Cheeseburger Duvet Cover

T'was boxing day,
and not a shop was open.
And you realize you missed out someone
in your Christmas shopping list.

How now brown cow?

Why not consider a new year gift, and this one is especially tailored for those who are gluttons, or foodies at heart.



Bed covers in the design of a cheeseburger. This will either make you go to bed with hungry stomachs, or make you totally get sick of and detest the sight of a cheeseburger in the future. On second thought, it might make you think of bed every time you walk past a Macdonald's outlet.

Then again, who can resist sleeping on buns? ;)

More info here.

Open Ear Sport Headphones

Every now and then, a newspaper article will appear regarding the damaging effects of earphones and headphones. Usually emphasizing on 'listening in moderation', it will always link to blasting loud music in the ears causing permanent damage. Despite these articles, there will always be newer models of audio sensory tools being promoted and produced, each boasting better capabilities at blocking environment noise and so on and so forth.

Let's face it. We will never stop using earphones or headphones, because it actually helps us to create our own personal sphere. That said, I am up for alternatives that are less harmful to our bodies and still maintain the same functions. Such as the Open Ear Sport Headphones. The name might lead you to think that this is definitely not one to block out any unwanted noise, and you are right.

What makes this rather unique than the rest, is the technology behind it. No more stuffing regular sized earbuds into your irregular sized ears, and praying they won't fall out as you go for a run or jog. Most of what we hear are sound waves travelling through the air to the eardrum, which then converts the sound waves to vibrations and sends them to the inner ears, commonly known as bone conduction. What if we can bypass the air travel and deliver sound straight to the bones?

In comes the AfterShokz Headphones. Originally developed for use by military special ops and SWAT teams, the headphones sit in front of the ear and delivers sound through the cheekbones to the inner ears. This allows users to still be receptive to ambient noise.



That said, I am curious on the potential of this, such as soothing music through the cheekbones when one is having a toothache, or headache. Also, I know music can stimulate plant growth. What about dental growth?

You can find out more info on the technology, pricing and products available here.

iFixit Thirsty Bag

Once, the bottle of water in my bag leaked. I panicked and rushed to the nearest restroom, where I delicately dismantled the components of my PSP and blew it dry under the hand dryer. Unfortunately, it wasn't a success, and my three hundred odd dollars investment was gone.

Now, if I had an iFixit Thirsty Bag, there is a higher chance my PSP might still be functioning. A simple seal-proof bag containing extra-absorbent beads, it promises to pull moisture out of any electronic device. Some might say, why not just throw it in a packet of rice? This solution does come up quite regularly in search results on what to do if your device is wet. But, who carries a packet of rice everywhere? (I'm not talking about the cooked types.)

You can find more info here and the bag/s are selling for 9.95 pounds each. Definitely an ideal gift for those whose electronics keep getting dunked in water, (or you are preparing to dunk their devices in water.)

Million Dollars

I remember how in school last time, the topic of 'what will you do if you had a million dollars' would arise, whether for discussion topics (ussw) or for compositions. (Compositions are the predecessors to essays.)

How far and wide our dreams went. From giving to charity to travelling around the world to flying to space and much more.

Now a decade later, if I had to answer that same question, my answers would be entirely different and I'm pretty sure most people would agree with me on this.

A million dollars can be used to clear study loans, pay medical bills, invest in stock markets, start a company (or companies) and many more. If I had a million dollars, I'll clear my study loans, buy a second hand car, and kickstart my business, put some in a fixed deposit account, and donate monthly to charity.

The clean debt-free, health-ridden, flawless sphere we grew up in, has evolved over the years. Not necessarily for the worse, though. It has definitely gotten more technical. One has to deal with fare calculations, cpf contribution rates, technical faults, nutritional information, waist sizes.

Will this evolution cease one day? I don't think so. It's all casually classified under 'part of growing up'. But, it pays to hold true to the values we had when we were a child. At the end of the day (or year), the values instilled since young aid us in attaining our ever-changing dreams and goals be it short or long-term.

What will you do with a million dollars? 

Hansel & Gretel, a must-watch!

I managed to catch Hansel & Gretel the other day. Not the movie, but the musical currently showing at the Drama Centre till 15th December. It took my breath away.

From the multi-talented cast, to the very-Singaporean costumes, to the awesome kids cast supporting in singing and top-notch dancing, this is a definite must-watch to end the year right! If you haven't been able to do one thing at least right - like buying Brand's Essence for your kids only to realize the next day that top PSLE kids won't be featured in papers - then this will undoubtedly place you in Santa's Good Kids List (if you still believe in Santa, that is).

Director Pam Oei has done a splendid job in localizing the children's tale. The stepmother is a pop superstar *hint crossover* who moves in to Queenstown, and charms the father of Hansel and Gretel. She 'happily' brings them out and leaves them in one of our few forests, where they find a very un-ordinary house.  Made of cookies, kueh lapis, pineapple tarts, donuts, the evil witch keeps them captive. Kudos to Sebastian Tan and Siti Khalijah for their role as the evil witch and her helper respectively.

