Monday, April 28, 2008

Live in a Beagle

Fancy looking at the world from a dog's perspective? Now you are able to at Dog Bark Park Inn Bed and Breakfast in Cottonwood, Idaho.Dog Bark Park Inn is a bed & breakfast guesthouse inside the World's Biggest Beagle. Guests enter the body of the beagle from a private 2nd story deck. Inside and up another level to the head of the dog is a loft room with additional sleeping space plus a cozy alcove in the muzzle.


For more information, click here.

Friday, April 25, 2008

City of Happiness


Felicity (n):
happiness: state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

“What if a city is built on a foundation of happiness?” This was the question that drove the FeliCity workshop project, which was conducted at the University of Edinburgh, by Paskal A., David Lee and Adib Jalal.

Instead of adopting usual city planning methods, the FeliCity project is based on the idea of developing a poly-centric urban region based on the Gross National Happiness concept. It proposes that the key strategy in developing an emotional landscape of the region of Belt 1 is to regulate the levels of happiness so as to maintain a state of ‘emotional equilibrium’ across it. This would enable each city in the belt to develop at its maximum potential with their high happiness indices.

The project proposes that the M8 be replaced by a new transport system, named Plutchik2, which other than being a mass rapid transit system is also a means to regulate the emotions of commuters from one city to another. Thus, through regulating and transferring the emotional energy of happiness from one city to another, this ideal state can be achieved.

For more information, click here.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

The Likely Unlikely

Familiarity is dependable but is, at times, over used these days. Shopping has become a predictable affair and little delights the senses.


Thankfully, at most Commes des Garcon Guerilla Stores, the visual and emotional experience becomes part of the whole consumerist exercise. Wood Wood Temporary Space at Commes des Garcon Guerilla Store in Poland is conceptualised in the veins of a Commes Guerilla store, but is quite unlike what one would expect of a boutique. Here, too, the design preys on the unsuspecting and derive pleasure in antithetical shock tactics. Brought to life by Karl-Oskar Olsen and Brain SS, this store's deliberate run-down feel incorporates raw, vintage-y elements and stacks of casually placed cardboard boxes that are used as shelves within it.

Comme des Garcons Guerrilla Store +4822 III ul. Koszykowa 1 00-564 Warszawa Poland

Where is Mas Selamat?

The answer to the unsettling question of the whereabouts of the infamous fugitive may just be found on widely posted banners and welcome signs. We think the obvious may be hard to spot at times.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Wasted Waisted

The past two seasons have seen the revival of these snug high-waisters hitting the stores. We don't deny that these high-waisted flares can be surprisingly flattering across the midriff and super-stylish with a chiffon blouse. With the casual, resorty look that most have adopted in this sunny state, some have been spotted looking rather ridiculous in it. Our verdict – unless done well with a hint of glamour, don't try it with a surf tee.

SUN BLEACHERS SKIN KILLERS

The next time you slap on that sun screen to protect yourself from the harmful UV rays, think twice. A new study has found that the chemicals commonly found in sunscreens - paraben, cinnamate, benzophenone, and a camphor derivative, is likely to kill our coral reefs. Learn more about our coral reefs and what you can do to help here.

Whilst parabens can mimic the hormone estrogen, which is known to play a role in the development of breast cancers, benzophenones, cinnamates and camphor derivatives are common causes of photocontact allergy.

Organic solutions like Dr Hauschka and The Organic Pharmacy may just be the answer to treat both our skin and the earth.

Dr Hauschka is available at Tangs Beauty Hall and The Organic Pharmacy is available at Bud Cosmetics.

Friday, April 18, 2008

LUNCH REALLY

Lunch dates can be tricky. It can go lukewarm to sizzling hot and when it shoots up to a hundred degrees, the back packers' inn looks tempting, minus the hostelites looking on.

A few intimate scoops for those times when lunch can squeeze in a quickie or two without compromising on creature comforts:

Naumi Hotel: A small luxury hotel located at Seah Street, a stone's throw away from good eateries. Perfect for those who can afford and wish to luxurate the afternoon away in champagne and a bubbly romp in bed.

Majestic Hotel: For those arts farts, themed rooms in historic Chinatown may just be the key to open the gates to fantasy land. What more with little bite sized dim sums to set the tone of the rendezvous.

Hotel 1929: Feeling a little seedy? Though the hotel and the decor speaks nothing of the brothel language, one cannot help but feel a little risque when walking down Keong Saik Road, a street known for red-light action. Food may not be even on your mind, given the delectable nibbles that you are fantasizing from your partner.

Who needs lunch actually?

Monday, April 7, 2008

Where is Manet?

Luncheon On The Grass – postproduction by code flow (DVD, 8’27’’; 2006)
Pan Yue (潘鉞): An Apology to Manet; a re-creation of The Luncheon on the Grass
Edouard Manet, Luncheon on the Grass (1862/63)

In our world where the copy is as original as the original is, we seek nothing more than simulated stimuli provided by variations of Edouard Manet's iconic painting, Luncheon on the Grass (1862). While some may deem the content of Manet's work as well as its varied interpretations as demeaning, others see its artistic content and composition as media to explore issues relating to reality, codes and the consciousness.

