That Beckham Smell

Victoria Beckham did publicity for her new scent Signature at the posh Harvey Nichols store in London this morning. The Mail says that while she may look angelic, the trophy wife doesn't wash her dirty ears. (Photo: WENN via Gossip Girls)

Gets Out Stubborn Axl Grease

Heatherette's Richie Rich and gal pal Kelly Osbourne were at the Hollywood launch party for the new Tide and Downy Total Care washing liquid when they ran into aging Guns N' Roses rocker Axl Rose taking a breather from completing the Chinese Democracy album, lol. "He was really weird with Kelly," Rich told OK! mag. "He kept leering at her and saying, "I want to fuck you!" We're sure she's heard worse. But, hey! What? A launch party for a detergent? As our James commented, "What was it they used to say about Sylvia Miles – that she'd go to the opening of a toilet lid?"

Oreo Rap Not So Fresh

This Oreo cookie rap sounds a lot like... the Fresh Prince of Bel Air rap?

Bluetooth: The Hearing Earring

The way Amanda Lepore sports it, the Jawbone Bluetooth headset looks like an expensive Trifari clip-on earring. The kind of earring, ironically, that a lady would take off to talk on the phone (you know the gesture). But that's not why we're here. We're here because it's awesome that Jawbone has hired the tiny, larger-than-life photographer's model Amanda Lepore to sell its product. This image of her can be seen in an ad currently running in, of all things, The New Yorker, that's already caught the attention of not only smart New Yorkers who read The New Yorker, but tout le blogosphere as well. Though not one would be caught dead with a Bluetooth headset. (Copyranter; t/y Jim 'n' James)

Kate Hudson and the Secret Ingredient

Kate Hudson, stylist David Babaii, and manufacturer Universal are being sued by 220 Laboratories Inc for being "willful and malicious" in the production and launch of their line of organic shampoos and styling aids, David Babaii for Wildaid, all of which contain the key ingredient volcanic ash. 220 accuses Hudson and company of 17 offenses, including misappropriation of trade secrets, fraud, and breach of contract and confidence.

220 Laboratories says it was the only supplier of volcanic ash in the USA and that it entered an “oral contract” with the Tinseltown twosome in August 2006 to develop and manufacture hair products. The company says it revealed their “confidential” ingredient list to Hudson and Babaii in November, and that the duo then took the ash samples and shopped around to find a cheaper deal.

If Hudson sprinkled some of that volcanic ash over her film roles perhaps her performances would shine. (Source)

Hope and Hair Plugs

The fact that Barack Obama has chosen Joe Biden for his running mate has caused several Democratic strategists to worry that the old allegations of plagiarism against Biden might come back to haunt them. But as for now, it's not plagiarism they have to worry about. Rather, plugs are the problem. You see, Joe Biden is bald but, unlike many, he decided to do something about it. And if elected, Joe Biden will have the dubious distinction of becoming America's first vice president to wear hair plugs. But seeing as how our founding fathers were known to sport more than a few fancy wigs in their time, I don't see this as a deep-rooted problem for Biden. And besides, there are already campaign T-shirts available!

– AGNW

Ed Westwick Has Met Some Fantastic Ladies

Ed Westwick, Gossip Girl's smarmy Chuck Bass, showed up yesterday at New York's Soho Grand Hotel to help promote Coca-Cola's silly new red aluminum bottles. In Sunday's Page Six magazine Westwick answers a few burning questions about him and his character and the rumors about both, including that persistent gay one. "People think Chace is gay," he says, "and thought I was gay, that we were humping. It’s not true, but hilarious. People project their fantasies onto people. I’ve never been someone who makes it my objective to go out and pick up chicks. But I’ve met some fantastic ladies here. You know those amazing conversations where you find yourself in a café talking until 2AM and never see them again." So that's settled then. (via Just Jared)

Paris Hilton: The Bandit

At a press conference tomorrow, Paris Hilton will officially announce a new Paris brand: the Bandit interchangeable hair extension headband. But right now we know this:

Paris Hilton introduces “The Bandit”: the first interchangeable hair extension headband made of the finest quality, heat resistant, 100% polyester fiber hair. Because the hair extensions are literally attached with Velcro to the headband, “The Bandit” is simple, easy to use and allows anyone to change their look within minutes! Say bye-bye to costly messy glues and unsightly hair damage. Say hello to beautiful Hollywood-worthy hair that will look great at the office or out on the town!

But also right now, all we see is this.

