…but most of the times they are just pointless.

With that being said, enter the “Handwrench” by designer Paul Julius Martus. I am still trying to figure out the purpose of this wrench. Is it to actually serve as a wrench or is it out to serve some sort of nefarious purpose such as Gizmodo’s idea of a butt-pincher? Personally, I would think bridge contractors would use it for whenever I call out on plans that a bolted connection should be hand-tightened. This would be perfect for that!

Product info -Paul Julius Martus-
Retrieved from -Gizmodo-

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…elude most people.

Upstairs in my “man cave” as the wife calls it, I have a futon for sitting and playing video games and watching TV. When I want to read a book, I have to find a very uncomfortable chair or lay on the bed to read. Finally someone comes up with a concept that can work for both situations. …XYZ, a product development consultancy in Cape Town, South Africa, has come up with their own version of a chaise lounge that has a rotating center cushion. When the cushion is down in the middle, the whole chaise lounge is completely flat and can be used for general seating purposes. But by flipping the middle cushion, you produce a more natural position for reading (at least for me). Anyway, unfortunately for me, it is a concept and not in production. Maybe if I feel productive, I can try and make my own, but I wouldn’t count on that.

Product info -…XYZ Chaise Lounge-

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…but for those who aren’t, The Hobbit is about to begin pre-production!

The Hobbit, after going through tons of difficulties with rights, looks like it might finally proceed with production. Guillermo del Toro (director for Hellboy and a personal favorite, Pan’s Labyrinth) is set to direct the new prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. According to Variety magazine,

Pre-production is about to get under way on the two-part “Hobbit.” Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are expected to pen the scripts under the direction of Peter Jackson and del Toro. Preliminary contact has already been made with at least three actors whose “Lord of the Rings” characters also appear in the “Hobbit” storyline: Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), Ian McKellen (Gandalf) and Andy Serkis (Gollum).

“We will all be involved in the script in some fashion but the exact definition is about a week away,” said del Toro. “I am all for keeping the actors who originated the parts, as much as availability and their willingness will allow.

I am one of those few people who read the Lord of the Rings first and then went to the Hobbit much later in life. Since that is the case, I was no so nearly as fond of the Hobbit as others, but I still enjoyed it as a good read and as great background to the story (although not as great as the Silmarillion). I personally am just glad that all the difficulties have been ironed out and production can proceed!

Retrieved from -The Frodo Franchise-

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…especially when it comes to kitchen utilities?

Is it perhaps because I feel the need to insert some type of testosterone in the inside part of the kitchen since the man’s part is typically outside with the grill? Or is it just the base desires to stab the meal prior to devouring it? Either way, some designers have really come a long way in adding the macabre to the kitchen. See, first you have to hang up your aprons on some classy hooks, right?

Once you have your robe pulled off the hook and tied on, you can pull your knife out of either of the two following blocks. The first one is quite hilarious in my opinion, but the second is getting quite morbid. But, in an effort to broaden everyone’s horizons, I thought I would show everyone the spectrum!

Product info -Knife Apron Hooks- & -Body Stab Knife Block-
Retrieved from -OhGizmo!-

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…to solve the landfill crisis?

Is it just that all other brilliant minds are focusing on other factors in the world so that it only leaves a high school science fair participant to solve one of the fastest growing problems?

16 year old high school junior, Daniel Burd, has figured out a way to cause plastic bags to decompose faster. Normally, it takes thousands of years for plastic bags to degrade, but with Daniel’s method, they can decompose in three months! His method is fairly simple as well…mix yeast, tap water, landfill dirt and bags and there you have it. The process leaves water and a tiny bit of carbon dioxide as byproducts. I assume most people will be concerned with the carbon dioxide, but that could be investigated as well.

Anyway, here’s to brilliant minds in high school!

Retrieved from -DVICE-

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…can it be?

On May22, Artist Paul St. George unveiled his steampunkish “scopes” to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge. These telescopes allow people in New York and London to see each other in real time. As Paul St. George claims, he is completing the TransAtlantic tunnel his great grandfather Alexander Stanhope St George started in the 19th century. According to the story, the tunnel had a cave in and was abandoned. After Paul found the plans that had been stored away that showed parabolic mirrors at both locations, he says he has completed what his great grandfather started.

