Lifestyle

Lifestyle

May14

Hand-bound Cork Journals

Posted in: Lifestyle

These are beautiful… I still buy journals for myself each year to make notes as needed, these cork notebooks look really nice:

We recently came across the meticulously constructed Landmade Cork Journal by Michael Roger Press, and not only does the material give way to a beautiful pattern, but the half-century-old stationer uses the traditional Smyth sewn binding technique. Hand-sewing the pages together (instead of gluing) gives the notebooks binding extra strength and allows it to open flat—two important features for anyone who uses a notebook regularly.

Made with acid-free paper, each piece is proudly crafted in limited runs at their New Jersey factory. By producing notebooks and paper goods in small batches, they retain the flexibility to innovate and implement new ideas into their line. They also offer the option to personalize nearly all their products with a custom die-cast stamp.

Each journal is completely unique by nature’s design, made with natural, sustainably-harvested cork. Sold in two sizes ($10-17) and lined or unlined, Michael Roger Press products sell online and at specialty stationers.

(Via Cool Hunting.)
May3

Cars: The Art of the Automobile

Posted in: Lifestyle

Incredible automobiles:

Masterpieces of Ralph Lauren’s legendary car collection on display in Paris

Starting today seventeen of the world’s finest classic sports cars from Ralph Lauren’s legendary personal collection will be on show at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. ‘The Art of the Automobile’ features select cars from the designer’s prolific stockpiles, one of the most extensive in the world.

Acting as a visual timeline of the evolution of European automobile design through the 20th Century, the cars on display—among them Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Porsche and Ferrari—are among the most exceptional in the world and have been infrequently shown to the public. Each one, all created between the 1930s and the 1990s, stands as a masterpiece of both technological innovation and impeccable design.

The result is a show of some of the rarest and most beautiful cars by the greatest names in automobiles, including four (a ’31 Alfa Romeo Monza 8C 2300; a Jaguar XKSS from 1956/1958; a ’60 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Scaglietti and a ’64 Ferrari 250 LM) that have never been exhibited before.

To commemorate the exhibition, a limited run book features each car, its historical and technical significance and an explanation by Lauren himself on what guides his passion for car collection. The book will also showcase many of the same images seen here, all exceptionally shot by renowned automobile photographer Michael Furman.

The show runs through 28 August 2011 and is open to the public for a small fee of €9.

(Via Cool Hunting.)
Apr29

Spraypaint-can cocktail shaker

Posted in: Lifestyle

Very clever design!

Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art store sells this stainless steel cocktail shaker that comes disguised as a graffiti-writer’s spraycan — $20 for non-members, $18 for members. I’m guessing that there’s a good reason for the flared shape of a traditional shaker that you lose out on by opting for this, but it’s still a great novelty for your rec-room bar, to be shelved next to the peeing boy liquor dispenser and the novelty Bols liqueur bottle with the waistcoat and the monocle. Kitchen and Entertaining (via Super Punch)

(Via Boing Boing.)
Apr26

Houseware: Mr. Tea Pot

Posted in: Lifestyle

Mr. T Tea For One by Lennymud via Cool Shit You Can Buy

(Via Laughing Squid.)
Apr24

What Peeps are really made from?

Posted in: Lifestyle

The Daily takes an X-Ray to Peeps to find out what they are really made from.

(Via Laughing Squid.)
Apr14

Senior suit: The Aged Simulation Set

Posted in: Lifestyle

Your future is here… and now you can try it on:

We all know getting older isn’t fun, but Koken, a Japanese manufacturer of training gear for medical professionals, wants to be sure you know the specific details. To that end, they’ve produced this cousin to the ‘fatsuit,’ or ‘empathy belly,’ a little bondage ensemble they not-so-idiomatically have dubbed ‘The Aged Simulation Set.’ Not sure where the Bib of Shame or orange-and-green color scheme comes in, but then seniors aren’t known for their fashion sense.

The aged simulation set is a teaching material intended to demonstrate the inconveniences felt by the aged due to musculoskeletal, visual and auditory aging. This set is the most suitable for medical practice, nursing and welfare training. Inconveniences to the aged due to the changes in bones, muscles, sight and hearing can be experienced with this simulation set. This simulation set is suitable for the field of medical and welfare education.

(Via Laughing Squid.)
Apr14

Silva custom Bamboo MacBook Pro cases

Posted in: Lifestyle

This is really sexy case… I would love to have it!

