Sneaking around...

Do you enjoy poking around places where you're not supposed to be? You're not alone. Infiltration.org is here to help. It's an organization dedicated to the art of 'urban exploration'. In fact, they wrote the book -- and a rather funny one at that.
Tips and techniques for slunking around abandoned sites, underground tunnels, and all kinds of hidden wonders.

Lots of great info from the home page of Infiltration.org
www.infiltration.org


'Access All Areas' book also available via Amazon:
www.amazon.com

At your fingertips...

The last thing you need is to remember another password. The Sequiam Biometrics BioVault 2.0 Fingerprint Safe will keep your stuff secure using your fingertip for access. Designed for keeping small valuables and handguns - this NRA approved device can run on either AC or battery power. Available for about 400 USD.

Details from biosaf:
www.biosaf.com

Order info from SharperImage:
www.sharperimage.com

A closer look...

If you haven't taken a look at the magazine 'Monocle' - this might be a good month to do so. Described as a meeting between 'Foreign Policy' and 'Vanity Fair', it covers an incredibly diverse content. This month's printed issue includes their very subjective 'Travel Top 50' supplement. In the US, a copy at the news stand will cost about 10 USD, a subscription is about 150 USD - but includes enhanced web content.

The Home page of Monocle Magazine:
www.monocle.com


The podcast version of the Travel Top 50 from Monocle:
Travel Top 50

The Luxury Wing...

Coming soon, the Levi Ram Wing 100. This reverse tricycle hull design begins as a catamaran and terminates as a solid single hull - allowing it to reach speeds of up to 100 knots. Other planned amenities include a submarine, auto garage, a swimming pool, and a heliport.


Details from the Design Studio Levi:

www.designstudiolevi.com

Stash...

The luxury publisher Assouline has released a rather unique way for you to store your cigars. It's a humidor disguised as a book about Havana. It can be stored vertically or horizontally and features a humidity regulator and gauge. Available for about 1000 USD.


Details from the Assouline Book site:
www.assouline.com

Puzzling...

If your tastes run towards solving puzzles, you might like to take a look at this: The Isis. The Isis is considered one of the hardest to solve puzzles - and it would look great on your coffee table or desk. The puzzle is solved by aligning the bands of hieroglyphics. Hidden inside are codes for winning prizes from their website as well. Available for about 200 USD.

The Isis from ShaperImage:
www.sharperimage.com

Can you read this?

So, you've taken pictures of that secret document using your cell phone camera - and now you can't read it. Not to worry. Qipit is a free service on the internet that will take any photos of written or typed material and do a little math magic. Send the document photo to the service, and they'll send you back a cleaned up, easy to read, hi contrast version.


The homepage of qipit:
www.qipit.com

Car Wash...

Remember the James Bond Lotus that turned into a submarine in the movie 'The Spy Who Loved Me'? The Swiss company Rinspeed will be showing off a concept car that does exactly the same. At the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, they will be introducing the sQuba - which they say is able to submerge to 10 meters and has a self contained breathing system. Any missile launch system would most likely be an after market add on.


Article and translated press release via 'WindingRoad':
news.windingroad.com

Jetpack, the extended edition...

Most jetpacks will only give you about 30 seconds of fun. Next year, jetpack international will be introducing a new model that runs on jet fuel rather than hydrogen peroxide. Besides making it potentially dangerous - it will increase the flight time to 9 minutes. That would allow you to cover about 10 miles. And make your morning commute much more interesting.

The home page of jetpack international:
www.jetpackinternational.com


Video of the older H2O2 model in action:
www.youtube.com

Where on earth...

Have you ever done a big trek, taken a thousand pictures, then wondered later where exactly you took them? Apparently, someone at Sony has had the same problem. The Sony GPS-CS1KA is a device that will provide time and exact location of the photos you take - then map them electronically. About 150 USD.


Details and user comments via Amazon.com:
www.amazon.com

Ninja Shopping...

Having trouble finding good ninja gear? Talk to the gents at Gungfu.com. Sure, the name suggests chinese martial arts.. but they have an excellent selection of hard to find ninja kit - including (but not limited to) climbing claws, blow guns, throwing weapons of all varieties, and more...


Here are a couple of the relevant pages:
uniforms and such

blow guns

crossbows

throwing stars

Low profile...

At this year's Frankfurt autoshow, Lamborghini announced the 'Reventon'. This limited production redo of the Murcielago LP640 has taken it's stylistic queues from the F-22 Raptor jet. This is the most expensive car ever built by Lamborghini - weighing in at one million euro.


Lots of photos via the Autoblog:
www.autoblog.com

TV Mirrors...

There's no reason to miss your favorite television show, just because you are shaving. The folks at Seura are making bathroom mirrors with TV's embedded into them. When not in use, the TV disappears into the flat mounted mirror. Starting at around 3,000 USD, there are several styles to chose from.

Details and catalog via the Seura homepage:
www.seura.com

Not a theme park...

Touring America? You could do a theme park crawl and look at the standard monuments.. OR... you could check out a bunch of top secret locations. 'Top Secret Tourism' by Harry Helms catalogs many strange and interesting locations across the USA - including -- Germ warfare labs, secret airbases, nuclear test sites, and many others. Creepy and funny, it makes for an interesting read. Available for about 14 USD from all the usual suspects.

Top Secret Tourism via Amazon:
www.amazon.com

How extravagant...

Looking for some unfiltered feedback on top notch hotels, restaurants, and spas? Check out extravigator.com. The discussion forums are not very tidy - but full of excellent feedback from first hand experiences.

The home page of the extravigator:
extravigator.com

Martini machine...

Looking to avoid 'martini elbow' this busy party season? The Waring Martini Maker can shake and stir martinis at an industrial pace, effectively removing any exercise that might have happened during the cocktail process. Available in stainless steel and black, for about 100 USD.

The Waring Professional Martini Maker via Cooking.Com:
cooking.com

Key issues...

Need to make a copy of a key? Here are two instructional videos you might find interesting:

The first is to make a copy of standard key using tin snips and a beer can (no, seriously..)
www.instructables.com


And secondly, how to make a copy of one of those fancy perforated keys, using a popsicle stick.
www.instructables.com

Christmas jets!

Here's an excellent holiday gift for a pilot. Eight classic jet powered Dehavilland Venoms and Vampires are up for sale. Spare parts, extra engines, and ground handling equipment will be made available - but gift wrapping is not.

Details of the auction and more photos via ukmotornews:
ukmotornews.blogspot.com

Digital manhunting...

Finding people on the internet is a bit of an art. Here's a compact article to help you along. In just a few minutes, you could be finding people you haven't heard from in years. The jury is still out on if that's a good thing.


How to find people on the internet via LifeHacker:
www.lifehacker.com

Wicked Frisbees...

Paris: The wine, the cheese, the stun weapon equipped flying saucer drones..... A businessman caused quite a stir when he mentioned his company was working to build small flying saucer devices with TASERs for crowd control applications.

Read the scant details via the DangerRoom at Wired:
blog.wired.com

Warning pen...

Like many people, you may be a bit concerned that a shadowy organization might try to put radioactive materials into your beverages. If that's the case, then here's a helpful link - a pen sized polonium detector, using simple circuitry.


The polonium detector via Hack A Day:
www.hackaday.com