Gawking in Traffic - Interactions… designed or not 

I just think it’s funny that a place that specializes in “Tutors and Test Preparation” calls itself something that could be mispronounced as “cheatin’.”

This was at a gas station in Morocco. The donkey even waited in line at the pump and moved forward when the car in front of him pulled away.

Very life-like. Moroccan craftmenship of gas-powered donkeys in one word?

Impeccable.

Because really, most people wouldn’t think of that and those who would probably wouldn’t do it. So props to this fellow. Way to keep the hands free.

I got pretty excited as I snapped this particular picture because for a moment, I thought his red dry cleaning was, in reality, a red cape. And that he was stretching his arm high into the air in preperation to fly off into the pale-blue sky, to return to a more peaceful planet, where city-sponsored lunch tables and chairs aren’t purposefully arranged in the middle of the friggin’ street, for people to be run over by taxis and poisoned by carbon monoxide.

Side note: getting this picture was tricky. I had to keep scooting up ahead of him when he walked passed cars, to hide behind the opposite front fender - that way, when he walked by I was able to snap clear pictures of him close up. So while I felt (and looked) like some sort of freakish stalking paparazzi, It was impossible to get a non-fuzzy shot otherwise. 

This one’s been around awhile, but if even one person hasn’t seen it yet, then this post is worth it.

Helicopter Pilot Saves Stranded Deer (headline would have been much different had a hunter been waiting in the brush…)

dasparkhotel.net advertises, “repurposed, incredibly robust drain pipes.“

Also known as… HOTEL ROOMS! Because really, why not? I mean, it’s kind of like living like a ninja turtle, minus the sludge, slime and sewage.

I play guitar. I’ve played it for a good solid while. And when asked by a coworker the other day if I was good, I said, “Yes.” Not, “Yeah… I’m pretty good,” or “Sure… I’m alright.”

I didn’t always “admit” that off the bat - call me shy and modest.

And then I found this young feller on a friends blog and decided I need to get back to practicing. I have two reasons why you have to watch this video, the first of which being interaction related:

1) He uses his guitar in a fantastically innovative way in this song. I mean, I’ve seen people use the guitar body as a drum and the like, but I’ve never seen someone pull of “sound effects” quite like Sungha Jung. Seriously, I love it. He’s a one man band with one instrument.

2) I love guitar. I love this kid. And I want the world to know. Sungha, you are my hero. He’s 11 and has been playing for 2 years. Sheesh…

Plus, he’s got some rockin’ fingernails on that right hand. I’m sure the 11-year-old ladies love it.

Photography can be gorgeous. And photography of food - well, shoot… one of the greatest design opportunites ever. Enter… This Week For Dinner.

The site’s description reads: “This Week for Dinner(TM) is a place where we can share ideas for weekly menu planning. Every Sunday I post my weekly dinner plan. TWFD friends can then post their menus in the comments section, providing me (and everyone else) with fresh ideas every week! I also post other fun ‘foodstuffs’ throughout the week. ”

The blogger is Jane Maynard, who is, as it turns out, my sister. And let me tell you, she does a fabulous job of taking great ideas and using photography to illustrate them. The site itself is your general blog layout, with a white background and cleanly designed logo and banner. The rest of the visual character for the site comes from her photos.

The site itself was a great inspiration for a site concept I’ve been working on at work, but that’s a whole other story… meanwhile, she had a nice posting awhile back about cutting pancakes for toddlers with a pizza cutter.

Simple AND brilliant.

And what does she use to cut her pizza? I’m glad you asked… (click the picture to read more).

Greatest. Idea. Ever.

You have to watch this video!

It is a short film from PangeaDay.org, a site with a ton of sweet films from around the world. This one epitomizes how people will use products (in this case, a wall between the US and Mexico) for unintended purposes, especially when they can stick it to the man at the same time.

I’m all for a full blown, dual-nationally organized Walleyball Championship between the US and Mexico. And the winner gets to throw a wet ball of sand at G-Dubya. Who’s with me?