Manet may soon diminish into a flurry of represented works by other artists, and we may soon question the authenticity of the original Luncheon. While the excitement of multiple expressions tempers with issues of originality, they nonetheless satiates our cravings for new visual treats.

Who needs the original as the copy may soon be as well represented in its own context as the original itself? The original Katong Laksa anyone?


Kindness is Commodity


Free Hugs, London

There is something erotic about getting free hugs from strangers. The brushing of body against body, the liberation of expression, the trigger of endorphins... even for a brief, non-obligatory moment of encounter. We're able to get that for free  from volunteers on Orchard Road during the Singapore Kindness Week from 5 to 12 April. 

Started by Juan Mann as a simple yet holistic mission to brighten someone's day, this phenomenal campaign has spread all over the world, and now has reached  the tip of the east asian isles. Even in its guise as a kindness campaign, it still embodies the fetishisms of bodily encounters - the need for raw primitive touch and warmth.

Adulterated as it may sound, the Free Hugs Kindness Campaign is a start to cultivate good societal values. Perhaps, despite it being a camouflaged marketing plan for the nation, it does give us a little something that we may just need to drown the absurdities of the day – a nice hug.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

SIGG IT

The next time you want to purchase an innocent bottle of water, think twice. Not only does the plastic harm the environment, it can possibly harm your health.


PET or PETE plastic is one of the most common consumer plastic used to make packaging materials such as bottles and containers for packaging a wide range of food products and other consumer goods. Examples include soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, detergents, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products and edible oils. It is made from a plastic called polyethylene terephthalate, or “PET” for short. It is recyclable and reclaimed PET is used to make products such as fibres for carpets, fibrefill, apparel and geotextiles and possibly PET bottles.

Whilst PET bottles are recyclable to reduce the plastic pile up on our planet, according to the January 2006 Journal of Environmental Monitoring, some PET bottled-water containers were found to leach antimony, an elemental metal that is an eye, skin, and lung irritant at high doses. Also, because the plastic is porous, one may likely get a swill of harmful bacteria with reused PET plastic bottles.

So for those who are always on the go, SIGG, a Swiss reusable and recyclable aluminium bottle, has interesting designs to suit each individual. Bottled water has never looked better nor taste sweeter. Now where is that water cooler?

Available at Outdoor Life.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Supperclub's coming to town

Hip chain Supperclub is making its way to the heart of the city of Singapore in June this year. Taking over the second storey space from Mod Living at Odeon Towers, it will have a restaurant, bar and live DJs, just like its predecessors in Amsterdam, Rome and San Francisco. A tired concept? Yes, but it would [predictably *yawn*] be the trendiest hotspot in Singapore. Expect nothing less than the cool, arty crowd flouncing on their big white beds. 


www.supperclub.com

FARMPRENEURS

Everything is 'preneurized' these days - it all started with enterprising individuals looking to leave their nine to five jobs to become restauranteurs, technopreneurs, co-preneurs, eco-preneurs and even mom-preneurs.

It's not surprising that an urbanised city like Singapore has coined the term farmpreneur. Set amidst the backdrop of tall skyscrapers, Kranji Countryside aims to raise public awareness and appreciation for this nature-based-almost-forgotten asset of Singapore. Goats' milk, koi fish, dragon fruits and aeroponics lettuces are some of the unusual finds.

Bike enthusiasts may wish to sign up for countryside rides or take the group tours with any of the farmpreneurs. Those who wish to have a taste of farm fresh produce should not leave the countryside without trying out the cafes that are opened from 8.30am to 6pm.

WHEEL-A-KIDDO

In the name of going 'eco' friendly, some residents at the Punggol neighbourhood have taken to plastic caddys to do their daily shopping. What better way to wheel some fresh groceries and your kids to the market and back, whilst saving billions of plastic bags which are choking our planet. Plastics, not limiting to bags, ultimately cost both consumers and the environment plenty:
  • Each year billions of bags end up as ugly litter.
  • Eventually they break down into tiny toxic bits polluting our soil, river, lakes and oceans
  • Production requires vast amounts of oil.
  • Countless animals needlessly die each year
Fashionistas who wish to be true to the environment need not cramp their styles with granny plastic caddys.
For those who can afford it, Anya Hindmarch's "I'm not a plastic bag"
will be the 'it' bag to be toted at Jasons or the Gourmet Market.
Alternatively, the Envirosax bags found at the Dotted Line Shop will not break the bank and are equally chic for neighbourhood shopping.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Is it the haircut that makes Agyness Deyn?

Brit supermodel Agyness Deyn is everywhere. This andro chick has been touted the new Kate Moss , and her blonde tassels are making punk hip again. Does she represent the new age woman of today? Smart, androgynous, spirited, individualistic, confident and effortlessly stylish... We say the answer to the question lies with that good hairstylist.