Inkendar

I was inspired by Lilo's post about clocks and decided to write about this awesome ink based calendar that I saw:Dezeen � Blog Archive � Ink Calendar by Oscar Diaz

The design uses specially timed capillary action to soak up the ink and color in the dates. Having something like this on your wall makes you cool. Although I love the design, I would criticize its lack of functionality. Calendars are used for much more than just knowing the date- birthdays, holidays, appointments, etc and it doesn't seem like it would be easy to write in. What would be cool is if you could input all of that stuff before they printed the calendar, and the event would ink up maybe a week before so as to give you a reminder. Just a thought, its still an awesome idea.

Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Awesomeness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFOQ17RT3x0

Boarding passes not boring passes

This is a really cool site I stumbled upon recently discussing redesigns of airplane boarding passes. The author does a really good job of explaining the experience. There are things you need to know before security- terminal number, after security- gate and flight number, during boarding- seat number, and throughout the journey- departure time. Why can't boarding passes display this information in an easier way: passfail.squarespace.com/

One more for good measure

Most of these devices aren't that practical or useful- they're just cool. Plus I love food and food-related devices

www.toxel.com/tech/2010/02/08/12-cool-products-for-your-kitchen/

Because I need something that's already built in

Bonus post, but not really, since I forgot to do anything last week. This little gem I found in Dominick's, it's a tuna and veggie "Press & Strainer", although based on the text size on the packaging I would have to claim that the product is really called a Tuna & Veggie which sounds appetizing. Too bad its a blue plastic disc that doesn't need to exist.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure everyone else uses the lid to a can to also drain the can. I might be making that up though. This blue product is already built into the packaging of tuna and canned foods so why would I ever need this product.

I can admit that when I was a kid I would have died to have this product. I remember walking down the soda aisle and begging my mom for a special top which keeps sodas (pop for those who speak strangely) from going flat. My mom always responded with a no, but not because it wasn't a clever invention. The reason she gave was that our family of four finishes a two-liter bottle before it goes flat- there's no need. I guess the point of this post is that products should fulfill a need. This Tuna & Veggie doesn't offer me anything. In fact, its just another thing I'd have to clean, plus- where would I put it?

That deaf, dumb, and blind kid sure does laundry remarkably well considering his overwhelming handicaps

When doing laundry the other day, I noticed the fantastic device that stole all of my quarters. Although the machine was relatively new, the mechanism functioned like the coolest 1950's slot machine ever.

Everyone knows the hardships of sourcing and hoarding the necessary quarters to do laundry. Its quite an impossible task in our new "plastic world," and although I don't like to admit it, I usually cave in and buy a roll of quarters from the bank- I know its cheating, but seriously, who uses cash anymore?

Placing $1.50 of my hard earned quarters into the perfectly sized slots felt like a breeze. There were just enough slots for the quarters I needed to place in the device, but thankfully it was labeled so I new exactly how much money I was wasting on laundry. After I set the water temp, then the magic happened. It took all I had to not break down and cry at the sheer majesty that I was about to experience. Pressing forward on the front tab of the coin-o-matic sent a wash (haha laundry) of nostalgia down my spine. It was like pushing on a backwards pinball plunger. The slider offered a strong springed resistance and slid along its metal base with such a satisfying sound, I wish I had recorded it.

That was only half of the experience though, because after I pushed it in, I had to pull it out in order to finish. With a swift pull, the device gave off a satisfying "shunk" as the quarters fell to the bottom of the coin bank and the machine began. How great! Like a backwards pinball machine that eats quarters and cleans my clothes.