The ironic thing about the Audi RS7 concept by Austrian designer Adriano Mudri is that as wild as it looks aesthetically, its Frankenstein-esque conflation of different marques being mixed and matched is not far from the truth — and is a vision of things to come. As car companies get merged and absorbed into larger conglomerates, the corporate bin-raiding only increases and increases, until vehicles like the Rs7 are the inevitable terminal end. Audis get Lamborghini engines, Lambos steal Audi transmissions, VW laughs all the way to the Swiss banks…Incorporating design elements from every brand in the VW Group, the Audi RS7 borrows styling cues from some of its most famous cars. The hood and descending character lines passing over the front wheels and into the doors are pulled from the sporty SEAT Leon Cupra R, the scissor doors are straight off a Lamborghini Murcielago and the rear end is lifted from the Audi R8…like making a dish from the best ingredients.

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via Adriano Mudri/Jalopnik

Raf Simons is slowly releasing bits and pieces of his 2010 Spring/Summer collection. Amongst the pack are several snake-shaped belts made from alligator print leather or plain web canvas. They feature some unique closures to them as well. Personally, I just love the simplicity in the design. If you’re interested in accessorizing this season, grab them at porvocacao.com

When I was snot-nosed, bone-prone high-schooler, I used love to get my party on. When the house parties were scarce, it was pretty typical to find teen orgies of booze and herb consumption in places that teens do it best…public. This is a trend that still litters the streets and unoccupied hills of your neighborhood. Ah to be young and publicly drunk. When men were men and chicks pretended like they didn’t want it. Why not embark on that journey one more time? No, I’m not suggesting you troll Myspace for some pedo-tail — I’m talking about public intoxication and disorderly conduct, a drunken picnic if you will. For $5220, you can picnic in style with the Linley Shooting Companion. Leather handles, oiled Walnut, two crystal decanters with Rosewood lids, a cigar cutter with storage and a Walnut rack to house eight pewter shot glasses — it’s all there. Actual companions not included. Not into drunken picnics? Maybe take a briefcase filled with everything you’ll ever need to start your own drunken board meeting (it’ll be a lot more fun than that Linley watch table, that’s for sure).

One more detail pic of the components after the Jump…

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Garia, the company who produced the world’s most expensive golf car at over $17,000, has developed a concept for a road-capable version. The Garia LSV is a low-speed vehicle which can reach speeds up to 40km/h and can be driven on public roads because it’s fully equipped with the appropriate street legal safety gear: seatbelts, side mirrors, cup holders…I hope. And although driving a golf cart on the road may seem like a pointless concept, the creative director for Garia, Andrew Lynge, says it’s for recreational purposes and will allow golfers to go directly from home to the golf course. The Garia LSV is built from high quality automobile components — a drive train built by the same company who builds Ducati gearboxes and aluminum profiles made from the companies who work for Aston Martin and Jaguar. It won’t be appearing in the United States until summer 2010, so you still have time to take up golfing and learning to do proper donuts on grass. The Garia LSV…now you can do the stupid things you did in a regular golf car, only a little bit faster and on public streets. Like donuts.

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The largest Korean population outside of Korea can be found here in my hometown: Los Angeles. Our K-town is thriving — endless nori-bangs (private karaoke rooms), neon-lit buildings, and hundreds of Korean restaurants to choose from. But even with the conditions ripe for exploring this exquisite gastronomy, I still found my Korean food choices limited to those most popular in the United States: bulgogi at BBQ houses, and japchae elsewhere. My choices were not limited on the menu; I chose these same plates because I lacked Korean culinary knowledge and hesitated to taste outside the familiar. My recent trip to Seoul tossed that caution out into the snow, and I was ready to explore Korean cuisine with no reservations (rimshot). My goal: to taste everything and anything, and report my recommendations to the Korean food amateur.

Be inspired to adventure in Korean gastronomy after the Jump…

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Knowing a handful of writers, I think this would make an elegant gift. To be completely honest tho, in the 21st century, I have yet to see a writer pick up a typewriter — nevermind a pencil. Still, this would be a great set to team up with a clean Moleskin notebook, just for old times sake. The Bavarian cowhide case, tanned with plant extracts, comes complete with four Faber-Castell 9000 H, HB and B pencils, a pencil holder, a metal protection cap, a metal propelling pencil with dual pressure mechanism, a glass tube with 12 lead (and not polymer) refills (0.5 mm dia.), an adjustable Dux precision pencil sharpener with three replacement blades, a small 10-cm Rumold ruler crafted from pear wood with celluloid markings and a soft eraser. Additional loops are provided for fountain pens, ballpoint pens, etc. Comes with a brass zip. Pick it up for $120.

LA-based photographer Estevan Oriol has forged a career keeping things simple, and doing what he does best: capturing the world around him on film. He got his start in the early 90s as the tour manager for Cypress Hill and House of Pain, when his dad gifted him a camera and challenged him to record the world around him. He did that, did it with a particular style unlike any other, and unknowingly a career was launched. Since, his photos have graced the pages of Rolling Stone, Details, Mass Appeal, The Source, Vibe and more. Beyond running his own brand, Oriol directs videos (such as Murs’ upcoming “The Problem Is”), is a founder of Soul Assassins, runs SA Studios and is an Upper Playground associate (the man’s busy — check out his blog). Now Estevan’s just released his first hardcover photography book titled L.A. Woman — a 112-page coffee table book full of photographs of women from Los Angeles. The title is quite apt, as many of the images give a particularly feminine and divine meaning to the City of Angels. From homegirls to car show girls to models to girls next door, from black to Asian to white to latina to whatever Kim Kardashian is, all varieties of Angelinas are well represented. For a brief glimpse check out the gallery below, and then do yourself a favor and buy it for $24.

What was your inspiration for L.A. Woman — did you start out photographing these women knowing it would be a book, or did you just photograph a lot of hot girls and then decide to do a book?
I had the photos of the women already when I was approached by Drago, they wanted to do a street culture book about latinos in L.A., but I felt like everyone is trying to molest that culture too much. He asked me what would I like to show people I shoot that people don’t know me for, so I chose to do women. I have been shooting them the whole time I have been doing photography. It seemed like everyone was shooting women the same way; I thought my style would be something different at this time.

Hit the Jump to peruse one more gallery (with shots of Redman and Game), and continue reading the Q&A with Estevan Oriol, where he discusses his days with Cypress Hill, the drama of photoshoots with jealous boyfriends, and whether or not Kim Kardashian wears a butt pad.

“For me they can’t just be beautiful — they have to have sex appeal. Right when I see them I can see that I would be able to take good pictures.”

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The popular Lomography camera has now become a must-have for lovers of vintage and film because they create dream-like images that seem to give no sense of a particular time. Well, now they’ve come out with these rare and beautiful cameras which are dipped in real 24-carat gold and wrapped in brown leather. They are fixed with the original Russian Minitar lens so they exceptionally produce the classic vignetted, highly-saturated, vivid photos that lomography is known for. They’re a collector’s item with only 130 being produced, so the $600 pricetag is a bit high for a camera that is famous for its affordability. But what’s $600 dollars when you get a golden, limited edition camera? It also includes 2 rolls of 800ISO film and comes in a bespoke wooden case. If you’ve got what it takes to buy one of these unique pieces then check them out here.

Check out a couple more images of the complete package, including laser-etched wooden case, after the Jump…

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