Spray-On Condom

by Doug Black

While most technologies advanced by leaps and bounds in recent decades, condom design has been relatively static for the last century or so. One visionary German scientist is working to change that. Jan Vinzenz Krause has spent recent years trying to make the world's most common prophylactic available in spray-on form. The technology's draw, according to Krause (pictured), is that conventional condoms often don't fit penises of varying sizes (also pictured, sort of).

Unlike its depiction in popular media, it's not a generic spray can that men haphazardly shoot towards their crotch. In reality, it works like a miniature car wash, employing a penis chamber lined with jets that distribute liquid latex. The entire process takes 10 seconds, with another 20 to 25 required for drying. But couples who don't want to miss a second of "Two and a Half Men" will be happy to hear that the inventor is hard at work decreasing that time to 10 seconds.

Although Krause planned to release his product this year, he hit roadblocks earlier this month with the patent. Since condoms are considered medical products, the approval methods are far more rigorous. So it's possible that Krause's prototype will never see mass production, and the world will be denied what he expected to be "a revolution in the condom market."

Outdated: Polaroid Art Show

by Doug Black

It's official: the Polaroid picture will soon be a thing of the past. The news that by next year, the photo company will stop producing its iconic instant film in favor of a more lucrative digital field has left legions of longtime fans bereft. As a celebration of the endangered medium, the Country Club Chicago gallery will exhibit a comprehensive collection of Polaroid photographs.

Opening 15 August 2008, Outdated will show a series of personally submitted photos. Up until this Friday the 25th, anyone can submit their shots. The goal is to create a wide, extremely varied spectrum of images to show the versatility of the format. Somehow, they plan to include every single properly-submitted Polaroid. To find out more about the exhibition, and to find out how to submit last minute, go to the Outdated page. Or, if you want to undermine the relevance of the show by helping to rescue Polaroid from extinction, check out the Save Polaroid campaign.

Outdated: Polaroid Art Show
15-17 August 2008
Country Club Chicago
1100 North Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60622 map
Tel. +1 773 368 4045

Le Corbusier Le Grand

by Brian Fichtner

Reviewing Phaidon's latest tome, Le Corbusier Le Grand, is like being asked to review the Constitution. How do you take in something so all-encompassing, so sweeping in just a few sittings? And then, what do you say about it? Um, it's good?

First of all, it's fitting that a book devoted to the grandfather of modern architecture should weigh in at a jaw-dropping twenty pounds. The book is big enough to squash a small child, so forget about bedtime reading. Comprised of 624 pages, 2,000 illustrations (including a host of never before published personal documents), and measuring over 30 inches wide when open, Le Corbusier Le Grand requires its own viewing platform. Another coffee table book this is not.

Featuring an introductory essay by Jean-Louis Cohen, France's leading architectural historian, and ten chapters with introductions by Tim Benton, this book aims to be the final word on one of the most important architects in history.

While tempted to spend the month no doubt necessary to peruse the entire volume, I derived the most pleasure from scanning the archival photos of the architect himself. Not only is this book a record of Corbusier's building legacy, it also happens to be an exhaustive document of his impeccable sense of attire. Perhaps no where else will you find such fitting confluence of early 20th century architecture and fashion than this massive publication.

Purchase Le Corbusier Le Grand from Amazon, Powell's or, be a good locavore, and support any local retailer willing to stock it.

Birsel + Seck for Herman Miller: Teneo

by Doug Black

by Tamara Warren

The classic filing cabinet has the admirable function of safely storing documents, but leaves something to be desired when it comes to form. (Think square, metal, heavy and bulky.) Addressing the problem, Herman Miller wisely brought in designers Birsel + Seck to conceive their Teneo line. The storage system recently received the Best of Competition award at Neocon for Best of Filing and Storage, beating out 400 other entrants.

To achieve a new approach, the New York-based designers deconstructed the office space by analyzing the box. They developed a metaphor between the box and the human body. The box should have a skeleton, organs and skin, they asserted. Soft edges were essential, which they achieved using aluminum bent in four sections that are removable, lightweight pieces.

The eye-catching aspect of Teneo comes alive in bright hues and tactile surfaces. Design choices include vivid color contrasts, muted hues and modern metals. Metallic finish, sand texture and wood veneer options make office furniture selection akin to the interior design of a new luxury car. Each design is customizable to a business' needs, resulting in everything from a wall of furniture to simple storage system for the sole proprietor. Customers choose from variations on the equipment cabinet, open tower, credenza island and a pedestal with casters.

Recycling was a key mandate from Herman Miller. Teneo is 86-99% recyclable, because each piece can be separated and no glues or other adhesives are used. The warranty on the product is 12 years, a reasonable shelf life for office furniture.

Jaeger LeCoultre's Atmos 561 Clock by Marc Newson

by Watchismo

Suspended in a bubble block of Baccarat crystal and powered by temperature change, Jaeger LeCoultre's Atmos 561 mechanical clock is the work of Australian super-designer Marc Newson (known for designing the Ikepod watch and a million other sleek objects). Newson is reportedly a huge fan of the Atmos and approached the company to collaborate. The result is this eightieth anniversary Atmos.

Using small temperature changes in the encapsulated environment for power, Atmos clocks can run for years without human intervention. Their power source is a hermetically sealed capsule containing a mixture of gas and liquid ethyl chloride, which expands into a chamber as the temperature rises, compressing a spiral spring; with a fall in temperature the gas condenses and the spring slackens. This motion constantly winds the mainspring. A variation in temperature of only one degree in the range between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius is sufficient for two days of operation.

Side views via Jlc.watchprosite.com

Atlantic Yachting Association

by Tim Yu

by Kyle Small

Last week AYA (Atlantic Yachting Association) generously invited us out for an unforgettable four hour sail around Manhattan. Accompanied by Captain Miles and Alexander Pincus—both extremely friendly and knowledgeable about Manhattan and the water that surrounds it—the sail started on Manhattan's Upper West side as we traveled down the Hudson, breathtakingly close to Lady Liberty, past a few of Olafur Eliasson's waterfall installations and found ourselves parked front and center for a fireworks show.

We brought, food, drink and tunes for a little private sail that proved to be surprising, exciting, but most of all, refreshing—no pun intended. We tend to forget that we are surrounded by water being in the office sometimes, but getting out offers a new look at the city and skyline you can't get from any of the boroughs or bridges.

If you are thinking of getting offshore for a moment, now is the perfect time. It's summer, it's hot and these sails present a breezy and relaxing alternative to sitting in an air-conditioned building all day (it's several degrees cooler out on the water). And, believe it or not, the Hudson is at its least polluted state right now as currents pull in water from the Atlantic.

Another reason to go now are Eliasson's waterfall installations (also reminders of NYC's ignored geography) which will only be up until 13 October 2008. For those of you that don't know, in collaboration with the Public Art Fund, Eliasson built four man-made waterfalls around New York City. You can see them from various points around the city, but getting up close on the water is simply awesome.

If that's not enough, every so often in the summer, the city puts on a fireworks show that looks absolutely spectacular from the river. We were fortunate enough to be surprised by one of these showings.

While such an experience will cost you, the friendly people at AYA are offering Cool Hunting readers a discount. Just use the super secret password "Cool Hunting" to get 10% off any service provided by the Atlantic Yachting Association or $100 off the Waterfall charter, which can range from $799 to $899 (depending on when you schedule, weekend or during the week respectively). Undoubtedly popular for engagements and a no-brainer for team building and parties, more info is available at AYA. They also offer sailing classes for both adults and kids along with a summer camp. We highly recommend you check it out, I for one can't wait to get back out there.