Blog

The world loves bicycles. They cut down on carbon emission and they help keep us fit. In fact, 2.5 billion people get their gears on the road each year. That’s some major pedaling, but accidents do happen. According to Bicycle Helmet Statistics, 45,000 American cyclists were injured in traffic during 2015. An activity that’s so beneficial for our bodies and the planet shouldn’t have to be so dangerous. Luckily, there’s a new bike that could change the way we get to work.

In order to make cycling a safer form of transportation, inventor John Aldridge has designed The Bird of Prey concept bicycle. Rather than riding in a seat, cyclists lean forward with their weight resting on their hips and arms. The semi-prone position enhances spinning ease, and allows the rider to “push and pull on the pedals as if he were running with legs fully extended.” The Bird of Prey promotes itself as the fastest racing bike in the world, thanks to its low center of gravity, high speed gears, and ability to overcome wind resistance. 

The most important attribute that Aldridge wanted to change about cycling was safety. “I have flipped over the handlebars on my sit down bike many dangerous and life threatening times. This can’t happen on a Bird of Prey,” Aldridge writes on the product’s website. “In a panic stop, the rider will simply stop and not flip over the handlebars. The Bird of Prey will stop in a shorter distance than a sit-down bike. If everyone rode a Bird of Prey, accidents from going over the handlebars would cease—saving serious injuries and death.”

Check out the video below to see the Bird of Prey in action and to see all of its innovative features.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K24dHLA8zpw?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0&w=750&h=480]

Bird of Prey Bicycles: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
via [Laughing Squid, Toxel]

All images via Derek Plank for Bird of Prey Bicycles.

They say that children grow up in the blink of an eye. And, as any parent knows, this means that they are always outgrowing something: shoes, clothes, and, most expensively, beds. Cribs are used for such a short time, and replacing one with a big-kid-bed can be a costly change. Recognizing this universal problem, TeeHee, an innovative European furniture company, has created a line of cribs and beds than can be adjusted to grow as babies, toddlers, and children do.

Three magical models—Illa, Illeta, and the Biombo crib/bed—comprise the creative collection. Illa features a crib that can be easily transformed into a toddler bed. It also has a handy platform that can function as a changing table, desk, or bench. Illa’s sister model, Illeta, is nearly identical in design. Unlike Illa, however, Illeta features ample cabinet space for infant supplies, toys, books, and clothes. Forgoing all of the bells and whistles for a more classic construction, the Biombo crib and toddler bed are much more straightforward: the basic crib can be turned into a standard bed.

Each piece is simple in design and left unpainted, showcasing the beautiful, natural colors of the wood (Illa and Illeta are made from Scandinavian birch, while the Biombo pieces are carved from chestnut) and enabling it to seamlessly fit in with any decor. Aesthetically pleasing and unbelievably multi-functional, TeeHee’s adjustable furniture have turned decorating a kid’s room into child’s play!

TeeHee: Website
via [Homecrux]

All images via TeeHee.

Though not as common in North American cities, many European metropolises have extensive trolleybus systems. As part of the Vilnius Street Art Festival in Lithuania, artist Liudas Parulskis executed an ingenious project that made the city’s trolleybuses disappear. In collaboration with creative place-making agency Studio Vieta, Parulskis took blown up photographs of city streets and architecture and wrapped entire trolleys, creating an illusion of the urban landscape on the moving vehicles.

Once a day these trolleys magically disappear as they hit the proper spot in the city—crossing Tumo Vaizganto street and Gediminas Prospect intersection—blending in with the city streets. While most urban transit systems are wrapped with advertising, Vilnius’ trolleys are largely advertising free, causing a big shock for local commuters as they waited for their normally image-free trolley to arrive. Parulskis cleverly inserted elements with significance in Lithuanian culture. A wolf crossing the street harkens back to the medieval legend of the iron wolf said to have founded Vilnius. In an ironic case of life imitating art, four kittens were eventually born inside the trolleybus wrapped with an image of four cats crossing the road.

Work in progress. Trams were raised up to allow the image to be wrapped on all sides.

Liudas Parulskis: Instagram
Vilnius Street Art Festival: Website | Facebook | Instagram

All images via Tautvydas Stukas.

If you’ve ever wanted to live inside of a video game, here’s a way to get pretty close. One Super Mario super fan created an immersive homage to the iconic game franchise and listed it for rent on Airbnb. That’s right—taking a trip to the Mushroom Kingdom is as easy as booking a room.

Located in Lisbon, Portugal, the bright and cozy space features two large murals of Mario—along with Luigi, Princess Peach, and flying Koopa Troopas—jumping between pipes and over pixelated barrels. You can even dress like him during your stay because the room includes a pair of his famous overalls and red newsboy cap. The bathroom is equally as outfitted as the bedroom with all of the piping painted a bright green like in the games.

Computer programmer André Farinha is mastermind behind this Airbnb, and the self-proclaimed “major nerd” has loaded the room with several gaming devices. There are two Nintendo 3DS handhelds as well as a Wii U with 20 games. But if Mario just isn’t your style, you can always join the Darkside and stay in Farinha’s other Star Wars-themed accommodation.