Food Fight: The Cupcake Wars

The Sprinkles and Crumbs cupcake bakeries are like the Hatfields and the McCoys here in LA, especially since they're located a mere two blocks from from each other in Beverly Hills. But at the moment, Sprinkles has bigger fish to frost. Seems that a West Hollywood bakery called Famous Cupcakes has infringed upon Sprinkles' trademark, the "modern dot," which it presses into the tops of its cupcakes to differentiate one flavor from another, say chocolate from mocha latte. Sprinkles (above left) is suing Famous (above right) for using a dot motif on its cupcakes and in its advertising.

Sprinkles, through its attorney, declined to comment. Its trademark infringement lawsuit, filed in federal court, contends that Famous "has damaged Sprinkles and the business and goodwill symbolized by the Modern Dot design." Bakeries in the U.S., Britain and Asia have imitated the dot design, but have all ceased using it after being contacted by Sprinkles, the suit states. (LA Times)

"It's cupcakes!" says the Famous Cupcakes owner, shrugging. "There's more important things than fighting over a dot." Dot's easy for her to say.

Bears Repeating

When the seat belt digs you more than you dig it, there's the Tiddy Bear, the "cute little guy" that "snaps onto your shoulder strap and moves up and down to remove the pressure wherever you need it." In fact, some drivers might want to pull over to the side of the road to adjust and readjust the Tiddy Bear for hours. Not a spoof – a real product. But wouldn't you know it – somebody took the Tiddy Bear idea and drove it down a lonely alley. (via Cute Overload; t/y Jeremy)

More Wim Delvoye

Gothic bulldozer by Wim Delvoye. After the jump, Delvoye's stained glass, S&M birdhouse, and pooh tiles.

Brand, James Brand

The new OO7 movie, Quantum of Solace, the getting-easier-to-remember-the-name-of sequel to Casino Royale and the 22nd movie in the whole effing Bond franchise, is said to be fully loaded with product placement. Says Variety:

Sequel to "Casino Royale" will again be backed by Ford Motor Co., Heineken beer, Smirnoff vodka, Omega watches, Virgin Atlantic, Sony Ericsson cell phones and other Sony electronics. These brands all have products placed in the film and each will shell out tens of millions of dollars as a promotional partner of the pic.

What Am I?

Reveal after the jump.

Two All-Beef Patties, Special Sauce, Lettuce, Cheese, Pickles, Onions on a Sesame Seed Bunion

And please let this Nike burger include bacon and come with a side of shoestring potatoes. (via Mr.Gadget)

Wakin' to Bacon

As you know, most here at World of Wonder agree that everything tastes better wrapped in bacon. Now WOW staffer Ted Roze says that former assistant editor Ian Grant posted this on Facebook. "The Wake n’ Bacon is a collaborative alarm clock design by Matty Sallin, Daniel Bartolini, and Hsiao-huh Hsu. It wakes you up with the delicious scent of bacon instead of beeping."

The Lap of Luxury

It's imported! Also available in cat and ferret flavors.

McFlys: Feeture Presentation

After much pressure from consumers, constant nudging from Michael Maloof of the Official McFly 2015 Project, and a cool video, Nike has finally made some headway into the production of the fantasy self-tying Air McFlys Michael J Fox wore in Back to the Future II. Above, a still from the movie; below, the new issue from Nike. "The box itself has 2015 on its side," says Gizmodo, "and the slide out inner chamber is patterned like Marty's hoverboard. The wrapping paper inside has the words 'great scott!' on them. And the sneakers come with hoverboard pink laces with blue tips." Sadly, the laces don't tie themselves. Perhaps version 2.0.

(Previously and previously)

Tweaked: Help Yourshelf

David Keeps is at it again. The host of World of Wonder's Art & The City, perennially in reruns on Ovation TV, has started a new series for the Los Angeles Times. A newly minted director of videos for the paper's website, Keeps has thrown down the gauntlet to HGTV, TLC, and the DIY network with "Tweaked," an instructional video in which Rebecca Johnson and Jeff Klarin of Bughouse Art & Design transform an Ikea shelf into works of art.

Heavy Meta

From Fenton:

(Ffffound!; and design)

Please Recycle This Post-Consumer Post

Yes, of course, most of us here at WOW are somewhat concerned about saving the planet, especially if all we have to do is buy stuff that helps instead of stuff that doesn't. Like, we wouldn't want to get our hands dirty with compost, or stop using air conditioning, but buying stuff that's been recycled, is biodegradable, or made without pollutants is...still buying stuff, which we like! And money's green. So we've started looking into planet-friendly products from a company called Seventh Generation after we discovered some of its goods in a goody bag we got at a party. Seventh Generation products include such "green" stuff as brown paper towels, made from unbleached, undyed, 100% "post-consumer" recycled paper, and Orange Guard, a water-based orange-peel insecticide. Plus a compost-load of other good-and-good-for-you product, from baby diapers to a minty toilet bowl cleaner to chlorine-free tampons. And it's all available online so you don't have to drive anywhere to get it. Check it out.

