BOOZE IS IN THE LONDON AIR

In London, gin and tonic drinks are in the air, literally. At Alcoholic Architecture, a "walk-in cocktail," the alcohol is vaporized using an ultrasonic humidifier system (very unlike the one you have in your bedroom during winters) and pumped through the bar so patrons can drink without taking a sip. For $7, (the cost of ONE drinkable g/t in a decent bar) you too can enjoy a gin and tonic courtesy of Sam Bompas and Harry Parr, although I'm guessing the gin won't be anything as delicious as Hendrick's. No idea how much vapor you must breathe to get the most out of your night, or how the protective plastic suits will cramp your steez, but I'm sure you'll leave smelling like a complete drunk. Goodtimes are limited, the bar is temporary and closes shop at the end of the month.

BOTTLED WATER SALES DOWN, AMERICA PARCHED.

NPR reported this morning that bottled water sales are down for the first time in years. It's not a big loss mind you, Americans bought 11 billion in 2008, but the 1% decline last year is in stark contrast to the growth in water sales over the last decade. It is because of this recent downturn that people are wondering if the new numbers are simply a sign of tough economic times or the product of environmental concerns. Regardless of the ratio, there seems to be some effect from the environmental backlash against the production of plastic bottled water. While it's true that Europe still constitutes are large portion of the water industry, they don't have reliable water from their taps. In the U.S., we've adopted this European "water culture" even though we have great tasting water in most areas of our country. What's more, a recent test at the University of Hartford concluded that Americans (in Hartford anyway) can't tell the difference between tap water and bottled water, including even "high end" bottled waters. Of course the true test will be to see what happens to b.w. sales after the recession, but so far the numbers look promising. (via NPR)

NEW MATH= WASTED TIME + LAUGHS

Craig Damrauer creates simple math equations for life that are surprisingly accurate. His site New Math is worth dozens of looks and laughs. Kiss productivity goodbye. (via It's Nice That)

TWEENBOTS.. THE POWER OF ROBOTS TO SHOWCASE HUMANITY.

This is pretty unbelievable. In New York City, a town known for its crude, apathetic citizenry, small robots called Tweenbots find their way in the city's parks and streets relying only on help from New Yorkers. Considering all the troubles that face the world today, this was a much needed reminder that there are good people out there (though redirecting robots really only makes you marginally good). Kacie Kinzer, who runs this art/social experiment, explains: "Tweenbots are human-dependent robots that navigate the city with the help of pedestrians they encounter. Rolling at a constant speed, in a straight line, Tweenbots have a destination displayed on a flag, and rely on people they meet to read this flag and to aim them in the right direction to reach their goal." (via It's Nice That)

THIS IS WHY YOU'RE FAT

This Is Why You're Fat is a compilation of the most delicious and yet, disgusting meal choices known to man (or Americans anyway). While this doesn't explain why I'm fat (or slightly overweight), it's clear that if you eat anything pictured on this site, weight gain is probably the least of your worries. Bon appetit.

LUKE MORGAN HANGS HIS SKULL

Luke Morgan created this massive, 6 by 4 foot skull installation for the office of a British property developer, Cathedral. The combination of the imagery in the skull and the office location (an old church in London) creates a fascinatingly creepy atmosphere when you enter the building. The steel structure contains dozens of detailed surgical instruments and religious symbols welded together to form the skull shape. (via Dezeen)

BEATLES CATALOG DIGITALLY REMASTERED FOR 9/9/09

While it's doubtful that I'm the one breaking this news to you, after 4 years of work, Apple Corp. is indeed releasing two digitally remastered sets of the ENTIRE Beatles catalog. The sets (one in stereo, the other in mono/collector's style) will include all 12 Beatles Albums in various formats on 16 discs (not including the mono set) with original album art and documentary DVD. This coincides with the release of the Beatles Rock Band game that I will not say a word about, but will enjoy playing. The chosen date is a well-deserved nod to the song Revolution 9 (you know.. number nine, number nine, number nine, etc) although no one else seems to mention this in their posts on the subject (not that it's some secret, obviously). No word yet on the digital download release of this collection, but we all know it'll be well after 9/9. I won't steal thunder, so here's the press release:

Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music are delighted to announce the release of the original Beatles catalogue, which has been digitally re-mastered for the first time, for worldwide CD release on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (9-9-09), the same date as the release of the widely anticipated "The Beatles: Rock Band" video game. Each of the CDs is packaged with replicated original UK album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. On the same date, two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released.

The albums have been re-mastered by a dedicated team of engineers at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London over a four year period utilising state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result of this painstaking process is the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release.

The collection comprises all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, with track listings and artwork as originally released in the UK, and 'Magical Mystery Tour,' which became part of The Beatles' core catalogue when the CDs were first released in 1987. In addition, the collections 'Past Masters Vol. I and II' are now combined as one title, for a total of 14 titles over 16 discs. This will mark the first time that the first four Beatles albums will be available in stereo in their entirety on compact disc. These 14 albums, along with a DVD collection of the documentaries, will also be available for purchase together in a stereo boxed set.

Within each CD's new packaging, booklets include detailed historical notes along with informative recording notes. With the exception of the 'Past Masters' set, newly produced mini-documentaries on the making of each album, directed by Bob Smeaton, are included as QuickTime files on each album. The documentaries contain archival footage, rare photographs and never-before-heard studio chat from The Beatles, offering a unique and very personal insight into the studio atmosphere.

A second boxed set has been created with the collector in mind. 'The Beatles in Mono' gathers together, in one place, all of the Beatles recordings that were mixed for a mono release. It will contain 10 of the albums with their original mono mixes, plus two further discs of mono masters (covering similar ground to the stereo tracks on 'Past Masters'). As an added bonus, the mono "Help!" and "Rubber Soul" discs also include the original 1965 stereo mixes, which have not been previously released on CD. These albums will be packaged in mini-vinyl CD replicas of the original sleeves with all original inserts and label designs retained.

(info and photos via Apple Corp. Ltd)

KEITH HARING COLLECTION MUSEUM and skate spot

The Japanese pretty much own architecture (and fashion too). With a limited amount of space on the islands of Japan, their designers use innovative lines and materials to create functional structures.. to skate. Atsushi Kitagawara (one of Japan's most celebrated architects) designed the fantastic Nakamura Keith Haring Collection Art Museum in 2007 (pictured top left), but as spring dries up the streets of New Hampshire in 09', all I can think is what an amazing skate spot it would be. Mr. Haring is still one of my favorite artists and I can't help but think he would have fully supported a session at his musuem. The rest of the buildings in Wallpaper's feature on Japanese architecture is worth at least few looks. (via Wallpaper)

MATT & KIM/BEASTIE BOYS MASH- GOOD OL' FASHION RUMP SHAKER

Mash-up artists The Hood Internet have come correct with a Matt & Kim/Beastie Boys track called Good Ol' Fashioned Rump Shaker (download). Hear this. (via I Guess I'm Floating)

JOLYON YATES "ODE" CHAIR SERIES

Jolyon Yates' collection of chairs, aptly titled ODE, is an homage to those who have influenced his craft including his friends, family, mother nature and probably several mid-century modern furniture designers. These two shining examples from the series (the Breeze or Savannah rocker at top left and the Ocean rocker at bottom right) are hand-crafted from birch veneer and actually look quite comfortable, a quality sometimes lacking Yates' predecessors' works. It's about time rocking chairs got their due in proper. (via SwipeLife)

<