Gaming Room: Airbnb
via [Mashable]

The idea of having a floating cloud inside of your home seems like something from a dream. This fantasy is now a reality, however, made possible through a recent collaboration between design firm Richard Clarkson Studio and levitation specialists Crealev. Together, they’ve produced a small puffy cloud speaker that not only plays music, but lights up and hovers in mid-air. 

The unconventional device is made of white, hand-fluffed polyester fibers and is reminiscent of a picturesque cloud you’d see on a warm and sunny day. Embedded within the densely-packed material is a Bluetooth speaker and sound-reactive LED lights (to simulate lightning), as well as a magnet. Another magnet (of opposite polarity) is placed within the gadget’s reflective oval base and allows the cloud to have this rotating, softly-bobbing movement—it’s like you’ve brought the outdoors inside and put it on your coffee table.

As of now, this design is currently a prototype with the hopes that it will be commercially available soon.

Richard Clarkson Studio: Website
Crealev: Website
via [Dezeen, Contemporist]

Earlier this year, we met the photogenic Yuta Family—a brood that includes eight Chihuahas and Richie, the dogs’ protective feline friend. Now, the household has welcomed a new animal addition—a cuddly little hamster. The tiny rodent has seamlessly joined the family, adding an adorable element of fluff to the already sweet and creative collection of portraits on the family’s Instagram account.

Richie and his gang of dogs have had no problem selflessly sharing their home and the camera with their new hamster sibling. Most of the pictures reveal the different species cuddling for a nap, playing dress-up, or a combination of the two. They look so cozy and at peace with each other, despite their differences. Check out a few of the Yuta Family’s photos below, and for more of their adventures, you can follow the interspecies pack on Instagram.

Yuta Family: Facebook | Instagram
via [The Dodo]

Year after year, Ray Villafane of Villafane Studios transforms ordinary pumpkins and gourds into extraordinary works of art. Carving and crafting a myriad of characters, his realistic-looking creations push the envelope of what we previously thought was possible with squash. Villafane and his crew bring the inanimate objects to life, giving them personalities that run the gamut from goofy to creepy. As he continues to hone his craft, the carved characters often grow arms and legs, and they’re stars of amusing scenes where they prank one another.

Seeing Villafane’s newest creations is one of our favorite fall traditions. This year, he’s created two pickled pumpkin coffin displays for Nickelodeon Universe in the Mall of America. Housed in tanks, these eerily-lit characters—bathed in blue and green lighting—delight and spook visitors, who can also see more of Villafane’s handiwork throughout the park.

In addition to his work at the Mall of America, Villafane Studios is also hosting a pumpkin carving contest with the Sullen Art Collective. This year, they’ve decided to shake things up and have contestants submit their best pumpkin scenes until the November 1 deadline.

Villafane Studios: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Have you ever craved a simpler way of life? Co-owners and sisters Heather Coulombe and Sandee Maclean appeared to have offered thousands of people the opportunity at their dream job when they posted open positions for their establishment The Farmer’s Daughter Country Market, located on the island of Cape Breton in Canada. Rather than offering “big money,” the siblings propose bountiful land as compensation.

In a post on Facebook, they wrote, “If you decide this opportunity might fit your dreams and goals for a close to nature and community focused life, then we are willing to offer you 2 acres of woodland where you can immediately set up your tiny house or quaint cabin. Plus give you access to our farmland and other resources we have available,” the sisters explain. “If you are still working with us after five years and we all still like each other after that time, then the land is yours for the cost of migrating it out and putting it in your name.”

They had a strong idea of who would be the ideal employee. “We are looking for people who are environmentally conscious, want to be part of a community and will see our business not as you work for us, but we all work together to create something to be proud of. If you take pride in being friendly, helpful, and positive and have skills in the food industry or customer service, then you are who we are looking for.” They also specified that applicants must have a Canadian work permit.

The store had previously searched for staff using conventional recruiting efforts and were unsuccessful. Through the Facebook advertisement, however, the sisters received more than 3,500 responses. “Cape Breton is amazing but our population is decreasing,” the ad boasted. “Corporate development has been seen as the solution in the past but that often comes at the expense of our environment. We think there is a better way.” In mid-September, they selected three people to begin employment and are planning on hiring three to four more people for the spring.

Cape Breton’s population is approximately 135,000, and this isn’t the first time the region has made efforts to encourage emigrants to settle. Last February Mary Tulle, CEO at Destination Cape Breton, led a campaign that cautioned, “Don’t wait until Donald Drumpf is elected president to find somewhere else to live.” They appealed to Americans and other foreigners alike, stating: “Start your new life in Cape Breton, where women can get abortions, Muslim people can roam freely and the only walls are holding up the roofs of our extremely affordable houses.”

The Farmer’s Daughter Country Market: Website | Facebook | Instagram 
via [Lost at E Minor]

All images via The Farmer’s Daughter Country Market.