WHAT'S THE STORY MORNING GLORY

What's the first thing you do, when you wake up? Out of 2.036 polled in a recent 10 city online survey,  84% of smart phone owners check the app, first thing in the morning. The mobile app most commonly checked are: Email 67%, Weather 45%, Social media 40% (you have 0 new likes), News 35%, Financial news 12%, Traffic 11%, Shopping 11% (let's spend ) and lest not forget Dating (really?) 3%. The 84% isn't surprising for the simple fact many of us not only sleep with our phone bedside, but also because the smartphone has replaced the alarm clock.

 

A clean sheet, bathroom illustrations, from top left clockwise;  little boy brushing his teeth by Robert Wagt, lovely elephant having a bath by Ellen Surrey, Jip en Janneke brushing teeth by Dutch illustrator Fiep Westendorp, Laura Stoddart's illustration of a gigantic bathtub, bath time for the mouse family by Philip Mendoza, illustration by Savignac for a DOP shampoo ad, vintage illustration of a not too happy baby bear in the bathtub, while Elisabeth Brozowska's  hippo is having problems.

THE GREASY SPOON OF THE AMERICAN DINER

The diner, cornerstone of the american society, best known as the greasy spoon, is an american institution in itself. For hordes of americans it's where they have their sunday, or any other day of the week for that matter, breakfast (the american contribution to international cuisine). American breakfast consists mainly of either waffles or pancakes smothered in maple syrup, eggs any style, potatoes, toast and whatnot, the whole doused with truckloads of bad coffee (care for a refill?), it's fast, cheap and you get a years worth of cholesterol and calories in one serving.

Nighthawks at the diner, clockwise from top left;  little girl and her dog sharing a soda at the diner  by Robert Wagt, teenage flirt by Norman Rockwell, Martin Parr's photo of a Las Vegas power breakfast, corner booth in an American diner by William Eggleston, Rocker at the diner by American illustrator Miles Hyman, detail of Edward Hopper's nighthawks at the diner, the diner cornerstone of the american society  by Miroslav Sasek and the master of the greasy spoon himself, the cook illustration by Erich Sokol.

WORDS THAT SAY I LOVE YOU

adoring, always, amorous, appreciative, ardent, beautiful, blessed, blushing, caring, committed, considerate, dedicated, deep, deeply, devoted, devotedly, emotional, everlasting, exciting, faithful, fond, fondly, ravishing, red, romantic, sensual, sentimental, sexy, significant, special, steadfast, still, supportive, sweet, together, touching, treasured, true, trustworthy, understanding, undying, unselfish, wonderful, forever, ga ga, giving, handsome, happy, heartfelt, heartwarming, inexpressible, innermost, inspirational, intimate, lasting, lovable, loving, lovingly, moonstruck, only, passionate, perfect, precious, and last but not least profound.

A smile means more than a thousand words.

The heart of the matter, clockwise from top left; Valentine's day illustrations from cut out paper artist Rob Ryan, dutch born illustrator Robert Wagt's kids jumping rope, a cigarettes and coffee couple by photographer Salva Lopez, french fashion illustrator Rene Gruau's couple for a perfume ad, Wolf Erlbruch's animal kisses, Tali Yalonetzki's black and white version of a valentines day couple whilst Carolina Buzio's couple cuddle up in bed and Serge Bloch gives his heart away.

OLYMPICS ANYONE?

"The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play."