Iconoculture: What it lacks in Russell Crowe, it makes up for in authenticity. Visitors to Jerash, Jordan, can watch the Roman Army and Chariot Experience (RACE) – an authentic reenactment of Roman chariot races staged in a restored ancient Roman hippodrome. OK, there are no lions and no thumbs-down executions. But otherwise, it’s authentic. Reenactors are former Jordanian police officers […]
Chariot Racing
What’s That Song?
DailyCandy: You’re standing in a crowded record store attempting to hum (over blaring emo-core) the melody of an unidentified song you heard on the radio to a bemohawked salesperson who has a look on his face that, translated into English, means “kill me now.” Wow. You’d pay money not to go through that again. So do. For just 99 cents, […]
Online Machine Shop
TRENDWATCHING.COM: Taking it one step further is US-based eMachineshop.com, which lets ordinary consumers download free, easy-to-use software which they can use to design objects like car parts, door knobs, in metal or plastic. They can then get a quote, order the product online and eMachineshop will forward the design to a ‘real world’ machine shop for manufacturing. Suddenly, MINIPRENEURS have […]
Skulls and Bugs
Iconoculture: Shiny, colorful, and, oh yeah, bugged out. Still, Weevil Bangles boast a certain creature charm. The Lucite bracelets feature real bugs as design elements. Maxilla and Mandible specializes in gruesome “museum specimen” delights, like skull beads, candy crickets, and curious rocks and fossils (Frommer’s New York Guide 2005). But its Weevil Bangles are attracting fashion lab rats (Lucky 9.05). […]
Social Networking for Clubbers
BarPeople.net: With an innovative approach to social networking and based on the premise that “people with similar interests share similar spaces”, BarPeople.net is set to take the London social scene by storm. BarPeople.net is currently giving visitors exclusive and free prelaunch invitations. Visitors to the site can signup for these at http://www.barpeople.net BarPeople.net revolves around the simple premise that “people […]
My DNA
Springwise: TRENDWATCHING.COM’s GRAVANITY trend is not exactly fading yet: every month, we receive spottings of new goods, services and experiences designed to make consumers feel like VIPs, if not guaranteeing them immortality. From MyTwinn dolls to the Reality Village (see this edition). The most personal service spotted so far? CATGee, part of DNA Products, which lets ordinary folks capture and […]
Sustainable Change
CNET: A new shopping Web site due to launch Aug. 22 will let people buy products online from companies that share their customers’ social values. Alonovo.com lets people define the social and environmental values they feel are important and see how different merchants perform in those areas using data from KLD Research and Analytics. The areas include labor relations, animal […]
Mobile Boutiques
ChannelNewsAsia.com: Xavel Inc. has a client base marketing gurus dream about. When they’re done shopping, customers are in the habit of e-mailing their friends to pass on a recommendation. The Tokyo-based fashion retailer operates a cellphone shopping site, not a conventional outlet. It means the referred customer can be making the same purchase within minutes. Net effect: Projected sales of […]
Buy Me A Beer
TrendBlog: “Sorry I can’t make tonight, but this round is on me.” Corney & Barrow, one of London’s Financial District’s largest bar operators, have joined forces with Buy Me a Beer.com to makes it possible for people to buy their friends a drink online. These drinks may be “virtual,” but they still quench the thirst after a hard day at […]
Egg Alert!
BloggingBaby: Picture this: you’re sitting at a swanky bar (okay, maybe it’s just a Chevy’s) and your cell phone does a little musical number to let you know that you have a new text message. You flip your phone open and check your inbox. Ah ha! It’s your EggAlert reminding you that you’re about to ovulate. EggAlert is software created […]