If It's Hip, It's Here (Archives)

Fly Underwater With Subwing: A New Carbon Fiber Watersport Product From Norway.

Subwing is a new water sport product invented in the summer of 2010 by Simon Sivertsen. It allows you to fly through the water, much like a dolphin. The Carbon Fiber 'wings' allow you to glide, turn and twist as much as you'd like at the water's surface or ocean's bottom, while being pulled by a boat.

Simon and his team have worked to perfect the Subwing’s performance, feeling, and design - and with multiple patents pending, have finally launched the product.

The Inspiration:
It all started when Simon went on a trip in the Mediterranean sea with his family’s sailboat. Some driftwood came floating by and gave Simon an idea. With a pen and paper, he started to flirt with the idea of attaching rope to the driftwood, imagining that being pulled through the water from behind the boat might be fun.

The next time they went ashore, Simon searched for some appropriate driftwood and collected the best pieces. Once home, he tried the new invention. The idea was OK, but something was missing.

He began to think about how it could be done better. At a shopping center in Italy, he bought two cutting boards, a garden hose and a couple of Gardena-links. This inspired the idea of hanging two wings together, which gave completely different control.

To develop the underwater wing he called 'Subwing', he took time off from the university for one year. At home in Kristiansand, he tested the product in the winter ice-cold seawater.

For awhile he had to tape his wet-suit hood with duct tape so that he could test the new prototypes. He got right down to designing and drawing a new shape for the wings, and started looking for more appropriate materials. After a year of working with design and finding the right materials, the wings have been perfected.

Simon is now ready to share his invention with the world. And hopes people will have as much fun and enjoyment as he and his friends get from it.

The Subwing gives you the opportunity to explore the sea in a way as never before, choosing your own pace and gliding directly above the ocean sand floor. You can do thrilling twists and turns, or simply cruise along the surface.

The movement of the SUBWING can be easily controlled by tilting the wings in different directions. You can easily achieve dives (up and down), sideways movement or spins.

The Subwing is attached to a boat with a recommended rope length of about 15 meters. The speed of the boat should be about 2 knots. If you use a longer rope, it's easier to achieve deeper dives.

The only additional equipment needed is a diving mask. If desired, snorkel and fins can be used, but this is not necessary.

If you want to equalize the pressure in your ears, the rear triangle rubber grip is designed for controlling the SUBWING by one hand. Note that reasonable amount experience with the SUBWING is needed before attempting to use the triangle grip.

Subwing is produced with high quality materials to achieve the right stiffness in combination with a lightweight and durable structure. It is constructed of carbon fiber, using advanced and innovative production methods.

SUBWING is designed for underwater sports activity and is patent-pending.

• The Center swivel is made of a combination of rubber and stainless steel.
• The ropes that is attached to Subwing is made of Dyneema fibers, considered the world’s strongest fiber used in ropes.
• The ropes are permanently glued into the stainless steel fastenings in the wings with waterproof epoxy.

above: Graphics on the Subwing are as shown in the above picture.

Subwing consists of the following parts:
- Two carbon fiber wings with rubber pads for perfect grip.
- One detachable center swivel.
- One attached rear rubber triangle.
- Ropes attached to the wings. (You still need a rope to the boat)

Note:
NEVER use any type of compressed air when diving with SUBWING.
Always read the manual before use.
The wings are handmade and there may be slight cosmetic differences for each wing.

Subwing
$795.00: Carbon Glossy
$795.00: Carbon Matt

Extra
$40.00: Subwing Rope
$20.00: Subwing USB

Subwing AS
Holskogveien 48
4624 Kristiansand
Norway

Fresh Guacamole, The Follow Up to Spaghetti Western by Adam Pesapane, aka PES.

The latest stop-motion short, Fresh Guacamole, by Adam Pesapane, the artist known as PES, is a feast for the eyes. The follow-up to his Spaghetti Western is a claymation stop motion film in which he crafts homemade guacomole from random household objects, everchanging during the preparation.