Why have a case if it doesn’t have a handle? Do you really want to hide half your case under your arm? Silva LTD has designed your case so that it feels comfortable in your hand and shows off as much as it can, while still protecting your MacBook. They also made the case to cover the entire computer, not just a portion, leaving nothing to chance.

Features:
● 100% Solid Carmel Bamboo – CNC machined and hand assembled
● Hand-Crafted Leather Strap – Hand burnished and oiled
● Wool Felt Lined Interior – Protects your Macbook
● Hand Rubbed Finish – Hard, glass-like finish
● FREE Shipping

Oder your here - www.silvaltd.com
Apr7

PetMyWiener.com Unique Dachshund Merchandise

Posted in: Lifestyle

OMG, as proud owner of a wiener I am so happy to see it. I guess I have some shopping to do now:

PetMyWiener.com, the largest online retailer of fun and unique Dachshund merchandise and sponsor of the Wiener Nationals on April 9th at Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley. Paws down this is one of the best company names out there. via Courtenay Bird

(Via Laughing Squid.)
Apr6

Cool geeky circuit board tie

Posted in: Lifestyle

How could we not love these awesome Circuit Board Ties designed by Michael Phipps of Scatterbrain Ties It is also available as a Circuit Board T-Shirt.

(Via Laughing Squid.)
Apr2

Pixie & colorful “capsule” cups

Posted in: Lifestyle

I am not a fan of single’s serving coffee machines which have been all over the stores in recent years, because I like my coffee freshly ground and made straight from the beans (a reason why I have fully automatic Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew coffeemaker in my kitchen). But I do like some of the extra’s these manufactures come up like a collection of insulated cups designed to look like their essential espresso capsule. I would love to those for my morning coffee experience:

For no-fuss espresso, Nespresso‘s straightforward operation and effortless cleanup make their machines the maker of choice for many homes and offices. The Swiss company recently made it even easier to get a fresh brew in just seconds with its Pixie machine, a compact version of the CitiZ that comes in six colors.

Its tiny footprint (just over a foot long) means its small enough to sit on a desk, and an improved heating system takes just 25 seconds to warm up. All that, and the Pixie is supremely energy-efficient too, using 40% less power than other makers like it. (Check out our complete guide to prosumer espresso here.)

Perhaps even more appealing than the Pixie, Nespresso launched a collection of insulated cups designed to look like their essential espresso capsule. The cups come in two sizes and a rainbow of colors, and (unlike other Nespresso accessories) are free of obvious Nespresso branding.

The Pixie currently sells exclusively from Williams-Sonoma in the U.S. for $250, but will sell through the Nespresso site later this spring, when the cups ($30 for a set of two) will be available as well.

(Via Cool Hunting.)
Mar20

Pixel Oven Mitts by Perpetual Kid

Posted in: Lifestyle

Pixel Oven Mitts by Perpetual Kid

We know some brothers who could’ve used these Pixel Oven Mitts when swinging mallets, jumping over barrels, and saving princesses! Our Pixel Oven Mitts can help you do almost anything, but they are intended to protect your hands while holding hot trays and plates at home. Sure, if you could shoot fireballs, at let’s say… turtles, they could help with that too! via swissmiss

(Via Laughing Squid.)
Mar13

The Tudors – Season 1 to 4

Posted in: Lifestyle

One reason I love Netflix Canada (besides excellent selection of documentaries) is that it offers more and more TV shows. Many which I have missed and otherwise I would not bother to rent to watch them at this point. Like this weekend: I ended up watching ‘The Tudors’ – all ten episodes of season one. Netflix Canada has all four seasons now available to watch, which is awesome, because I hate watching a season or two and keep on waiting for the rest (like with ‘Weeds’). King Henry the VIII period was one of the more interesting times in England. It reminds me also how much I like historical productions similar to ‘The Tudors’!
Mar10

Dogbrella for your dog

Posted in: Lifestyle

Brilliant idea… I could use one of those as my dog hate being wet and it is raining today.

Keep your dog dry while walking them in the rain with The Dogbrella, available at Hammacher Schlemmer.

