Cool Hunting
| 06 September 2007view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Japanese Scarecrows
by Ami Kealoha
The Land of the Rising Sun is famous for its food and technology, but certainly not its scarecrows. That may change. Route 280 Bypass in Aomori Prefecture is quickly becoming the country's scarecrow hub with creations like scandalized sumo wrestler Asashoryu playing soccer (pictured). Every September, local folks take part in the Kakashi Road 280 ("kakashi" is Japanese for scarecrow). The event was designed to kick start the local economy and welcome a new bullet train station. So far, they've got 60 kakashi. The goal? To double that and create 150 scarecrows to line 15-kilometer of the road. Now that's scary!
Other areas in Japan also hold September scarecrow events as well. Go here for pics from Tokyo suburb Machida City's Kakashi Festival.
by Brian Ashcraft
Idiom: Fall/Winter 07
by Tim Yu
Idiom, Burton's small Japanese house label, are back with some new styles and upgrades for the upcoming Fall and Winter. All of the jackets are simple with the attention to detail we've come to expect including taped seams, pit zips, waterproof zippers and handwarmer pockets, to name a few.
Favorites include the 2.5 Slant Zip Jacket (above left), a new style featuring a great tartan print and a slanted zip adding to the futuristic look. Well cut, it features fully taped seams and laser-cut, welded zipper details. It also comes with an Idiom stuff sack for on-the-go situations. The Continuum Down Jacket (above right) is a slimmed down puffy jacket that keeps you just as warm as the bloated alternatives. The laminated fabric keeps the insulation evenly distributed throughout and a removable stretch waist gaiter keeps drafts and snow out. The satin-like red colorway, inspired by Japanese silk fabrics, is our favorite.
As always all Idiom gear is available in limited quantities. Check out other styles and purchase at The Glade.
Bobster Interchangable Lens Eyewear
by Jacob Resneck
I discovered Bobster sunglasses in a small Army/Navy surplus store in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. After a bit of investigating, I found out that this California-based company has been cranking out quality eyewear for some time. The selling point is that each pair has interchangable lenses for different lighting conditions; detachable straps converting them into goggles and ridiculously low prices. A pair can cost as little as $30.
While they're not the most stylish out there, the bugeyed glasses' selling point is their versatility. They're ideal for winter sports, motorbiking or any active outdoor activity in virtually any weather condition. It doesn't hurt that they have extra features such as anti-fog coating, memory foam goggles and pass ANSI quality and safety testing which makes them approved for police officers, lab workers and the like. I'm waiting for my pair to wear out or break so I can upgrade to a different style but their sturdiness makes it unlikely that they'll fail me anytime soon.
Stephen Earl Rogers
by Lost At E Minor
Stephen Earl Rogers is a young British artist who's becoming well known for his portraiture and realism. He has a unique way of capturing a person's character by depicting the emotional presence of the figure.
Technically stunning, his works have just the right level of realism without trying to be photographic. He's exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London, amongst other major galleries and locales internationally.
More info on the artist and other works here.
Apple x Starbucks: Local Content and Services
by Josh Rubin
More exciting than the new iPods and less frustrating than the iPhone price reduction was the partnership Apple and Starbucks announced yesterday. Buying Starbucks brand music from my iPod / iPhone while waiting for a Cappuccino is nice, but what's inspiring is how the device becomes integrated with the experience in that moment—I want to know what song is playing in the shop so I just look at the iTunes WiFi Music Store and see what it is.
Hopefully this is the beginning of a new wave of location specific functionality that iPhones and iPods gain to take advantage of the WiFi networks they join. Why not order a coffee from a menu on the device? Or buy movie tickets when you get close to the theater? Or change the song on the jukebox in a bar? Or leave digital graffiti in a public space?