If you never saw his most famous stop motion video, Spaghetti Western, which won several awards including *2009 Sundance Film Festival Winner, *TIME Magazine voted #2 Viral Video of the Year and the *2009 Audience Award, Annecy Animation Festival, watch it below:

PES is one person, not a film collective or a production company.

"Clicking on a PES film is to open a safe and suddenly see a million ideas glittering and exploding," says Director Michel Gondry. "The only reason you close the door is to re-open it just after and discover what will pop this time." - Paste Magazine

PES Channel on YouTube

New Kansas Whiskey Targets Hipsters With A Non-Redneck / Anti-Geezer Approach.

above image composited by Laura Sweet

If you thought that whiskey drinkers don overalls, sit on the front porch and whittle or wear flannel driving caps and roam the moors, Kansas Clean Distilled Whiskey is attempting to dispel those images with the launch of their new "Spirit Whiskey."

With marketing materials designed for the trendy hipster and a bottle design that sports Aviano Sans Bold as their logotype, they are consciously branding themselves as the new young, modern alternative to old style labels, bottles and traditional Irish, American and Scottish whiskeys.

Fabulous American Beverages (yes, that's FAB), the company behind Kansas Clean Distilled Whiskey, was founded in 2009 by Paul Goldman - a TV commercial director who is an ex Deutsch Creative Director and TBWA copywriter. Goldman's mission was to create whiskey that would appeal equally to men and women who typically enjoy vodka--a new whiskey for the new whiskey drinker. The result is Kansas Clean Distilled Spirit Whiskey, a clean, crisp whiskey that breaks new ground in the whiskey category, both in the way it's created and in its startling approachability.

In the company's words "Kansas is a new whiskey for new whiskey drinkers. It's clean distilled to be light with a crisp finish, so it's incredibly easy to enjoy. It is the only whiskey in existence that appeals in style and taste to women who would otherwise order vodka. And to men who wish to order something far more interesting than vodka with all the attitude of whiskey."

Their Mission is stated as "Taking whiskey out of some cold, wet and damp peat bog and putting it into a hot, wet and damp dance club."

In his rebuttal comment to a negative review of the whiskey on DrinkSpirits, Paul Goldman writes:

"Indeed our marketing makes fun of the stodginess of the entire category of other whiskies (sic). It should. Apart from a recent surge in Irish whiskey, (the result of a considerable spend), Whiskey is flat in sales and has been for 40 years. This has nothing to do with the delicious varieties of available whiskies (sic) and everything to do with their marketing people tripping behind their brands. Its not the liquid’s fault that we see whiskey associated with old things, old labels old style bottles –which keeps the audience for whiskey firmly planted in middle aged men. "

The press release:
Fabulous American Beverages, a new, independent beverage alcohol supplier, today announced the launch of its first brand, Kansas Spirit Whiskey.

Goldman, who has a background in marketing and advertising says: “I was in London at a bar with my wife. She ordered a vodka drink and I suggested she be more daring and order a whiskey. She replied that whiskey was for old men and it wasn’t cool. That was my call to action.”

Kansas Clean Distilled Spirit Whiskey begins with winter wheat which provides a softer alternative to the corn used in most American whiskey. And, unlike many whiskies (sic), Kansas is column distilled rather than pot distilled resulting in a spirit of flawlessly smooth character. The process is completed when this remarkably fresh spirit is married to premium aged whiskey.

Kansas Spirit Whiskey is new category of whiskey in taste as well--a bit of personality, yet enticingly clean and approachable. Goldman adds, “I wanted to get whiskey out of the middle-aged living room and onto the beach and into clubs, which is why Kansas is equally terrific on the rocks and in cocktails—and on any thumping dance floor.”

Kansas Spirit Whiskey launched last September in Kansas and Missouri with Glazer’s as the wholesaler in both markets. Savvy Drinks provides Fabulous American Beverages with brand management, marketing and public relations services. “We have a spectacularly experienced team in place and we’re excited to be with one of the foremost distributors in the country in our very first markets,” said Goldman. Kansas Spirit Whiskey will roll out in select markets over the next 12 months.