How the story goes, I shall not spoil the many local twists and references. What I particular enjoyed was the well-crafted blend of jokes which children will understand, and jokes which adults will get. I could tell Sebastian Tan probably had a very very hard time controlling his inner Broadway Beng, in order to satisfy the numerous young faces in the audience.

That said, I was very very very impressed with the youth supporting cast. Ranging from ages 4 to 12, I am confident that the next generation of theatre practitioners will continue to up the ante. And, a sample of what you will hear, (and enjoy) can be found here.

(Psst, highly recommend you listen to that before your lunch or dinner break)

Tickets can be found here.

Add Up

If you are a seasoned traveler, one thing that might nag you at the back of your mind is the numerous small change you tend to collect at the end of each trip. Now, if you visit that particular country very regularly, then it is okay, because there will always be opportunities to use up those loose change. What if you don't visit them frequently? You will just be left with a bunch of coins that are of no value to you.

Meet your solution.



The Add Up is a foreign currency exchange box. You simply drop in your foreign coins, and receive a credit to your phone account or Skype account. The box will automatically convert your coins for you, to your domestic currency.



Another important aspect to this idea would be the contribution to society. Every exchange will definitely result in a decimal amount being rounded off. This seemingly minuscule amount will be donated to a charity of your choice. I say seemingly, because it would be small if thought of as an individual contribution. However, it will increase exponentially, once you consider the global number of travelers easily hits over two billion.

More info here.

He ponders and wonders

His right hand inches for the edge of the rock jutting out. Like many other edges, they provide him a platform to hold on and reach skyward. There are times where he holds on comfortably, safe and assured. Other times, it's difficult. Even a small pebble dislodged from the top is a threat to his existence as it plummets earth-bound. Every time his eyes follow it, they end up focusing on the darkness below.

That which rumbles underneath.
That which just might blow anytime.
That which shrieks and bellows at night.
That which whispers his name as the moon shines bright above.

Arrows of smoke,
Daggers of lightning,
Thrashes of thunder.
A sandstorm.

Blankets of
Small
Sharp
Speeding
Harsh
Crude
Blunt
Minute
Piercing
Memories.

Who wants to hold on to a burning rope?
In all common sense, one would let it fall.
Yet, once it falls, how would one know
if it is still burning?

My heart aches.
But, no time to ponder.
One has to wander.
Night is coming, and before that,
There is much to be done.
Even till I am on my knees.
Others before me.

Sound

Have you ever wondered how colorful sound is? Yet, it sounds strangely puzzling, that something associated with hearing is to be described in something associated with sight.

You just might solve that puzzle now.



These water dancing speakers connected to your computer or media player via USB, and contains 4 colorful LEDs each. Aimed skyward, the colors changed at random, and the height of the pulse or spray is determined by the volume and pitch of the sound.

They are completed sealed so there is no risk of spillage, or the need to refill water. Personally, I wouldn't feel very safe placing them at weird angles, (like on their sides for example), though that might make the water pulses rather interesting to watch.




You can get them at 40 pounds for a pair here.

I am so getting them on my next payday. They look damn awesome!

Hiccup be gone!

Don't you just hate it when you get the hiccups! You try and try to stop it, from holding your breath, to taking seven sips of water, to getting your friend to scare you. Sometimes, it works. Other times, you're just left on your own kiddo.

Now, something promising looms on the horizon - Hicural Hiccup Relief.



Now, stopping hiccups is as easy as drinking water.  It is basically an extended white toothpick, with a hole in the middle. Stick it between your teeth, and down a glass of water. Apparently, biting on it will tense up the muscles in your throat and stop the spasms in your diaphragm causing your hiccups to be reduced to none.

Available at USD $7.99 here.

Don't try. Feel.

When an archer is shooting for nothing, he has all his skill. 
If he shoots for a brass buckle, he is already nervous. 
If he shoots for a prize of gold, he goes blind or sees two targets — 
He is out of his mind! 
His skill has not changed. But the prize divides him. 
He cares. He thinks more of winning than of shooting– 
And the need to win drains him of power.

Chuang Tzu

Life drags us down sometimes, by making us try. Since young, we have been inculcated with the (good?) habits of trying. No matter what we cannot do, we are inspired and encouraged by peers and family to just try. After all, 'if you fail, you will just land among the stars' is all too familiar for some of us. 

But, not everything in life can be written. If it were, life would be but a fairy tale (pun intended). There will always be situations or environments where one has to try to un-try. 

To stand at ease.
A reed flaying in the wind. 
Hear the heart throb within the body. 
Feel the veins flourish with ease. 
As the brain tunes itself.
And settles down to a slower
easier
lighter
relaxed tempo. 

