Checklist...

There are certain things you look for when buying a safe: Is it resistant to diamond tip drills? Does it have a self contained GPS tracking system to signal for help? Will the paint job and styling match my Bugatti Veyron? Only one safe will do all that. Stockinger (based in Germany) is offering a limited number of custom safes made for Bugatti owners. The Price? We shouldn't really talk about that...

The 'Safe Bugatti' via the Stockinger site:
www.stockinger.com

Lighter pictures...

Sometimes you go to areas where cameras are forbidden. That's why the lighter camera can be very handy. There have been some improvements since the first generation - they're still digital and USB attachable, but now they're higher RES capable and cheaper than before. A 1280X960 image resolution with 8MB of Ram zippo style camera will set you back about 35 USD.


Details and order via Vavolo:
www.vavolo.com

Soundtrack...

Do you like classic R&B and Funk? Here's a new CD that you'll want to give a listen to. 'The Killion Floor' by Orgone - It's all new material, but it captures a certain retro mood quite well. You'll feel cooler after listening to just the first couple of tracks. Great mischief music. Available via iTunes or Amazon. Take a listen to some samples. Tracks 3,5 or 6 will do nicely. Cost: 9 to 15 USD


'The Killion Floor' by Orgone via Amazon (USA):
www.amazon.com

Supporting evidence...

Here's something you might want to be on the look out for. Apparently, crafty smugglers have been enlisting women to use the 'Plunder Bra' in order to smuggle illicit drugs into the UK. One bra can stash about 100,000 GBP worth of stuff - with a couple of variables. Read all about it - and the cocaine sausages, in an expose via the Daily Mail.


The 'Plunder Bra' via the Daily Mail:
www.dailymail.co.uk

Golfbot...

Here's a rather hi-tech way to avoid carrying your golf clubs around - the Hawk 'Vegas' is a remote controlled golf caddy made of lightweight aluminum and powered by two 180 watt electric motors. Other features include beverage, scorecard, and storage for small items. An additional benefit is one could race them while waiting for a tee. Cost: about 1,400 USD.


The 'Vegas' golf caddy via Hawk International:
www.hawkintl.com

Props of fun...

There are a lot of great spy gadgets in the movies and on TV - and there's one guy that knows ALL about them. That man, is Danny Biederman. Danny has been collecting classic props and gadgets for sometime now. His collection is so impressive, that he was asked to exhibit it at the CIA a few years back. Now he's written a book showing off his favorites. 'The Incredible World Of Spy-Fi' showcases a couple of hundred pieces along with trivia and inside info. Cost: about 15 USD.


Available from booksamillion:
www.booksamillion.com

Have a ball...

Here's a workstation you might bump into while visiting an evil genius's lair. The Artifort Globus workstation looks like a globe in it's closed position, but opens to reveal both a seat and a work surface. Very clever.


The globus workstation via stylepark:
www.stylepark.com

Heads up!

In the not too distant future, everyone could have bionic vision. The folks at the University of Washington have been working on embedding circuitry into contact lenses. The possibility includes 'super vision' and virtual 'heads up' type displays. No word on whether it will help people drive better, but there's surely a team working on that.

Details on the bionic vision research via UW News:
uwnews.org

Fashion tasers...

Just in time for Valentine's Day - Tasers in fashion colors!! The guys at Tasers International are now offering appealing fashion colors for their taser line AND hard cases that include MP3 players - so your girl could listen to her favorite tasering soundtrack while zapping bad guys. Taser for about 350 USD, the MP3 case is about 80 USD. No engraving service available yet.


Press release via the Luxist:
www.luxist.com

Goldbricking...

Here's a flash drive that Mr. Auric Goldfinger would love - A 2 gig drive shaped like a bar of gold. Cost: about 50 USD.


Details and purchase info from Vavolo:
www.vavolo.com

Survival gear...

One of the problems with being in the wild is getting a descent cup of coffee. With the 'handpresso', it is possible to make a cup of espresso virtually anywhere. It's a small, hand pressurized gadget that can provide a couple of cups even in the most adverse conditions. About 150 USD.


Info and order from handpresso:
www.handpresso.com


And the rather suggestive commercial for the handpresso:
www.youtube.com

Nice Karma...

The latest design from Henrik Fisker was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show this past week - 'The Karma'. Henrik, as you might recall, is the same gent that designed both the BMW Z8 and the Aston Martin DB9. The Karma is his first eco-friendly design - a plug in hybrid engine sport sedan. It may not be incredibly fast, but it is quite attractive. The plan is to start producing 15,000 of these a year by the end of 2009.


Details of the Karma unveil from Wired:
blog.wired.com


The rather stylish home page of Fisker CB (Fisker CoachBuild):
www.fiskercb.com

Danger for breakfast...

Nothing says 'good morning' like a hearty breakfast in the shape of a handgun. Yes - strangely enough, the company
Urban Trend is manufacturing egg fryers in the shape of handguns. And it doesn't stop there - you can get cookie cutters to do the same.

