What is it? — Episode 2: Which came first, the [IKEA] chicken or the [Garden Design] egg?

Last evening I received the following email from reader Liran Okanon:

Hello,

I've been reading your site for a couple of years now and I just wanted to say that it's great.

BUT, while I was reading your post a few days ago I saw that you had an error.

In http://www.bookofjoe.com/2006/05/what_is_it.html and http://www.bookofjoe.com/2006/05/cell_phone_led_.html you said that the watering can can only be bought from Seattle, that's where you are mistaken.

It can be purchased ALL over the world through the lovely IKEA retailer, http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15573&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=11257&langId=-1&parentCats=15573*15714*15717 and for only 1.99!!!

I just thought I'd pass on the info.

Keep up the good work.

Liran Okanon

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Liran's been with me for years — I'm humbled and flattered.

But I digress.

As is my wont, I told the crack research team to drop everything — which isn't saying a whole lot, really — and investigate the information furnished by Liran, who was somehow able to find, without the huge salary and benefits afforded my team members, information they appear to have missed completely.

It's really hard to get good help these days, I must say.

Hey — wait a minute... I just thought up a great title for a song that could be nominated for best song at next year's Oscars if I play my cards right: "It's hard in here for a simp."

Oh.

I see.

Anyway.

It turns out that IKEA does indeed offer (below)

what appears, on first inspection, to be the very same stylish watering can I featured on May 7 (top).

But take a second, closer look.

Note that:

1) The handle of the IKEA iteration doesn't appear to extend down to the level of the base but, rather, terminates a few inches above ground.

2) The curves of the IKEA version are different: instead of that sharp bend at the apex of the handle-basin confluence there's a smooth curve.

Having said that, the IKEA model indeed costs only $1.99 as opposed to the $4.95 of the other version, and is available in IKEA stores everywhere — though not via the internet.

Bonus: IKEA's comes in blue

and a very nice light green

in addition to red.

Thanks, Liran.