bookofjoe

Philip K. Dick's Scramble Suit

Introduced early in the second chapter of his 1977 novel, "A Scanner Darkly," as follows:

"Basically, his design consisted of a multifaced quartz lens hooked to a miniaturized computer whose memory banks held up to a million and a half physiognomic fraction-representations of various people: men and women, children, with every variant encoded and then projected outward in all directions equally onto a superthin shroud-like membrane large enough to fit around an average human."

I wonder how it's coming along....

Edible Crickets

Tasty!

"Not a joke! These are real roasted crickets, totally edible and safe to eat. One box each of Salt n' Vinegar, Bacon & Cheese, and Sour Cream & Onion. Each box contains 6-7 crickets."

$7.69.

Helpful Hints from joeeze: The way you cut an onion affects its flavor

Who knew?

Long story short: If you cut onions into rings, they'll be more pungent than doing it the other way.

The crack research team over at Cook's Illustrated drilled down way deep to come up with the following "Test Kitchen Tip", in the current issue (July/August 2009):

•••••••••••••••••••

Taming Raw Onion Flavor

We took eight onions and cut each two different ways: pole to pole (with the grain) and parallel to the equator (against the grain). We then smelled and tasted pieces from each onion cut each way. The onions sliced pole to pole were clearly less pungent in taste and odor than those cut along the equator. Here’s why: The intense flavor and acrid odor of onions are caused by substances called thiosulfinates, created when enzymes known as alliinases contained in the onion’s cells interact with proteins that are also present in the vegetable. These reactions take place only when the onion’s cells are ruptured and release the strong-smelling enzymes. Cutting with the grain ruptures fewer cells than cutting against the grain, leading to the release of fewer alliinases and the creation of fewer thiosulfinates.

World's geekiest bike grips — How do you spell 'QWERTY'?

Two for $7.99.

[via gearfuse , Wired Gadget Lab and The Art of Trackstand]

10 Practical Uses For Your Credit Cards

Anneli Rufus wrote, "Now that everyone's too strapped to use credit cards for their original purpose, we've created a photo essay detailing ten better uses for them. It's sad but it's funny because it's mostly true."

From the top, Snow Goggles, Dolls' Picnic Table

and Coinage.

Anneli Rufus and Kristan Lawson are the authors of "The Scavengers' Manifesto" (below),

"the new handbook for the scavenging movement."

Buy their book — they need the money.

Woodway EcoMill Treadmill has no motor, generates electricity

True.

That's the good news.

The bad news: It costs $8,500.

SellYourGoldTeeth.com

"America is in the midst of a new gold rush. Now more than ever, gold is the most valuable and secure asset. Selling your gold teeth and crowns is an excellent way to bring in extra cash. There are two types of gold teeth: removable teeth (caps, grills) and gold dental crowns. Both are sellable and very valuable. We are a 50-year family jeweler and pay top dollar."

Hey, there's a recession on.

[via pulp]

World's swishest water filter

From Siemens.

"Up to 11 liters of tap water are filtered and revitalized with the reusable multilayer Aquacristal filter cartridge, which removes chemicals and organic pollutants. Activated carbon layer neutralizes taste and smell, absorbing 99% of pharmaceutical residues and phenols."

[via 7 Gadgets]