Animation: The 2030 Challenge

Buildings are the largest contributor to climate change at 46.9% of U.S. CO2 emissions. In this short animation, Heather Shelini presents Architecture2030.org’s “2030 Challenge,” which advocates the reduction of fossil fuels used in the construction and operation of new and renovated buildings.

Animation: Milk and Bookies

The beautiful and heart-warming animation below was created for MILK+BOOKIES, a non-profit organization that exposes young children how great it feels to give back while celebrating the love of a good book.

Milk + Bookies was founded in 2004 by Meredith Alexander, a mother of two sons who resides in Los Angeles. In 2009, Heidi Lindelof and Laura Zimmerman, also L.A.-based moms, joined Meredith to help Milk + Bookies grow, all the while maintaining its core mission. That same year, Milk + Bookies was designated a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

At Milk + Bookies events, boys and girls are provided the opportunity to select, purchase, and inscribe books that are then donated to peers who do not have access to books of their own. Events feature music, story time, and, of course, milk and cookies.

Busdriver: Kiss Me Back to Life

Busdriver has a new release on the way titled Beaus$Eros (pronounced “Bows and Arrows”). It’s a big departure from his previous work, which was largely speed rhyming. It’s also thematic, focusing on a recent break from his fiancé and a time in his life when, “Personal pratfalls just made Beaus and Eros a lot more cathartic than my albums usually are.” We interviewed him this week and will publish our conversation in the coming days. For now, below is a listen to his new sound. Although it’s certainly more pop influenced, you won’t be getting any “bling bling” or video babes with Bus’. Just good writing, good beats, a good sense of humor, and the big reveal of a great singing voice. He’s more than a speed rapper with technical skills. And in “Kiss Me Back to Life” below, he also shares that, “I’m more than a boyfriend, I’m a mistake to learn from.”

Gotye and Kimbra Perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live

We told ya’ you’d be hearing more from Kimbra! The New Zealand break-out star, interviewed here in stated over the summer, joined Gotye live in her US television debut to perform “Somebody I Used to Know” on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night. Kimbra plays SXSW in March and is joining Gotye’s US Tour as well. Her debut album Vows will release later this year in the US. She’s the winner of New Zealand Critics’ Choice Awards 2011 and won Best Female Artist And Best Song  for “Somebody That I Used to Know” at the 2011 ARIA awards.

VIDEO: Sebastian Cosor Brings Munch's "The Scream" To Life

Sebastian Cosor brings Edvard Munch’s iconic painting to life, complete with music from Pink Floyd’s “The Great Gig in the Sky”. The dialogue makes more sense in context of Munch’s own words from 1893:

I was walking along a path with two friends – the sun was setting – suddenly the sky turned blood red – I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence – there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city – my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety – and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature.

Cosor also recently posted a winter version of the piece, complete with santa hat for the “screamer.”