“VideoTrace is a system for interactively generating realistic 3D models of objects from video—models that might be inserted into a video game, a simulation environment, or another video sequence. The user interacts with VideoTrace by tracing the shape of the object to be modeled over one or more frames of the video.”

Pretty neat! For someone not experienced in 3D modeling, this is a great alternative. Reminds me of SketchUp to some degree, which is cool since you can add your models into Google Earth…Otherwise, I like how VideoTrace generates a 3 dimensional model based on a trace from a video, though I’m still not exactly sure how the software pinpoint hat angle you are at.

Video Trace site with video.
VideoTrace on Youtube video.

Very cool placement of an ad on Global warming!

“Don’t let this be our future.
Save our rainforest, stop global warming.”

Full Size Image
via AdsOfTheWorld

Wowzers… awesome!

“It started with San Francisco, Hong Kong, then Melbourne and other cities, and now, beginning in July, all plastic shopping bags in the entire country of China will no longer be free. As part of China’s attempts to reduce their extreme pollution problem, the policy will call for a small charge for plastic bags in China that must be shown clearly in all supermarket receipts.

Furthermore, ultra-thin plastic bags are now banned from being produced at all. As part of this effort, the government is encouraging the use of reusable bags and cloth sacks, and increasing efforts to recycle all plastic bags still in use.”

Via Inhabitat (Source IHT)
Australia does the same via Treehugger.

I’ve have a few reusable bags, but always forget to bring them to the store. Until it’s law, I’m going to forget, and besides, I use my paper bags as trash cans which has been handy.

FYI: statically and visually according to Chris Jordan, we use “60,000 plastic bags every 5 seconds in the USA alone!” (1.14 million brown paper supermarket bags are used in the USA every hour.)

I guess it’s time to go pick up one of those cool reusable bags:
- Porter Grocery Tote (paper like plastic bag)
- Muji portable Bag, (I can’t find online, but it’s in the nyc soho store)
- Flip and Tumble (A bag that turns into a puck)
- AMT Shopper Bag (Louis Vuitton like print bags)

update: I was just at Wholefoods and they said they were starting to ban usage of plastic bags this week/month! Ah, heres an article.

Quote: “Pablo Picasso: Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up“.

Makes me think about creativity as well..so, stay young, take risks and chances, be curious…and of course watch the “must watch” lecture by Sir Ken Robinson on creativity!

- Neat: Engagement Ring.
- Funny: Gizmodo Pranks CES, funny and mean.
- Woa: A monstrous wooden mechanical creation.
- Space: Shigeru Bans very cool Shutter house project.
- Cool: Shadow Blocks.
- Weird: Tree that bears 11 fruits.
- Inspiring: The 61 yr old farmer that won the worlds toughest race!
- Video: Hilarious, Plunger Dart throwing.
- Video: Very cool spinning egg+cut trick!

A ceramic radiator cup… keeping your hands cool, and your drink hot! I want!

Or you can always go for the Bodum double walled glasses which work just as good but are pretty fragile.

Stephen Reed webpage
Buy(pre-order) Charles&Marie

Johnny Chung Lee is one awesome creator. Over the past few months he’s been banging out some sweet Wii-mote mods for a “Minority Report” like interface, a low cost “Multi-touch white board”, and most recently a sweeeet “VR Headtracking” concept that will make any Wii fanatic jealous. Nintendo’s gotta hire this guy for R+D. He just plain rocks!

I’ll post a 3 of his whimsical tutorial videos after the jump, otherwise, hit up his web page for some other sweet tricks up his sleeve.

via Gizmodo (lots of comments)

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Hahaha, this made me smile in an odd happy nodding my head sideways kinda way. Derrick Wang brings to us a delicate white piggy bank that has a hidden little agenda… when ya bust it open to collect your sweet savings, it spills out the pigs red guts with it! yikes! Yeah, I know kinda disgusting but kinda cool!

It does make me question how did the piggy bank start and why a pig…ahhh, here it is!

This comes to show that if you treat certain ritualistic objects with a bit more reality(humor) it makes ya smile and buy stuff!(though I’m not a huge advocate of Consumerism)

via YankoDesign

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The 2008 TED Conference schedule of speakers has just been announced! This years event will take place in sunny Monterey CA as well as a new simulcast lounge in snowy Aspen CO for some lucky individuals!(major party!)

Lots of big questions, unknown exciting speakers, and ideas to numb your brain!…this should be good!

If you have not heard of the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference, catch up to their videos on TEDtalks , my 2007 TED recap, or some of my favorites.