DailyCandy: You were first on the block with a new PowerBook. Envied at work, admired in Internet cafes, and feted around town.

But now that Macs are a dime (or a few) a dozen, your prized machine seems a bit average.

No problem. ColorWare can make it stand out in the crowd once more. Just go online and pick your model (they make versions for almost all Apple products — iPods, iBooks, Powerbooks, and desktops). Then pick a color from options like dragon, cotton candy, or mystique and send your machine in. About three weeks later you’ll get your computer back with a fresh new hue everyone is sure to notice. Which is exactly the way it should be.

Color Blind [DailyCandy]

TrendCentral: As research geeks, nothing gets us more excited than a good quantitative study. So when we saw that, according to a recent survey conducted by Dunkin’ Donuts, more adults would give up sex before coffee, we knew we had to investigate. Turns out, we knew that most people need a daily coffee fix, but had no idea to what degree this jonesing for java really is. Just like that other primal urge, people are looking for more variety than soy milk or extra foam in their caffeine, and don’t want to just choose from a list of frappalatteccinos anymore. Along with t-shirts and sneakers, coffee is the latest “it” item to customize. In fact, 28% of American adults prefer to customize their beverages compared to other items, which may account for the recent surge in flavored coffees. Coffee drinkers want to make their respective beverages their own, which is why you can now get a coconut cinnamon marshmallow coffee along with your box of Munchkins, as Dunkin’ Donuts now has a flavor menu from which customers can choose up to three add-ins to their cup ‘o joe. Finally, we can get a cup of blueberry chocolate coffee to start the morning.

Customized Coffee [TrendCentral]

DailyCandy: You haven’t gone for the posters-as-decor thing since your rabid seventh-grade Depeche Mode obsession.

And, generally speaking, this has been a positive development.

But not so fast. Jason Munn has reinvented the wheel with his hand-silk-screened album and concert posters. A trained graphic designer, Munn creates his pieces in his Oakland, California, studio, and each one begins with a freehand sketch, which is scanned into a computer, altered with clip art, and given life with just three colors. The result is a simple yet beautiful work of art worthy of a frame and a place in your home.

Poster Boy [DailyCandy]

Shiny Shiny: What is it with the proliferation of evil alarm clocks these days? First there was the you've - got - to - find - me - to - turn - me - off Clocky, and now there's the truly insidious Sonic Alarm. If you want to rouse a reluctant sleeper, you pull the pin, lob the alarm into their bedroom, and then wait for the "very annoying and piercingly loud noise." The alarm has to be found and the pin replaced in order to quiet the thing back down.

I'm firmly against alarm clocks without snooze buttons. And if anyone pitches one of these in my room, they should be prepared to consider that action an official Declaration of War.

Sonic Alarm [Shiny Shiny]

Popgadget: The W.O.W. Concept, which stands for "wonderful openhearted wagon," features a special crate for dogs in the glove apartment to allow owners to interact with their pets on the road. A bigger crate pops up from the floor in the back seat area and can be folded back into the floor when it's not needed. For bigger dogs, there's a special seat belt attached to the floor.

The W.O.W comes with removable, washable, rollout flooring and has wide sliding doors to keep dogs happy.

"We created this vehicle from the point of view of a dog, but it turned out to be a gentler vehicle for the elderly, children and other family members," said Honda designer Katsuhito Nakamura.

A "vehicle from the point of view of a dog" [Popgadget]

Iconoculture: Moms and babies head for the hills with Colorado Mountain Mamas hiking club. The group helps new moms get back on the trails – with baby on board. Each hike is led by an experienced guide trained in CPR who stays connected, via walkie-talkie, with the hiker at the back of the line so no one gets lost. In addition to mom-and-infant hikes, the group runs trail experiences for moms and toddlers designed to engage tots in the discovery of nature.

Oh, the myriad – and even unorthodox – ways moms can connect these days. Looking for laughs? Try Moms Cracking Up. Prefer a cocktail? Check out a baby-friendly happy hour. If you’re looking to connect with only the “right sort,” there’s superexclusive Citibabes private club. Outdoorsy moms step lively for safe ways to connect with other trail-loving moms, mix up the mom ’n’ baby routine, and introduce tots to nature.

Mountain Mommies [Iconoculture]

Popgadget: Shodensya, a Japanese provider of energy-saving services to corporate clients, will launch in November devices that reduce energy consumption in the home.

Power Monitor can instantly measure the power consumption and voltage used by household appliances. The gauge itself does not have an energy-saving function, but it is helpful in making people more aware of the need to switch off appliances when they are not in use.

Shodensya plans to release various other energy-saving devices for households in the near future, including one that cuts the amount of water used in the shower by about 30% and those that reduce the use of tap water and gas.

Has anyone heard of a similar product in Europe? I'd be curious to know how much energy I use to make waffles, brush my teeth with the electric toothbrush or iron half a shirt (I hate ironing so I never manage to iron an entire shirt. Can that be counted as an eco-friendly behavior?)

Energy-saving gauge [Popgadget]

we make money not art: The prototype consists of three parts: the shoes with a series of sensors and mechanics, an interface and a computer running a software to analyse the data from the sensors. The Interface provides the communication between the shoes and the Mac. In the future both the interface and the computer could be embedded in the shoes.
Dual-axis Accelerometers and Compass Modules transmit the data to determinate the position and orientation of the shoes. GPS could enhance the positioning also related to the environment - but is not integrated yet. Distance Sensors detect the Distance to obstacles on the way. Flaps are pulled to the lower elastic layer of the sole by servo motors if necessary; they create the angle of the sole. Switches at the rear side of the shoes register the contact to the base.

