"Padded insides protect your iPod from shock and scratches. Intergrated belt clip lets you show off your style to the world. Data port lets you sync up and charge without skipping a beat. Positive-lock closure keeps your sensitive electronics from becoming road pizza. Reclaimed stainless steel from salvaged bikes helps protect resources and save energy. Full-sized headphone port for compatability up to 1/2 inch wide plugs." Link

Wooden iPod covers made by Peter Kinne

The Register have a collection of three truly awful corporate anthems.

"Our piece last week highlighting Dutch "media investment management" outfit MindShare's version of Donna Summer's She works hard for the money provoked a mini snowstorm of emails pointing us towards some truly Mephistophelean corporate anthems - musical works so hideous that prolonged exposure to them would certainly result in insanity and eventual death.

Well, we've spent a few hours in a lead-lined, soundproof room working through your recommendations, and have whittled these Melodies of Satan down to three contenders which we hereby provide in mp3 format for your listening pleasure..." Link

The sheer chilling grandiose operatic horror of the Glaucoma song won my vote, and yes,  I listened to them all, all the way through. The horror...

The contenders:

image courtesy : mac(3)

veg

Nice video of robots dancing.  Link : Via Google Video of the Day

Do-Ho Suh was born in Seoul, Korea in 1962.  He received a BFA in painting from Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA in sculpture from Yale University.  He has since had solo exhibitions at such venues as the Serpentine Gallery, London, Seattle Art Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art at Philip Morris, and the Artsonje Center in Korea.  He has also participated in group exhibitions at the Baltimore Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the 49th Venice Biennale, among others. Interested in the malleability of space in both its physical and metaphorical manifestations, Do-Ho Suh constructs site-specific installations that question the boundaries of identity.  His work explores the relation between individuality, collectivity, and anonymity.  The artist's work is represented in a number of major museum collections including the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.  Do-Ho Suh lives and works in New York City.  Link

Interview and video clips : Link

Do-Ho Suh's artwork has received widespread critical acclaim. It was included in Plateau of Humankind and in the Korean Pavilion at the 49th Venice Biennale; in Greater New York at PS1 Contemporary Art Center, NY; and in exhibitions at MoMA, NY; the Houston Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, TX; and the Biennale of Sydney, among other institutions. He has had solo exhibitions at the Serpentine Gallery, London; the Seattle Art Museum; the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City; and the Whitney Museum of American Art at Philip Morris. His first one-person exhibition in Korea was held at the Artsonje Center, Seoul, during the summer of 2003, and his work is included in the 2003 Istanbul Biennale." Link

"The whole program was basically pushing your psychological and physical limits to extremes, so actually you can kill someone. And, you know, that whole experience was very difficult to swallow. It’s a process of dehumanization." Link

More Links :
49th Venice Biennale: Do-Ho Suh
Guardian article
Artnet
Do-Ho Suh at Lehmann Maupin - New York

The happy fluffy flower people from monochrom.

Oh OK, actually I'm lying their stuff is usually more like this:

" We could have called our blog something else, for example 'Sir, I never promised you a Roswell Report, Sir!' or 'New Austrian Dark Wavers, We're On Our Way!' or 'Hunger Is The Best Cook' or 'Psychoanalysis Is Only A Shabby Generative Tool!' or 'Jesus Loves You More Than You Will Know (Wo Wo Wo)!' or 'Aestheticize What's Trying To Break You!'. No! No! No! We just call it [The Blog]. "

trixiebedlam : full image

"These "anti-gravity boots" fit over shoes so that children can "seem to defy gravity" and "bounce across the yard like a Gazelle!" The manufacturer's safety instructions include the unrealistic directive to "always remain in control of your motions", and to use a "protective helmet as well as gloves, knee and elbow pads during use". Children pictured on the packaging have no protective gear whatsoever. " Link

