VISIT TO BURGER KING

[click to enlarge]
A few days ago was the first time I set foot in a Burger King in years; I was impressed with what they are doing with their image. For example, the drink machines have diagrams of recipes for mixing fountain drinks (also known as "suicide sodas") and a suggestion list for softdrink and burger pairings.

I spent $5.00 on this sweet addition to my wallet - the BK Crown Card (it's a rechargeable Burger King gift card). It looks like a credit card, complete with embossed number and sparkly "King" hologram.

COVER ART

Cadwalader Ringgold's epic Flickr gallery of Science Fiction and Fantasy cover art.

CRACKER JACK TATTOOS

A few years ago I became obsessed with the Cracker Jack tattoos of my childhood. In the 70's and early 80's - back at a time when Cracker Jack prizes didn't suck like they do today - the small booklets of vegetable dye tattoos were perhaps the best prizes one could hope for. And among the tattoos, the skull and crossbones and the pirate ship were by far the coolest. Last year, unable to find any decent images of old Cracker Jack tattoos online, I broke down and bought several original packs of them from an online antiques dealer.
Last Summer I made an epic salute to my own childhood - I had REAL TATTOOS done of my two favorite Cracker Jack tattoos: the skull and crossbones and the pirate ship. The tattoo artist did a great job of matching the vegetable dye colors and offsetting the inks, just like the real thing.

And my contribution to any other potential lunatic interested in getting a tattoo of a Cracker Jack tattoo: here's the set of Cracker Jack tattoos I purchased last year (they are all in mirror image in the original booklets) [click to enlarge].

ELECTRIC BUTTERFLY

One of the highlights of the Tokyo Toy Show last July: the Electric Butterfly.

They can be preordered at the Japan Trend Shop (due in Nov 2010).

TRUCK FARM

Filmmakers Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis' documentary about a mobile farm in the back of a pickup truck, called "Truck Farm."

CARDBOARD MECHANICS

A "cardboard mechanics" installation by 4 students of the Utrecht School of Art and Technology.

GLOBE LAMPS

I'm totally saving up for one of these for my office (or nightstand) - Topsy Design has a nice collection of vintage globe lamps for sale: $95-$125.

BOOMBOX SKINS

A few years ago, photographer Lyle Owerko rocked my world with his gallery of oldschool boomboxes, called "The Boombox Project."

Lyle now offers a super-sweet-ass line of boombox photo skins for your iPad, iPod, laptop, iPhone and just about anything else you can imagine.

STEVE McQUEEN and the BAJA BOOT

[Bud Ekins and Steve McQueen in the "Baja Boot" - image from The Selvedge Yard]

The Selvedge Yard has a nice article (and photo gallery) that highlights one of the many reasons why Steve McQueen was a badass: he raced dune buggies.

Steve raced the GM V-8 450hp Hurst Baja Boot - one of only two ever made.

NEW FAVORITE SONG

My girlfriend and I have been singing this damn song for days now: CeeLo Green's "F**k You."
It is a contagiously catchy song and it is totally NSFW.

You can buy the mp3 at CeeLo Green's website.

ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

A couple of months ago, Time Out New York ran an article about gourmet ice cream sandwiches available at New York restaurants and diners.

Their free ice cream sandwich wallpaper is the perfect summertime wallpaper.

MIGHTY WALLETS

I recently bought this old leather wallet, except that it isn't an old leather wallet - it is a Dynomighty Mighty Wallet made of durable Tyvek® cloth, with the leather wallet image printed on it.

It. Is. Awesome.


I'd also like to get my hands on their Cup & Saucer diner menu print wallet, their Apollo moonlanding photo wallet, or their 101 composition book wallet.

PIU PIU!

(images from Yanko Design)

Designer Shira Nahon has created a line of redesigned (dangerous) traditional toys, called "Piu Piu!" - including the Rubber slingshot elastic [above left] and the elegantly simple OneShot rubber band gun [above right].

(via Yanko Design)

WHERE I WANT TO LIVE

(photo from TheHolidayGirl928)

TheHolidayGirl928 truly has the eye for awesome interior spaces. Her portfolio is inspiring - I want my house to look like her photos.

SECRET STASH

by Yiting Cheng.

MANDOM!

Mandom aftershave could be considered the Old Spice of Japan . . . except manlier.
Much manlier.
Mandom is so fucking manly that they had Charles Bronson do their ads in the 70's because no one else was manly enough.

Bronson spending way too much time alone with his manliness:

"Mandom: the choice of men with guts, he-men, men of action!"

P.S. - The theme song is "Lovers of the World" by Jerry Wallace.

BELL & ROSS 03-92 GREEN CERAMIC WATCH

(images via Perpetuelle)
With the khaki nylon strap and ceramic casing, the Bell & Ross 03-92 Military Green Ceramic watch is the Schwarzenegger of wristwatches (minimally, the Dolph Lundgren of wristwatches).
Given that I could never afford an original one, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for cheaper knock-offs.

(via Perpetuelle)

BONUS: a directory of replicas of watches from action films

POCKETKNIFE DESIGNED FOR WHITTLING

I like the idea of a pocketknife designed specifically for whittling: the Boker Whittler's Knife, for $73.00 at Garrett Wade.

CARDBOARD + R/C CAR = VIDEO GAME

Jemlich and Matthes Mikysec have created an analog version of Sony's racing game "Wipeout," utilizing a remote-controlled car, a wireless camera, a large cardboard track, and an old arcade cabinet.

more video
(via Designboom)

KICK-ASS CAMPING BOX

[click photos to enlarge]
A few weeks ago, my friend Dan and I built this kick-ass camping "chuck" box in his furniture and woodworking workshop. It comes complete with cigar box drawers, a good number of cup and lantern hooks, and this sweet paintjob (by yours truly). It is designed to fit perfectly in the back of my small car. Last weekend, the girlfriend and I took the box on its maiden voyage and it worked beautifully.

FIRECRACKER GALLERY

Mr. Firecracker has an epic collection of vintage firecracker labels on Flickr.

FLAMETHROWER vs ICE BLOWER

The video for "Ritalin" by Dancing Pigeons: Hillbilly flamethrower vs. redneck industrial fire extinguisher.

Directed by: Tomas Mankovsky
Produced by: Patrick Craig

BICYCLE SERIES 1800

(photo from Ellusionist.com)

The Bicycle Series 1800 playing cards (by Ellusionist.com) have this awesome vintage aged look, giving every card game an old timey cowboy feel.

LOVE THE NEISTAT BROTHERS (AND THEY LOVE YOU BACK)

Awesome bricolage filmmakers Casey and Van Neistat are reciprocating the love - let them know you dig them and they will send you one of their awesome custom T-shirts.


I decided to express my love in stencil. I so hope they send me a shirt:

BLACK CAT FIRECRACKER T-SHIRT

As I write this, I'm wearing this "Black Cat" firecrackers T-shirt (left image).
One of my favorite brands of firecrackers as a kid (right image).
Urban Outfitters: $17.99