video :: it's whats for dinner tonight

Western Spaghetti

art :: extraordinary pencils

Remember that one geeky kid in Elementary School who would sit in the back of the class and carve pencils? He carved them in all sorts of configurations, designs and extraordinary shapes.
Starting from a lowly, generic green pencil like this...

he would end up with these...

Actually I never knew such a kid and besides who would ever get it into their head to carve a pencil?

These photos are from a 1990’s Japanese exhibition titled “The JAD Project” and the intricate pencil carvings were created by Mizuta Tasogara and Kato Jado. They won the Planning Prize in the 11th ‘Hands Taisho’ contest. read more here >>>

Pencil carving - it's JUST COOL

weird :: body modification = three arms + elf ears

What's wrong with this picture?

I guess I am way off topic here but I've been haunted by this (shall I say disgusting) body modification topic for a week now after "stumbling" upon these two twins who

1. cut off one's arm to add to the other's body, hense one had three arms and the other had one
2. cut off one's finger to add to the other's finger giving him a 5 jointed finger and his brother a four fingered hand. (are you confused yet hehe)

I was totally disturbed by it and actually lost sleep over it. Dreadful visions danced in my head of my pierced and tattoo loving daughter (that I haven't seen in months) in some seedy dive, laying on a table having her wrists (or whatever) being cut off and transplanted with Akita dog paws. I called her daily to make sure it wasn't so. Most of the time she didn't answer. Now finally after a week, I'm over it and not "traumatized" by such thoughts or that disgusting website. I realize my mind was over-reacting.

Then, as fate would have it...this morning I stumbled upon another eery subject over at Palmer Cash's Blog . Elf ears...


"... Yes, elf ears. This is a procedure that is for those rare types who feel dressing up in flowing robes and speaking in a completely fake but completely developed Elvin language for “Lord of the Rings” marathons is not enough..."

You can have someone slice the top of the cartilage on your ear and then sew it back together into a sweet pointy, efish tip and become a forever elf.

Sorry people, but all of this body modification garbage is just that - GARBAGE. Can't we be content with what nature gave us?

I guess there's no getting away from it though - there are crazy people out there who enjoy maming their bodies. But still, to me it is not JUST COOL.

BTW, the story of the twins turned out to be an April Fools Joke - very well done though!
You can read the story here >>>>

Blick Art Materials

art :: the art of aging - age maps

How cool are these photos? What Bobby Neel Adams terms as "photo surgery" is his photomontage technique that explores the human aging process. One side of the photo is youth - the other is maturity. Both blend almost seamlessly into each other.

See more AgeMaps and more of the artists work here >>>

Fascinating! and JUST COOL...

science :: baby making experiment

Just for kicks I decided to make a few babies today. Over at MakeMeBabies.com you can upload pictures of yourself and your mate, your friend or fantasy. You can even hook up with such celebrity hotties as Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt,Marilyn Manson, Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie, etc etc and through the magic of morphism it creates a photo of your future child.

I played around with a few combinations, but still wasn't convinced by the generic results. So....I decided to experiment. This time I tried two dogs, a Westie and a Boston Terrier . To my horrific surprise this is what makemebabies came up with. Their offspring - a human child! Meet Bostie, the canine couples new baby girl.

Although it isn't very accurate, I guess it's still JUST COOL! And fun.

try it here >>>

cool product :: legal moonshine

You may find the idea of bottling sunshine in a jar preposterous. But heck, no! It's possible with this nifty invention called the Moon Jar by Tobias Wong . All it is is a mason jar, one with frosted glass that disguises a solar panel and LED light source inside. Just set it on your windowsill and it soaks up the rays from the sun, providing a calming blue-toned light for the evening. Its functional versatility works great on the patio, in the garden or even on your windowsill as a night light. Hmmm ... you could even take it camping!

There's also a golden glowing Sun Jar which is identical to the Moon Jar except it uses a warm colored LED light to give a more natural and warm light.

All this glowing goodness is eco friendly, too. Yeah, no electricity needed!

Both are available at ThinkGeek for only $34

Bright idea - It's JUST COOL!

art :: block heads,dogs and calendars

I'm in love with these whimsical blocks made by Pocket Full of Prettys. Texas Artist Renee Hipp combines wood blocks and decoupage to make fascinating blocky decor that looks old but is really new. Her perpetual calendar is VERY clever - decorative and functional at the same time. And her children and dog blocks I find utterly charming too!

See more pics after the jump and visit Renea's etsy shop here >>>

Who'd ever think blocks wood be JUST COOL!

architecture :: the incredible view factor

Awww... what a view! It's true, whether it's your own residence or where you travel to, the view factor can be a major consideration. These fabulous spots rate number one on my "I like" list - as do they on Architectural Digest's.
Here's a sampling of AD's twelve featured spots with awe inspiring views. More photos after the jump.

A house in where else but La Jolla, California

on the island of Mahe, Maia Luxury Resort and Spa

a hotel located in the Golden Triangle, the point where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet

a house in Big Sur, California

A Manhattan High Rise

Can't get enough of these spectacular views or the homes built around them? Then check out Architectural Digest Online to see more JUST COOL homes and destinations.

Architectural Digest For all the best and most luxurious in architecture and interior design, Architectural Digest Magazine is your premier publication! You'll be invited into the homes of the rich and famous that have been decorated by the world's most talented designers. Articles naturally include the latest on antique and modern furniture and art, but you'll also learn what's chic in home electronics, gardens, and travel spots. Architectural Digest Magazine is a must-purchase for those with discriminating tastes!

pets :: queenie in trouble!

I love these old dog films! MGM released all 10 of the Dogville shorts between 1929 and 1931.They were directed by Zion Myers, who also worked with The Little Rascals.

fun :: build a weird camera

Whoever heard of World Pinhole Camera Day? Not me. (But yes there is infact a WPPD . )

Anyway if your bored and looking for something geeky + crafty to do, go on over to corbis.readymech.com and download, print and build your own pinhole camera.
Readymech also has a few other cool printable flatpack crafts for the kiddies to do, if you want them out of your hair for awhile ;)

So check it out - this stuff is JUST COOL!

architecture :: house with a view

What a view! What a house! Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands off the north west coast of Africa, is home to this house, a stunning architectural feat built in timber, glass and concrete, and designed by Corona y P. Amaral Arquitectos. The Jardin Del Sol House was built into the cliffs 300m above a black sand beach...

more pics at the cool hunter and arch daily

this house is JUST COOL