"Whether for jogging, running or even walking, our AIR KICKS™ seem to defy gravity with every fun-filled step. While wearing athletic shoes, simply slip each foot into the open toe boot! Now start bouncing in place, or bounding across the yard like a herd of bolting gazelles. AIR KICKS™ feature high-traction treads that are safe to use on any surface, indoors or out, and won´t mar floors! Heavy-duty, interchangeable rubber T-Springs transform downward energy into bouncing motions gentle on joints and bones. Not only do kids (and adults) love the cushiony motion, it´s easy to burn calories, build coordination and strengthen leg muscles! " Link

The Air Kicks boots from Seattle based Geospace International have been voted into the top 10 most dangeous toys by Watch. But don't you just wish they made these in adult sizes?

For the full list click here: Top 10 Worst Toys 2005

Some great paper projects from Kenji Eno

Paper Mac PDF                       paper iPod PDF

Amazing new research from MIT shows that tin foil hats may not be as effective as previously thought. "Among a fringe community of paranoids, aluminum helmets serve as the protective measure of choice against invasive radio signals. We investigate the efficacy of three aluminum helmet designs on a sample group of four individuals. Using a $250,000 network analyser, we find that although on average all helmets attenuate invasive radio frequencies in either directions (either emanating from an outside source, or emanating from the cranium of the subject), certain frequencies are in fact greatly amplified. These amplified frequencies coincide with radio bands reserved for government use according to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). Statistical evidence suggests the use of helmets may in fact enhance the government's invasive abilities. We speculate that the government may in fact have started the helmet craze for this reason." Link

A tip of the foil hat to Zack

The Flying Spaghetti Monster is the sole deity in the monotheistic religion known as Flying Spaghetti Monsterism (FSMism pronounced 'effessmisum'). It has widely been accepted as fact that this, and only this is the true religion, just as the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the true Creator and Overseer.

Flying Spaghetti Monsterism is the true religion. Much like the trickster, God, of Christianity, the Flying Spaghetti Monster also deceives the scientific world. This is possible only because the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the only all-powerful being, and only all-powerful beings can change laboratory results unbeknownst to their finders, showing that the Flying Spaghetti Monster must, in fact, exist. Bear in mind that His ways are mysterious, and there are numerous texts that explain why.

There are at least ten million and one Flying Spaghetti Monsterists in the world today, but because of the scorn they receive, they are often in hiding, afraid to reveal themselves to the world. However, a recent movement by Bobby Henderson, the foremost expert on Flying Spaghetti Monsterism and descendant of The Codifier shows promise in bringing them into the spotlight. Link

The Church of the Flying Spagetti Monster was established in June 2005 as a reaction against the inclusion of the theory of Intelligent Design in the American science curriculum, and is now rapidly spreading across the globe. It has even invaded the dreaming spires of Oxford. Link

There are many strands of thinking within the many forms of the faith but there is a general concensus that September 19th,  otherwise known as talk like a pirate day,  is the most sacred day of the year.

Do you prefer the internet to network news? Do you generally go online to check on the latest trends and information? Are you a fan of blogs? Do you appreciate a lighthearted, even irreverent take on current events? But do you hate being tied to your computer? Then MobuzzTV may be just what’re looking for.

MobuzzTV wants to raise of the current type of vlog in two ways. Firstly, in terms of content: we aim to produce more highly structured, informative daily clips. Secondly in terms of format: while MobuzzTV is accessible online, it is specifically formatted for use on a mobile phone. While changing the concept of the vlog in these ways, it is still important to us to maintain the interactive aspect of the vlog, allowing users to comment on our programs and in that way adapt it to their tastes. MobuzzTV is creating an upscale commercial vlog for your mobile phone.

With a daily magazine, celebrity interviews, cyber news, and a variety of other features, we strive to keep you informed and entertained no matter where you are. MobuzzTV does not simply re-adapt conventional TV programming and place it on a mobile channel. Our creative process starts with the mobile phone as a TV device, not with a conventional stationary television. With conventional TV the spectator and media are stationary, with MobuzzTV the spectator and the media are mobile, and interactive.

