Archive for November, 2008
November 30, 2008 at 5:00 pm · Filed under Artwork & Design
Shower curtains are one of those small things you can buy that will help decorate a bathroom without requiring much work and expense. A good one can help bring a bathroom character. These two might paint you in a geeky image but they’re so cool, it’s criminal not to have one. Even better, you’ll have something to read when you can’t find any bathroom reading lying around.
The Periodic Table Of Elements Shower Curtain
If you’ve ever seen the show “The Big Bang Theory”, you might have noticed the Periodic Table Of Elements shower curtain in one of the scenes. The moment I did, I said “I want one of those!” And now, I’ve found out where I can get it.
Priced at $36 from Urban Outfitters, every chemist’s favorite one-sheet reference is depicted in this 72 x 72 inches shower curtain. The design is printed in full-color, complete with footnotes and additional information. It is finished with reinforced holes and built from a PVC-free EVA, polyethylene blend. Careful though, this curtain can bring torturous memories of high school chemistry classes. Use it with care.
Top 500 SAT Words Shower Curtain
If someone in your home is preparing for their SAT’s, help them out by outfitting your bathroom with the Top 500 SAT Words shower curtain. Boost your vocabulary prowess with this curtain featuring the top 500 words commonly found in the SAT. Great gift for the inner word geek in you! Words from abdicate to zealot are included along with their brief definitions.
The curtain measures 72 x 72 inches and is made from waterproof polyester. It is lined with silver-tone metal grommets. Available on Amazon.
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November 29, 2008 at 4:56 pm · Filed under Misc & Random
Do you ever wish you were smarter than the average drunk around the corner?
While genetics may have condemned you to a limited mental capacity, it doesn’t mean people have to perceive you the same way. 100 Words to Make You Sound Smart is a book designed to help you find that perfect word to use in just the perfect context to sway people into being intimidated, impressed or just plain awed. With this book, you can sound more articulate one word at a time.
The title might sound like light comedy reading but this is actually a serious but entertaining text compiling 100 words chosen by editors of the American Heritage Dictionary. A colorful variety of words that fits perfectly into everyday context are included so don’t be worried that it will list a bunch of scientific terms only those neck-deep in academe can understand.
Each word is described in detail, including their history and concise definitions. Additionally, they are shown in context by quoting from various sources such as speeches, newspapers, TV and film so you can easily see where they fit and how you can use them to construct your own impressive lines.
It Won’t Make You Smarter
It begs repeating: it won’t make you smarter so don’t pin your hopes up that you’ll suddenly gain 10 IQ points. What you’ll get instead is something that resembles the “gift of gab”, an ability to choose that oh-so appropriate word that they never saw coming. Finally use words such as Machiavellian, Catch-22, glib, stoic, Freudian and other similarly attractive terms in your own language without fearing you’re using them incorrectly.
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November 28, 2008 at 4:53 pm · Filed under Artwork & Design, Misc & Random
This one’s pretty old (released around 2004, the same time as the first movie) but my interest has been spurred after watching the second AVP movie on DVD last night.
Alien Vs Predator The Movie
Regardless of how many critics say that the movies sucked, it was a hell of a lot of fun. If you need a background, the first AVP movie came out in 2004 and was based on the crossover comic books between the two groups of species. In the movie, a team of scientists discover a pyramid below the surface of a whaling station which turns out to be the primary hunting ground used by Predators to kill Aliens as part of their cultural rites of passage. The scientists end up caught in the middle of the ensuing brawls and an entire movie is made.
Alien Vs Predator, The Chess Game
At the height of AVP’s success at the box office in 2004, SOTA Toys released a collectors’ chess set featuring a battle between Alien and Predator creatures. The unit, from the chess board to the pieces are meticulously detailed and stayed accurate to the visuals in the original film. The board, in particular, with its ancient designs and sculpture reproductions are a decorative piece all on its own. Add in the incredibly detailed pieces and you have a truly collectible toy. It saw a limited production run of about 5000 units and retailed for $299 each. I’d have liked to get this but I’m four years too late. I bet this is going for retarded prices on eBay.
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November 27, 2008 at 4:51 pm · Filed under Gadgets, Music
Let’s face it. The only reason people will even want to buy this is the cool design. The features are standard and the audio doesn’t promise all that much. However, at a $72 price tag, this doesn’t seem too shabby a sale. Actually, having an aesthetically-pleasant replica of a 1930s radio panel might be worth the entire $72. Everything else is just a bonus.
