Here’s a Hook Right Here

Here’s the “Here Hook!” It’s an arrow, basically just pointing to the general area of itself. It’s a coat hook. It knows exactly where you’d be precisely in the area of cool if you want to hang up your jacket. Or hat! This thang is designed by the very well-spoken Richard Shed whom we’ve also got a knicked short interview of - come on and take a look right here!
Just a bit of cleverness made in the key of timelessness. Lacquered medium-density fibreboard Wall mounted hook for any sort of medium-weight object made of a material that hangs well.
Designer: Richard Shed

The Amazing Expander Bike !

It’s called the “Kilobike” and it’s totally magical. You can tell em I told you so. It’s designed to “expand the identity and usage of today’s kids bikes.” Made for Seed, designers at Kilo Design made this a bike to remember. If you’re from a bike family, even if you were the only one in your family to own a bike, you remember having to upgrade to a big-kid bike. It was a sad day, but no more!
This bike has the capability to expand along the years 6 to 12 years, multiple settings. Made to provide ergonomically correct conditions and “good outlook at all stages.” Goodness!
I love the blue tires the most.

Designer: Kilo Design

Quotes by Great Leaders

/nidokidos

LITTLE TRUCK !

Tips to Reduce Fuel Consumption

Here are some very good tips on improving your vehicle's Fuel Economy / Increase Fuel Efficiency / Mileage. With increasing fuel prices it is becoming more and more prudent to use them.
Use your gears wisely :
Driving in the highest gear possible without labouring the engine is afuel-efficient way of driving. A vehicle travelling at 60kmph in third gearuses 25 percent more fuel than at the same speed in fifth gear
Drive smoothly:
Think ahead! By applying light throttle and avoiding heavy braking, you canreduce both fuel consumption and wear and tear. Try to predict traffic atjunctions and when in queuing to avoid accelerating and then braking.Research suggests driving techniques can influence car fuel efficiency by asmuch as 30 percent.
Switch off your engine :
There are two schools of thought on this one. Switching your engine off forshort periods of time can actually increase fuel consumption, as it requiresmore fuel to get the engine started. Also your catalytic converter will nolonger be running at full temperature and so your car will be lessefficient, increasing the amount of pollution you cause. However if you arestopped for more than a few minutes then your car will simply burn less fuelwith the engine stopped
Drive off promptly to prevent wasting fuel
Don't leave your engine running when you first start up. Drive off straightaway if you can, but drive gently until the engine has reached its normaloperating temperature. This doesn't increase fuel efficiency as such, but itdoes mean your engine is switched on for less time.
Lighten your load :
Think carefully about what you need on a journey. if you do not needsomething, do not pack it. Remove roof racks if not needed. The lighter theload, the lower the fuel consumption, and emissions, and the higher the fuelefficiency.
Tyres effect fuel efficiency :
It is estimated that about 50% of tyres on the road are under inflated.Aside from increasing the rate of wear, this wastes fuel and decreased yourfuel efficiency. Check your tyre pressures every fortnight. Worn tyres willalso decrease fuel efficiency (and your safety!), so check the treadregularly. If you are replacing tyres then consider some of the newer 'Eco'tyres that are designed specifically to increase fuel efficiency.
Car Windows :
Driving with your windows open drastically reduces your fuel efficiency, farmore so than putting the air conditioning on when motorway driving. So inthose hot summers(?) preferably keep the windows shut, and the airconditioning on if you want to keep cool. Of course the air conditioning decreases fuel efficiency too, so try not to over use it.
Invest in a new fuel efficient car :
New cars come in all shapes and sizes, but it is possible to pick a new carthat can greatly reduce your fuel bill, and your fuel emissions.
Size matters :
Choose an economical car - small cars use far more fuelefficient and produce lower emissions than large cars.Drive the most fuel-efficient car that meets your needs. Compare models andclasses. Even similarly sized cars can vary in fuel efficiency by up to 45%.Consider diesel engines (with a particulate trap), and LPG (LiquefiedPetroleum Gas) and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) fuelled cars - all havelower CO2 emissions than standard petrol cars.
Consider 'hybrid' vehicles :
they combine a conventional engine with anelectric motor and battery. These offer reduced fuel consumption and CO2with potentially lower emissions of all pollutants.
Diesel Engines :
If your going to buy a diesel, ensure it is a new 'common rail' type, asthese are approximately 10% more efficient than older diesels. also replace(or clean if applicable) air cleaner elements as often as is required byyour vehicles servicing schedule.Regluar Maintenance maintains fuel efficiency
Air Filter :
One of the most common reasons for a drop in fuel efficiency is a dirtyintake filter. This will decrease the amount of air entering the cylindersof the engine resulting in incomplete combustion. Check the filter regularlyto ensure that it is clean.
Spark Plugs :
Ensure your spark plugs are in good condition. Renew the plugs and wires atintervals specified by the owners manual. This will keep all cylindersfiring properly resulting in higher efficiency.
Lube Oil :
Change the lube oil at intervals specified by the owners manual. Use therecommended oil only especially in newer cars. Use of an engine flush beforechanging the oil will help to get rid of a lot of the dirt that collects inthe engine that a normal oil change will not remove. On older engines it isadvisable to use an oil treatment agent. This basically thickens the oilwhich creates a better seal between the piston and the liner, preventingblow past and consequent loss of combustion pressure, resulting in higherfuel efficiency.
Exhausts alter fuel efficiency :
Most cars have special sizes for the exhaust. When cars are reasonably oldthe silences has to be changed. The garage people always try to fit a sizethat they have in the garage it self. Which might not be the exact sizerecommended for the car. The wrong size a bigger or smaller silencer sizeeffects on the MPG of the car and the HP of the car. It may be cheaper toput another size than your recommended size for your car but on the long runit will cost you in many ways, especially on fuel consumption. Always putthe recommended size of the exhaust that is indicated in your car manualbecause the car company knows how to optimize the performance of your car.
From:
"Priya Malhotra"