One Block, or Two?

Cinderblocks of sugar, just the ticket when you feel like something heavy at teatime but are avoiding extra calories. And they go great with this china cup and gun set. (Truexdesign; t/y Fenton)

Miley Cyrus: What's in Your Wallet?

In an effort to lure the Miley Cyrus brand into partnering with the LifeStyles brand, the condom company is offering Cyrus a lifetime supply of the product when she comes of age. Is there enough latex in the world to make good on that deal? Probably not, since they may also have offered 50 Cent, who's lent his name to a line of the company's rubbers, the same deal. "Pop culture proves that teens are more ready than ever to discuss the subject of sex," says the LifeStyles' VP of marketing. "We believe that Miley is both influential and relatable to this afflicted set – and is the obvious choice to get the message of safe sex out to teens across America." Says the Miley machine: "We never received an offer, nor would she consider the offer." We'll see. (EOnline)

Cool Things Fenton Found on the Web

• mahogany cinderblock
• burger flash drive
• stained-glass fast food
• disposable cell phone from Bic
• porcelain machine gun
• and a pad of paper

(All on one site: designboom)

Tori Spelling: Home Sweet Shopping

This chunky ring is from Tori Spelling's Home Shopping Network collection, and is described on the HSN site thusly: "a metalwork frame encompasses the center stone and is accented by pavé-set round glass stones." At only $59.95, it's a magical, inexpensive way to almost make you feel a member of the Spelling-McDermott family as you twist and turn it on your finger while watching Oxygen's Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood on Tuesday nights.

Absolut Perez

Yes, it's Perez again today. But you'll like this. It's a commercial World of Wonder made for Absout vodka, directed by Chris McKim, that will never air in your living room – only here, now. It's an exciting mini drama (not Minnie Driver) with a happy ending and a few recognizable WOW kids in bit parts.

Fingerbang Your Mouse

Mouse cozy doubles as a trip to third base. Click here for product details. (t/y Jim)

The Sweet Taste of Success

I have been waiting for someone to make a stevia soda, and I finally tried it on the Fourth. Stevia grows in South America and is a naturally super-sweet leaf that can be used instead of sugar and has very few calories. When I discovered the extract years ago, I tried to use it to make my own sugar-free soda, but when I added stevia to the carbonated water, the bottle would do the Mentos-Coke thing and overflow. I heard about Monsanto trying to prevent stevia from being used as a sweetener, so I waited for someone to challenge the big business of poisonous artificial sweeteners' stranglehold on the soft drink market. Finally, on Independence Day, I had my first Zevia cola. I drank it in an act of sweet rebellion against Monsanto and scary chemicals in my drink. It came in a nice cold can that popped satisfyingly just like the other diet sodas, but it tasted great and won't give me a stomach ache (Splenda) or cause me to fall into a depression (NutraSweet). This is the drink of the future.

– Clancy Cavnar

epMotion: The Video

Curious about epMotion? It's an automated pipetting system. A pipette, of course, is an instrument used in a laboratory to transport a measured volume of liquid. Like a big eyedropper. You've seen it used over and over on the CSI shows and always thought you'd like to have one but realized you really had no practical use for it, except possibly as a sex toy. And you were on the right track. Now, according to this infectious video, the apparatus has been automated, freeing up technicians' hands for love. (epMotion; t/y Eduardo)

Pipetting all those well-plates, baby, sends your thumbs into overdrive / And spending long nights in the lab makes it hard for your love to thrive

The Dark Chocolate

Batman on the Hershey highway. What, no Heath Bars?

Take Two of These and Get Lots of West

As I was thumbing through LA Weekly this weekend I came across maybe the oddest ad I've ever seen. First of all. I had to search and SEARCH for what it was actually advertising (Absolut vodka if you're still trying to figure it out). Next, why does this fake pill package look like a condom wrapper? Are the Absolut people telling us that drinking alcohol will make us more like Kanye? And why do we want to be Kanye anyway?

– Lindsey Hager

G'day, Sunshine!

