Top 15 April 2008

01. Ouch/Bling

by Jan van Mol on Apr 3rd 13:19

These are called bling band-aids. Wear them as jewelry. How to really turn your OUCH into BLING. Packaging : Three plasters in slide top tin. One with ice white rhinestones, one with rose and one with red rhinestones. sterile. {news_summary}

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02. Dongtan

by Matsume Kai on Apr 3rd 13:15

The eco-city that everybody in Shanghai seems to be talking about, Dongtan island, plans to have over half a million people living on it by 2010. Preserving the natural habitat by incorporating it into a natural storm barrier, Dongtan will be truly eco-friendly. It will create all its own energy and heat using bio-fuels and renewable sources like wind and sunlight. All waste (including human waste) will be reused, recycled or converted into energy. Food will come from local organic farms and only electric cars will be allowed on the island. This will be the very first self-sustaining island in the world. {news_summary}

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03. Find the Pond

by Barrie Barton on Apr 3rd 13:10

The Pond is a short-term pop-up bar that has been purpose-built to burn bright & die young in Melbourne – it has a lifespan of only 12 weeks and after closing in Australia’s coolest city it will be transported to Sydney for another limited period of time. The Pond is funded by an Australian low-carb and preservative free beer called Pure Blonde (the name of the venue is made by selecting some of the letters from Pure Blonde). An ugly and derelict urban space has been transformed into an eco-friendly drinking eutopia, including recycled plant pots that were swapped for pots (glasses) of beer, certified plantation pine furniture and it even has an entry courtyard featuring six massive silver birch trees found lying under-utilised on an old golfing estate. The product selection at the bar also reflects the message of purity – only white beverages are available and it all closes at 10PM so that people don’t wake up cursing Pure Blonde for a big night out! {news_summary}

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04. Superuse

by Pim Derneden on Apr 3rd 13:06

Www.superuse.org is an open community of designers, architects and anyone else who would like to join and is interested in inventive ways of recycling. The creative fun level is high. The playful care for our polluted world as well. Giving old gear, ready for the trash belt, a surprising second life: that is what it is all about. {news_summary}

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05. Daylight Revisited

by Diddo Velema on Apr 3rd 13:02

Recently Philips introduced the Daylight Concept Active Glass at their Simplicity event, here in New York. The unit transforms an entire wall into an interactive multi functional light screen. Although it will take at least 8 years before it hits the market it gives us a glimpse of what is coming. The interactive wall gives you total control on incoming light; for example, you can block out noise, change the lightning and even add foliage. {news_summary}

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06. Online event invitations services on the rise

by Josh Levine on Apr 3rd 12:55

Online event invitation services are booming worldwide, though the USA West Coast probably is in the lead. It is the Web 2.0 empowered way to get the right persons to your party or event. Fill in your details and wait for the invitations that come your way. Until shortly, Evite.2.0’s domination of online event invitations has gone largely unchallenged. Suddenly, however, we’re seeing invitations at least once a week coming through Going, and even more through Facebook. We’re sure there are others to come, but these seem to have taken an early lead. {news_summary}

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07. Knitting Net Grannies

by Cool Editorial Staff on Apr 3rd 12:49

Swiss grandmothers sell tailor made knitted socks via the Internet. You choose the granny, the pattern and voila: homemade socks. www.netgranny.ch: a wordwide hit! Originally by Joris de van der Schueren, best contribution 'Redevco Cool Retail Hunt' {news_summary}

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08. Souk el Tayeb, Beirut

by Enzo dal Verme on Apr 3rd 12:45

Kamal Mouzawak, young journalist from Beirut took the initiative to create the first famer's market in Lebanon - the tradition of middle eastern souks didn’t survive the long war. Above that: he did it going organic. Three days a week people can shop for all sorts of fruit and vegetables grown in a sustainable way. It is also possible to find there juices, jams and bread. Souk El Tayeb also helps farmers with bureaucracy. {news_summary}

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09. Nokia Experience Centers

by Joe Pine on Apr 3rd 12:42

Nokia has rolled out its own stores over that last year and a half, called Experience Centers. But there's a twist: the 25 Experience Centers around the country don't sell anything. Instead the Experience Centers serve as resources for current customers to learn more about the phones already in their pockets--about one-third of the world's buyers last year - and prospective customers to demo and scout before future purchases. {news_summary}

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10. Radical Transparancy

by Marian Salzman on Apr 3rd 12:39

In a wired world practically any (private) information one may want resides on a server somewhere. The quid pro quo of always-on connectivity is that any electronic communication can be monitored, and movement can be tracked through ISP nodes and cell phones. It may well be wise to operate on the assumption that no secret can ever be safe. The result is a growing acceptance of living life in the open— and in fact many are actively embracing this concept. As conspicuous consumption in the developed world decreases, conspicuous living is at an all time high, with people clamoring to show and tell all, no matter how personal. {news_summary}

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11. Brazilian Sneaker Freaks

by André do Val on Apr 3rd 12:35

The ultimate piece of Brazilian fashionistas is on the floor level. Showing that you know what's cool means now you need a vamped sneakers on you feet. Vynil, colorful prints, special collections signed by celebrities of fashion and music are the main icons of style. You can still keep a basic silhouette, cause the difference is when you look down. {news_summary}

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12. Artek 2nd Cycle

by Kees Elands on Apr 3rd 12:32

Artek, a high-end iconic Finnish manufacturer of furniture goes to flea markets and the internet to buy back its own vintage products from consumers. They fixed the products only when they were broken. A coded RFID tag is put at the bottom of the used product and then it is sold again as Second Cycle Artek. On the RFID tag the particular item's history is recorded, sometimes dating back to the 1930’s. New owners can check this information by mobile phone or internet. They can also upload their own stories. And become part of the story itself, forever. {news_summary}

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13. Eco-Dying

by Cool Editorial Staff on Apr 3rd 12:28

We have been seeing in recent months a drive towards a more eco-friendly death business with the advent of biodegradable coffins, eco-cementaries, green burials etc. Originally submitted by MaryLee Sachs{news_summary}

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14. WornAgain.co.uk

by Cool Editorial Staff on Apr 3rd 12:22

Wornagain.co.uk is a joint venture between Anti-Apathy and Terra Plana. They recycle a lot of totally cool gear and offer it for sale on the website. I really love the footwear, the ones made largely from bike tyres in particular. By John Grant{news_summary}

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15. The Rise of Mash-Up Culture

by Cool Editorial Staff on Apr 3rd 12:14

Probably it started on February 24, 2004 when DJ Dangermouse mixed the Beatles’ The White Album with Jay-Z’s The Black Album. The result, The Grey Album, was downloaded a million times in one day: Mash-Up Culture was Born. We simply love it when two (or more) different worlds get together in a creative, innovative smooth way. Be it in music. Be it in playful mash-up movies: Rocky Bilboa (Sylvester Stalone in Rocky 4) mashes op with Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep in the Devil Wears Prada, see on top of this page). Be it in the virtual social networks we love and are still separated from each other. Be it: wherever (fashion, food, home decoration.) By Joe Pine, Carolijn Domensino and Carl Rohde (ed.) {news_summary}