As it turns out, since that is overly “fantastical”, the story was fabricated along with photoshopped images of his great-grandfather back in the 19th centry. What people who look into the scopes are seeing is a collection of webcams and broadband broadcasting real time across the ocean to others looking in the scopes. It really is a fun concept and I have to say that I like the look of the scopes themselves, even if they are glorified webcams.

Story can be found here!

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…and I’m not even sure fetishism is a word.

It looks like the Dick Tracy phones have a contender to give them a run for their money! The CECT watch company has released their new version of a watch phone, and to me doesn’t look all that bad. It’s actually pretty close to the same size as my watch now, just with added dialing numbers on the side of it.

Take a look at the features it has:
-Handsfree
-Voice recorder
-Handwritten input (what the heck is that)
-Bluetooth
-Text messaging
-Tri-band (not as good as quad, but close)
-Vibrating call feature
-1.3 MP Camera (output resolution of 1280×960)
-Memory Card expansion
-Calendar
-Health Management
-Calculator
-Rates exchange
-Memorandum
-World time
-Supports Java games
-Built in Windows Media Player
-FM Radio
-Mobile internet

Hmm, might have to throw this one on my wishlist just for the heck of it!

Edit: It looks like the cheapest place to get one is here…and it is less than $200 which is less than most cell phones that have fewer features.

Click the images below to see a bigger picture.

Product Info -Special Phones-

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…which structure tends to leave a more lasting impression? I would try and answer this myself, but naturally I am biased based on being a bridge designer for over 11 years now.

So, would all my efforts as a structural engineer be more fulfilling as a building designer or a bridge designer?

[poll=3]

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…would it be to read the dictionary to it everynight before it goes to sleep or to use some great Nerdy Baby ABC Flash Cards to increase the vocabulary?

Personally, I would go with the flash cards, because I know that I would fall asleep reading the dictionary to anyone. Looks like Tiffany Ard, a self proclaimed artist in love with science and nature has come up with ABC flash cards pertaining to science. I have to say, this is getting to the height of geekery if I may say so!

Product Info -Tiffany Ard-
Retrieved from -OhGizmo!- (if you couldn’t tell from the spelling in the picture!)

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…because if so, I have found the most pointless device ever to grace your screens to solve the problem.

At least, in my opinion it is! Bedfan has developed what they call the Bedfan which is about as self explanatory as you get. Actually, if they got real self explanatory, they would have called it, a-fan-that-sucks-air-from-the-dust-ridden-depths-under-the-bed-to-blow-on-the-most-cold-susceptible-appendage-on-your-body, but I guess Bedfan works just as well! So basically, this device plugs into an outlet and sucks the air from under the bed (which is supposedly typically cooler) and blows it up under your sheets at your feet to cool off the air in the bed. Here are the problems I have with this:

1. Most people get under sheets to stay warm anyway. If you are too warm under the sheets and blanket, remove a layer of covering (blankets, etc.) until you are comfortable. Wouldn’t this device just cause you to be cold under the blankets?

2. How noisy is the fan in this thing? I like to have perfect quiet when going to sleep, so I would certainly hope I don’t have to hear this while trying to catch some ZZZZs.

3. People who generally get cold or hot quickly have problems with their feet feeling the worst of it first. So, say I was hot and turned this on, wouldn’t it blow “colder” air directly on my feet and make me feel colder quicker? Maybe that’s the point.

4. I assume that not everyone is a clean freak, so what is this thing going to be blowing up into your bed? Dust? Little critters that you normally don’t see? Plus, what if someone has had a healthy dose of beans that night. The airflow suggests that you will have to suffer if something slips out.

Who knows, I am sure this could be wonderful for some people, but for $100, I think I could find a better way to feel comfortable. My preference, pocket the $100, dream of the interest its gaining while sleeping with one leg out from under the sheets. Works for me!

Product info -Bedfan-
Retrieved from -OhGizmo!-

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