Have trouble keeping to your running schedule? There are all kinds of psychological tricks you can use to make sure you slip on the sneakers every day, but Nike Mexico has gone right for the jugular – you can use their Facebook app to turn your Nike+ miles into money to spend on Nike products. And these aren’t just fixed prices we’re talking about, either – they’re auctions! So you’d better run extra far if you’re worried you’ll lose that breathable tank top to Bidder 357 from Acapulco.
It’s widely believed that most of the waitstaff in New York are actually out of work actors, but did you know that many of the waiters over in China are actually… robots? At Haohai Robot Restaurant in Harbin, China, robots are responsible for the table service as well as the cooking AND the entertainment – in fact they’re the whole staff!
After creating a menu based on animal heads for last year’s Wellington on a Plate Festival, New Zealand chef Jacob Brown is taking a different approach this August. His Six Feet Under menu will include six courses of calves’ feet, pigs’ feet, venison tendons, black-foot abalone and snails feet.
BitCoin is a new form of currency whose backers hope it will replace not only PayPal, but also real-world money itself, in online transactions. This idea has appeared before - Beenz and Flooz have previously attempted this feat - but BitCoin has some interesting tricks up its sleeve.
In this country, we've already grown accustomed to the ways smart phones are infiltrating nearly every facet of our lives.
One small but growing trend is the use of apps that let consumers take control of their healthcare. Numerous services, like Polka, theCarrot, Google Health and Ringful (which offers a range of specialized apps) all allow users to input their medical information and history online (for anytime, anywhere reference), track their conditions or receive health alerts on their smart phone.
Lately, when something cool is happening on the New York food scene, it usually turns out to be happening somewhere in the vicinity of Madison Square Park (at 5th Avenue and 23rd Street). The park is the annual home of the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party – which brings together the country’s top pitmasters and over 100,000 die-hard barbecue enthusiasts every June – and every week seems to bring fresh proof that this unassuming corner of NYC is at the forefront of many current culinary trends.
It’s one of the enduring food stories of our time-- the reinvention of the once-humble cheeseburger. Every city now seems to be taking its own regional tastes and styles and exploring them in burger form.
Pacific Theatre
Back in 2000, a British graphic designer rediscovered a forgotten poster made during WW2. Before you knew it, the poster's slogan "Keep Calm and Carry On" found it's way to walls 21st century walls everywhere... not to mention mugs, tote bags, change purses and tee shirts. It seemed to crystallize a sentiment felt by a lot of people living through a tumultuous decade.
When it comes to vending machines, Japan has the rest of the world beat. The country boasts over 5 million (one for every 23 people!) selling everything from socks to noodles and more. Still, even in the United States, a new generation of machines is bringing a new level of customization and convenience to the vending category. Some of our favorites:
Customizable Coke and Ice Cream
The lazy days of August are upon us, and for many people that means long weekends spent with friends and family, and relaxing summer evenings spent drink in hand. Which makes us think this is the perfect moment to look at what's bubbling up in the world of alcoholic beverages:
Beer Cocktails
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