Jersey Shore Gets the Academic Conference Treatment
I have always called Jersey Shore the most important sociological experiment of our time, and it seems one intrepid University of Chicago student agrees with me because he's not only stolen my tag line, but is trying to organize an academic conference around the reality show. This is a brilliant idea.
We Could Have Used a Floating Pool in the East River This Summer
Dumpster pools? Yesterday's news. The latest innovation in the field of urban swimmin' holes is + Pool, a floating pool design we've become obsessed with in the five minutes since we discovered it.
Seven-Story Aquarium Is a Necessary Addition to Times Square
Because the place doesn't have enough stuff yet: A Toronto-based developer has made a tentative deal to build a $100 million, seven-story aquarium at the bottom of 11 Times Square complete with "sharks, rays, penguins, otters, and other animals." [WSJ]
Commie Reds Write Shoddy Heds. Body Bags and Hotties' Beds!
It was inevitable that someone smarter than us would go ahead and open up a journalism school that teaches kids how to write for tabloids. But the Russians? We're ashamed of ourselves.
The Polite Umbrella
Don't you just hate it when you're walking down the street and someone's umbrella pokes you in the eye? "JooYoun Paek has devised a brilliantly simple solution to this issue. With the pull of a cord attached to the handle, her Polite Umbrella shrinks and morphs its shape to reduce occupied space, and help users…
Balloon Graffiti Can End Vandalism Forever
There's a street artist in NYC by the name of D. Billy, and I sincerely hope he is being subsidized by the NYPD, because he has come up with a way to rid our streets of "unsightly" graffiti. By doing it with balloons! Just imagine how much time the sanitation department could save—just send out one guy with a needle,…
Vice President Bobby Digital!
Rocker/blogger Carrie Brownstein on the Vice Presidential selection process: "And once we determine the results, that McCain is, um, Liz Phair and therefore his running mate should be.....RZA, then all we have to do is decide what politician out there is most like RZA. After that we let John McCain's people know." Go…
Ad Decapitator Stalks London
Call it what you will—street art, culture jamming, or protest. I'll call it some guy who's been going around London and graphically hacking the heads off of models in all types of ads. With fantastic attention to detail. Pictured: Carrie Bradshaw, improved. You know all the cool kid brands are just dying of…
NY Sun Editorial Board Connects Two Unrelated News Items And Prays For The Best
The New York Sun, the little neocon paper we glance at so you don't have to, has a provocative question: what if Absolut, instead of making ads about Mexico taking over America, made an ad about TIBET? It's as if Matt Sanchez has surreptitiously landed a job on the Sun's editorial board, a scenario which is quite…
Ads During Phone Sex: Only A Joke For Now
Here is what we are almost positive is a ridiculous jokey parody of an ad agency that's been floating around the web, although you never know in these crazy times of foam-filled Miami streets and hypnotizing games for children. The brilliant idea—which will surely become reality in only a matter of time—is political…
But We Can Dream
Iran is going to shut off the Internet for the duration of the upcoming election. Unfortunately this only applies to the Iranian election, and only if you live in Iran. [IHT]
Brazilians Put Coke On Their Tongues
In Brazil, they do things a little differently. There, it makes perfect sense that Coke Zero is promoting itself by paying for free tongue piercings for anyone willing to be photographed with a Coke Zero-branded tongue stud [Adrants]. It's strategic, you see—Brazilian strategic. Any presumption on your part that…