Go with your heart, no matter what.
You can't make no mistakes in life.
Yet, no matter what, do not regret. 
Some decisions, if reversed, could result in different endings.
How would you know those endings unless you try?

An analysis of your being.
And a leap forward. 
Diving or soaring.
Don't try to foresee your future. 
Take a step of faith, and put a foot out.
What might happen?

Oh, and break a leg for me, will ya? 

Old Friend

Old friend
why do you not appear,
I hear your laughter in the airy lofts
past the cobwebs strewn through time.

I run after you,
but where are you hiding?
The shadow cast by a candle
A reed flailing in the wind.

Old friend
come out and play.
Why stay within the box around
Just join me and stay.

Let's walk together
through the bridge of colors
and towards the horizon yonder.

Old friend,
Two companions we make.
So much of life to explore
and appreciate
and unwind
and indulge.

So much to be shared within two.
What say you?

Fast Baggage

You just endured a long flight, and the last thing you want to do is to stand idly and watch the baggage stroll by. And, we all know stroll is an overstatement. Imagine baggage getting rolled out at 600 metres per hour. Wouldn't that be awesome!

Each tray in the conveyor system has a RFID tag on it, so its exact and precise location can be determined. That said, I sure wouldn't want to retrieve my baggage when its speed is at its peak.


More info here.

Two of Us

Here we stand,
awkward, eyes averted
once close
now distant,
pseudo strangers.

Feet a shuffle,
eyes glancing to and fro
words a coming in bits
and pieces.
As we struggle to complete
our sentences.

Displacement of fluids
resulting in stoppages
as we make an amicable
decision.

Relief rolls off our shoulders
as we go on our separate lives
Impressioned but not distant.

Bus Stop

We stand, in a multitude.
Peering into the distance.
Some straight and upright
Ears angled forward.
Others slouched against the pole,
Glancing around, lost
In our world of thoughts.
And work to be done the next day.

Then, we all stand to attention,
As the object comes into sight
Big, rectangular and full of space,
We crane our necks and
Squint our eyes
Intently.

In that moment, time slows down.
Memories and thoughts fade away
As the front comes into view.

Some snap to attention and
Perch smartly on the edges
Hands in salute,
Others resume their prior positions
And wait.

For their bus.

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Walk and Work

Some people walk a lot when they work. Insurance salesmen, customer service, the list is endless. On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who sit a lot when they work. Call centre crew, admin personnel, finance calculators, the list is endless too.

Good news for those who always wanted to get their butt of the chair and a-moving (read: active lifestyle), but can't seem to find the reason to, comes in the form of a laptop attached to a treadmill.

There is a maximum speed of 4mph which supposedly allows you to walk at a leisurely pace, and not sound too breathless, should your boss call in for an update on the report due yesterday. As you can deduce from the pic, there is sufficient space for a monitor, a keyboard and mouse, and several other components that you might need, like maybe speakers and a speakerphone.

It goes for 1.3k USD, and no, computer and accessories not included. Then again, how does one even begin to put a financial worth on a healthy lifestyle?

More info here.

EcoCharge

Let's face it. The globe is getting warmer. Everywhere we turn or everything we use is also getting way way much hotter. Mobile phones, microwaves, laptops, escalator handrails. All these generate heat in an increasingly heated world.

So, it is actually about time for someone to come up with an idea on using these numerous sources of heat. Like using it to charge electronics while being on the move perhaps.

Meet the EcoCharge. Drawing heat from any well, source of heat, it has some internal thingys that convert heat to electricity which is zapped out via a USB connection. Also, it comes with magnets its sides, so it makes it way much easier to leave it attached to a metal surface for maximum heat transfusion. It also displays the efficiency of your charge. I mean, what else could you ask for?

You can find out more info here. 

BendDesk

Imagine if your toolbar, wasn't at the bottom of the screen, but really physically off the bottom of the screen. You would have so much free space on your desktop (no pun intended). This conceptual BendDesk will certainly bend your mind.

With multitouch enabled, users can interact with the whole surface. The possibilities of this are endless, especially for designers and those might just need that one more pixel.

Unfortunately, it is still a working prototype, and I doubt it will come cheap. (Can I put this on my Christmas wish list?)

You can find out more info here

.

Une Bobine

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. The handphone is levitating.
Nah, just kidding.

Meet the Une Bobine. Its 24 inch metal gooseneck casing will grant you the flexibility to position your mobile phone at any height or angle (or depth under the table) that you need. Currently, they have a microusb version and another for the iphones.

You can get it here

Bubble Tank

This took my breath away when I saw it. A fish tank that leans over the edge as if it is going to drop off anytime. Talk about living on the edge!

A brilliant gift for those who are always worrying. Maybe they might overcome their easily-worrying tendencies. Then again, its 295 pounds price tag might just put you over the edge.

More info here.

