It seems like the last thing the world needs now is a new brand of spring water. But if it’s being sold by a puppet dancing to Snap’s “Rhythm is A Dancer,” the folks at Drench spring water have me convinced otherwise. Their minute-and-a-half-long masterwork of a commercial, created by the U.K.’s Chi Advertising, is so exhilaratingly funny that it makes us thirsty for more. The ad features a hydrated hipster (aka Brains from Thunderbirds) who could just as easily serve you some Drench or serve you on the dance floor. We’d go with the former … that puppet’s pretty talented.
Summer is coming to England, which means we can break out our long sleeve T-shirts and light jackets. That's a joke. It isn't that bad. But England isn't known for its bright and sunny weather. So eco-friendly London fashion line Howies sent their clothes to friends in San Francisco and Malibu to model for their summer line (also a good way to splash into the American market). The result is a photo-friendly catalog showing some of the best clothes they've put out in years, alongside some beautiful American locals. You can view the catalog as a PDF off their website, but if you can get your hands on the physical book you won't be let down. Howies is known for giving their products a great narrative, because everyone wants to know the real story behind the jacket.
The Japanese have a penchant for creating unique characters. They’ve more or less made brand mascots into an art form — just ask anyone who has become addicted to Pokemon or Hello Kitty. When MoMA announced that they’d be releasing their Destination Japan product collection, it seemed only natural that it have its own brand identity creature. Thanks to toy designer and retailer Kidrobot (along with Japanese design studio Devilrobots) they now have Mochi. Not only is Mochi a welcomed addition to the kawaii (cute) mascots menagerie, but eager collectors are already lusting after him (her? it?). The limited edition Mochi toy can be purchased at the MoMA store along with tons of other Eastern-inspired products. Get yours now!
On the odd occasion we find ourselves perusing our personal library via candlelight, we usually have the misfortune of spilling hot wax all over our hands (and our leatherbound books). If you face a similar situation — or you just like the old fashioned idea of touring your darkened home like Uncle Scrooge — perhaps you’d enjoy the Goodnight Eileen lamp from Chilean designer Christine Birkhoven. The energy-efficient candle-shaped LED employs magnetic induction to deliver electricity to the lamp, using its ceramic base to recharge. We’ve also found romantic candlelit dinners are much more enjoyable without the fear of accidentally singeing your arm hair.
Once upon a time, Barry and Levon had $240, and that bought…a lot of puddin’. But, what if they had $600? That would just be too ridiculous to comprehend. How I Spent My Stimulus takes a look at what Americans are blowing Bush’s $152 billion economic stimulus package on (note to our international readers: click here to learn more). From carabiners to train tickets, an extra few hundred dollars in the average taxpayer’s pocket opens up a whole new world of conspicuous consumption. So send in your pic or video of 600 lbs of dog food, three nights at a Westin Hotel, or, gasp, 150 gallons of gasoline. When the money is free, there’s no wrong answer.
The web has allowed a whole new range of collaborative photography projects to flourish. Artists teaming up are obviously nothing new, but the ease and instant gratification afforded by the Internet makes for free-flowing ideas around the world to congeal into one artistic idea. Some of these collaborations have found a way to focus on one thing that’s universal and immutable: time. Our locations, cultures, and languages are all different, but it's always going to be 10:15 a.m. somewhere. With that in mind, Ten:15 wants you to send in a picture of whatever you happen to be doing at 10:15 a.m., no matter where you are in the world.
Participants can create their own user portfolio and link it back to their personal site, making it a great way to search for new photographers — or just be a voyeur in other people's lives. You can search the archives by photographer, date, or location. Somehow, the communal collection of our banalities turns them into something fascinating. Having photographic proof that some dude in Manila is putting cream in his morning coffee just creates a little more balance and order in the universe. The casual nature and spontaneity of the photographs can't be faked. They capture that laid-back moment where someone picked up their camera or phone at 10:15 a.m. and just snapped away.
The Japanese have a penchant for creating unique characters. They’ve more or less made brand mascots into an art form — just ask anyone who has become addicted to Pokemon or Hello Kitty. When MoMA announced that they’d be releasing their 
Once upon a time, Barry and Levon had $240, and that bought…a lot of 
