Helping Japan is just a click away

Japan_tsunami.jpg Since Friday most of us are glued to news channels on television or over internet to grab the latest on nature’s fury over Japan. Sitting far away in different corners of the globe, many are keen to extend a helping hand. But HOW? Here are a few trustworthy options that we have listed down which are just as simple as texting from any part of the world. Such small gestures will make a difference!

· Red Cross - Use your cell phone to text-message REDCROSS to 90999 to make the $10 donation, or visit the Red Cross.

· Salvation Army – Operating since 1895 in Japan, the Salvation Army is currently providing emergency assistance the needy. Text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to make a $10 donation or donate online at here.

· Save the Children – This organization is accepting donations for its Children's Emergency Fund. You can text “JAPAN” or “TSUNAMI” to 20222 to donate $10 or visit Save the Children.

· Mercy Corps - Text “MERCY” to 25283 to donate $10 or visit Mercy Corps to know more.

· International Medical Corps - A donation of $10 will be accounted to your mobile phone bill when you Text MED to 80888.

· GlobalGiving - Text JAPAN to 50555 to donate $10. This Washington based organisation is providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami.

· Google - They have launched a Person Finder service to search for the missing and also post an update about their status. This service is available in Japanese as well as English and provides information of ‘already found’ people.

· Facebook – Folks at Explore.org are donating $1 for every “Like” of the “Dog Bless You” Facebook page, up to $100,000.

· iTunes - Apple has created a donation page in iTunes to donate $5 to $200 to the Red Cross.

You can help us by sharing this information by tweeting about it, liking it on Facebook or simply mailing it to your family and friends. It is advised to donate to recognized charities and aid organizations only.

Luxurylaunches dons a new glamorous look

LL_header.jpg Old wine in new bottle holds true for the new look of Luxurylaunches. All set to elevate the LUXURY quotient and mesmerize every luxury-seeker in this all-new avatar, Luxurylaunches promises to bring the best of every bit of opulent news to our reader's attention.

Win a HP ENVY 13 notebook

3903848897_e9893b7343.jpg Feeling lucky today? Then here’s your chance to arouse the envy of all by winning the HP Envy 13. Laptops are no more a subject of envy, I agree. But finding the perfect notebook with looks to match is not that effortless. And HP is out to woo us by giving away its hottest 13 inch notebook preloaded with Windows 7 to a lucky reader. We want our readers to participate with vigor to win a HP Envy 13. Only a fool will let go of a chance to own this slim and attractive notebook worth $1,700 and more for free. Grab the opportunity by simply telling us about “The first thing that makes you envious about a lappie”. All you got to do is pen down just ONE thing that tops the list of features that you look for in a perfect notebook. Read more about the Envy 13 and the guidelines to the contest on Luxurylaunches

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Electrolux Design Lab 2009 rolls out top eight finalists – Care to vote?

electrolux.jpg Innovative designs and concepts help us to chart a better picture of our future. Since we have thousands of such projects floating all over blogoshpere, Electrolux invited entries for home appliance ideas for the next 90 years, in honor of the Electrolux 90-year anniversary. Out of 900 submissions from 50 countries, only eight finalists are shortlisted. Themed “Designs for the next 90 years”, the aim was to create thoughtfully-designed products that will shape how people prepare and store food, wash clothes, and do dishes over the next nine decade. Since living green is the need of the hour, most of the designs are shaped for eco-friendly existence in the future. Every design is simply out-of-this-world and reading about them motivates me to hop on the time machine and fast forward to 90 years from today. Most of them revolve around water conservation but the one that caught my fancy the most is the Teleport Fridge by Dulyawat Wongnawa, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. His concept, “Teleport Fridge”, teleports food, eliminating the time and distance a person has to travel to buy fresh groceries or products from a store or farm. Using touch-screen technology as the interface for the teleportation process, the Teleport Fridge simply teleports food to compartments in its refrigeration and freezer units. Such a futuristic system can help to reduce or eliminate carbon footprints.

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Reconstruction of the Villa to Arpel Centquatre a reminiscence of Tati

Reconstruction_of_CENTQUATRE.jpg The recovery of CENTQUATRE size of the Villa Arpel is one of the best sites to choose for a reconstruction. The house and décor where 50 years design triumph home making arts and modern comfort of “Mon Oncle”, the cult film of Jacques Tati had been beautifully reconstructed. According to an article, the designers who recreated the house and furniture had to work by sight, as the original plan no longer existed.

Watch the video after the jump…

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FlexiTube 2000 shelf system illuminates your room and looks good doing it

FlexiTube_2000.jpg I personally love shelves that are not your average Joe ones. I like something with a little bit of style and lots of personality and I believe the FlexiTube 2000 designed by Kisskalt Designsis just that. If you like circular objects, this shelf is going to be right up your alley. It is quite innovative how the different circles are put together to make a functional unit. It has a contemporary touch along with an abstract side. Its great that it comes with a circular fluorescent lamp between two plexiglass panes that brightens and illuminates your space.