World's Shortest Scheduled Flight

This two and a half minute flight is probably the reason why budget flights are created.



I wonder if I can pay my flight by the meter.

Two Dozen

Two dozen.

Something used to measure eggs.
Now also the years I've breathed.

Who knows how many more will come?

It's a lie to say I'm constantly looking forward
Because I always carry my past with me.
At times, it tells me what not to do
To not repeat the same mistake.

As I look back in wonder,
And a tinge of sorrow and regret,
It strikes me
How shallow my impact is on others.

Save for the few old men who tell me
I look good
Or the lady in her late fifties
Who remarked that I look cute
And then walked away.

In secondary school, I would use my allowance,
And buy food to share and give to my friends and classmates.
Now, I use my pay and stock up my drawer
With biscuits and noodles for my colleagues.

In Upper Pri, I sang on stage with my crush.
In secondary school, I hum a tune to myself
And those who sit around me know it.
I still sing. Jolly fellow, I am.

Some mistake jolly and happiness
For shallow thinking.
Wisdom isn't about recognition,
But about understanding and
Consciousness of thought.

If the earth shall pass away now,
I am satisfied with my life.
I have loved and have been loved.
I have hurt and have been hurt.
I may not have seen the world,
Its luscious forests, or wide
Never-ending waters,
I may not have flown to the ends of the earth,
Nor ascended the mountains,
But I have stood amongst multitudes,
And know that I am but a grain of sand
Of the meandering shores.

It does not make me significant,
But signifys that I need to work harder.
To maximize my strengths.
To help others.

By lending a listening ear.
By listening and not hearing.
By supporting and not discouraging.
By uplifting and not demeaning.

Till love and joy bubbleth over,
And flows unceasingly.
Till He comeths.

To lead a life by example
And not empty words.

Empower Me.
And guide my path.

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A fine line

A fine line.
It's never fine.

The moon hangs above
as the cool breeze drafts
too long has it been
since the muse last appeared.

Gospel music wafting from the speakers
conducive reflection and retrospect.

What if. What if.
The mind turns and tosses
as it ponders the heart.

In a hidden garden,
he stands and moves.
Step by step,
forceful actions,
eyes closed in contemplation.

The wind ruffles his hair
the drop of sweat dangles
and gracefully departs his brow.

A flash of silver
Metallic glint
Thrust and then
Defend.

A constant,
something all who roam the earth understand:
time.

The grass is always greener on the other side.
So should one move on
or paint the town red.

What happens when you do what you love for
a living.
Where would exist the fine balance?

Fine is never fine.

A broad fine line.
like the cooling rays of the sun.

Sometimes I look at the birds and ponder
how good their life is.
No need to worry about money, or food, or jobs, or love.
Just breathe and soar.

Then I realize they have to deal with
traffic lights, and airplanes, and
pollution, and poisoned food.

No more drinking heartily from puddles on the ground.
It could be oil from a motor vehicle.
Or acid rain.
Or vomit.

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Onward and upward he climbs,
looking for a place to rest, and dwell
upon the meaning of life
and the poverty of the world.
But the stones beckon not,
it is not the time
nor the place.
Carry on, they shriek.
Faster, faster, they scream.

Till fire burns them silent.

Blunt Sensitivity

Sensitivity meets bluntness.
Which is false?

Imagine a sensitive person.
Adept at discerning the needs of others,
Yet maintains composure when the heart is
Gnashed.

Imagine a blunt person.
Hitting home without beating around
Seemingly uncaring about repercussions
Straightforward.

Wouldn't the sensitive one hold a personal bias
At judging the other to be blunt?
Could it not be the pulsating sensitivity
That infers a blunt personality?

Why do you point out the speck of dust,
And ignore the wooden log in your eye?

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Swing it While you Eat It

Sitting on good ol' fashioned wooden chairs at the dining table, and staying firmly rooted to it, is so yesteryear.

If only you could take mouthfuls and swing your way to oblivion.

Now you can.



Retailing for a hefty price of arounf $12,000 USD, this unique table allows you to swing to your heart's content. Each seat is a swing, and the table is affixed to the frames of the table.

You can get more info here.

It's raining Golfballs

Christmas came early for Margaret Bellhouse, from Devon, England. If she's a fan of balls, that is. 

Over 50 'air flow' balls have dropped from the skies onto her property. These bright orange 'air flow' balls or practice golf balls were apparently dropped by seagulls who mistook them for mussels. According to a Bird expert, gulls are smart creatures and would drop mussels from the skies to crack them open. 

Strangely, these balls can't be identified. Ms Bellhouse contacted dozens of golf clubs but all deny using such balls. 



It's probably a good thing we don't have such a problem here. I know which thorny building they will drop the golf balls on. More info here. 

Under

Under the intense heat,
We build our castles on the shore.
Made of sand, we will them be
Firm and none shall fall.