This inverted bumbershoot forms a waterproof cocoon around a small dog, enabling canine and master to maintain a walking regimen in inclement weather. The umbrella’s 29″ diameter canopy is made from 8-gauge clear polypropylene that sheds rain, sleet, and snow while allowing an unfettered view of your walking companion. Not only does the umbrella eliminate the excuse ‘it’s too wet for a walk’ from a dog owner’s lexicon (to the delight of most canines and the amusement of most spouses), it prevents moisture from getting spread throughout the home, along with the unpleasant scent of a wet dog. The tip of the umbrella hooks to your pet’s leash to keep it from straying beyond its protective canopy. via LikeCool

(Via Laughing Squid.)
Dec30

Huis ter Dijk, A LEGO Modernist House

Posted in: Lifestyle

Simply too cool… I love LEGO!

Niek Geurts created ‘Huis ter Dijk’ a fantastic LEGO Modernist House inspired by Dutch architect Willem Dudok.

via The Brothers Brick photos by Niek Geurts

(Via Laughing Squid.)
Dec2

Weekly schedule of masses…

Posted in: Lifestyle

Sadly… this is how the human resources of the planet live each and every week:
Nov19

Awesome idea: Hourglass traffic light design

Posted in: Lifestyle

I like Thanva Tivawong’s design for improved traffic lights.

(Via Boing Boing.)
Nov18

Bottled water: Product Differentiation

Posted in: Lifestyle

At the end… what is inside is just water! Fools are paying for the packaging and brands – LOL

Product Differentiation by Doghouse Diaries [via The High Definite]

(Via Laughing Squid.)
Nov15

What Mark Zuckerberg Could Buy With $6.9 Billion

Posted in: Lifestyle

From Cool Material comes this infographic that shows us exactly what Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, could buy with his estimated value of $6.9 billion. At 26 years young, Zuck has found himself at #35 on the Forbes 400, which for those of you not so financially savvy, he’s the 35th richest person in the world. He’s also the youngest billionaire on the list, but that’s really getting into semantics. Check out the pic below to get a handle on exactly how much money we’re talking about.

(via Cool Material.)
Nov8

Design: The Lost In Sofa

Posted in: Lifestyle

I would loose change in it… but seriously: this is pretty neat idea for a piece of furniture!

The Lost In Sofa chair by design studio Daisuke Motogi Architecture. Items (remote, book, iPad, or whatever) can be safely tucked into these little spots between the upholstered cubes that form the seat.

(viaReflectionOf.Me)
Nov2

The empty open-air ground floors

Posted in: Lifestyle

You learn something new everyday… this is one of those things:

In Singapore, many apartment buildings have empty open-air ground floors called ‘void decks’ that get put to a variety of uses: day-care, weddings, bicycle parking, small stores, etc.

More than 80% of Singapore’s population lives in public housing, in buildings designed to government specifications. And Singapore’s government ensures that every apartment building mirrors the country’s ethnic mix, with Chinese, Malays, and Indians living as neighbors in proportion to their share of the population — 77%, 14%, and 8% respectively. The void deck ensures that everyone gets to know each other, and each other’s cultures. As the Times puts it, its pleasures are actually ‘part of Singapore’s strictly enforced social policies aimed at ensuring harmony among the races in a region often torn by religious and ethnic strife.’

(Via kottke.org.)
Nov2

Do refrigerator upgrade with a simple magnet

Posted in: Lifestyle

Simply brilliant idea… love it! The best buttons are: French Fries and Gravy… Beer is funny too! Also as I love the magnet, I love even more this beautiful vintage fridge used in this photo.

Archie McPhee is featuring a Refrigerator Upgrade Magnet that allows you to enhance your refrigerator without any of the cost or functionality.

This 7-1/2″ x 9″ (19.1 cm x 22.9 cm) magnet looks just like one of those fancy ice and water dispensers found on the door of most high-end refrigerators. Closer inspection, however, will reveal some peculiar options like ‘Frozen Yogurt,’ ‘Nacho Cheese,’ and ‘Chicken Wings.’ Sure to frustrate your friends as they desperately press the ‘French Fries’ button to no avail!

(Via Laughing Squid.)
Nov2

Zip Bed from Florida Furniture

Posted in: Lifestyle

This is simply beautiful looking Zip Bed from Florida Furniture, not sure about the colour as white may not be the best colour to keep it all clean, but I think the design is very funky:

Forget everything your mother taught you about making your bed. This cool, contemporary Zip Bedby Italian company Florida Furniture breaks it all down to a zipper. The bed’s soft, gently rounded frame is padded and upholstered, and finished with a zipper running its perimeter. Simply zipper down at bedtime to reveal a cozy comforter, sheets and pillows.