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Lamborghini’s history comes alive with the Lamborghini Toro

Supercar_tractor_1.jpg Little did we know that Ferruccio Lamborghini kicked off his career building tractors. Moreover, he got into the supercar business just to ‘drive’ Enzo Ferrari mad! If that came as a shock to you all, you better get over it soon because he’s vouching for his roots yet again. Jason Battersby has come up with this fine concept of Lamborghini Toro and this wild hound is done up on Lamborghini brand’s aggressive lines and history. With this bad boy, the farmer can have hell lot of fun planting his seeds!

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Tilt knife block from SIDD: Minimalistic yet bold design

TILT_Knife_Block.jpg For those who seek design in almost everything, the Tilt knife block by SIDD is a must for you. Adding the lines and angles to your kitchen, this tiny object is another design masterpiece. The minimalistic block designed by Chris Pritchard allows you to place your knives in a simple and organized way. The simple block is handmade from a single chunk of solid Walnut, with a Canadian Maple inlay. Natural beeswax and orange oil are used to add that finishing touches to bring out the natural colors and grain patterns in these beautiful solid hardwoods. Simply beautiful, the Tilt knife block is a class apart.

[Designspotter]

Cafe America chair by Grain Design is unique

Cafe_America_chair.jpg The Cafe America chair by Grain Design literally incorporates the phrase – Sitting on the fence. A unique design idea, this chair will be on display at Design Within Reach's Seattle M+D+F exhibition on 7th May. The creation will definitely get a lot of attention and is sure to become the show stopper at this exhibit. I can’t help but appreciate the unique idea. A great chair, hopefully it isn’t as uncomfortable as it looks. Wonder if the designers took inspiration from Karim Rashid’s Swell Collection.

[Core77]

Take a peek in to the eco-world of Greenlaunches

best-of-gl.jpg NASA says oceanic tides can be used to generate electricity (Eco-technology)

Nothing’s all-cardboard office – Shaping up everything out of nothing (Eco-Architecture)

N2-G4 ice cream maker is eco-friendly but exorbitant for $75,000 (Eco-Gadget)

Seawater vertical farm for Dubai (Eco-Architecture)

MIR - A solar powered Radio Alarm Clock for a green good-morning (Eco-Concept)

Epic Wakeboats 23E – The world's first hybrid sports boat (Eco-Vehicle)

Best of Greenlaunches for a clean green world

Best_of_GL.jpg Urban Space Station project – A mini farm for urban dwellers (Eco-Concept)

Recycling oil rigs into hotels and spa (Eco- Architecture)

Mountain dew bottles to be recycled into fine tailored suits by Sears (Eco-Fashion)

Acqua Liana - A $29 million mansion stands out for eco-friendly opulence (Eco-Architecture)

Australia's VICOSC discovers way to print solar cells as easily as money (Eco-Technology)

Bentley Continental Supersports is mean and green (Eco-Transport)

Best of Greenlaunches for a clean green world

best-of-gl.jpg Take a break from the world of opulent lifestyle, high-tech gadgets, avant-garde technology

and peek in to the eco-world of Greenlaunches –

Timeless Garden for a plant and a clock (Eco-Concept)

Samsung Blue Earth is the first solar powered touch screen cell phone (Eco-Gadgets)

Jumbo Hostel – Stretch out in an aircraft recycled into an affordable hostel (Eco-Hostel)

Sanyo's Solar parking area powers the electric bikes by soaking sun's energy (Eco-Energy)

Solar ChumAlong charger to face the sun on all sides (Eco-Gadget)

Google PowerMeter helps to reduce energy consumption and bills too (Eco-Technology)

Best of Greenlaunches for a clean green world

best of GL_2.jpg Take a break from the world of opulent lifestyle, high-tech gadgets, avant-garde technology and peek in to the eco-world of Greenlaunches –

Big Apple's Governor's Island will be renovated into an eco-haven (Eco-Architecture)

Strap a Carbon Dioxide Scrubber on the wrist to breath clean air (Eco-Concept)

Obama 2009 Green Inaugural Ball sets the ball of green economy rolling (Eco-Lifestyle)


Scrabble Tiles recycled in to Mac Keyboard to keep playing with alphabets
(Eco-Gadgets)

Hornblower Hybrid ferry reduces carbon footprints on blue waters (Eco-Transport)

Greenest Tip to win Energizer Advanced Lithium Batteries

Advanced_Package.jpg Greenlaunches, our cool eco-blog, is up with some green fun as it offers a chance to win long-lasting Energizer Advanced Lithium Batteries to keep your gizmos juiced up. Anyone under the sun can try their luck by simply submitting an eco-friendly tip for a green lifestyle. Enter the contest here and feel free to let your tips flow!

Best of Greenlaunches for a clean green world

bestofGL.jpg Take a break from the world of opulent lifestyle, high-tech gadgets, avant-garde technology and peek in to the eco-world of Greenlaunches –


Solar power via Space Solar is out of reach (Eco-Concept)

Shanghai Tower – The greenest and the tallest tower of China (Eco-Architecture)

DIY 10 foot axial flux wind turbine kit for eco-friendly energy (Eco-DIY-kit)


World's most solar-efficient clock from Seiko for greener times
(Eco-Gadgets)

Eco-Fashion: Step in the Mohop's eco-friendly footwear to flaunt your green style (Eco-Fashion)

Uber green X-mas tree shaped out of recycled cardboard (Eco-Christmas)

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