The Best Motorcycle Sidecar

If you're going to ride in a sidecar why not make it a really cool sidecar?
I bet that's what Francois Knorreck said to himself when he started working on this unique motorcycle-car, 10 years ago.
That's right it took him 10 years and $20,000 to complete this masterpiece he calls the Snaefell. He used a Laverda motorcycle and put together the car using whatever parts he got his hands on.

From:
"Tushar Bhogate"

Happiness is something you should decide ahead of time !

1. A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
   His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.
   As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.
   I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
   Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'
   'That doesn' t have anything to do with it,' he replied.
   Happiness is something y ou decide on ahead of time.
   Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.
   'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice;
   I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
   Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.
   Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.
   So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!
   Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank.
   I am still depositing.
   'Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
   1. Free your heart from hatred.
   2. Free your mind from worries.
   3. Live simply.
   4. Give more.
   5. Expect less.

Swine flu masks !

Good Parents, Bad Results

8 ways science shows that Mom and Dad go wrong when disciplining their kids.
Does your 3-year-old throw a five-alarm tantrum every time you drop him off at day care? Does "you're so smart!" fail to inspire your 8-year-old to turn off Grand Theft Auto IV and tackle his math homework? Do the clothes remain glued to your teenager's bedroom floor, along with your antisocial teenager, no matter how much you nag or cajole? Being a parent has never been easy—just ask your own. But in this day of two-earner couples and single parents, when 9-year-olds have cellphones, 12-year-olds are binge drinking and having oral sex, and there is evidence that teens are more fearful and depressed than ever, the challenges of rearing competent and loving human beings are enough to make a parent seek help from Supernanny. Actually, there is
Researchers have spent decades studying what motivates children to behave and can now say exactly what discipline methods work and what don't: Call it "evidence-based parenting." Alas, many of parents' favorite strategies are scientifically proven to fail. "It's intuitive to scream at your child to change their behavior, even though the research is unequivocal that it won't work," says Alan Kazdin, a psychologist who directs the Yale Parenting Center and Child Conduct Clinic. Other examples:
• Yelling and reasoning are equally ineffective; kids tune out both.
• Praise doesn't spoil a child; it's one of the most powerful tools that parents can use to influence a child's actions. But most parents squander praise by using it generically—"you're so smart" or "good job!"—or skimping.
• Spanking and other harsh punishments ("You're grounded for a month!") do stop bad behavior but only temporarily. Punishment works only if it's mild, and it is far outweighed by positive reinforcement of good behavior.
As yet, few of the bestselling books and videos that promise to turn surly brats into little buttercups make use of this knowledge. That may be because the research goes on in academia—at Yale, at Vermont's Behavior Therapy and Psychotherapy Center, and at the University of Washington's Parenting Clinic, for example. Surprisingly, many family therapists and parenting educators aren't up to speed on the research, either, so that parents who seek professional help won't necessarily get the most proven advice. Case in point: Just 16 programs designed for treating kids with disruptive behavior have been proven "well established" in randomized clinical trials, according to a review led by Sheila Eyberg at the University of Florida and published in the January Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Kazdin, who for years has pushed clinical psychologists to adopt evidence-based methods, published a book for parents earlier this year: The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child. Other lab-tested tomes include Parenting the Strong-Willed Child by Rex Forehand and Nicholas Long and The Incredible Years by Carolyn Webster-Stratton.
These discipline programs are grounded in classical behavioral psychology—the positive reinforcement taught in Psych 101. Researchers have run randomized controlled trials on all the nuances of typical parent-child interactions and thus can say just how long a timeout should last to be effective or how to praise a 13-year-old so that he beams when he takes out the trash. Who knew that effectively praising a child in order to motivate her has three essential steps? They are: 1) Praise effusively, with the enthusiasm of a Powerball winner. 2) Say exactly what the child did right. 3) Finish with a touch or hug.