(via ReflectionOf.Me).
Oct20

Eating mostly whole grains linked to lower body fat

Posted in: Lifestyle

I have never been fun of refined grains as they are so strip down of any nutritional value. Nice whole grain breads simply taste better and of course they are a lot healthier for you. Now there is also a proof that eating mostly whole grains, few refined grains linked to lower body fat:

“People who consume several servings of whole grains per day while limiting daily intake of refined grains appear to have less of a type of fat tissue thought to play a key role in triggering cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, a new study from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Agining at Tufts University suggests.”

(Via EurekAlert!.)
Oct18

Statin use associated reduction in colorectal cancer

Posted in: Lifestyle

Here is a good news… good since more and more people end up taking statins nowadays to prevent heart problems later on in life. So when you read something like: “Statin use associated with statistically significant reduction in colorectal cancer“, you cannot help but feel great about additional positive research results which comes out in favour of taking them:

A systematic review of the medical literature supports the hypothesis that statins, cholesterol‐lowering drugs used to prevent cardiac problems, are associated with reduced risk of colon and rectal cancers. A comprehensive analysis by investigators at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, included 22 scientific studies with more than 2.5 million combined participants.”

(Via EurekAlert!.)
Oct17

Moleskine 2011 Daily Diary / Planner & Kobo Reader

Posted in: Lifestyle

Yesterday I stopped at the Indigo Chapters to fulfil my annual ritual of getting the Moleskine Daily Diary / Planner for the next year. Normally I do that at the end of November not in October, but since I have received a 20% off coupon in the mail for the in-store purchases to be used by October 31st, I thought I will get it now and get it over with it while saving a few bucks at the same time.

I am all digital nowadays with everything I do, but because I always manage to have some pieces of paper (mostly receipts and notes) laying around for different reasons, I like to keep a Moleskine handy so I can stuff things in it and often make additional notes, monthly budgets etc. in the planner. It is hard to let the paper go completely out of life… even when you are using Evernote App on your other devices for everything else.

While I was at the book store, Indigo Chapters has in-store section now for their e-book reader called Kobo where you can play with it, try it out and get any questions answered by a friendly expert on hand. Very much similar experience to what you would have while in the Apple store, which is nice. What is not really all that great, it is the actual e-book reader in my personal opinion. This is the first time I could actually handle one and I must say, it feels like a plastic toy! I am sure it works well for what it’s designed for, but I would buy it at $149CAD (that’s the price for the latest model).

I must say that it is very light and small, which probably is great for anyone who wants to carry it around while commuting or travelling. But still… it feels so cheap in your hand. I assume it is a locked-in device to purchase books only from Indigo Chapters Book Store (I may be wrong here as I did not even bother to ask that question). If it is, they should just give it away to people and make money on e-books they are selling through the Kobo reader. I wonder if they are actually selling a lot of them at that price, when I was there I did not see much interest from people walking by.
Oct17

Economics of America’s Favorite Food

Posted in: Lifestyle
Oct9

El Almacen Yerba Mate Café in Toronto

Posted in: Lifestyle

I found out about El Almacen Yerba Mate Café (located at 1078 Queen St W., Toronto, Ontario) a while back but since it is located a bit of out the way from I live, I have not been able to make it there until this week. I am glad I did… It is a beautiful cafe, located in a funky Queen Street West area close to the Gladstone Hotel. There are usually open 7 days a week from about 10am to 10pm (often longer on the weekends when it is busy).

I went there to pick up a bag of Yerba Mate which I did not drink in a while. My first encounter with Yerba Mate was a few years back while I was visiting Argentina and Uruguay, where I bought my mate gourd. I have been meaning to find a loose leaf bag of Yerba Mate, but it has not been easy here in Toronto. Whole Foods sometimes carry it but when they do have it in stock it is not cheap and usually comes in form of tea bags. I wanted to start drinking Yerba Mate properly – out my own gourd with a bombilla – like they do it in Argentina or Uruguay.

I have picked up a regular Yerba Mate with stems (Rosamonte) from the El Almacen Cafe when I was there. They also have citrus favoured one in stock, which I may try next time when I go to get another package. The bag of Yerba Mate which I bought comes in packages of 500g and cost only $5.00 which is very reasonable and a lot cheaper than getting it from Whole Foods in a tea bags form.

