Lifestyle

Cure for Hiccups?

 

We've all heard that a good fright is one way to cure a bout of the hiccups. Admittedly, that's never worked for me, but I'm not the kind of girl who scares easily. (The nutrition label on a bag of Cheetos notwithstanding.) Well it seems back in 2003, Philip Ehlinger, Jr., in the style of a pre-Discovery Channel MythBuster, or an obstinate inventor, you decide, felt this urban legend was worth validating, so he came up with United States patent 7062320 . read more »

 

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The people at Duck Image Studio have come up with an excellent idea, a paper scale. The scale is ultra-thin and combines pressure sensing sheets which relay information to an e-paper display.

I'm not altogether certain of how this slick faucet-come-vase entitled Flowater works on a technical level, but I'll bet it's not something you'll be finding at your local hardware store anytime soon. read more »

Japan's KIZUNA satellite, successfully launched from the Tanegashima Island Space Centre on a domestically developed, Mitsubishi H-2A rocket will introduce a new era of hyper-speed data communications across Asia. How fast is hyper-speed? Try 1.2 Gbps... the "G" stands for Giga (billion). read more »

We've all been to a wedding reception, a business dinner, or a family gathering that's gone on a little too long. We've all seen someone who insists on making music out of wine glasses, not content to have a single but drunkenly trying to set up a whole scale of glassware. read more »

If you'd like to blend a little bit of DIY with some contemporary lighting, the Cut Light by Monica Singer may be right up your alley. read more »

You want to stick that where?

As many of you know, cow gas, or bovine flatulence (farts) and eructation (burps), is suspect when determining the factors that contribute to global warming. Why? The reason is simple: cow gas emits methane gas and according to environmentalists like EarthSave, methane is by far the most important non-CO2 greenhouse gas floating around the atmosphere and threatening the ozone layer. read more »

In light of the recent full lunar eclipse, it seems only natural that attentions should turn to all things celestial. It's convenient then, that I just happened upon these lovely constellation rugs by Maude Decor, bringing heaven to earth in a vibrantly practical way. read more »

A Dangerous Habit?

If you're anything like me, you spend an inordinate amount of time typing away at your computer. You do so knowing every keystroke brings you one step closer to a carpal tunnel disease diagnosis; every glance at the screen teases your vision with astigmatism. So you buy an ergonomic keypad and mouse pad and you force yourself to look away from the screen every 20 minutes or so. Great! But now there is something else to worry about, something that threatens the great American pastime of television viewing: B.T.N.D. or Button Thumbing Numbness Disorder. Luckily, the cure is not worse than the disease. read more »

The toy industry held its 105th annual Toy Fair this week in New York City. At the opening ceremonies, The Toy Industry Association (TIA) announced the winners of 2008's, T.O.T.Y's, Toy Of The Year awards. Like the Oscars, the T.O.T.Y's are awarded to toys debuing in the prior year. Twelve T.O.T.Y.'s were awarded in eleven categories, like Best Outdoor Toy, Best Educational Toy, Game of the Year, Most Innovative Toy, Best Boy Toy, and of course, the Best Toy Of The Year! read more »

We've all seen scratch and sniff ads in our favorite magazines, but what about flip and lick ads?

Welch's will be running magazine ads this month that actually allows readers to sample its grape juice by licking the ad! read more »

As Jim Morrison so aptly phrased it, "The future's uncertain, and the end is always near." Seems to be particularly fitting for the little plant ICU that popped up on my monitor when I found the site for Vitamin, a design company whose slogan boasts "A life less ordinary." That's if you pull through! read more »

Cell phones are a part of our everyday life and culture. So, look  at how cell phone companies integrate advertising for cell phones and cell phone service into everyday life and culture as well.

Here are 5 of the best from recent cell phone advertising campaigns:  read more »

Have you been seeking a stunning executive type? A love bug who'll cuddle all night? A constant companion or a free spirit?

Your local animal shelter may have just what you're looking for, the ASPCA's Meet Your Match™ (MYM) program. read more »

Forked Up was intended as a pointedly alternative way to store silverware, created by the cats at the Toronto-based Thout design group for their UtiliTILE line. Who needs a boring old drawer when you could have this conversation piece adorning a wall, allowing you super-easy access to all your cutlery needs? read more »

Toilet Bowl with Bull's-eye Target

I'm afraid a quick glance at my articles might give some readers the wrong impression: that I have an affinity for anything relating to bodily functions. In particular, anything people do in the bathroom. Well, those readers are wrong. That being said, today I bring you United States patent 4044405, the toilet bowl bull's-eye! read more »

Are you an artist that would just love to see your ideas pop off the page and come to life in the third dimension? The four members of Swedish design company FRONT might be able to help you out, especially in the realm of furniture design. read more »

Are robots taking over Japan? "RoboPorter", currently being tested for a few hours each day at Kita Kyushu airport in southwestern Japan, is just the latest computerized contraption designed to do the types of menial jobs Japan's humans don't want to do. read more »

Unusual outcropping of suspended fungi? Genetically engineered Lily-of-the-Valleys lit from within? Not quite. Not exactly a member of the plant kingdom, this lovely organic-looking fixture will delight at least two of your senses with its gentle, softly lit musical dance. read more »