The waves ebb and flow,
And surge up the beach.
Sucking all that existed
Like a leech.

Yet, this is but our sole goal,
To build and bake
A lifetime
Stronghold.

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What can your phone do?

US and UK insurer of gadgets, Protect Your Bubble decided to ask their customers on the most unconventional uses for a cell phone. Here are the top five: 

1)      A medical guide for life saving surgery: A British surgeon successfully amputated the arm of a mortally wounded teenager in Congo, Africa, with help from instructions sent to him by text message. The teenager had only a few days to live after his arms were ripped off and gangrene began to set in. Seeking expert advice, David Nott texted his surgical colleague, Meirion Thomas. Thomas replied almost instantly, with ten steps Nott should follow to safely complete the surgery. Amazingly, the surgery was a complete success and the teenager made a full recovery.

2)      Mobile breathalyzer: Had one too many? Now, iPhone users who take drinking responsibly can check their blood alcohol content with the Ibreath. Capable of measuring between 0.000 to 0.100%, the attachable gadget gives you the power to prevent an arrest or an accident before getting behind the wheel. Compatible with iPhones and iPods, the gadget also surprisingly, and rather irrelevantly, doubles as an FM transmitter, which can transmit your personal music wirelessly to your car radio.

3)      Bulletproof vest: While out mowing the lawn, Ronald Richard, of New Orleans, was hit by a stray .45 calibre bullet square in the chest. Incredibly, Mr. Richards was completely uninjured when the bullet hit his mobile phone which was quite fortunately clipped to his overalls, just over his heart. The bullet, believed to be a stray from hunters in nearby woodlands, completely destroyed the mobile phone, but at least Mr. Richards was able to finish mowing the lawn.

4)      Shooting a love story: An award-winning film maker used a Nokia N8 mobile phone to film and produce a first-person love story. The short film depicts an interesting first person perspective of one lover from France, and one from New York who seem worlds apart making their way overseas to close the gap and reunite. The film, lasting just two minutes and 25 seconds, was dubbed winner of the Nokia Short Competition 2011 and the 9th most creative internet film of 2011 by TIME Magazine.

5)      A shocking weapon: Surely, everyone remembers Naomi Campbell launching her mobile phone at a maid? Well now, a self-defense company have taken mobile phone weaponry one step further, with the launch of a mobile phone stun-gun. Not actually able to make calls, the stun gun looks exactly like an everyday mobile phone, until a button is pressed and the gadget releases up to a whopping 3.6 million volt shock to any would be attacker. Quite impressively, the top of the range model also doubles as a flash light.

And, here I am thinking how awesome my phone functions as a paper weight. 

If you are a fish lover, (I mean the live kind, not the fried/steamed/grilled kind), you probably imagined how heavenly it would be to be a fish for a day. Just swim around, with no worries about loan repayments or what clothes to wear or what food to eat.

You can make it nearly possible with the Aquarium Bed.

This USD $12,000 650 ft gallon tank is positioned right on top of your bed. Now, I ain't quite sure what would happen if it leaks or you bump your head too hard when you are sitting up, but I'm guessing a water bed would be far from it.

You can go to sleep and be lulled by this. And wake up, be mesmerized by the fish, and then go back to sleep again.

Likewise, if you have a passion for valuable fish like luohan, this might be a good investment, because seriously, how is someone going to steal your luohan right from your head?

More info here.

One Handed Protection

Soft jazz playing in the background. Dim lighting in the room. Aircon set to optimal temperature for passionate romance. Everything seems to be going well, and then, there's this slight pause, as you use both hands to tear open the condom.

Designer Ben Pawle has the right (or left) handed solution for you.

While you might be forgiven for thinking he faced this problem frequently, he actually created this product with disabled people in mind. But, I guess it is one-size fits all. If ya know what I mean.



More info here.

Weird Proposal

I came across this very very weird proposal by a guy to his girlfriend. 

This is how 30-years-old Alexey Bykov proposed. He covered himself with a lot of blood, and had a group of friends or fellow conspirators pretend he was involved in a bad accident. Throw in a couple of wrecked vehicles and ambulances, and the stage was set. 

Someone called his girlfriend, who rushed down to see the scene for herself. A paramedic (or conspirator) told her he was dead. 

Then he 'came back from the dead' and proposed to her. 

Now, this is the weirdest reasoning I ever heard and his reason for such an elaborate proposal is that "I wanted her to realize how empty her life would be without me and how life would have no meaning without me. I think it worked but I promise it's the last time."

I would never do something like that, to be honest. It takes a lot of responsibility, and pride (a huge load of it) to say something like that. I'm pretty sure there are other ways to demonstrate the importance of him in her life, and frankly shouldn't a proposal be about how empty his life would be without her, and not the other way round? 

Btw, I have no clue how he promised that it would be the last time, cause we all will die one day no?

More info here. 

