Crystalline

Björk's new video, another one directed by Michel Gondry. The song is typical Björk, so if her voice grates you, turn off the sound and enjoy the animation.

My new favorite image

Batman Live

This is looking pretty good, despite earlier skepticism.

Only in Brazil

Apparently, a yellow Ipe tree was cut and made into a pole in Porto Velho, Rondônia. After the utility wires were installed, the tree rebelled and came back to life regrowing its branches and blooming its beautiful yellow flowers.

My new favorite image

By Han Hoogerbrugge

Absolute

Absolute World Towers, being built in Mississauga, Ontario. Completion scheduled for August. I'm surprised it's not shaped like a vodka bottle.

U2

U2 rocked Toronto on Monday night with their 360° Tour de force and their 360-degree stage in the shape of an alien spider.

The show came to town late since being postponed last year when Bono hurt his back. But the greatest showman/egomaniac on the face of the earth is back in shape (except for a little paunch) and looking good at 51. Say what you will, the man is charming and entertaining as hell (Mephisto?) – it’s no wonder he’s got the leaders of the world on speed-dial.

The rest of the guys have a certain regal-ness to them, a sort of “rock star royalty” stance. And seem to be all too happy to leave center stage for their ring leader. Scenes from the beginning of their career helped put in perspective where they are today and how these middle-aged guys can fill stadiums any day of the week anywhere with more than 60,000 people.

The concert was a string of hits and energetic performances by Bono. It was also a political free-for-all, mixing music and heavy-handed populism, with messages ranging from human rights to religion being systematically delivered in the 360-degree screen above the band. You could also sign up for Amnesty International initiatives during pre- and post-show.

Bono called Canadians “idealists,” praised their “leadership” and declared his love for the country.

A great show and not as much spectacle as I expected, despite cameos from astronauts from the International Space Station and the incredible, stretching, 360-degree screen which enveloped the band and turned the stadium into a disco tornado.  The band came out for two (pre-scheduled) encores.

Here’s a couple of great moments from the show.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Werner Herzog does it again and takes us to another place we’ll never be able to go. This time he takes a 3D camera into a cave in the South of France that has been blocked for thousands of years and contains the oldest cave paintings in recorded history (about 30,000 years old) in pristine condition.

At first, the thought of being inside a cave for an entire movie seems daunting, but leave it to Herzog to bring the cave alive with an examination of the human condition through lessons in Paleontology, Art History, Archeology, Anthropology and Religious Studies. Long after you leave the theatre, the darkness and discoveries of the Chaveut Cave still haunt you and put in perspective how much different or similar we really are to that cave artist tens of thousands of years ago.

Natural love

Super Art Nouveau

Kate Bornstein

Last week gender warrior granny Kate Bornstein was in Toronto reading excerpts of her recounting of Huckleberry-Finn-as-a-tranny-in-New-Orleans story. Quite entertaining.

My new favorite picture

Album cover for Kanye West and Jay-Z’s album Watch the Throne, designed by Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci.

Sign of the times

The Pope sends out his first (and marketing-savvy) Tweet.

Meanwhile, in Brazil, the first gay marriage in the country happened last week. (Note the drag queen as one of the witnesses.)

Chuck

A statue of St. Louis native Chuck Berry (who's now 82) went up at the Delmar Loop in STL despite some lame controversy about him being a felon (from charges in the 60s and 70s) and it being on public property (it's not).