Ten perky inches of croc-loving sass, the Bindy Irwin doll sports ponytails, khakis, and hiking boots and is accessorized with binoculars, camera, outback gear, and a cockatoo, wombat, and python. Stingray sold separately. And this little doll talks and talks, just like the real nine-year-old doll does on her Emmy-winning TV show, saying such Bindi-isms as "Crikey! Let's go help wildlife!" Available in September for $15 - $20. (Life & Style)

Conversely

Here are two instructional videos from the makers of Converse footwear. If studied carefully, they could get you laid. We should warn you that this first one on how to kiss might frighten you with its ginormity, but the second one with instructions by a girl who's way out of your league on how to present yourself to a girl who's not quite so out of your league, frankly, we couldn't make big enough. Thanks, Converse. (We haven't had this much fun at a commercial site since the Subservient Chicken.)

No 50 Cent Tacos

Rapper 50 Cent, who made millions (400 of them) through a savvy investment in Smart Water, is planning to sue Taco Bell because they made him a business offer but apparently forgot to tell him or his agent before publicizing it. The taco-stand chain offered to donate a paltry $10,000 to 50's favorite charity if he would change his name for one day to either 79 Cent, 89 Cent, or 99 Cent, and rap his order for take-away at a drive-thru window. "When my legal team is finished with them, Taco Bell is going to have a new corporate slogan: 'We messed with the bull and got the horns!'" said Mr Cent. (Contactmusic; photo: GettyImaes)

The Thong Remains the Same: Bitch Sues Victoria's Secret

– Lindsey Hager

Hard Candy

Gummi lighthouses. They knew. (Accordion Guy)

Becks on the Beach

Here's David Beckham's latest ad for Emporio Armani Underwear, which will debut in the August ish of Vanity Fair. Meanwhile, the soccer star will be the host tonight at a preview of the photo on a mural at the San Francisco Macy's overlooking a 6,000-seat arena. We don't understand what that means, but expect to see the image on a billboard in your major city soon. (via Just Jared)

Of Interest

Mark and Mario in Calvins. (via yuku)

Love in the Time of Cheetos

There should be a Guinness-book category for watching this astoundingly long video (8:46) through to the end. We copped out around 4:51. If you make it through, let us know what happens. (t/y Blake)

When Brown Turns to Gold

Chris Brown has a gold-plated MacBook Air. But what he really needs is a rag to clean those smears off it.

– Steven Corfe

Nick vs Mario: Feuding Physiques

Bicep rivals Mario Lopez and Nick Adams have not been so buddy-buddy lately while performing together in the revival of A Chorus Line on Broadway, battling for manly supremacy, and it just got more unpleasant now that money is involved. The men's-underwear company 2(x)ist originally had its eyes on Lopez to be its spokesbulge and was ready to call him with an offer, "but then we saw Nick," said a company insider. "He's younger, sexy, more interesting. On top of that, his body was crazy. We set up a meeting, and when he walked in, that was it. We never even looked at anyone else after that." The creative director of the manpanties company agreed. "Nick's very masculine, sexy, modern. It's totally all about his body. Mario is a good-looking guy, but Nick had it. He's up and coming, the new face of sexy. He's original. He's hot." Somebody, please, throw cold water on these people. (Page Six, but you'll want to go here, trust us; photo: Walter McBride/Retna)

Art Hath No Fury Like a Gay Scorned

This is Charlie, the handmade gay doll created by Brazilian sculptor Fernando Carpaneda in mischievous response to certain antigay leaders. The doll's body is based on Russia's most famous gay, journalist and photographer Slava Mogutin, who was chosen by Carpaneda in honor Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, who banned demonstrations of gay pride in his country. The doll's face was inspired by the Brazilian evangelical priest, Edino Fonseca, a homophobic Brazilian politician who suggested using taxpayer money to establish clinics to cure gays of gayness. Charlie's uncut penis comes in flaccid or erect modes, and the doll is included in the permanent collections of New York's Museum of Sex, the Las Vegas Erotic Heritage Museum, and London's Gay Doll Museum. Many more dolls and purchase info are at the Leslie Lohman Gay Art Foundation. Homos will want to collect 'em all!

Robottoms Up! Hillary Drinks for Free

Svedka, which boasts it's been voted the #1 vodka of 2033, ran a full-page ad in the NY Times today. In the ad, the vodka's spokesbot, Svedka_Grl, thanks Hillary for making the election so exciting and offers her free vodka for the remainder of the campaign season. And because in the future everyone will be bi(partisan), the vodka coupon is good for Barack and McCain, too. Oh, and if you think you have the hots for the sexy cool of the spokesbot, keep in mind that WOW's creative development exec Tom Campbell is the voice of Svedka_Grl. (HuffPo)

Joey Heatherton: Serta-fied Perfection

Attention all drag queens, faggots, strippers, sex kittens, and red-blooded American males – YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS VIDEO! A thousand thanks to Brett from Texas for sending this GLORIOUS making-of story from the '70s Serta Perfect Sleeper mattress commercials starring THE ONE AND ONLY JOEY HEATHERTON – aka Joey Heatherock for you Flinstones afficiandos. Watching it is as close to a religious experience as many of you are ever likely to get! In it, Joey wiggles and giggles and go-gos and rolls around on her Serta mattress, singing a song I guarantee YOU WILL NEVER FORGET. You will be humming it in the shower, in your car, and while you try to sleep tonight on your inferior-grade mattress! This video was used as in-store promotion, so it's never been seen outside a Serta store. Watch and learn, young ones!