Secret Chirps

Imagine if you had the power to decipher chirps and know the message that was being transmitted. Honestly, it's not very likely. What is more likely in the near future is to translate your messages into chirps and tweets (the bird sounds and not the 160 characters text) and the only person who can decode it would be a certain mobile app user.

Art Science student Matthijs Munnk has come up with a digital bird messaging system called Little Bird. (One might liken it to a physical twitter.) The tweets and chirps are random, and not in a fixed format like Morse code, so no passer by will intercept the message.

You just need the app.

More info here

That

That which was to be,
Did not turn out to be.

 That which became,
Was not to have been.

 That which was not, Might it be?

Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

Reuse, Reduce, Recycle.
We all remember the three Rs. Yet, we often find ourselves struggling to make sense of it.
This will help you, though it is but an idea at the very least.

This Office Waste Paper Processor converts your used papers and notes into pencils. Sounds like you could really save the earth, though nitty gritty details like where to slot in the lead or glue aren't addressed.

You can get more info and see more pics here.

Hidden Bookcase

You've probably seen one of these in nearly every spy movie you've watched. Then again, the trend nowadays seem to be more of bashing through walls than walking through doors (or in this case, cupboards.)

For $3000, you can feel the same sense of excitement. Of course, you could always convert a door in your office to this, and capture your visitor's epic moments. (and sell the footage to Just for Laughs to get some of your money back.)

More info here.

Tapestry Destiny

Imagine a handwoven carpet rug. If I were to say it were beautiful, you would imagine it to have numerous colors weaving and crossing one another to provide picturesque designs.

 Now, imagine you are a thread of that rug. You will never see your own purpose in the pattern of the great design. In your own eyes, you will only be a red thread. But, that doesn't mean life is limited for you. There are still choices you have to make on your own. Though you are part of a great design, you can choose which part of the design you want to be.

 Others who are red and older might tell you in no way gentle, that you will become this. Or that. After all, they are wise ones. They have experience. They have been through worse than you. They know what is good for you. Then, there will be other colors who will jeer at you. Look at us, they taunt. From their caves in the snow-topped mountains, to the eagle soaring in the sky, they mock.

 But you.

You are lost and confused. Hanging by a thread. Sit and rest, for no decision is easy. Yet, rest not till slumber, or the carpet will be done. And ye shallst be throweth into the bin. Rather, stay true to your beliefs, and let it amplify your color.

For the red of fresh blood, can also be the red of sweet love.
Don't fulfill your destiny.
Merely decide what is destiny.

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A photo every five years

Five high school friends came together to take a photo of themselves in the same location and pose every 5 years for 30 years.

Head here now.

Simply amazing.

Life

When the whole world turns against you,

do you rise or simply fall?

Recently, a few of my friends have experienced life changing events.

About love. About life. About loss of love and lack of life.

Yet, there is nothing to say, except to perhaps offer silence.

Not silence of misunderstanding or inattentiveness.

But silence of helplessness.

Can I say that life will get better, or to hold true to the heart?

Yet, I cannot know that for certain.

Indeed, love is a many splendoured thing.

A bittersweet poison antidote.

What if following your heart means

to go against the world?

Is there any comfort in the knowledge

that a step up leads to two steps down?

Life must go on.

Whether it be a foot forward of tears

or a leap of faith,

you have to move on.

It doesn't mean forgetting

it doesn't mean forgiving

It means being true to yourself

being honest with your feelings

and to accept truths which are not

those told to you.

Life is never about

what others want you to do

or want you to think

or tell you what to think.

It is about your ideas, your thoughts,

your aspirations, your dreams.

You.

SMS (Sheep Messaging System)

In Switzerland, researchers are helping shepherds to guard their flock. Apparently, after 100 years or so, wolves are now returning to prey on the sheep. Researchers have developed a system to monitor the heart rate of the sheep. It seems that the heart rate will increase when a wolf attacks a flock of sheep, I'm guessing due to fear. The heart rate sensor systems integrate with a collar and will automatically text shepherds when the sheep are under attack.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say sheep probably don't exercise much, thus the only reason their heart rate will increase is due to wolves. What if it's a bear? Or maybe little rascals climbing over wooden fences and gazing at the stars amidst woollen company? Or a male sheep heart beating rapidly because his crush is grazing near him?

The researchers hope to test the new collar next year. The collars can also spray wolf repellent, though I'm not too sure how successful that will be.

Now, we know what an SMS stands for. Sheep Messaging Service.

More info here.

Flip Bench

You're in the shopping centre, and your girlfriend/wife/crush/cousin/friend is happily trying on every clothing in the store. What do you do? You take a seat. But, there's only one seat available, and the left is occupied by a kid who's crawling all over, and the other is a dude eating oranges. Who knows where his juice will squirt towards?

Don't you wish you had a flip bench?

The benches allow you to flip over, so you don't find yourself forced into a tight situation. 

