bookofjoe

The Belly Button — Episode 2: The Incredible World of Navel Fluff

Following up on last week's Episode 1 which featured the amazing variety of organisms discovered living in human navels, now comes a more macroscopic approach, "featuring the world's biggest collection of one person's navel fluff (lint), as certified by Guinness World Records."

More: "I've been collecting navel fluff (just my own) since 1984, and upon learning of this, people usually ask 'Why?' To this I answer 'Why not?'"

[via Milena]

Instant Cooling Foam Spray

From Japan, where else?

Very cool.

"The blue foam feels like a giant ball of confetti and as you squeeze it, the air bubbles expand and then 'pop,' releasing a refreshing breeze of cool air."

"This fascinating innovation actually releases a chilling foam that hardens and can be wrapped around the user’s wrist."

[via Tyler Cowen's Marginal Revolution, PopSci.com, Japan Trends and Gizmodo]

iPhone Clock Dock on Kickstarter — Episode 2: Show them the money

When I featured this nifty device in last Thursday morning's Episode 1, there were 43 (forty-three) days left in the campaign, it had all of 2 (two) Kickstarter backers and had amassed a grand total of $130 toward the $20,000 goal required to start production.

What a difference 4 (four) days makes.

As I write this, the project's got 21 backers and is up to $1,420 with 39 days to go.

Let's see, let me find my calculator, hold on a sec... OK then, they've raised $1,290 over the past 4 days, which averages out to $322/day.

$322 x 39 (days left in the campaign) = $12,558 which, added to $1,420, makes a total of $13,978 — not enough.

So I'm redoubling my efforts to drag James and his project across the finish line successfully.

Stay tuned.

I wonder if he's even aware what's going on here vis-a-vis his iPhone c-dock.

I emailed him last week to let him know I'd featured his creation; better do it again after this goes up.

Collapsible Garment Hanger

From the website:

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

The evocative trade description comes from the 1920s, when town people started living in flats and apartments with only limited space for hanging up clothes, in particular wet things in the bathroom or things for airing in the drying-room.

Our hanger — made in Germany, sturdy and immaculately finished — is of aluminium and pear-wood and will prove a willing workhorse that will never give way, even when fully loaded and at maximum extension.

Features:

• 22.5 cm H; projection 12.5 cm extending to 66.5 cm

• Anodized aluminium [sic] hooks

• Attachment screws included

• Leather pull-out loop

• 770g (1.7 lbs.)

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

€245.

Moscow's 760-Pound Aluminum Duck Spits Fire and Quacks

Kathy Lally's story in today's Washington Post features California/Moscow artist Bart Dorsa, whose 760-pound aluminum duck (above), with columns of flame that whoosh 30 feet in the air and a quacking horn, powered by up to four bicycle-pedaling people, he likes to take out for spins near the Kremlin.

Wrote Lally, "Amazingly, not one of the city's feared bribe-seeking traffic police has stopped Bart. Periodically, he releases hot flashes from two three-liter propane tanks strapped inside the duck. Firefighters have been called, but only twice."

 

 

Limited-Edition Jack Purcell Zip x Aloha Rag Sneakers

Wrote Alex Tudela in the New York Times, "The timeless Jack Purcell sneaker gets another update, this time in the hands of the über-cool retailer Aloha Rag. As part of Aloha Rag's 20th anniversary, the Aloha Rag for Converse Jack Purcell Zip shoe remains true to Converse's classic look but is given a bit of edginess."

"Featuring a calf-leather interior, embroidered skull-and-hearts logo, and zip tongue, the sneaker exudes the owner Tatsugo Yoda’s aesthetic, which combines punk style with nods to luxury. Only 150 pairs ($120 each) will be made available at Aloha Rag stores in New York and Honolulu and on its Web site, aloharag.com."

Fair warning.

Cereal Sampler

Corn Chex, thread.

By Judith G. Klausner.

[photographs by Steve Pomeroy]

PCR DNA Machine available worldwide: a snip at $512

Remember back in 1993 when Kary Mullis won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for inventing the polymerase chain reaction?

Well, guess what?

Now you can have your very own DNA replicating machine (above) for just $512.

"Every OpenPCR kit includes all the parts, tools, and beautiful printed instructions — you need only a set of screwdrivers."

Get yours here and create the organism of your dreams.

[via Richard Kashdan]