TV BUZZ: Starting Monday, MTV and its mtvU channel will broadcast a series that followed 16 designers in a Dumbo loft to compete for prizes. It’s like The Real World. Only it’s like, umm, maybe a little too real? Instead of watching girls make out in a hot tub, it’s like, nerdy old guys discussing interface widget design.

Contribute: Add an image, link, video or comment »

The Best Links:

1. It’s Like the Real World but With Computers
2. Engine Room - Official Website
3. HP partners with MTV to present The Engine Room
4. Watch the Teaser

STYLE BUZZ: Careful painting can give rise to optical illusions. The parking garage application of this new “technology” is actually very cool, and useful, too.

Contribute: Add an image, link, video or comment »

The Best Links:

1. A Series Of 3-D Room Illusions
2. Awesome Optical Illusion Parking Garage
3. More Shots Of The Optical Illusion Parking Garage
4. Cool Concentric Circle Illusion Room

STYLE BUZZ: MOMA’s cute collection of lifestyle products from Japan. Here’s a roundup of cute yet slightly pointless favorites from the collection.

The Best Links:

1. A Treasure Trove of Useless but Cute Things - See Lots of Pics
2. Some Picks Include the Hands-Free Umbrella and a Ramen Dish Set
3. Mochi, the New Mascot of Cuteness
4. Some of Our Favorite Picks
5. Those Japanese Are So Creative!
6. Get Some of the Stuff Online
7. Ooh, a Color-Changing Scarf

TECH BUZZ: This year’s gathering in Germany showcases Artificial Intelligence designed to rescue humans and play soccer, among other less awesome things. Yes, it’s all very impressive, but get back to us when there’s a model that can brilliantly deliver dinner like a pro.

The Best Links:

1. RoboCup’s Official Site
2. “Robots Compete to Save Human Kind, With Time Left Over for a Kickabout”
3. 42 More Years Before Robots Can Bend It Like Beckham
4. Soccer Shmoccker…Check Out the Creepy Rescue Competition!
5. Don’t Fear Robots - They May Save Your Life! [In The Fuuuuture]
6. Photos from Last Year’s RoboCup in Atlanta
7. Browse The Schedule for This Year’s RoboCup in Germany

CULTURE BUZZ: An upscale glass-blowing gallery opens in LA selling beautifully-designed bongs that double as sculptural art. But we’re guessing you probably don’t have an extra $5,000 to spare on a fancy luxury bong, or even $10 to spend on a dimebag. Here are some other creative ways to make your own.

The Best Links:

1. Illadelph at Melrose Avenue Sells Artfully Hand-Blown Glass Bongs
2. Examples of Luxury Hookahs, Waterpipes, Nargiles and Bongs
3. Chihuly’s Fancy Bongs Featured in Blown Glass Art Installation
4. Luxury Bong Water Now Available
5. Killadelph - Fancy Water Pipe Store’s Official Website

TECH BUZZ: Designed to be used once and then composted, Francois Clerc’s Graine de Pot is a space-saving objet de art. We like the idea of being able to toss the whole pot at the end of the growing season, and it makes us wonder when they’ll start making biodegradable clothes we can just throw out instead of laundering. Get on it, designers.

The Best Links:

1. The Graine de Pot
2. “Living in a city and doing proper gardening is like running your own business from prison”
3. We Like the Idea of Temporary Planting Vessels