If you find the green a tad too hurtful for your eyes, the flip bench has others colors too. 

You can find out more info here

Device Drop Not

No matter what size your device is, there is always that possibility of it slipping off your fingers. Face it, devices aren't as hardy as they were before. I can still remember those good ol' Nokia phones that could be dropped and manhandled and washed and still usable! (after some heat from the hair dryer)

FLYGRIP promises to extend the lifespan of our mobile devices. We aren't talking about battery lifespans or warranty periods, but the simple fact that your device clips on to your fingers. A spring loaded clip assists to keep your device snug and safe and yet allow flexibility for your thumb to tap on the keyboard.

If you are one of many who has butter fingers, you might consider getting it here, for USD $29.95 each.

Medical Checkup Pill

In the near future, all you need to do for a health check-up is to swallow a pill.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a digestible sensor that once consumed, can report back on vital signs and internal adherence to medicine.

Called the Ingestion Event Market system, the pill has a small, tiny transmitter the size of a sand grain, and gathers power from stomach fluid. The transmitter will send signals to a patch worn on the stomach, which collates all information and sends it to a smartphone application.

Information that can be collected includes heart rate, body position, and activity. Eventually, the sensor makes its way out of the body and into the toilet.


It was approved for use in Europe in 2011.

You can get more info here.

Stab-Resistant Prison Pens

Here's a quick post.

If you're always afraid of backstabbers, you might consider loaning them this pen, for your own safety.

The Stab-Resistant Prison Pens come in a pack of 5, and are the same flexible and non-lethal pens that are used in most US federal prisons. Its soft, rubbery body that bends, make it nearly impossible to stick someone with them.

You can get it over here. 

eSSage

Every now and then, age creeps from behind and sends reminders through aches, cramps and soreness.

Every now and then, we try to soothe those aches, cramps and soreness, but no matter how hard we twist, we can't seem to hit those right spots.

Well, there might be a solution for that in the future. It will most probably cost more than a trip to the massueur, but guarantee you savings in the long run.

Meet the eSSage.

 

 

 

You wear the suit, and then remotely select on your iOS or android device where to be massaged. The suit can be connected through bluetooth or wifi, whichever is more convenient.

It is still a idea at the moment, but definitely has growth potential if produced.

More info at http://www.yankodesign.com/2012/07/18/digital-masseuse/

Concave Lock

It's in the middle of the night, and you are trying to sneak back in to home quietly and as subtle as possible. Then, while you struggle to insert the key into the hole, you drop it.

This is just one of the common challenges when we try to open doors. Some choose to upgrade their cards and tap an access card instead. Others simply ring the door bell.

With the Concave Lock, you don't need to worry.

Featuring a neon glowing ring, it actually concaves in, creating a funnel and guiding the key to where it belongs.

It is currently designed by Poh Liang-Hock, and you can get more info here.

Cube Tube

No, the Cube Tube is not some competitor to YouTube. Rather, the Cube Tube is just as its name says it is. Literally, a tube, like in test-tubes, for cubes, like in ice cubes.

Most conventional ice cube trays are rectangular and create a lot of problems especially when you only need just one ice cube, and what about the careful handling when filling it with water and transporting it into the freezer. Cube Tube solves that problem. Its vertical orientation means zero spillage as you carry it into the freezer. Also, because of its tube structure, you can pull it out to release one ice cube at a time. There's actually no need to get another container to contain all your ice cubes if you are using a conventional ice cube tray. The pictures below should probably give you a better idea of how it works.

 You can get more info here. It's still a product in the making though I'm pretty sure it would sell rather well, due to its innovative design. That is, until some cheaper knock-off comes about. 

Wickr - Self Destructing Message

Do you remember Mission Impossible where Tom Cruise would receive his mission via a pair of sunglasses? After viewing the whole video instructions, he would throw it away as it counts down self-destruction. Now, if only messages could do that. And they can, with Wickr!

Whether it be text, image, video or audio, Wickr promises military-grade encryption (though it didn't specify which military), and deletes all meta-info (aka as personal info) from your files. Unlike most websites which require a valid email address upon registration, Wickr doesn't, thus cutting off any visible links between you and Wickr.

Wickr allows the sender to select how long the recipent can view the message before self-destruction. Their website does list a few probable realistic scenarios at which security is important, which you can view at https://mywickr.com/stories.php

Free, but only available on the Apple app store for now.

You can get more info here. 

SAVE:US

Meet your next-generation life saver - SAVE:US.

Designed by Jo Joo Hyun, Choi Sung Hun, Jin Min Hee and Park So Jeing, SAVE:US is a 2011 reddot design concept winner.

The following images explain how it is used. If you still need text accompaniment, scroll all the way to the bottom.