The shoes could find applications in the following contexts: assistance to avoid obstacles, target-orientated guidance from point A to point B, reference to nearby "Points-of-Interests"... or a virtual borderline of an otherwise accessible area.

CabBoots [we make money not art]

Entrepreneur: When Christopher Hughes heard his clients singing ?La Bamba? in anticipation of their Cinco de Mayo party, he knew he was onto something. Hughes, 34, had recently co-founded Day Perks with business partner and friend Leanne Mumm Pardo, 40.

As co-workers at a branding and design firm, Hughes and Mumm Pardo saw a need for a service to take care of office events and parties. Armed with just $500 and plenty of corporate contacts from past jobs, the two left the firm, incorporated the company and set about creating a pilot program to test the party-planning waters.

Today, Day Perks offers one-hour parties (think parties-in-a-box that include snacks, beverages, plates, napkins and so on) and basic food services (taco bars, pizza, breakfasts and desserts) for everything from simple ice cream socials to office holiday parties. Clients can mix and match as they see fit, or they can consult with Hughes and Mumm Pardo to create their own theme parties. Prices range from $2.95 to $3.95 per person.

Made-to-order office parties [Entrepreneur]

BizReport.com: The news menu was stuffed with the dreadful and appalling yesterday. A massive hurricane bearing down on Texas. A bus fire killing 24 elderly people near Dallas. Floods ravaging New Orleans -- again. And that was before you even considered what's happening to the economy, or in Iraq or Afghanistan, or anywhere else in this sad, wicked world.

You see any happy news out there?

As it happens, the people who produce Happynews.com did. There it was, right at the top of their Web site, bordered by a sunny yellow frame and adorned with smiley faces: "Hurricane Rita still weakening."

And: "Majority to back Algerian peace plan."

And: "Indonesia takes steps to prevent bird flu."

Happynews.com, started three months ago, covers many of the international, national, sports and entertainment stories that the big guys do. But as the name implies, it doesn't cover them the same way. Happynews doesn't do bummers: no death, no destruction, no shocking Lindsay Lohan weight-loss updates. Which is to say, it doesn't do the kinds of stories that have come to define the contemporary concept of "news."

Unlike the media's bad news bearers, Happynews's glass is always at least half-full, and sometimes it bubbles right over. It is Prozac for the eyes: "India proposes free school for one-girl families," it declared brightly yesterday. A typical story from its international section might be "Food Aid to Niger Increases," while its sports section includes the likes of "Long-distance swimmer conquers Great Lakes."

Happynews.com, Where the Beat Is Always Up [BizReport.com]

TrendCentral: While young drinkers (21 and up, of course) aren't dropping cheap beer anytime soon, the trend for more "refined" beverages seems to be going more mass lately, with affordable wines being marketed heavily to older Gen Ys and young Gen Xers. Qualitatively, we've already seen the beginning of the "hip" wine market with Sofia Coppola’s mini champagne cans, and young wine drinkers already gravitate towards affordable brands such as Yellow Tail. We've yet to really see a wine label aggressively target this demo, but now the category seems to be expanding.

Launched at New York Fashion Week, Virgin Vines is Virgin Group's latest venture. Hoping to separate their wine from the stereotypically stodgy, sommelier-approved wine culture, Virgin is marketing the wine with the tagline "Unscrew it, let’s do it". With just two varieties (red Shiraz and white Chardonnay), the screw-top wine brand is hoping to make the wine purchasing process less intimidating to those lacking Sideways-level wine knowledge, while also offering something a few steps up from Boone's Farm or even Charles Shaw (aka "Two Buck Chuck").

Young Wine [TrendCentral]

fibre2fashion.com: The Spa at the St Julien has thrilled many with their sleeper hit, Cool Sets – night wear apparel that is casually elegant, affordable and incredibly comfortable.

The new sleepwear line created in Boulder, Colorado made its debut at the Spa at the St Julien in July 2005. Cool Sets, is specially formulated to control body temperature fluctuations caused from climate change and certain health conditions, while remaining true to its motto “Feel the Comfort.”

Spa Director Michael Simmons commented that while typically sold through Cool Sets home parties, the Spa at the St Julien is the only retailer to sell Cool Sets directly to customers. They just can’t keep them on the shelves! Guests and locals simply touch the fabric and are convinced that Cool Sets is crafted with the highest quality. The Spa at the St Julien is proud to continually offer their patrons the best we can find!

USA : Sleep wear ‘Cool Sets’ by The Spa at the St Julien [fibre2fashion.com]

calgarysun.com: Someone let out Calgary’s little secret — that Stampede garb can look urban and sexy.

Two important fashion shows in Milan this past week featured cowboy hats, wide Western belts, glistening silver and jade accents and acres of denim. Later, twins Dean and Dan Caten rounded up their Dsquared2 spring/summer 2006 collection.

With a set straight out of Gunsmoke, the brothers — who often use themes from their Canadian homeland, which they left in 1991 — focused their women’s line on laid-back Western.

Cowboy Cool [calgarysun.com]

BBC News: An intelligent computer system which can imitate doctors' decisions about treatment for intensive care patients is being developed by scientists. It will monitor patients' vital signs and then evaluate and administer drugs - a job now done by specialist medics. Decisions will be made in seconds - freeing up valuable time for doctors. The system is being designed by a team of engineers at the University of Sheffield with a £400,000 grant from science funding agency EPSRC. Team leader Professor Mahdi Mahfouf said the system's ability to learn, adapt and make informed decisions was unique.

'Robo-doc' to treat seriously ill [BBC News]