It seems the Japanese cycling sport Keirin is under investigation following reports that money changed hands in exchange for it to become an Olympic event. I wasn’t too sure what Keirin was so I had a look on the interweb. It turns out it’s a huge gambling sport in Japan with millions staked on the outcome of ridiculously fast track-bike races. It’s also absolutely awesome to watch.

#keirin

The pics I took in Berlin are up over at my Flickr, if anyone fancies taking a look. Been back a few days now and looking back I have to say that Berlin really is an amazing place. The people are very friendly and extremely laid-back, and there’s a special vibe in the city. Cool cafes and bars, decent shops and good food, and a surging undercurrent of creativity.

We stayed in Prenzlauerberg, and spent most of our time around there and Mitte, but we got out to plenty of museums in other areas, including the Hamburger Bahnhof and the Jewish Museum. While we were there, we used this online guide and found it really helpful. You can see my tips here. They’re launching a Copenhagen version soon, and I’m going to be supplying some content. Stay tuned.

I’m in Berlin for a few days, soaking up the atmosphere of a very laid-back and super cool city. If anyone has any tips, leave a comment!

Check out the awesome Feed Cycling Project; street art and advocacy from Taiwan. More info here. Found at the equally awesome Hipster Nascar.

Just been checking out Pitchfork.tv and found this video of High Places performing in their native Brooklyn earlier this year. Seeing this made me love this band even more. It’s also pretty cool to see Buffy’s vampire boyfriend in gainful employment. A full-length is out in September, I think.

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While I’m here, I just found out Daniel Johnston is playing Vega in November. Put in your diaries kids.

Danish architects 3XN have revealed details of The Blue Planet, the amazing-looking aquarium they will be building in Amager. Their concept is called ‘Whirlpool’ and is inspired by the ‘whirls of the sea, shoals of fish, and swirling starlings turning the sky black’. The aquarium is scheduled to open in 2013.

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Promising renovation plans for Købmagergade and Kultorvet – one of Copenhagen city centre’s least appealing areas – have been finalised. Work on the €15million project will get underway in 2010 and should be completed a couple of years later.

This is really good news for the city. Købmagergade begins by Nørreport station – Copenhagen’s busiest – and takes pedestrians down to the long neglected Kultorvet square and then on to the Round Tower. Tourists disembarking at Nørreport will, in the future, see a dynamic and appealingly designed thoroughfare as they stroll down to Stroget, instead of the shabby and uninspiring mess it is today. Berlingske has some good pictures here.

The average age of American TV viewers is now 50, says Variety magazine.

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Ever wondered what the semantic web is? This video might help:

Danish uber-brand B&O seems to be falling on hard times. I can see why. Their stuff is inordinately expensive, and, in my humble opinion, often aesthetically unappealing. It’s still a strong brand. And they still put money into the right areas (apparently 10% goes into R&D) but, as this article makes clear, they’re not really cashing in on the cash-rich emerging economies like China and Russia.

Read on Gorilla Vs Bear earlier this morning that The Walkmen have a new album out soon. I remember seeing them at the Highbury Garage in about 2004 when they were touring Bows and Arrows. I was in a pretty fucked up state emotionally and the way Hamilton Leithauser belted out The Rat helped in a cathartic kind of way. Afterwards I went outside and puked in a bus stop. This is probably one of the rawest songs you’ll ever hear:

A quick recommendation for the work of London-based photographer windscreen fly. He has a marvellous eye, I think; finding beauty, shape and form in urban detritus. Check his Flickr, and his official site.