I'm not. Contrary to the earlier forecasts Sydney is having the best holiday weather we could ask for. Sunny days, calm afternoons, breezy evenings. Who needs a white Christmas - the beaches can't sing in the snow. 

I've probably pushed hundreds of these over a thousand times (why do we tend to smack them multiple times?) but only recently learnt that Nielsen Design Associates are responsible for the common robust icons (founder Carl Nielsen presented me with a professional development scholarship in 3rd year of my industrial design bachelor at UTS - I should have known this earlier). 

“In the early 1980s Sydney consultants Nielsen Design Associates were asked to redesign the device. The new unit was made from cast aluminium with vandal-proof fixings. The large magnetic button (tested to withstand millions of pushes) is easy to find and push. A Braille arrow on the vibrating plate indicates the direction to cross.”

Photo from former Powerhouse photographer, Andrew Frolows, to accompany this article explaining ‘push button for traffic signals’. Perhaps Nielsen can have a 2010 revamp with an LED indicator to signal a received request to cross - already found in Japan. Saves the extra reassurance smacks..

Speaking of Lego® (yesterday) On the Loose opens today at the Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife World. Created by the Lego® Master Model Builders in the USA. Watch some of the time-lapse videos to see a bit more into how they are created, brick by brick. 

From iPhone's to life size replicas, see more interesting Lego® creations at Art of the Brick by Nathan Sawaya

Ligabue, via ache

Excited to be a finalist for the Bike Rack as Art competition, a joint project between the Powerhouse Museum and the RTA as part of the NSW BikePlan. See the 10 finalists here

"The long-awaited Frank Gehry design for the University of Technology Sydney’s new Business School has been unveiled" and I first thought this was a prank. I don't mind the back facade.. 

New film about 'how trends and creativity become contagious. Looking forward to it.

My design managers latest toy, Darth Tater. He looks a little ambitious with that lightsaber. 

Good one Threadless. 

Melbourne's version of the HUB's 20.20Bin? Perhaps. 

The Economist can an interesting new thinking space - Where do you get your ideas? It's a new website interface by London-based creatives Hi-ReS, with great photography and a generally fun platform for browsing the content - screen grabs in the post. 

Just over 2 hours until the 2022 FIFA World Cup host city is announced. Biding time until the announcement, one of the new stadium proposals has caught my eye. Perth Stadium in Subiaco will hold 60,000 fans, and first glance is giving me serious déjà vu of standing outside Johannesburg's stunning calabash Soccer City. The earthy patterned cladding, cantilevered roof resting on a pot-like form - anyone else see a striking resemblance?  

A sharp range of desktop accessories from Praxis, designed by Alexis Georgacopoulos and shown at 100% Design Shanghai. I particularly like the ruler and pen stand, smart use of sheet material. 

Sydney-siders can look forward Paper Trail at the Plump Gallery, "celebrating the magic, versatility and pure charm of paper based creation." Industrial Designer Tasman Munro will be one of the exhibitors amongst a host of local artists exploring the possibilities of paper.Opening night - Friday, Dec 10th 7:30pm - Midnight. Plump Gallery, 240 Enmore Rd, until Jan 10th. Not to be missed!

It's more than a month since favourite toy blogger Andy Heng suffered a stroke, but it's good to hear that he is slowly recovering and has been twittering daily in lieu of updates on Vinyl Hearts and Toysrevil. Looking forward to having him back!

A very sad animation on the effects of global warming, in the post. See also the concept art, both from Brazilian digital genius Seagulls Fly. 

Dentsu London are the brains behind the new Canon Pixma campaign, bringing paint to life. See how they did it in the post. Fed from Box&Dice. 

TAT are a Swedish group that develop mobile user interfaces. TAT’s technology power 20% of touch phones, and this short video is their prediction of a normal day in 2014 with future screen technology - HD option available. 

Sydney-siders passing through the Rocks won't miss this years Christmas tree installation made from 100 recycled bicycles. Individual wheels can spin on their own axis connected to the trunk frame with colour changing projected lighting. You may recall last years made from bottles, or the previous year from chairs. 

It's time again for the University of Technology Sydney's design graduate exhibition. History would tell us that UTS Design '10 will no doubt be best of the lot, opening night is Wednesday 8th December 2010 from 5.30pm. Loving the graphic work for this years show. Anyone know who's responsible? 

Production of the new 2011 Subaru WRX Sti commercial is almost more exciting than the end result. If you only have a minute (literally 51 seconds), watch the final commercial at least. Marvel at the production efforts if you have another 5 minutes.

Dutch graphic designer Martijn van Dam gives us timelapse shorts of his desirable creations under his home base Super Silo. A very skilled individual, his spacecraft illustration for Champion Sound is one of my favorites. Watch this and more on his vimeo page - hold your jaw. 

'Grid Index is the first comprehensive visual lexicon of patterns and grid systems.. Carsten Nicolai has discovered and unlocked the visual code for visual systems into a systematic equation of grids and patterns'. Sounds helpful - thanks Annette. 

One of the most stunning public space regenerations along one of the most stunning waterfronts. Tel-Aviv Port public space is an abandoned docking port turned 'prominent. vivacious urban landmark'. The mythological dunes on which the port was built are the inspiration for the landscape. I assume eroded stones inspired the precast concrete furniture, sculptural artforms in their own right. Created by Mayslits Kassif Architects, the best covered came from designboom with photography by Iwan Baan. More in the post. 

Scottish multi-disciplinary designer Scott Jarvie has an amazing portfolio of work and an impressive bio. This young 'vigorous artist and designer' has exhibited at Salone Satellite (Milan) amongst other creditable events. This piece 'Clutch' is made from 10,000 drinking straws - more favorites in the post. Cheers Speed for the link. 

Great quote from Carl Sagan fed from madebyhk. Liking this, and the graphic work as well. 

Cat's out the bag. HUB's 20/20Bin was released this morning after Railcorp officially launched it to media today. The new bins to be rolled out later this year will land on 28 busy stations across the Cityrail network. The HUB.20/20Bin boasts a secure cast aluminium construction with clear polycarbonate panels, keeping its guts always on display. More here. 

Series 2 of the popular Simpsons Mini Series Vinyl's were realised today in the states. This second collaboration between Matt Groening and Kidrobot adds less popular (but still awesome) characters to the collection, along with some B-sides of our favourite Springfield family. Unfortunately they aren't being shipped to Australia - oh but a minor obstacle.