"I wanted to get whiskey out of the middle-aged living room and onto the beach and into clubs, which is why Kansas is equally terrific on the rocks and in cocktails—and on any thumping dance floor." - Paul Goldman

The ingredients:

The whiskey begins with amber winter wheat. Unlike most whiskeys made from heavy grains like corn, barley or rye, wheat provides a lightness that gives Kansas its crisp, soft palate.

The distillation process:

They employ a column still. It’s the very same distillation process used in creating the world’s finest vodkas. They then marry this pure, clean distillate to their select, artisanal whiskey.

So, how does it taste? Most well-known liquor blog reviews (Drinkhacker, DrinkSpirits and cocktails365) claim the beverage tastes like a vanilla flavored vodka with a whiskey finish. And I simply must mention Dan Dunn's hilarious post on the drink for Food Republic.

all images courtesy of Kansas Clean Distilled Whiskey, Savvy drinks and Fabulous American Beverages.

But as with all things I write about, I suggest you try it and decide for yourself.

Kansas Clean Distilled Whiskey

Container Homes That Open In 90 Seconds. Push Button Houses by Adam Kalkin.

Architect Adam Kalkin's Push Button homes are fascinating. A shipping container that unfolds with the push of a button in 90 seconds to reveal a living space complete with a bedroom, a bathroom, kitchenette, and living area.

This art installation, Causa-Efecto, at The Mustang Gallery in Alicante, Spain by artist Ana Soler suspends 2000 tennis balls in action. It's been all over the internet, so you may have already seen it at Fubiz or Psfk, but in case you haven't, here's a good look at the installation.

This original post has been updated to include new products as of March 2012.

When it comes to unusual furniture, my post about Judson Beaumont's cartoon styled furniture for kids always gets a lot of attention. But he's not the only one making whimsical furniture for children's rooms.

Introducing a company actually named "Cartoon Furniture" whose fun products will make you feel as though you are living in an animated world. The brainchild of Randall and Sharon Porter, they combined their experiences as an architectural lighting designer and make-up artist to form Cartoon Furniture®.

above: Randall and Sharon Porter of Cartoon Furniture

The line includes dressers, bookcases, headboards, wall mirrors, side tables and even bulletin boards and a clock. They use only the finest woods and materials to manufacture their whimsical line. All the pieces are painted over and over until the finish is perfect using only the best non-toxic, lead-free and child-safety paint and finishes. Top, bottom, back and sides are all painted, there is no exposed wood. Their drawers slide on Swiss Stainless Steel Slides with ball-bearings and each drawer includes a safety stop to prevent the drawer from falling out completely.

Their furniture is so animated in its design, I half expect them to get up and dance away! Take a look at some of their pieces.

Beds:
The French Twin Bed with four drawer storage unit:

The Little King Twin Bed with 4 drawer storage unit:

The Daisy Twin Bed with 4 drawer storage unit

The Zzzed Twin Bed with 4 drawer storage unit:

Dressers:

Bookcases:

Side tables:

Wall mirrors:

Other accessories:

They also have custom ordering options, so you can choose from several color combinations if you so desire:

All Cartoon Furniture® pieces are proudly manufactured in the USA under the strictest guidelines and specifications for years of enjoyment.

Put a smile on your child's face and shop there now.

Click here to see Judson Beaumont's Straightline designs, cartoon styled furniture.

A $5 Million Dollar Watch? Yep. Hublot Unveils The World's Most Expensive Watch.

BASEL, Switzerland (AFP) - Swiss watchmaker Hublot unveiled on Wednesday, preview day of the Baselworld Watch & Jewellery Show, the Swiss watch show's most expensive watch, which carries a price tag of US$5 million and is inlaid with with 1,292 diamonds - including six stones each weighing more than 3 carats.

above image composited by Laura Sweet

The designer behind this beautiful guitar, Greg Opatik, has a degree in design from Kendall College of Art and Design. He has been creating and developing modern furniture of both his own composition and those of others, such as Genesis Seating who builds classic Eames chairs, for more than fifteen years. He began creating Sinuous guitars five years ago inspired by the idea of creating a uniquely authentic design rather than merely making minor modifications of classic guitars like so many other companies.