A 30 min show from a regular news provider on a mobile phone will 1) kill your batteries, 2) distract you from what you should be doing (working!!) and 3) leave you squinting at the tiny, nearly unidentifiable images. MobuzzTV is specially tailored to your mobile phone, with bite size 3-minute programs, and content specially filmed for a small screen, and fresh daily content for the new generation of mobile users. With the MobuzzTV format you can download episodes either as they’re released daily or from our archives, allowing you to watch what you want, when you want, where you want. MobuzzTV makes mobile V.O.D. a reality.

MobuzzTV gives your mobile device a personality. Every day we present stories of interest to a globally-minded generation. Join our presenters Iria, Karina and Elisa as they talk tech, meet interesting people, visit European hotspots and comment on popular culture, all in the palm of your hand!" Link

Two Industrial Design students from the School of Design and Environment are the first Asians to win the prestigious Design Lab Award at the international Electrolux Design Lab 2005 competition.

Held in Stockholm, the competition is organised annually by the Electrolux Group in a bid to encourage students from around the world to design household appliances for the future. This year, participants competed to create the most outstanding new appliance concept for the home of 2020. 

The award winning design of third year students Gabriel Tan and Wendy Chua, beat entries from 3,000 other students from over 88 countries. Called Airwash, the waterfall-inspired washing unit is waterless and does not use detergents. Instead, it utilises negative ions, compressed air and deodorants to clean clothes.  By using atmospheric air and negative ions – a natural cleansing agent – it fights dirt and bacteria with nature's own weapon. Airwash is also designed to be placed anywhere in the home, instead of the designated laundry area.
 
According to the Electrolux Group, the Airwash design emerged as the winner because of "its intuitive, ecological and beautiful design. Airwash also does away with the expensive, time-consuming task of going to the dry cleaner."

Hmmmm they look professional - ewwww!

Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys has been named the coolest man on the planet in NME's yearly Cool List.

The charismatic leader has knocked Babyshambles' Pete Doherty off the top spot. Doherty has fallen to sixth place, while his ex-Libertines partner Carl Barat, who shared the Number One place with the troubled singer in 2004, has fallen to Number Nine.

NME Deputy Editor Alex Needham said: "Featuring both elder statesmen and thrusting young turks, the NME Cool List is the one every musician wants to be on. Last year Pete Doherty and Carl Barat were joint Number One and 2005's list looks set to stir up even more controversy."

For the full list see this week's issue of NME, which also contains a free CD featuring many of the bands featured. The list below is what is reportedly the 'Cool List' but don't take my word for it.

1. (New) Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys)
2. (New) Liam Gallagher (Oasis)
3. (New) Kanye West
4. (New) Antony (Antony and the Johnsons)
5. (9) Brandon Flowers (The Killers)
6. (17) Devendra Banhart
7. (1) Pete Doherty (Babyshambles)
8. (New) Jemima Pearl (Be Your Own Pet)
9. (New) Bob Dylan
10. (1) Carl Barat (The Libertines)
11. (New) Ian Brown
12. (New) Damon Albarn
13. (New) Ryan Jarman (The Cribs)
14. (New) Julian Casablancas (The Strokes)
15. (New) Ninja (Go! Team)
16. (New) Paul Epworth
17. (New) Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)
18. (New) Tom Atkin (The Paddingtons)
19. (New) Henry Harrison (The Mystery Jets)
20. (New) Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance)

When A GIRL died after a marathon session playing her favourite computer game, fellow devotees paid her the ultimate tribute.
Hundreds went online and staged a virtual funeral for her.
They directed their characters to a cathedral in the World Of Warcraft fantasy game and spoke in memory of her. The digital characters could be seen kneeling in rows, heads bowed.
The player, known only as Snowly, died last month after playing the game for three days with barely a break during a week-long national holiday in China. She must have had no sleep at all for over a week her online friends said she had one of the highest attendance rates in the online game.
But days before she died, Snowly complained of feeling exhausted as she prepared for a particularly difficult stage of the challenge.
Weeks later, a second gamer, who nicknamed himself Thereafter, died in similar circumstances.
The deaths are the latest in a growing number of tragedies related to excessive games-playing in Asia.

