bookofjoe

Will the real Saffron Burrows please stand up?

Can you identify the individuals in the photos above and below?

Me, probably the last two but not the first — at least, until the credits rolled at the end of "The Bank Job," a most entertaining film I watched the other night.

That was when I learned Martine Love (top) was played by Saffron Burrows.

Huh?

All three photos are of Ms. Burrows.

I remembered some forgettable film in which she starred, which turned out to be 1999's "Deep Blue Sea."

In that one she looked like the photo immediately above.

I must say I was kind of amazed at what the passing of nine years can do.

Rubbersocks — Episode 2: You want pink? You got pink

Just in from Jan-Philipp Wittrin and POG Design, this fashionable option.

Because sometimes yellow

— like brown shoes — don't make it.

Jan-Philipp was kind enough to also send me a link with information (which follows) about the history of rubber shoes in Korea, where they are part of everyday life.

"Rubber shoes arrived in Korea at the same time as Western shoes, in the 1920s, and were produced in factories beginning in the 1930s. The shoes were popular because they were robust, comfortable and waterproof. They were also cheaper than normal shoes. They matched well with casual clothing and were a symbol of modern progressive thinking. Young Koreans rebelled against traditional values by letting their hair down and combining traditional Korean silk socks with rubber shoes, which were made of old car tires and therefore black. Due to the fact that this was esthetically unflattering, the rubber shoes were then produced in white or jade green. Often, they would be embellished with patterns. Given the fact that they were initially rare, they were extremely sought after and sometimes even worn at weddings."

Well, there you have it.

What it means to be a TechnoDolt®™©

From time to time I get emails scoffing at my professed computer-related ineptitude.

On such occasions I like to give a practical lesson demonstrating just what it takes to be comfortable down at the lowest depths of the technical food chain.

Today's a good day for an example, methinks.

Did you know that for years I didn't link books and movies and whatnot mentioned in bookofjoe to Amazon because I believed with all my heart that by doing so, when others clicked on the link they'd have the same access to my account as is displayed whenever I'm on the site from my own computer?

Only last year, when as an experiment I linked to Amazon and then used someone else's computer to click on the link and saw — to my wonderment — that the page that came up on had nothing to do with my account, did I begin to directly link there.

True.

So get off my back about how I'm being silly and making myself look less able than I am.

There is no there there, as Gertrude Stein said of Oakland, California, her hometown.

Easy Saran Wrap Dispenser — Is this the one?

We can only hope.

From the website:

3-in-1 Roll Holder

No more struggling with plastic wrap

Fill the top two compartments of our 3-In-1 Roll Holder [below] with aluminum foil and plastic wrap; lower bar is for paper towels.

Pull out the length you need, then slide the super-sharp stainless steel blade for a neat and clean cut.

Top section [above] detaches to take along for easy cutting anywhere.

Always leaves a "little extra" so it's easy to grab next time.

Includes one roll of towels and mounting hardware.

Durable wipe-clean white ABS plastic.

8¼"H x 14¾"W x 3"D.

....................

$29.99.

Live-in Lego House — Build your own Bubble House on the cheap

Antti Lovag's Bubble House can now be yours for pennies on the dollar.

Look at the graphic below.

What do you see?

Those five basic prefabricated polystyrene plastic units

used in combination

can be assembled

by 3 or 4 people

into a house (above and below)

in about one week.

International Dome House

makes the parts and provides plans

for you to use, or design your own.

Four videos here.

Inquire within.

[via Jo Novelli]

Power Failure Light

Good idea.

From the website:

Power Failure Light

This device attaches between the socket and bulb of a standard table or floor lamp and automatically provides up to 8 hours of uninterrupted light from 6 bright LEDs as soon as power is lost, eliminating the need to search for flashlights during a blackout.

Powered by built-in rechargeable batteries that automatically recharge via the lamp socket once power is restored and never require replacement, the device has an integrated photocell that detects ambient light and prevents the LEDs from turning on during the daytime or when power is restored.

Compatible with incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs.

5"H x 5"W x 3"D.

....................

Nice to have on all your lamps, but pricey.

$39.95.

The Things Of The World — by Kay Ryan

Wherever the eye lingers
it finds a hunger.
The things of the world
want us for dinner.
Inside each pebble or leaf
or puddle is a hook.
The appetites of the world
compete to catch a look.
What does this mean
and how does it work?
Why aren't rocks complete?
Why isn't green adequate
to green? We aren't gods
whose gaze could save,
but that's how the things
of the world behave.

Hori Hori Japanese Gardening Knife

From the website:

Hori Hori Japanese Gardening Knife

No, you don’t have to fall on this tool to save your gardening honor if the petunias die.

The Hori Hori (literal Japanese translation “dig dig”) is a handy, versatile tool that does the work of several tools currently clunking around in the bottom of your garden bag.

The pointed blade and curved shape work like a garden spade while the serrated edge works as a garden knife to cut plantings apart.

Also perfect for weeding, transplanting and cutting open fertilizer bags.

Durable 6-3/4” stainless steel blade is marked in centimeters for setting planting depth or spacing.

Comfortable, durable hardwood handle.

Synthetic sheath included.

Weight: 3.5 oz.

Made in Japan.

$25.