Embroidered Text Messages

Blogger Ginger Anyhow has posted a dramatic love story in the form of text messages...in the form of embroidery. I know that sounds confusing so I'm hoping you'll just click on this link to check it out! The piece is a great juxtaposition in that text messages are a fast paced thing, they have typos and abbreviations. We try and type out messages quickly and become impatient if you don't receive a response within 30 seconds. On the other hand, embroidery is a slow-paced, tedious task where every bit of every letter has been considered and created.

Via NotCot.org

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Growing Jewelry

Artist Hafsteinn Juliusson has developed a unique line of jewelry, explained here:

"Growing Jewelry is a redefinition of modern values. It is a clash of jewelry an gardening; couture and organism. The collection of this hand jewelry is designed for people in metropolitan cities and is an experiment in drawing nature toward man, as nature being the presupposition of life."

Besides making the statements mentioned above with this jewelry, these really fit in with the green trend as well as make a bold fashion statement. Make sure you have a green thumb though, you do have to water them or you'll find yourself covered in dead plant matter.

Via NotCot.org

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Bringing Online Offline

Many things in our lives have been dominated by the internet: the way we shop, communicate, learn etc. No surprise to anyone, but lately, the online world has been seeping into our offline world. From pixelated artwork and clothing to usb inspired jewelry, it's everywhere. A great example of this growing trend is the Houston Fence in NYC. It's a temporary outdoor installation that is obviously inspired by QR-code patterns. By process of osmosis alone, this trend should not be a surprise but more of an "aha moment" when you realize it is happening right before our eyes!

Via Trendwatching.com

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Germ-free Shoping Carts

Shopping carts in the grocery store are right up there with remote controls in hotel rooms...FULL of germs. Some stores have disinfecting wipes near their carts, which is nice but are you getting every nook and cranny? Are you wiping out the inside of the dirty cart where your food is closest to? Probably not. So what do we do, avoid the grocery store altogether? That would be nice but you'd probably get hungry after a few days. Well let's give big props to The Pure Cart System. This amazing machine sanitizes carts! It has a 99%+ kill rate on common bacteria (like staphylococcus, typical E.coli, salmonella and listeria), yeast, fungus and mold. A supermarket in Maryland is already using this technology, will we soon see these everywhere? Until then, for some great tips on avoiding germs check out www.germsnob.com!

Via BrandFlakesForBreakfast.com

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WiFi Detecting T-Shirt

Yep, exactly what it sounds like! This shirt lets you know where there is available WiFi!

What a great idea, I mean I am sick of wondering where there is and isn't WiFi, whether it's at a shopping complex, a friend's house or just on your day to day travels. All I have to do now is look at my chest and whip out that laptop!

Via NOTCOT
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Digital Pots

Attention everyone who constantly kills plants! Your murderous rampage can now stop with The Digital Pot. This wonderful device uses sensors to measure soil conditions, temperature, humidity, and water levels. An LCD screen then displays bold icons to tell you when to water the plant, or if the air temperature is not just right. If the plant gets over watered, the pot will automatically drain out the excess. The planter is powered by USB, which also transmits the plants data to your computer. I must have one!! But unfortunately this is only a concept, I'll keep you updated.

Via Gizmodo
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Anatomical Drawings Brought to Life

Maybe anatomy students can relate a little better to artist Tom Giesler's new series of anatomical drawings. I mean, why not? Why does there always have to be a stiff man or woman standing there with no personality, it actually makes it hard to believe we have all those organs and things inside of us. I want to see the inside of someone who has a little "flavor."

Via Boing Boing
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Social Networking for Hitchhikers

Unless you live under a rock, you know that gas prices are really negatively effecting our economy lately. We all want to do our part to help and more importantly not go broke! So what if you can't afford a hybrid car, or work too far from home to bike? Have you considered hitchhiking? I know, I know, not unless you are asking for trouble, but consider this up and coming social hitchhiking network called iHitch. Drivers are rated on a point scale and matched up with passengers who need a ride. How it works: Type in your location using the GPS on your phone as well as where you need to go. Drivers who are going the same route will be notified and voila! you've got a ride. The iHitch system does however charge passengers a small fee as an incentive for drivers. The barrier to get past is the social acceptance of hitchhiking, if that can't be overcome then this brilliant idea may never succeed.

Via PSFK
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Claymation Zombies

Okay, so what does this have to do with pop culture? Not too much, besides the fact that society does seem to be going back to basics as far as the arts go. We've seen so many innovations with technology that it's refreshing to see something like a claymation video that is just as entertaining as a digitally rendered video. Check it out, it's about 6 minutes long but worth it. You may not want to be eating while watching it though, it's pretty gory even for clay. Enjoy Chainsaw Maid! And if you like what you see, here's more for you!