Read full story here http://www.refreshdaily.com/showthread.php?threadid=29782

Fast food chain McDonald's is attempting to woo adults back into its outlets in Japan with a gender-bending makeover.

Gone are the clown shoes and baggy overalls, swapped for red-and-white striped bikini and flowing dress. thigh-length leggings and high heels.
Hidekazu Sato, the ad man behind the campaign, denies he's changed Ronald, insisting he just 'played around with his costume'.
'Customers are calling her the female Ronald but that was not our intention.'

It is not the first time McDonald's has played around with its image. Faced with falling sales last year, it abandoned the golden arches logo on posters and replaced it with a question mark to get consumers to reconsider its appeal.

For the full story go to the Guardian Unlimited

"120 days ago LIVE 8 rocked the world. Whilst the boys and girls with guitars made some noise, 3.8 billion of you turned up, tuned in, or logged on to show you wanted to change the world.

Well 5 days after the LIVE 8 concerts - the G8 leaders met... and they had heard us. It was an historic meeting which achieved more than any G8 in history. These are the commitments that YOU helped the 8 most powerful men in the world to make...

• $50 billion more aid per year by 2010
• AIDS drugs to all those who need them, and care for all AIDS orphans
• primary schools for ALL children by 2015
• a commitment to protect 85% of vulnerable Africans against malaria
• and debt cancellation for 18 of the world's poorest countries

Oxfam reckons that if the G8 keep their promises, by 2010, these commitments will save 4.5million lives per year. You personally helped to make that happen. That's a hell of a result.

Now... the next part of this story is about to start - and there's another HUGE opportunity coming up. We HAVE to change the unfair trade laws so that people in extreme poverty have a chance to build themselves a future.

The crucial talks are happening right now, and the main man there is Peter Mandelson. The talks aren't going well - in fact they're in pretty desperate straits - and there's a real chance they're going to fail completely.

But we absolutely can't let that happen without one last push, and without letting them know that the people of the world still demand a result. Mandelson needs to know that we want him to do everything he can, and more, in the interests of the poor. You can tell him this in literally 30 seconds by clicking here and emailing him. Please do it RIGHT NOW - JUST CLICK - it's INCREDIBLY SIMPLE and if you do it, WITHIN 20 MINUTES YOUR PERSONAL MESSAGE WILL BE IN HIS INBOX. 2 million of you are getting this email today. That's a seriously powerful message. It's a real fight - but we need you once again to line up shoulder to shoulder with the poorest people in the world to stop them getting screwed.

We will NOT let our world leaders fail in their duty to stop the scandalous deaths we see on the news every night. Send the email. Do it.

Do it now. Click here.

Bob Geldof

P.S. If you'd like to relive LIVE 8, the official DVD is just out - all 16 hours of it - almost certainly the greatest live music recording ever released. To find out more click here."

Harvey and Jubs are the next additions to the Vortigern's Machine soft vinyl figure series.

Taken from James Jarvis' forthcoming comic novel, and standing approximately 30cm tall in their straight-brimmed baseball caps, Harvey and Jubs are large youths who loiter aimlessly on the street corners of Dullwich City.

They enjoy harassing the local youngsters and speak an unintelligible form of yoot-speak. Despite this they are really from good families, well brought-up with a decent education.

Sold separately...Jubs is the one with the 'J' chain! 

To to buy 'em click here

DJ Shadow, acclaimed hip-hop and electronica artist, and Obey’s Shepard Fairey, ‘street art’ pioneer, are proud to announce the release of this limited edition clothing and music project entitled “PUBLIC WORKS.”