During times of peace and stability, SAVE:US functions normally as a ceiling light. In times of emergency or when crisis strikes, SAVE:US drops down and serves as a torchlight. Not any ordinary torchlight though. It has an inbuilt GPS system that would allow rescue teams to locate you speedily. It is charged during standby mode so there is no need to dig around for spare batteries.

I do hope that GPS beacon does not get automatically switched on, otherwise rescuers would be looking at a whole hallway of beacons, with no idea which has survivors underneath. Maybe the torchlight could register heart-rates and a microphone or emit some sound when rescuers are nearby, so the survivors could be encouraged and not disheartened. Heart rates or vital stats could be sent to rescuers and paramedics on standby.

Nevertheless, this is an awesome concept, and I could see its use in places where earthquakes frequently occur. Also, if there's a smaller and portable version, this could be used in mine shafts.

More info here.

How much is your soul?

How much is your soul?

Loki N. went on ebay to offer her soul for sale, in a bid to raise some money. After a car accident last year, she had serious injuries, which drastically decreased her chances to get a job, and increasing her financial woes.



I do wonder how she plans on delivering it though. Then again, I have read of people auctioning off their lives on ebay amongst other things.

I did read that this isn't the first time souls have been sold on ebay, and no the sale didn't go through.

"eBay does not allow the auctioning of human souls for the following reasons: If the soul does not exist, eBay could not allow the auctioning of the soul because there would be nothing to sell. However, if the soul does exist then, in accordance with eBay’s policy on human parts and remains, we would not allow the auctioning of human souls."


When the shit hits the fan, and you are swamped till your knees, what would you sell in a desperate bid for some cash? 

More info here

Odour-less Farts

Yeps, you read the title right. If a fart has no odour, do you still call it a fart? Or is it just a mere expulsion of air?

Contrary to the picture, these Flatulence Deodorizer Pads are placed inside of the underwear, to remove the foul odours from farts by the use of activated charcoal.

Supposedly, the disposable cloth pad is so thin and comfortable that the wearer is virtually unaware of its presence. I seriously doubt that. But you might want to know that this is not a concept. It is actually on sale, (though out of stock at the moment) at $29.95 for a package of 10 pads over here

Perhaps a more comfortable version would be the Flat-D Chair Pad.

Going at $29.95 for one, the chair pad is made of the same material as the uhm butt-pad, and promisess the same mission of absorbing the smelly odour of a fart. You can get it here.

If you do get it, do let me know if it works?

Gracias.

Noise

One thing my senses struggle to accept, In my days of morning shifts, Is the dialogue of life. When does it become music When does it become noise What differentiates the two? The grey area within. The silence in the train on the Way to work. Occasionally Interrupted by beats from Earphones, and the Flipping of pages Of newspapers and Worlds of fiction through Paperbacks. Then I enter my familiar Landscape that some call their office The air which my body remembers And responds to with Energy coursing Through the head. Work ends, and I head home. In a train of conversations. Murmurs, and phone calls Overheard. Some plug in their earphones To block out the sound Or ambient noise Or verbal music? Others just stand and gaze And absorb and accept That maybe at the end Of time, we might Never understand ourselves.

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Exodus

The sun silently ascends, No harsh words, no taunting speech. Its rays decisively descend, No rough intrusions, no mere delusions. The exodus occurs. Heaving the world of knowledge upon Their backs, they gesture to One another, as they cross the Great divide. Like rival factions, they go against each other, But no violence, no jeers, no cheers. Faces drained of emotion, They interweave to reach their Destination. A huge exodus I witness Every morning.

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Cabrio

If you've ever been on a cable car or a gondola or tramride up a hill, you often wonder how it would feel like to be in the open, and not enclosed within safety perimeters. Now you can.

The world's first double-decker, open air cable car, by the name of Cabrio, is Switzerland's newest cable car. I don't really have much info on its dimensions, or what it does. I only have a few pictures which explains it all.

You can obtain more info here.

Wheel of Books

Once I plunk myself on the bed with a good book, I can't stop till I'm done with it. Then, I become so sluggish and just roll over and fall asleep (sometimes I fall asleep in the middle of the book).

If you are like me, this might be good for you!

Dubbed the Sunflower Chair, and designed by He Mu and Zhang Qian from Shanghai University of Engineering Science.... the chair is rather self-explanatory don't you think?

If only, it could spin. I could just curl within, spin the 'wheel' and choose a book at random to indulge in.

You can get more info here.

Sleep Phones

At one point or the other, you probably felt the need to sleep with some music accompaniment. Using speakers might disturb your family members sleeping in the room next to you, so you resorted to plugging in earphones. And, waking up with the next morning with inner ear soreness.

With the sleep phones, you can change your future and prevent those painful moments in the mornings.

It is quite user-friendly. Simply plug it into your music device, and then wrap the thing around your head, to fit snugly around your ears. Wrapping it around your head means it fits snugly and wont fall off or get dislodged as you shuffle along to LMFAO.

You can get one here.