What else can parents learn from the science? Researchers say these are the biggest common boo-boos:
1. Parents fail at setting limits It would be hard to find a parent who doesn't agree that setting and enforcing rules are an essential part of the job description. Yet faced with whining, pouting, and tantrums, many parents cave. "The limited time you have with your kids, you want to make it ideal for them," says Forehand, a professor of psychology at the University of Vermont whose evidence-based program is outlined in his book. "As a result, we end up overindulging our kids."
But, paradoxically, not having limits has been proven to make children more defiant and rebellious, because they feel unsafe and push to see if parents will respond. Research since the 1960s on parenting styles has found that a child whose mom and dad are permissive is more likely to have problems in school and abuse drugs and alcohol as teenagers. "Parents ask their 1-year-olds what they want for dinner now," says Jean Twenge, an associate professor of psychology at San Diego State University and author of Generation Me. "No one ever said that a generation or two ago." Using surveys dating back to the 1930s, Twenge has found significant increases in reported symptoms of depression and anxiety among today's children and teenagers, compared with earlier generations. Suniya Luthar, a psychologist at Columbia University Teachers College, reported in 2003 that children who are showered with advantages are more likely to be depressed and anxious and to abuse drugs and alcohol than the norm. Luthar says that's probably because those children are under a lot of pressure to achieve at school and think that their parents value their achievements more than themselves. They also feel isolated from their parents.
By Nancy Shute

CAR PARKING IN CHINA !

Making a Delicacy

For those of us that prefer Folgers, the most expensive coffee in the world is called Kopi Luwak, and it retails for between $100 and $600 per pound. It’s made from the finest, ripest coffee berries in Asia, but that’s not what makes it so special. These berries are eaten by civets, a type of small jungle cat, and then excreted. The inner seeds of the berries are not digested by the civet, and so they are collected, washed and roasted. Yum Yum. Here’s the whole process illustrated.
The civets pick out the ripest and sweetest berries, which some believe yields a better product. I say poop is poop, but whatever.

.
The collector picks only the finest seed-filled cat poops…

And sundries them for extra… flavor?

And thankfully, they are washed. Unfortunately, not in bleach and Lysol

Who’s thirsty for some tea now?
/Offbeat Earth

Cell phone activates oven !

Ever have that sinking feeling that you left a major appliance running when you left the house? Well you might not be paranoid: It may actually be on... though not of your own doing.
Andrei Melnikov found that out the hard way: Something activated his oven, causing it to turn itself on and melt a plastic meat thermometer which had been left inside.
How did this happen? Melnikov and his Brooklyn apartment building's skeptical super eventually figured it out through trial and error: The tenant's ringing cell phone somehow turned on his nearby Maytag oven when it rang. If you're skeptical, check out the video of this in action at the New York Times website and see for yourself.
Calling the situation "highly unusual," Maytag (and other experts) blame the problem on electromagnetic interference -- basically the same thing that happens when your cell phone gets too close to your speakers and it starts making that beep-beep-beeping noise. In this case, the interference didn't make a sound but rather caused the oven to turn on.
And this may not be an isolated incident: The Times suggests that preliminary experiments have confirmed that different brands of cell phones can activate multiple models of Maytag ovens. And, as the story notes, the oven "prefers high" and activates the broiler when it turns on -- which means anything inside the thing is going to get totally fried. On the other hand, tests with a General Electric oven failed to generate the same response.
Takeaways? It's hard to be a Luddite these days, but mysterious situations like this are likely to become more and more common as advanced electronics find their way into an increasing number of products. There's no special reason why an oven or a toaster needs to have a computer brain so advanced, but microprocessors have become so cheap it's probably easier to include one in an oven than it is to include an old-fashioned, analog temperature control system... and it's probably more accurate, too.
The bottom line: Always keep an eye out for oddball effects like this. If you see something strange happening with the electronics in your kitchen -- or any other room in the house -- consider how close your cell phone is when the antics occur, and try a little home-grown experimentation for yourself. Hey, maybe you'll make the news.

