Innovation

Pepsi EX Extra: All the Caffeine of Coffee in a Cool, Carbonated Can

by Steve Levenstein

Pepsi Japan's new workplace coffee alternative, Pepsi EX Extra, offers a hot coffee cup's worth of caffeine in a cool can of carbonated cola. As Pepsi puts it, “Enjoy the shot of cola with strong caffeine, for long working hours.”

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Mother Jones Airs Attack Ads Against "Game Of Thrones" Candidates (Videos)

Mother Jones Airs 21st Century Political Attack Ads For Game Of Thrones' Candidates (Videos)

by Ron Callari

For those addicted to the HBO hit series "Game of Thrones," could you imagine if those vying for the thrones of the Seven Kingdoms were competing with Barack Obama and Mitt Romney on today's political landscape. The Mother Jones news team postulates how today's dirty politics might be played out if Daenerys Targaryen, Jeffrey Baratheon and Robb Stark were added to the presidential race in contention for leader of the free world.

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China's “A Blue Work Shirt” is Mass Market Retro Fashion

by China.new

“A Blue Work Shirt” from OSPOP is an updated version of the no-nonsense, long-lasting tops that clothed Mao Zedong's China of the 1950s through 1970s. Proudly made in China but not just for Chinese anymore, A Blue Work Shirt salutes those who made the Great Leap Forward from shattered post-war China to today's economic powerhouse.

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British Airways Uses Social Media & UK Addresses For Olympics' #HomeAdvantage

British Airways Uses Social Media & Local Addresses To Build #HomeAdvantage For Olympics

by Ron Callari

In an ingenious TV commercial that we're sure Don Draper would have approved, British Airways is utilizing the distribution channels of Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to extend their rallying cry for a "Home Advantage" at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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Sleeping With a Smartphone: The iPhone 3-Piece Bedding Set

by China.new

Are you sleeping on the Jobs again? Ordering “Enter Sandman” for your ringtone? The iPhone 3-Piece Bedding Set from China satisfies all your phone-y hang-ups, though excessive tossing and turning could result in unintended 911 butt-dials.

Biodegradable Portable & Reusable Drink Bottles Sport Can Camouflage

by Steve Levenstein

Can those cans and battle the bottles! Japan's ongoing “eco” movement for environmental friendliness and sustainable living seems to have even influenced the appearance of plastic water bottles... these ones look like cans.

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Advantages of Having a Fully-Automated Home: Remote Security, Energy, and Home Management

by Gadgetry Inc

How many times have you left your home, only to come running through the front door to check if the alarm has been set or if all of your appliances have been unplugged? Unfortunately, it's part of being human to be forgetful. One solution? Fully automating your home.

Chinese DIY Tractor Truck Gets Electrical Poles Rolling One By One

by China.new

How do you get ridiculously long and massively heavy electrical poles to your construction site without hiring an expensive, purpose-built transport truck? If you're in China, DIY! Workmen in Wenzhou get their poles to the holes quickly, cheaply and one-at-a-time thanks to a little ingenuity and some very loose traffic regulations.

Blue Curry Adds Odd Color to Tokyo Cafe's Menu

by Steve Levenstein

On a diet and looking for a light meal? Try a light blue meal instead: Tokyo's Tea Room 2525 has brought back a turquoise temptation from last summer, disingenuously dubbed "Blue Curry Loss of Appetite". It's a great way to get the blues while losing weight.

'Happy Farm' Online Game Inspires Eco-friendly Pig Cottages

by China.new

A Chinese pig farm project inspired by the hugely popular online game “Happy Farm” has seen over 500 eco-friendly pig cottages spring up in the coastal province of Jiangsu. Though these swine are living fine, don't get jealous: their luxurious digs are intended to encourage tastier meat.

iPhone 5 Ice Pop Comes in Mango and Pear Flavors

by China.new

The iPhone 5 has been released in China... and it's delicious! Unless somebody from Apple Inc "calls out" the manufacturer on this frozen ice pop's provocative name, hungry Chinese will be chilling their choppers on iPhone 5 brand Mango and Pear flavored frozen fruit snacks all summer long.

Door Handle Cover Keeps Klutzy Kids From Kabob-in' Their Noggins

by Steve Levenstein

The puzzlingly named “Waffle Handle” stops evil doers, er, evil doors, from inflicting pain, injury and subdural hematoma's on your precious snowflake's pristine forehead. If you don't have them, shame on you: you're a bad parent who's bad and should feel bad.

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Siri Takes Lead From SNL's Self-Deprecating Humor Making Apple Butt Of Joke

by Ron Callari

Does anyone remember when iPhone prototypes were left behind in Silicon Valley bars only to be found by those looking to make a quick buck while providing the techie world with an advance sneak peak at Apple's latest iteration? In both cases, Apple execs were none too pleased and subsequent police investigations and threats of litigation were filed against Gizmodo and ex-Apple employees responsible.

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Kusa Flip Flops Have Grassy Soles, Never Need Watering

by Steve Levenstein

Keep ON the grass! With Kusa Flip-Flops, your lawn is underfoot whenever and wherever you walk. The shaggy Syn-Turf soled sandals let you relive one of summer's sweet simple pleasures: wriggling your toes in the cool green grass.

Japanese Face Slimmer Smooths Skin, Shrinks Face, Scares Everyone

by Steve Levenstein

Lose that Duckface and put on a Blow-up Doll face! The "Face Slimmer" may make you look silly (or worse) while you wear it but the promised reward of a bonafide “beautiful woman smile” make three minutes a day of shame more than worthwhile.

Tornado Beer Dispenser Puts a New Twist on Draft Beer

by Steve Levenstein

The Tornado Beer Dispenser from Japan's Asahi Beer invites toasting tipplers to go “Bottom's Up!”... literally. The dispenser injects draft beer into the base of a specially designed plastic mug, in the process creating a short-lived alcoholic vortex of epic proportions.

Pepsi Salty Watermelon is Pepsi Japan's New Sweet Seasonal Treat

by Steve Levenstein

Another season, another new & exciting Pepsi flavor! This time around the drink designers at Pepsi Japan have reached back to a traditional Japanese summertime treat, salted watermelon.

Is Buffy, The Mobile Slayer, Facebook's Ace In The Hole?

by Ron Callari

Being left behind on the mobile landscape has motivated countless bloggers and techie prognosticators to cyberventilate as to FB's future. Based on an 11th hour stock devaluation by the company themselves (see previous post, "Facebook's IPO Morality Tale…"), coupled with the claim the company can't survive in the public sphere relying solely on ad revenues, Zuck has ridden a roller-coaster of criticism in one week's time that has cast yet another shadow over the world's largest social network.

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Lettuce-like Vegetabrella Turns Rainy Days to Salad Days

by Steve Levenstein

The Vegetabrella from Japan's Tokyo Noble is as green and wrinkly as a fresh head of lettuce, and the resemblance grows even stronger when it's rolled up. Just be sure you leave the lettuce in the fridge and take the Vegetabrella along on stormy days or you'll end up as soggy as an un-spun salad.

Mt. Fuji Travel Tissue Case Blows Its Top When You Blow Your Nose

by Steve Levenstein

Sneeze the moment with a cute & clever Mt. Fuji Travel Tissue Case! The 100% cotton case designed by Tomohiro Ikegaya for Goodbymarket relies on users to provide the case's one moving part: the tissue paper poking out from Mt. Fuji's snow-capped summit.