This special box set includes five t-shirts, a brand new, full-length mix CD by DJ Shadow, a copy of Shepard Fairey’s book “Post No Bills,” stickers, buttons and other surprises. The PUBLIC WORKS box set is limited to 450 pieces.

THE BOX
The box itself was designed by Shepard Fairey and hand pressed by his print master in downtown LA. Each box is hand assembled, stamped and numbered.

THE T-SHIRTS
All T-Shirts in the box are short sleeve and made by American Apparel. They have been tagged at the Obey Clothing factory with Obey tags (XS excluded). All T-Shirts within the box run the same size. Sizes run XS-XXL. The T-Shirts are 100% cotton and tend to run a bit small. Within the box you will receive the first five shirts in the project "PUBLIC WORKS" T-Shirt series. Shirt #5 is exclusive to the box and will never be sold separately.

"FUNKY SKUNK" MIX CD
This new mix cd by DJ Shadow clocks in at over 60 minutes. It will not disappoint!

"POST NO BILLS" BOOK
It was 1989 when Shepard Fairey, a student at the Rhode Island School of Design, first created the now-infamous THE GIANT HAS A POSSE sticker. The black and white image of the huge wrestler's subdued and vacant stare became an underground icon and by the mid-90's about a half-million had been posted around the world. "Post No Bills" documents Shepard Fairey's career from his creation of the Giant phenomenon up to and including the advent of Black Market, a San Diego design agency Fairey formed with Dave Kinsey and Philip Dewolff. Today Shepard Fairey creates designs for Studio #1, produces Giant art, exhibits worldwide in galleries, and still keeps his Giant images on the streets.

Fire up your popup blockers and check out these eeerie images of airplane graveyards over here...

Outside Tuscon, Arizona in the Sonora Desert is AMARC, the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center. Here the U.S. Air Force mothballs planes until they either need them again or it's time to salvage them for parts. Whenever the U.S. sells surplus planes to foreign governments part of the sales pitch is that there will always have a ready supply of spare parts. Some are turned into pilotless drones and used for missile target practice.

There are about 4,000 planes in storage, most now from the Vietnam era. Apparently in the 60's there were still planes from World War II there.

More info over at http://www.modern-ruins.com/boneyard/index.html 

JET SKI FOR SALE GOOD Condition:

Designed with the graffiti artist, the ugly, fetichists and super heroes in mind comes the 'Sweat Anticon'.

On sale from December 1st at www.anticon.biz probably advisable not to wear this to Bluewater shopping shopping centre in Kent, UK

A French woman has admitted trying to open a plane door mid-flight to have a cigarette.

Sandrine Helene Sellies, who is afraid of flying, had taken alcohol and sleeping pills ahead of the flight from Hong Kong to Brisbane, Australia, aboard which she tampered with the emergency exit.

Sellies, who claims she has no recollection of the incident, pleaded guilty to endangering the safety of an aircraft.

Cool Hunting Camonanos - amazing! You had a chance to win one too over at coolhunting.com! but you missed that. They say stay tuned for them in there upcoming 'Holiday Gift Guide'. Check www.coolhunting.com for more info or goto Colorware for custom coloured Ipod coatings.

I had a quick scan and also found this over at http://www.valcenter.ch

And then I found these over at www.decalgirl.com

And then I realised that I was at work and spending time searching for Nano Camo Cases and had to stop...

"November 7, 2005 Siemens has announced a new colour display screen that can be printed onto paper or cardboard and is thin, flexible, and affordable enough to be included in books, magazines, labels, tickets, instructions, multimedia games embedded in the breakfast cereal box and a host of other traditionally “dumb” media where clarity of the message is vital – such as the dosage instructions on drugs, installation instructions for people who normally don’t RTFM ad infinitum – when the new technology reaches market in 2007, the convergence of media types will further accelerate with the possibility of video instructions incorporated into packaging, video-enabled print adverts, and printed magazines and books with multimedia capabilities." Full article

Do they have any idea how long we've been waiting to be able to surf the net with a cereal box while we eat breakfast?