– James St James

Love With the Improper Stranger

Has anyone else seen this commercial for AMP energy drink? I don't know, but is it really a good idea to promote one-night stands to the young kids watching this? I hate to show my Southern/conservative roots here, but I find it all a bit disturbing. Shouldn't a condom make an appearance somewhere? Or am I just getting old?

– James St James

We Went with a Friend to the New Mall in Glendale and All We Got Was This Lousy Chocolate

Actually, all we got was this photo of the lousy chocolate. At the new and gaudy, lavishly fountained Americana at Brand mall in Glendale (a vast, upscale retail park, from the people who brought you the Grove mall in LA, but with chandeliers suspended from the sky and on-premises luxury apartments surrounding and overlooking the continuous foot traffic of shoppers), our friend went wild in the new, dachshund-obsessed Peter Alexander store buying pajamas and things, including these candy bars, which may in fact be delicious. (Photo by DK)

Dad Nixes Britney's Woofer

We're not sure how this plastic dog, called a Woofy, created to hide ganglia of electrical wires and cables in the home, can be called furniture, but that's the word used in the tabs to describe the object Britney Spears' father Jamie was in talks about with Danish furniture man Claus Hjelmbak. The Woofy, which retails for $212.50, looks to us a lot like it was based on James Thurber's dog drawings. Britney was to have endorsed a Woofy in blue and pink, but Jamie scotched the deal when he got the uncomfortable feeling Hjelmbak was taking advantage of Britney. (NY Post)

LeBeouf's Undies: A Guide to Recognizing His Scents

Sadly, these items of underwear that Shia LeBeouf (natural successor to Jake Gyllenhaal) wore as young Dito in the film A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints have been removed from auction on eBay. The seller, who was offering "grey sweatpants, a pair of white breifs [sic] and ankle socks," claimed the highest bidder could "OWN SCREEN WORN SHIA UNDERWEAR! PLEASE NOTE: COSTUME IS 'AS IS' WHICH INCLUDES MAKEUP STAINS, DIRT; ETC! (Again, these items was worn and used for filming by Shia)" While we understand there could be stains (LeBeouf occasionally poops his pants), the possibility of makeup traces on LeBeouf's genitals or ankles has us puzzled. (via dlisted)

Closing the Gap

If you need any further proof that "art" is the new "krumping," just check out this GINORMOUS billboard on the corner of Hollywood and Highland. Chuck Close? Really, Gap? Chuck Close in a Philip Glass T-shirt? "Old" meet "Creepy and Old." And how's that working for them? It's just odd to me that in our 'tween-obsessed culture, an ugly, 60-something man can still be the spokesperson for a youth-oriented company. If that's the case, art and artists must really be all the rage, right? Well, come on down to the WOW Storefront Gallery and decide for yourself! We got art galore! (Photo by Steven Corfe)

– James St James

Not What You Expect

Nothing hotter than models with a bun in the oven. They are all the rage. (t/y Fenton)

Matthew McConaughey: Version 2.0

This is the European version of Matthew McConaughey's commercial for Dolce & Gabbana's The One men's fragrance. He refused to take his shirt off for the US version, including billboards, wanting to "preserve his modesty" stateside. Too bad. We've often wondered what he'd look like with his shirt off. (via Towleroad)

Of Interest

Giggle Sugar has posted a visual answer to our Nikki Cox question of a couple of days ago: Cox side-by-side with the mom from the Sea Monkeys ad.

Trouble Brewing at Starbucks

Members of a Christian group are shielding their children from the new, smutty Starbucks logo (at right) and conducting prayer circles in the hope of getting the coffee chain's now topless mascot at least into a halter top, for Chrissake. The new image "has a naked woman on it with her legs spread like a prostitute," says Mark Dice, founder of the Resistance. "Need I say more? It's extremely poor taste, and the company might as well call themselves Slutbucks." Perhaps he should look closer at the original logo; whatever those are – legs or a split fishtail – she's holding 'em behind her neck in both versions. (Source)

God Shave the Queen

You might not want to borrow your roommate's Braun shaver after seeing this clip. Then again, you might want to sleep with it under your pillow. (via