Five things we think you’ll really like
By the Christian Science Monitor
Spike TV
Spike Lee, cinema’s Poet Laureate of New York, released “Inside Man” just last week, so the time couldn’t be better to catch up on this director’s provocative films about sexual, racial, and class relations. The five-DVD set includes three of his best: “Do the Right Thing,” “Mo’ Better Blues,” and “Jungle Fever.”
Marshmallow Blaster
When a mini-marshmallow tossed from across the room doesn’t pack the punch you need, consider the Marshmallow Blaster. Fire off a regular- or super-size marshmallow and peg your friends with surprising force from 40 feet away. The toy, for ages 12 and older, is $29.95 at www.marshmallowshooter.com. Downsize to the Marshmallow Shooter or the Marshmallow Blower.
Pandora’s (boom) box
This Pandora’s box is filled with good things. Music-lovers can create their own radio stations at Pandora.com. Type in your favorite band or tune and Pandora plays songs it thinks you will dig, tapping into its 10,000-artist database. Like the selection? Sit back and enjoy, or buy it from iTunes. Don’t like it? Pandora apologizes, then tailors the choices even further.
Still life with bloggers
Duane Keiser and Travis Ruse share a common goal: to make art every day to post on their blogs. Virginia painter Keiser (duanekeiser.blogspot.com) creates postcard-size oil paintings from common objects: matches, butter knives, potato chips. They sell for about $100 each on eBay. Brooklyn Photographer Ruse (travisruse.com) snaps commuters on New York’s subways. Both turn the mundane beautiful – every day.
Vee-dub in da haus
Every so often the ad world delivers a meisterwerk. Enter “Unpimp My Ride,” a TV campaign for Volkswagen’s GTI by agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky. Basic idea: This hot little VW is “pre-tuned” by German engineers, outclassing the legions of teen-modified econoboxes. Swedish actor Peter Stormare romps as the arrogant, Zoolander-esque “Wolfgang,” gleefully crushing automotive pretenders in inventive ways.