If you wonder how to prepare Yerba Mate, it is actually very easy… here is some info I found (another good place to learn about it is by searching YouTube, it seems like a lot of people are posting videos on how to prepare it):

The infusion called mate is prepared by steeping dry leaves (and twigs) of yerba mate in hot water, rather than in boiling water like black tea. Drinking mate with friends from a shared hollow gourd with a metal straw which is called a bombilla in Spanish. The flavor of brewed yerba mate is strongly vegetal, herbal, and grassy, reminiscent of some varieties of green tea. Some consider the flavor to be very agreeable, but it is generally bitter if steeped in boiling water. (Using boiling water is not recommended; traditionally the water temperature is between 160–180 °F (71–82 °C) when steeping the leaves. The water should be steaming hot yet not quite boiling.) You can also purchase flavored mate, in which the yerba is blended with an herb (such as peppermint) or citrus rind. (Source: Wikipedia)

Now, I have my gourd with a bombilla – which I bought during my weekend visit to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay (located right across the river from Buenos Aires) – a vintage thermos I bought a long time at the antique market and a big bag of Yerba Mate to enjoy on cool autumn evenings while reading a book! It makes me want to go back to South America again…
Oct7

Art of life management

Posted in: Lifestyle

Over the last few months I have been trying (without much success so far) to re-design my life – my daily routine – so I can do things I want to do and actually accomplish and finish those tasks. It has been really difficult process to re-organize my life in way I want it to be. I must admit to myself that I have still been very unsuccessful in the art of life management. Distractions are killing all my attempts, my daily behaviour remains still far from what I wish it would be despite the fact I am actually a very organize person in general. By doing things half way, I feel like I am failing all the time at everything. I wish I could wipe my life clean like a whiteboard and start from scratch but of course in reality, it is not that easy… or possible. So I need to start working with my current routine and re-design it in blocks. First my mornings, later my afternoons and last… my evenings. Why? Because I want to grow as person, I want to manage my life better.

Tim Ferris posted a video recently on his blog which I watch last night which may just help me start the re-organization process (yet again, hopefully successfully).The discussion between the panelist has given me some great ideas on how to accomplish things, I have also a better understanding of the process art of life management as well. I am going to re-design my daily routine effective today, to do more by doing less. That’s what I have learned from Leo Babauta… I am going to cut out a lot of distractions so I can stay on focus on simple things, one task at the time.

Another thing which came from watching the video below is an interest in reading a book written by Leo Babauta (who talks about his life in the video) called: “The Power of Less“. I have downloaded and read the Kindle’s version sample of his book, it sounds like as must-read book! Leo Babauta also has a great blog called: Zen Habits, many of his posts were also published in form a book called: “Zen Habits: Handbook For Life” which I think I may also read later on. Anyway, you can watch the video for yourself and also check out Tim Ferris blog for many other inspirational things which may have a big impact on your life.

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Oct5

Fish oil linked to increased risk of colon cancer in mice

Posted in: Lifestyle

This is interesting… Fish oil linked to increased risk of colon cancer in mice.

It is interesting because the fish oil has been a big supplement recommended by many in recent years. I think at the end, like with all supplements it is better to stick with a balanced diet of food instead of being too focused on taking over the counter pills. It seems like there is still a lot we do not know about how supplements may have affect us in a long term.

“Fish oil — long encouraged by doctors as a supplement to support heart and joint health — induced severe colitis and colon cancer in mice in research led by Michigan State University and published this month in Cancer Research. Jenifer Fenton led the research that supports establishing a dose limit for docosahexaenoic acid, one of the omega-3 fatty acids present in fish oil, particularly in people suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases.”

(Via EurekAlert!)
Oct4

Netflix Foreign Films: Katyn

Posted in: Lifestyle

I watched an excellent movie yesterday afternoon on Netflix from their foreign film section called “Katyn”. It is part of a sad history I did not have a chance to fully learn about at school since it was not taught at the time. It was officially suppressed by the Soviets until 1990′s. Normally I am not a big fan of war time dramas, but Andrzej Wajda is very well known director who made a lot of great movies and this movie is definitely worth watching… Plus of course it is about part of Polish history which happened during the first months of World War II.

More about it:

Polish director Andrzej Wajda helms this Oscar-nominated drama based on the 1940 massacre of some 20,000 Polish military officers and intelligentsia at the hands of Soviet troops, along with the stories of the wives and children who survived them. How did they carry on in the face of such horror, especially when responsibility was publicly denied by the perpetrators? Joachim Paul Assböck, Andrzej Chyra and Stanislawa Celinska star.

More reviews about the movie can found on Rotten Tomatoes