I Heart Newsprint

I was at the MomaStore a few weeks ago during their summer sale and spotted these blank notebooks which have cardboard covers and newsprint pages. Newsprint is one of my favorite materials to sketch and write on because it "feels like velvet." They are really simple and the cropped graphics on the cardboard covers add that little extra bit of love (like Freitag in book format). They run a little pricey (around $20) but I thought it might be a great idea to try myself one day.

Scraptacular Bots!

Resource reclamation broken down as simply as possible.... 1 box o' junk = 1 rad robot.

These creations from Guy Robot are great. Made from industrial parts reclaimed from a variety of depots like aerospace and automotive salvage yards, these bots are a creative re-envisioning of what would have otherwise been waste. The type of dedication needed to create these characters radiates throughout the website -- from the small bios accompanying each bot to small blurbs like the one below. I'd love them to come out with a kit for these bots so you can build your own.

"Please note: Guy Robots are not toys: they do not walk or talk or give legal advice. They are not dangerous and will not bite, kick, pinch, or emit ozone. Guy Robots will not -- unless repeatedly provoked -- harass your dog or cat. They are unique pieces of handcrafted art, meant to be enjoyed visually and displayed prominently. While requiring only minimal care and feeding, your Guy Robot is guaranteed to provoke discussion, spark new ideas, and generally contribute good vibrations to your life."

Originally spotted: Notcot.org

Coca-Cola can protect your home!

Is this great or ironic? You be the judge. This picture, taken in Mamallapurum (outside of Chennai) shows Coca-Cola bottles broken up and reused to add a bit of extra protection to the top of a concrete wall surrounding a house. Oh, how fine the line is between quintessential Americana and home intruder deterrent. In a sense, they (to borrow Coke's tag line) are really 'making every drop count.'

Luxury Brands + Social Responsibility?

This report, published by the WWF-UK on the role of luxury brands and social responsibility is an interesting look into how slow-moving this high-end market has been to catch up with the sustainability movement. There's a downloadable version of the report on the Deeper Luxury website that includes rankings of the various brands included in the study but also an argument for why this market segment should change its ways not merely because it would be the right thing to do (no one would listen to that) but because it would mean better business for them.

An element of this report which I think is great is the one concerning the role of celebrities in enforcing social responsibility. It's a point which I don't think has been stressed enough in our media/paparazzi/Britney crazed world. Celebrities are in a position to shift views and force change, so why aren't they doing it more often? Why are they still clad in diamonds, fur, and driving SUVs? Why do we (the public) let them get away with it? They could greatly benefit and implement positive change if they tried.