Product Details
The Nomad Portable Speaker is a lightweight, carry-on unit that took its design cues from vintage luggage and 1930s-era AM radio boxes. Body construction is of quality wood with a tweed vinyl dressing. It stands on four rubber feet for stable and can be carried around via the leatherette handle. The whole unit measures 11.25 inches wide, 7.5 inches tall and 5.25 inches in diameter.
It has a built-in AM/FM radio that allows tuning via an old-school rotary knob. Airplane-style gauge allows you to monitor the radio tuning. Secondary knob on the front panel controls the power switch. Auxiliary input for external music sources is available from the back panel and can be used with no issues to play songs on your iPod, PC and similar media sources.
Careful not to prioritize form over substance, it holds a full-range speaker with SRS resonance enhancement that’s expected to deliver rich and detailed sound quality. It can be powered either via a wall socket or four AA batteries. Currently available exclusively from Urban Outfitters.
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November 26, 2008 at 4:48 pm · Filed under Music
Juno was a great movie and this soundtrack doesn’t fail to live up to the film’s lofty standards.
Released by the ever hip Rhino Records label, the album pits alternative rock standouts with edgy classics. Even the two main stars of the movie, Ellen Page and Michael Cera sing in the album with their version of The Moldy Peaches’ addictive ditty “Anyone Else But You”. I’m not sure how cool it is to like Juno the movie given that everyone and their airhead neighbor is singing its praises but this album is definitely cool-worthy.
The album includes a number of my favorite tunes, including Kimya Dawson’s “So Nice So Smart”, the legendary Buddy Holly’s “Dearest”, Sonic Youth’s intoxicating delivery of “Superstar” and the revered classic “All The Young Dudes” from Mott the Hoople. Packaging is top-notch with a poignant, illustrated cover. Get the clear orange vinyl version (as in the picture) if you can find it (and you have a functional turntable).
Complete Song Listing:
“All I Want Is You” by Barry Louis Polisar
“My Rollercoaster [Juno Film Version]” by Kimya Dawson
“Well Respected Man” by The Kinks
“Dearest” by Buddy Holly
“Up the Spout” by Mateo Messina
“Tire Swing” by Kimya Dawson
“Piazza, New York Catcher” by Belle & Sebastian
“Loose Lips” by Kimya Dawson
“Superstar” by Sonic Youth
“Sleep [Instrumental]” by Kimya Dawson
“Expectations” by Belle & Sebastian
“All the Young Dudes” by Mott the Hoople
“Sea of Love” by Cat Power
“I’m Sticking with You” by The Velvet Underground
“Anyone Else But You” by The Moldy Peaches
“Vampire” by Antsy Pants
“Anyone Else But You” by Michael Cera and Ellen Page
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November 25, 2008 at 4:40 pm · Filed under Gadgets
According to its manufacturers, this is a UFO. Hailed the smallest hovering R/C device ever, this 65 x 35 mm toy can look more like a flying four-legged spider than a UFO. That doesn’t mean it’s not the coolest thing we’ve seen, however!
A Galaga Swarm
Why is it that when you have a tiny and colorful device that can fly up in the air, all you can think about is how cool it must be to have 20 or 30 of these flying a few feet above the ground like a swarm of bugs? At least, that’s what I was thinking. It’s going to be like having a swarm of enemy UFOs in Galaga – sooo much cooler than them dancing robots!
Back To The Toy
The MicroFly Hovering UFO is smaller than a silver dollar and is outfitted with spinning blue LED. It flies via a single propeller whose minute size you can just imagine. Its flight is restricted to a vertical movement using the accompanying slider remote control. Apparently, too, you can control an entire herd of these with a single remote which means whoever came up with this idea probably had the same underlying obsession with controlling an enemy squad of Galaga UFOs!
Anyway, the toy can fly for up to 7 minutes before needing another 10 minute recharge. The mini-UFOs replenish their power right on the remote which requires 6 AA batteries. The toy comes in only one design with a black body plus green and white accents for the legs and the bottom.
Now if only it can drop missiles…
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November 24, 2008 at 4:40 pm · Filed under Gadgets
As a fan of using in-ear monitors for my mobile music, I’m disheartened by the quality of fit you can get with many units. I’ve pretty much relegated the condition to the lack of suitable materials that can capably conform into every ear that’s affordable enough to be used. So every time I hear people claim perfect-fitting IEMs, I raise an eyebrow.
In Comes Westone
I’ve heard of Westone’s name come up during discussions of good canal phones but I never really took the time to know more. I know they make good headphones but their claim of “True Fit Ear Tips” simply beg for further inquiry. As it turns out, their UM series of IEMs include two ear tips, at least one of which should provide a good fit for most everyone. If you try them out before purchase, you can even ask for the ear tips to be pre-compressed according to how it best suits your ears. Additionally, you can order custom ear molds using the same high-quality materials for a truly perfect fit.
