Onward & Upward

@ www.noticethings.com

Not Your Mother’s Hallmark

For those of you that feel creatively-limited by someecards, try Pigspigot, a new user-generated greeting card site.  Users can upload their own personal graphics as well as include their own greeting message making for a completely customized product. These cards can then be sent digitally for free, or printed and snail-mailed for $3.99. All card creations are then cataloged in the Pigspigot “library” for other users as inspiration or to send themselves. Designed like a greeting card-wiki, the more people use the site, the stronger it gets with more cards available… so go send one.

Stupid Shit – IV

Alain Berteau Designworks is a Brussels-based architecture practice that has evolved into an award-winning product and  interior design agency.  One of her designs, called Pick Up Wood, is for clothing hangers… well, sorta.

Sold by sets of 8, these “hangers” are literally just hooks… requiring buyers to then go outdoors and find branches into which they screw the hooks.  The “green” designer thought it was a waste of energy to re-form wood and wanted to force consumers to spend time out in nature.

I’m all for eco-friendly products… I test drove a Prius… but this is stupid. Not only would these hangers take up tons of room in your closet, they are dirty, they would pull the treads of your clothing and could, god-forbid, bring bugs into your home and wardrobe.  Thanks but no thanks.  Lets keep these baby’s strictly in the concept phase…

Inspired by Advertising

I’m interested in checking out the new film documentary titled, Art & Copy.  It’s a behind the scenes look at the advertising industry from the perspective of a handful of the greatest creative pioneers whose ideas resulted in some of the most iconic advertisements… and who actually moved and inspired our culture with their work.  Sure, it’s easy to hate advertising when you get pop-ups online or bombarded with television commercials that take up more time then the program you are actually watching… but the madness of a creative mind is intriguing and down right addictive… just ask anybody in the industry.

Driving While on the Phone

The following is a graphic public service film depicting the ravages of using cell phones while driving.  Although created and aired only in the United Kingdom, it’s message is relevant everywhere.  Surely this wont be aired in it’s entirety on US television due to the gruesome nature of the content but thanks to the internet it can still be viewed.  Which begs the questions… Is this video appropriate?  Is it shock for shock-value’s-sake or does it have the power to actually change behavior.  You decide.

WARNING:  The following video is extremely graphic and violent. Watch at your own discretion.

Claps for Apps – II

Although iPhone apps aren’t the reason I switched to an iPhone, they are quickly becoming the reason I haven’t switched from the iPhone!  For my second installment of Claps for (iPhone) Apps, I bring you…

Passion:  With the new iPhone Passion application you can “rate” your lovemaking – in real time (without the help of an audience)!  By strapping the iPhone to arm or belt, users are rated on duration, activity and orgasm by using the iPhone’s timer, microphone and motion sensor.  Feeling competitive?  Track your results by uploading online and comparing with other couples.  For the love…!

Under the Sea

If you are looking for a mini-getaway… for your mind… take the time to watch this video taken of Kuroshio Sea, the main tank at the Churaumi Aquarium in Okinawa, Japan.  Touted as the second largest aquarium in the world, this tank holds 7,500-cubic meters (1,981,290 gallons) of water and features the world’s second largest acrylic glass panel, measuring 8.2 meters by 22.5 meters with a thickness of 60 centimeters.

The video soundtrack is titled “Please don’t go” by Barcelona.

Candyland… Come to Life

Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 19, 2009, San Francisco’s crookedest street (Lombard Street) will be transformed into a giant Candyland board to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the board game.  The street will be closed to traffic as children from the University of California San Francisco Children’s Hospital participate in the game as colored game pieces and interact with life-sized game characters.

This is almost as cool at the annual Bring Your Own Big Wheel (BYOBW) race down Lombard Street every Easter.  I said, “almost”!

Art Imitates… Art

This is one of Brandon Jan Blommaert‘s junk sculptures.  I love the idea of re-using junk but I think what I like the most is the close resemblance to the monster in Where the Wild Things Are… which, by the way, should be an awesome movie!

(Candy) Crack Delivery Service

One of the best things about NYC is that you can have everything and anything delivered… now including crack candy thanks to Candy Crack Delivery Service.  The crack candy (basically brightly colored rock candy) comes in 4 different flavors including blueberry, cotton candy, lime and original (sugar) and is delivered in 1 x 1 baggies for $1 a bag.  I’m not sure which is creepier, the concept or the dude who actually delivers it… a 7-foot tall man in white gloves, a tuxedo, and a plush blue fish head.

The service is the brainchild of Nate Hill (the self-proclaimed “greatest artist of all time”), the creative director of Club Animals. He and his cohorts specialize in other original projects such as “Free Bouncy Rides“- where a person in a fish costume hangs out on a subway platform and offers his/her leg to bounce upon, and the “Mini Marathon” where several people dressed as animals run four laps around Union Square.

Service Schedule:

• Candy Crack Delivery Service – available on August 22nd, in the Greenpoint and Williamsburg areas of Brooklyn only
• Free Bouncy Rides  – offered this Saturday, August 14th, from 10-11pm on the Union Square L train platform.

I LOVE NEW YORK CITY!!!

(via PSFK)