Handgun egg forms from Urban Trend:
www.urbantrendhk.com

Sleeping in...

Imagine being able to leave from Paris at 8 am for a breakfast meeting in New York. It will soon be possible if you are flying in the first supersonic business jet from Aerion. At open speed, this jet will fly at 1.6 mach. That trans-atlantic flight will take about 2 hours. Other benefits include a relatively low operating cost, use of standard runways, and the ability to fly at .98 mach over land while still meeting US noise standards. All that fun will cost about 80 Million USD. If you want to be the first on your block to have one, you'll need to deposit 250,000 USD to secure an early delivery. The first unit has been ordered by Sheikh Rashid, the ruler of Dubai.


Technical specifications and sales kit via Aerion:

www.aerioncorp.com

Vested interest...

Looking for a way to antagonize the airport security people? Take a look at the new Scottevest Travel Vest. There are 22 hidden pockets - along with many other features that will look very suspicious going through the X-Ray machine. Other features include wiring for a personal network, a hydration pack for liquids, magnet pocket enclosures, and earbud pouch. Cost: 100 USD.

Details, order info, and 'X-Ray View' from Scottevest:
www.scottevest.com

Furoshiki style...

Here's a great way to tote beverages around - using a furoshiki. A furoshiki is a japanese carrying cloth that can be used to wrap many different kinds of items - here's a fairly foolproof video on how to wrap a couple of bottles of wine, using a square piece of cloth in less than 30 seconds.


How to make a furoshiki wine carrier via Dr. Vino:
www.drvino.com

UnWired...

Finding a good pair of headphones is always tricky. Finding a wireless pair is even harder - something that has great sound quality, and doesn't leave you looking like a cyborg. Sennheiser is now making a wireless headphone set that does a great job. The MX W1 wireless headphones work with a small base station that attaches to multiple devices - so you can use your headset from device to device. Cost: about 600 USD.

Specifications from the Sennheiser site:
www.sennheiser.com

Save your rubles...

The first ultra-luxe Russian river cruiser will be ready for business in 2009. The 'Aquarius' by Vodohod will take you down the rivers of Russia in high style. Amenities will include private balconies, bar, nightclub, saunas, panoramic lounges and smoking rooms, a solarium and much more. Specifications for the vodka fountain are not yet available.


Aquarius press release via the press release network:
www.pressreleasenetwork.com


Ship details and booking via the Vodohod website:
www.vodohod.com

Special case...

Do you have a particular creature comfort you like to travel with? The folks at Pinel and Pinel can help make it a little more portable. They make excellent custom cases to fit most any piece of gear. Some of their 'ready made' cases include a Bang & Olufsen video rig, a micro compact bike, and the Escape Artist: a Krug champagne and gaming kit.


Details and selection from the stylish homepage of Pinel & Pinel:
www.pineletpinel.com

Wet batteries...

This week debuted the new HydroPak portable power product. This rather unique product uses a water activated fuel cell to generate electricity. It has many advantages - infinite shelf life, small, quiet, zero emissions. So, if you long to play nintendo with remote tribes - this could be the product you've been waiting for. Scheduled to cost about 400 USD. Additional fuel cells for about 20 USD.

More details via CameraTown.com:
www.cameratown.com

Gyros, to go...

Gyroplanes have been around for a long time - they're safe, easy to fly, and very quick for their size. Sportcopter is busy working on their new model - the 'Super Sport 2'. This nimble little gyroplane will have a cruising range of between 300 and 400 miles, run on standard gasoline. It's redesigned cockpit can fit two people and still have room for a storage area behind the seats. Goodbye traffic jams.


Specifications and pictures via the Sportcopter site:
www.sportcopter.com

Have a snort...

Seems the US Defense department has been working on better ways to stay awake. There's a substance that fools the brain into staying alert - and it's not Red Bull. Orexin is a hormone that naturally occurs in the brain, but can be snorted in a nasal spray as well. No word on a Starbuck's branded version.

Read about via Wired:

www.wired.com

Choices...

Having trouble choosing between a submarine and a powerboat? Now you can have both. The Marion Hyper-Sub can cruise on top of the water - partially due to an innovative bow design. Then, when needed, it can fully submerge as a one atmosphere submarine. It's whole new kind of mini-sub.

Details and videos via the Hypersub Homepage:
www.hyper-sub.com

Say, is this blast proof?

On a recent japanese trivia program, someone asked the question - Does bullet proof glass stop a bazooka shell? Using a soviet built RPG-7, a dummy, and a couple of different panes of bullet proof glass - they came to a few conclusions. You don't need to speak japanese to follow along.


Glass vs. Bazooka via japanprobe.com:
www.japanprobe.com

Hi Tech Huts...

Looking to build an excellent hideout? The people at TomaHouse can help. They make beautiful prefabricated buildings with some unexpected hi tech touches. Take a look through the gallery of balinese style homes.




Technical details and galleries via the hompage of TomaHouse:
www.tomarama.net