By Christopher Null

Getting Lost Is Not So Trendy

Maptor is this wonderful combination of a map and projector that (predictably) projects the desired map onto any surface. Palm of the hand, floor, and walls included. What I really fancy about it, is its size. Small enough to pass off as a lipstick (or a chapstick for you guys), the device is discreet enough for you to quickly hop into a quiet corner, check for directions and make your way forth. All this without anyone knowing that you are lost or need help!
Another good thing about the Maptor is that it has GPS included; as a result there is this big red arrow on the map that points to your current location. Therefore getting your bearings and charting your course is easy.
Although the images of the projected map look visible enough even in daylight, I wonder if it’s really going to be that clear in its practical avatar.
Anyways, I think this project has the potential to make it to the market and be a hit, I would love to get one for my husband, who hates to ask for directions!
Designers: Jin-Sun Park and Seon-keun Park

Why Do Shells Sound Like the Ocean ?

Kevin in Bentonville, Arkansas, wrote in to ask this question: “Why do you hear the ocean when you put a seashell up to your ear?”
All right, first things first: no matter what your mom or dad or grandparents told you, and no matter how much it may sound like the rolling waves, it’s not actually the ocean you’re hearing in a shell.Now that we’ve got that out of the way, what exactly is it that you’re hearing? In a word, noise; the ambient noise that’s being produced all around and inside you, which you normally don’t hear or pay attention to because it’s too quiet.
To amplify this noise so you can hear it clearly, you need a resonator. Want to make one on the cheap? Form an O shape with your mouth and flick your finger against your throat or cheek. You should hear a note. Make a smaller or larger O, or change the shape of your mouth, and you’ll get different notes. Sort of like this. What you’re doing here is letting your mouth fulfill its potential as a Helmholtz resonator, where sound is produced by air vibrating in a cavity with one opening. Different pitches can be coaxed out by changing the shape of the resonating cavity.
The seashell you’re listening to—the inside of which has many hard, curved surfaces great for reflecting sound—is essentially doing the same thing you just did with your mouth. The ambient noise mentioned before—the air moving past and within the shell, the blood flowing through your head, the conversation going on in the next room—is resonating inside the cavity of the shell, being amplified and becoming clear enough for us to notice. Just like the various shapes we make with our mouths will produce different pitches, different sizes and shapes of shell sound different because different resonant chambers will amplify different frequencies.The fact that all shells sound just a little bit like the ocean is purely coincidental. Holding any sort of Helmholtz resonator to your ear will produce a similar effect, whether that object is associated with the ocean or not. Put an empty glass over your ear or even cup your hand over it, and the sound you hear will be just about the same.
by Matt Soniak

