bookofjoe

90 Shades of Merkel

From Hurricane Vanessa: "This impressive collection was compiled by graphic designer Noortje van Eekelen, part of her 'The Spectacle of the Tragedy' project."

Fenix or SureFire flashlights — "Optical pepper spray"

Timothy Ferriss, he of "The 4-Hour Workweek" and other recent sensations, told Stephanie Rosenbloom, in a New York Times Travel Section front page story featuring his travel tips and secrets, that he always brings along "a Fenix or SureFire flashlight, which he says are so bright they can double as weapons. 'They can be used for self-defense to temporarily blind an assailant,' he said. 'Like an optical pepper spray.'"

I'll testify to that: I tried looking directly into one in a store once and couldn't see right for the next several minutes.

Fenix flashlights start at $10.63.

SureFire (pictured above), $54.99 and up.

Square is the real deal

I have one of their card readers (free, the way we like it) and it works.

You pay Square 2.75% per swipe.

That's it.

Suddenly you're in business.

I don't understand why Square hasn't achieved escape velocity (yet?), because it's really 1) easy and simple; 2) liberating; 3) very reasonably priced, considering 1) and 2).

 

Farmstead Ferments Apple Kraut — The taste of summer in a jar

I'd never even heard of Apple Kraut till I took a flyer on Farmstead Ferments' creation via Relay Foods.

It's crunchy!

And beautiful, its deep purple cabbage and apples being ever so soothing to the eye.

And, it tastes great.

Did I mention less filling?

"Made with: Green and red cabbage, green apples, scallion, juniper berry, allspice, & Celtic sea salt."

$9.25 for a 16 oz. jar.

BehindTheMedspeak: How likely are you to die from a non-communicable disease?

Above, a graphic that appeared in the June 2, 2012 issue of The Economist, accompanying an article headlined "Squeezing out the doctor: The role of physicians at the centre of health care is under pressure."

Non-communicable diseases (thanks Paul Biba!) include Alzheimer's, asthma, atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and osteoporosis, among others.

Among the many things I like about The Economist: The date of their online articles matches the date of the dead tree issue in which they appear.

Few — if any — other publications can boast of such consistency.

Seki Edge — The Lexus of nail clippers

I've had mine for I don't know how long — 10 years, maybe? — and they still work perfectly.

So much better than high-end nail clippers by other makers, it's not even funny.

The difference between these and the ones you get from a big bucket by the checkout at drugstores? 

About the same as the gap between The Show and low A ball.

$18-$23.

Shackleton and Scott Hut Cams from Google

From a July 17 Mail Online story: "In the winter of 1913, a British newspaper ran an advertisement to promote the latest imperial expedition to Antarctica, apparently placed by polar explorer Ernest Shackleton."

"It read, 'Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success.'"

More excerpts from the Mail article below.

Above, Shackleton's Hut.

Below, Scott's Hut.

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It's perhaps the only opportunity most of us will have to "visit" two monuments to the great age of exploration — in considerably more comfort than their first inhabitants.

Google's Street View has created 360-degree 3-D explorable panoramas of the huts used by two of the greatest Antarctic explorers, Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott.

The huts have been preserved by the intense cold and offer an insight into the grim conditions faced by Shackleton and Scott a century ago.

The panoramas were created by a lightweight tripod camera with a fisheye lens.

"Today we're bringing you additional panoramic imagery of historic Antarctic locations that you can view from the comfort of your home. We'll be posting this special collection to our World Wonders site, where you can learn more about the history of South Pole exploration," said Laurian Clemence of Google.

"With the help of the Polar Geospatial Center at the University of Minnesota and the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust, we've now expanded our 360-degree imagery of the continent and are making views of many other important spots — such as the South Pole Telescope, Shackleton's hut, Scott's hut, and the Cape Royds Adélie Penguin Rookery — available to people around the world."

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More from Google on the project here.

[via Leah (Kay)]

Smile Lines Face Belt — Anti-aging/anti-wrinkle beauty mask

From the website:

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We are just constantly amazed by Japan's beauty industry and the novel if sometimes unusual-looking approaches they come up with for tackling the signs of aging.

The latest is the Kogao! mask, a nylon face cover-cum-strap-cum-belt that tightens up your cheeks and facial contours, giving you a more buoyant and youthful visage.

Great for wearing at home or in the bath [or both!], daily use will result in clear effects soon becoming visible and eventually a "smaller" face (that's what "Kogao" means). The double layer of nylon and polychloroprene will trap heat and work on those smile lines or laugh lines that we all hate. In pink and gray, the tight belt may take a little getting used to but you will soon be smiling, all while knowing you can now combat the aftereffects of laughter and fun.

Kogao! Smile Lines Face Belt features and details:

• Made from nylon (outer and inner material) and polychloroprene (internal)
• Use with baby oil, creams, or lotions for better comfort and results
• Not recommended for people with sensitive skin or skin allergies
• Fits face sizes around 57-68cm (22.4-26.8")
• Made in Japan

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$42.