful party favors or stocking stuffers.

Available here from Lollyphile.

WALTER MARTIN & PALOMA MUÑOZ. Snow Globes.

These Most Excellent and perhaps a little disconcerting snow globes depict desolate little worlds created and photographed by collaborators, WALTER MARTIN & PALOMA MUÑOZ. The most disturbing images are of tiny solitary figures setting out on travels, woefully ill-equipped for the icy chill ahead. A bunch of information and press clippings on this artistic duo may be found on their website. Click here.



Modern Portraiture.

There is a group of commissionable artists surfacing who offer Most Excellent portraiture at often reasonable fees. Amongst these artists are, (from top to bottom), Kim Scafuro, John Clark,
Elyse Hradecky, Mark Milroy, Pamela duLong Williams, June Glasson, Rory Gevis and Victoria Keddie.

The Millau Viaduct. Paris to Barcelona.

The Millau viaduct is part of the new E11 expressway connecting Paris and Barcelona and features the highest bridge piers ever constructed. The tallest is 240 meters high and the overall height will be an impressive 336 meters, making this the highest bridge in the world.

This Most Excellent structure is a large cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the River Tarn near Millau in southern France. It is slightly taller than the Eiffel Tower and only 38 m (125 ft) shorter than the Empire State Building. It was formally dedicated on 14 December 2004, inaugurated the day after and opened to traffic two days later. The bridge won the 2006 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award.

I believe frequent flier points should be awarded for successfully crossing this very impressive bridge.

Under construction in 2004.

Obama Style. Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.

The American people have said YES! Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States of America on 20 January 2009.

In the event you are looking to celebrate Obama's historic Presidential victory in true avant-garde style, how about this dress from French fashion designer, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac's Spring 2009 collection? The sporty yellow sequin dress made a splashy debut on the Paris runway in the Jean-Charles de Castelbajac show. The look was completed with a matching glove that said YES.

Besides the Obama piece, the vibrant collection featured LEGO-inspired pieces, lots of clouds and kisses.