20 Lazy Ways to Save Money

While the media can't decide if the recession is nearing its end or not, we do know that there hasn't been a tremendous surge in wages, job creation or the stock market. Consequently, most of us are staying pretty conservative on our spending. Here are a few relatively simple ways to keep an eye on your pennies while you're waiting for that brighter economic future to arrive.
1. Schedule automatic payments. Have (at least) your fixed monthly bills paid automatically to avoid missing a payment and having to fork over extra money for late fees and/or interest. You can set up auto pay features through your bank's online bill paying service or by arranging it directly with the company or service provider.
2. Eat your groceries. Did you know that Americans regularly throw away nearly 15% of the food they buy at the grocery store each year? That can add up to hundreds or, depending on your supermarket budget, thousands of dollars each year. Save money by actually eating what you buy. Not sure how? Bypass the bookstore and borrow a cookbook from the library!3. Bundle services. If you're paying different vendors for similar services you may be overpaying. Call your communications providers to see what price you'll be quoted if you switch and bundle your internet, phone and cable TV services.4. Pay off credit card. If you're not paying off your credit card balance each month you're paying interest and, for most Americans, it's a pretty steep rate. Pay it off and you could save a tidy sum by eliminating your interest charges.5. Mark your calendar. Whenever you rent something - library books, videos, etc. – mark it on your calendar and save money by avoiding those quickly mounting late fees. Many stores and libraries also now offer email reminders to help the constantly harried so sign up for the extra help!6. File your taxes on time. Or if you need to file an extension at least pay what you owe on the due date. You'll avoid annoying notices from the IRS and, more importantly, save on penalties, fees and interest.7. Roll it over. If you're switching jobs and you can't leave your 401(k) invested with your current company, roll your 401(k) into either your new employer's 401(k) or an IRA within the 60-day window instead of withdrawing the money. By doing so you'll keep the money invested - and earning interest - and avoid those nasty taxes as well as the additional 10% penalty.8. Switch credit cards. If you're carrying a balance on a high interest rate credit card check out other card issuers to see if you could transfer your balance to one with a lower interest rate and fewer fees. Use sites like Creditcard.com or Bankrate.com to compare card rates, and pay careful attention to how long those terms last so you don't wind up paying a higher rate and erasing any potential savings.9. Use your privileges. Are you an AAA member? Do you belong to the AARP? What about your local credit union? Check organizations you have memberships with to see if they offer buying privileges or discounts.10. Rent instead of buy. You might be excited to expand your driveway but don't let your enthusiasm overtake good sense. Hold off on buying that jackhammer and think before you spend on big-ticket items or items that you'll use once or infrequently (like movies and books).11. Buy instead of rent. Don't pay the exorbitantly high prices charged by rent-a-center type stores for items you'll use regularly and keep long-term like computers, furniture and appliances. 12. Ask. That's right, just ask. You can't be paying any more than you currently are, so why not ask if you can get the interest rate lowered on your credit cards or loans? Also, ask for a discount on services like your wireless phone, trash removal or pet care instead of switching to another vendor, and of course ask "is that the best you can do" on any big ticket purchases like cars, appliances and furniture.In a tight economy it might be worth the seller's while to cut the price instead of losing the sale, and you'll both benefit in the end!13. Just say no. To the extended warranty that is. They hardly ever make financial sense. Weigh the repair or replacement cost (and if you would even need or want to repair or replace it down the road) against the cost of the warranty and graciously pass when offered. 14. Have the awkward conversation. Americans average more than $750 yearly on holiday gifts and that's probably much more than most would like to spend. If your gift-giving is costing you more than you can realistically afford there's a good chance it’s more than your relatives can afford (or would like to spend) as well. Take the plunge and broach the subject. Offer a more reasonable alternative (say, limit giving to children or put a dollar amount on gifts per person). More than likely your relatives will be grateful SOMEONE finally raised the subject and you’ll save money in the process.15. Eat at home. If the idea of cooking for yourself seems like too much work at least opt for take-out instead of dining out - you'll save on the tip, the alcohol and most likely the cost for appetizers or dessert.16. Balance your checkbook. It might take a few minutes but it's something you should be doing anyway and it can pay off huge dividends by helping you avoid bouncing a check and incurring steep overdraft fees (not to mention a little embarrassment)!17. Stick with your bank. When withdrawing cash drive or walk the extra minute it takes to use your bank's ATM and avoid the fee that could come with another bank's machine. Better yet - switch to a bank that doesn't charge fees!18. Use your TV. If you're paying for cable why not use all of it - and save some money in the process? Cancel the video membership and watch movies through cable movie packages you're already paying for or check out your free "on demand" shows. Drop the gym membership and work out at home to channels like FitTV, and bag the magazine subscriptions and watch the same shows (like Martha Stewart) on TV instead.19. Quit those bad habits. Smoking, overeating and drinking are costly habits to maintain. Okay - this is the "lazy" way to save, not necessarily the easy way. But you can save boatloads of money in two ways by saying sayonara to your favorite vices: (1) You'll save money by cutting out on the regular spending it's costing you, and (2) you'll probably save on insurance premiums and long-term health costs. It's the ultimate win-win.20. Forget the pet. Sure it sounds heartless but did you realize that welcoming home a little Fido can cost you an average of more than $1,500 a year - or $15,000 over 10 years? Feline fluffies are pricey too - just under $1,000 a year or approximately $9,000 for 10 years of care. Looking at the long-term picture, that's a new car or the down payment on a home! Keep walking right past that pet store and keep the money in your pocket instead.The recession won't last forever, but in the meantime take advantage of these lazy ways to stay on track financially, and develop some pretty good money management habits for the future!
/Katie Adams

TOYOTA RSC !

The Toyota RSC ("Rugged Sport Coupe") was a Toyota concept car that was never produced for consumer sales.

It was designed as a 2-door SUV that would have competed with the Japan Domestic Market (JDM) Mitsubishi Pajero 2-door.

The concept featured many radical design cues and had plenty of ground clearance, and was probably intended as an idea for the Paris-Dakar Rally.

However, it never saw production.