Out Comes The Credit Card
Not yet for me but it might be for you. Rarely do you get the chance to enjoy truly fitted ear tips. If you’re an audiophile who enjoy sound isolation on a portable machine, these might as well be the best units available. A visit to the Westone website will show you an impressive list of celebrities who recommend their headphones. Assuming it’s real and with prominent names like Madonna, Max Weinberg and Christina Aguilera on there, it might prove a good buy.
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November 23, 2008 at 4:33 pm · Filed under Gadgets, Music
You know how things suddenly become cool when they’re obsolete? “Since no one’s using them anymore, let’s put them to use and it will be freaking awesome!”
While the logic behind such thinking can leave much to be desired, there’s no denying that this audio component is at least a little cool. Dubbed the Nostalgic Wooden Music Center, it allows you to play music in forms that are slowly being relegated to the dinosaur era.
The elegant-looking, wooden music box houses a turntable, CD player, cassette deck and an AM/FM radio. It features two built-in full-range speakers and can be connected to an external output unit via regular audio cables.
If you continue to hold on to your grandparents’ vinyl collection and your parents’ mix tapes featuring 80s pop hits, here’s your chance to get it out of the attic and make them a functional part of your entertainment center. Enjoy the soothing voice of Billy Ocean on an 11.8” vinyl and rock out to Cyndi Lauper’s maniacal shriek from authentic memorabilia that defined your ancestors’ culture! This player is a guaranteed hit at any party and can give your entertainment center the kitsch it deserves.
The capable turntable can play up to three standard speeds (33, 45 and 78 rpm) and is compatible with 7.1, 9.8 and 11.8 inch records. It features a front-loading CD drawer and comes equipped with two digital LED screens. The AM/FM radio is fitted old-school style and can be controlled via a rotary, analog tuner. Price is $166 at CNK Promos.
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November 22, 2008 at 4:31 pm · Filed under Gadgets
I used to collect lighters and had some pretty funky Zippos – including a few factory rejects that actually look cool. I gave up smoking last year and figured I might as well let go of all remnants of the habit, including my lighter collection. I sold off the more valuable items from the set and gave the cheaper ones away as Christmas gifts.
I was googling for some cool new lighters (just for fun) and came across this 8 GB USB Flash drive / cigarette lighter from Think Geek. I initially thought it was a Zippo but couldn’t find the label anywhere on the pictures. The gadget works like a standard Zippo – just flip the top and light up. The USB port, meanwhile, can slide out from the bottom and should work the way regular flash drives do.
While I’m sure there’s a novelty market ready to pay for a “lighter cum flash drive” combo, I actually find this one a bad implementation. The lighter is a standard-sized Zippo and is way too bulky to be a functionally-sound flash disk. Given how heavy Zippo lighters weigh, I imagine this one hefty enough to be dangling quite uncomfortably out of my USB port as well.
Have I not kicked the habit, I will probably be trawling the novelty gadget shops for a similarly-working but more sensible version. A pen-shaped unit should work better and prove less cumbersome to handle. It’s just too much of a lighter and too little of a portable consumer technology – a crime of fashion. It’s undeniably cool, but I think I’ll pass.
Available from Think Geek.
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November 21, 2008 at 4:28 pm · Filed under Misc & Random
Water is so bland. It’s always transparent. Actually, now it doesn’t have to be.
The upgraded Temperature-Controlled Faucet Light not only illuminates your sink, it makes your water look colorful. Equipped with blue and red LED lights, the system turns on the unit when water begins streaming out of your faucet. If the water is cool, the light displays “blue” illumination. If it’s hot, the light turns to “red”.
While it’s a good way to alert you that the water is hot, it’s more valuable as a decorative installation. The colorful lights can add a unique, fun atmosphere to wet bars and kitchen sinks. For real, it’s almost as fun as dancing robots.
How It Works
You can install the lighting unit right on the faucet’s opening. It includes a universal adapter that should fit most U.S.-installed water faucets. Installation should take less than a minute unless it actually doesn’t fit. The light is powered by a fully-enclosed battery pack, making it safe to use on your home.
Once installed, water pressure will activate the light source and turn it on. The system chooses the LED light to activate based on the temperature. The default color is blue and should stay that way barring a change in the water’s temperature If the water reaches 89 degrees Fahrenheit at any point, it will trigger the red light. As soon as the water dies off, both lights are automatically turned off.
You can get the Temperature-Controlled Faucet Light for $19.99 from Perpetual Kid. It comes in either chrome or silver finish to match your home faucet’s make and materials.
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