Via Boing Boing
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Image Appraisal

I've heard of people managing their "personal brand" whether it's maintaining the way they dress, or carry themselves. Honestly, I think these people may take themselves a little to seriously but it probably doesn't hurt.
A persons looks can really hinder them for example, they might come across as rigid, frumpy, or immature. So how do we control this? How do we really know what others think of us? Our friends and family usually are biased and/or they don't want to hurt our feelings so they aren't really much help. Well fear not, a new website that is sure to become international (right now it's only available in German) has come up with a way for others to assess you. Don't be worried, your "score" won't be posted like with those rating games found on MySpace, you log in and see what others think based on a question you ask them. For example, one question may be "Do you think I look snobby?"
Now this service isn't free but it may pay off in the long run, especially if you are in sales or other occupations where first impressions mean everything. You can check out the website at www.checkyourimage.com

Via Springwise
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Flavor Lab

A restaurant in Germany is taking advantage of the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) movement by letting customers create their own unique flavors for each dish. The restaurant, called Geschmackslabor or Flavor Lab in German, gives customers up to 20 choices of oils in small vials to add to their meals. With so many flavors, you can imagine the food may get a little funky but the chef includes their recommendations for each dish.

Via PSFK
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Guerilla Playgrounds

Artist Bruno Taylor is bringing playgrounds to a city near you. He explained the project:

“71% of adults used to play on the streets when they were young. 21% of children do so now. Are we designing children and play out of the public realm?

This project is a study into different ways of bringing play back into public space. It focuses on ways of incorporating incidental play in the public realm by not so much as having separate play equipment that dictates the users but by using existing furniture and architectural elements that indicate playful behaviour for all.

It asks us to question the current framework for public space and whether it is sufficient while also giving permission for young people to play in public.

Play as you go…”

What a great idea! It seems like kids and young adults nowadays are taking on repsonsibilities earlier than previous generations and many miss out on their youth. These installations bring that back to them as well as making it acceptable to have some play time!

Via PSFK

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Fish Pedicures

A salon in the D.C. area has adopted a new way of sloughing off dead skin on their customers feet...by letting tiny carps nibble away at it! Over 5,000 people have tried this new technique that replaces the questionably unsanitary razors previously used to get the job done. No worries, they don't have teeth so can't actually bite the skin, just nibble away at what is already flaking off. Customers say it there is a tingling, tickling sensation involved and everyone who has tried it seems to love it!

Via Boston.com
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Water Advertising

This waterfall contraption is quite amazing, especially with how precise it is, if you watch about a minute into the video, it shows the water spelling out letters...what a perfect way to keep your audience's attention while feeding them messages at the same time!

Via Cherryflava
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Yearbook Yourself

This website is so fun! Ever wonder what you would have looked like as a high school student in the 50's, how about the 70's? You may already know, but hey, why not revisit those times? Upload your picture and this site will generate your yearbook photos from several decades. So what is the point you may ask? This is all to promote a mall...basically after your photo is uploaded, you choose a mall within the Taubman Company LLC and are taken to a page showing items from whatever decade your photo is in. That fad is then translated into today's trends and it shows you where to purchase those products within the mall. Pretty cool idea, not sure how effective it will be but the website is fun regardless!

Via Adrants
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Hat Helmets

Yakkay has come out with a line of bike helmets that look like hats. You just slip one of four covers on top of the helmet. Biking is getting bigger and bigger with the economic downturn, high gas prices and the repopulation of urban landscapes so products like this are sure to take off. If only we could get more bike lanes for the safety of these responsible bicyclists...
Via Boing Boing

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Real Emoticons

In a world where facial expressions have become colons and parenthesis turned certain ways, or yellow-faced clip art cartoons, things are feeling a little robotic and true feelings might not always make their way out via these simple emoticons. You might be asking yourself, "Is that a devious smile, are they being sarcastic?" or "are they crying-sad or just pouting-sad?" OK, now to get to my point, rightbrainterrain.com has come up with a neat program called Real Emoticon where users upload pictures of their faces to be used as emoticons. Fabulous marketing idea if you ask me!

Via JoshSpear.com

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Bird Droppings Make You Beautiful

Doesn't it seem like skin care ingredients tend to get worse and worse over the years? The last one I heard about that was disturbing was a cream made with the foreskins from circumcised babies! I know, I hate to even write about it...The latest and greatest fad in skin care doesn't come from humans but rather bird excrement. A spa in New York takes nightingale droppings from Japan mixed with rice bran and smears in over the faces of their eager customers, claiming the mixture has anti-aging elements. It must work because they keep coming back and paying $180 a pop...or should I say poop?

Via PerezHilton.com

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Alcatraz-Themed Restaurant

In Tokyo there is a fun, prison-themed restaurant where patrons are escorted in handcuffs to a cell where they eat and drink things like "lethal injections" (served out of syringes) and "incest salads." If they are lucky they may even experience a breakout attempt where a "prisoner" tries to hide in their cell while lights are flashing and guards are trying to capture them. Japan is the top dog when it comes to making wacky ideas come to life in a successful way, they are definitely always thinking outside the box.

Via NOTCOT.org

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