And now a message...

Here's a stylish way to pass on a secret message: 'The Secret Message Cuff Links'. The secret compartment inside comes with inspirational messages - and a couple of blank ones for you to write your own. Cost: about 50 USD.






Available from Red Envelope:
gifts.redenvelope.com

Filtered...

Sometimes your interests can take you to some messy places. The 'Sportsa Mask' is a HEPA filter that fits over your face - filtering out the fine airborne particles. Since it's built for sports - it allows for maximum airflow. Cost: about 28 GBP.





The 'Sportsa Mask' via respro:
www.respro.com

And it comes in your favorite color...

The car tuning company Mansory recently displayed it's newest modified effort - 'The Bentley Continental GT Speed'. This matte black version of the sport Bentley has been further spruced up with flared wheels, angled exhaust system, revamped interior, and pumped up engine. It has an estimated top speed of 219 mph.




More info from 'Fancy Tuning':
fancytuning.com

Rotary club...

What if you took a soviet made Mil V-12 and converted it into a luxury hotel? You would have the 'Hotelicopter'. Planned for it's first flight in June of this year, the mobile 5 star hotel will include room service, a tea garden, yoga classes, and spa treatments.





The Hotelicopter - details and reservations:
hotelicopter.com

Vacation in a box...

Minimalist campers might find this interesting: 'The Paco Cube'. The bare minimum you need, all packaged into a cube shaped vacation home. Bare necessities include: a hammock, writing table, shower, and a kitchen of sorts. The flip top opens to allow the elements in.






Pictures and details (in Japanese only) via the Paco site:
paco.bz


Pictures and more details (in English) via Sschemata:
www.sschemata.com

Sleep on it...

It's one thing to stash things under your mattress - but the 'bed bunker' takes that to a whole new level. These hydraulic controlled security safes are meant to be used as a bed base. The tamper proof cases can contain as many as 32 rifles or 70 hand guns - all while providing a firm base for a good nights sleep. Cost: ranges from 2,700 to 5,200 USD (depending on size)




The 'Bed Bunker' via the product page:
www.bedgunsafe.com

Access times...

You really don't want to ruin the lines of your tailored pants by stuffing car keys into the pockets. Jaeger-LeCoultre has teamed up with Aston Martin on a new series of watches that double as keys for their cars. There are now three models to chose from.




Read about the release via Softpedia:
gadgets.softpedia.com

Deep throat...

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Chinese modern...

If you're heading for Hong Kong, you might like to check out the hotel Sevva. This large hotel has a variety of understated venues that offer amazing harbor views. Features include a rather over the top sweet shop, a 13,000 sq foot roof lounge, and a tapas bar.





The Hotel Sevva Site:
www.sevvahk.com

Seems like old times...

The folks at Bell & Ross are getting ready to show a new watch at the upcoming Basel Watch Fair. 'The BR Heritage' is a tip of the hat to the older French military watches. The Heritage sports a simple clean black face paired with a natural colored strap. The price is estimated at about 4,000 USD







Details from hyrcollective:
www.hyrcollective.com

The Bell & Ross site:
www.bellross.com

Hammered...

The Hitatchi DH50MRY is part jack hammer, and part drill. It cuts through masonry very quickly. Really, you just never know when you'll need one.






Cut-a-way visuals from PopSci:
www.popsci.com

And details...:
www.popsci.com

Rugged...

If you compute in harsh environments, or you're particularly clumsy around electronic gear - you might be interested in this: the new ' Itronix GD8000'. Made by General Dynamics, this laptop can operate in temperatures ranging from -22 degrees F to 140 F.
It will also withstand falls of up to four feet, and is water resistant. True, it isn't bullet proof, but it's a good start.




Details and specs via ITech:
www.itechnews.net

To Arms!

This month sees the return of the bi-annual arms show IDEX. Hosted in Abu Dhabi, this show is a magnet for security and military folk in the region - sort of like 'Fashion Week', but for weapons. The below link will take you to a nicely produced 5 minute run through of the event with commentary.






IDEX show report from Monocle:
monocle.com

I'll have the combo...

Arguably. the mark of a really good ice hotel is the ability to purchase tickets for outer space flights. That's exactly what's going on with the Ice Hotel at Jukkasjari, Sweden. Besides offering snowmobile safaris and dog sled outings, they are an outlet for Virgin Galactic. Departures for space will start in 2012 from nearby Kiruna.




The 'Ice Hotel' website:
www.icehotel.com



Virgin Galactic:
www.virgingalactic.com

Looks like trouble...

In his new book 'Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life', author Neil Strauss outlines what one should do when things go horribly wrong. Really though, the book reads more like a 'Jason Bourne Training Guide'. Written in a lively style, there are tips on a variety of topics ranging from building a solar still to inter-country travel to safe-havens. A great read for less than 20 USD.





Available from all the big bookstores, including Amazon:
www.amazon.com

The other Polo Store...

Move over Ralph. The 'Polistas' store is a polo store by polo players, for polo players. They offer a selection of sport clothing and accessories from their stores located in London, St. Tropez, and Buenos Aires.







The Polistas online store:
www.polistas.co.uk

It's a picnic..

If you're planning a day in the country, you might want one of these: the 'Krug Picnic Trunk' from Pinel and Pinel. Everything you need for a day out including a selection of Krug champagne all neatly stored in one trunk.




The website of Pinel and Pinel (tip: skip the intro)
www.pineletpinel.com

Fly paper...

If you're trying to zoom thru airport security, your liquid shave cream can be a bit of a speed bump. Here's a time saver: 'Paper Shave Creme'. Quick to dissolve in water, and it weighs almost nothing. Cost: about 6 USD. CAUTION: don't mix them up with those breath freshner papers





Paper Shave Cream from the Spoon Sisters;
www.spoonsisters.com

Comes with baggage...

When Infinity announced they were going to collaborate with Louis Vuitton (yes, the bag people to work on a car concept - a lot of people chuckled. The 'Essence' concept was shown at the recent Geneva Motor Show, and no one is chuckling any more.



Pictures and specifications via Jalopnik:
jalopnik.com

Old hat...

Looking for the perfect helmet to go with your rebuilt roadster? You might want to talk to the folks at Borsalino. This Italian hat maker was founded in 1857, and makes some amazing helmets for a variety of sports. There's even a silk lined helmet for the bond girls. Cost: about 250 USD (more for the mink version, of course)




Retro helmets from Borsalino (English and Italian):
borsalino.com

In reality...

'Augmented Reality' computing seems like it's still years away (think Tom Cruise in the movie 'Minority Report' and you'll be in the neighborhood). At a recent conference there was a presentation about a group that's managed to make a good start. The amazing part: they did it using store bought materials costing about 350 USD.





A nine minute video that's well worth watching from TED:
www.ted.com

Hanging around...

If you can't wait for your space flight or just want to log a little zero gravity training time, you might consider this: 'Zero G' training flights. The company is providing parabolic flights that provide multiple sessions of weightlessness. Cost: about 5,000 USD.





Zero G flight schedule and departure locations:
www.gozerog.com

Extra parts...

Here's a great way to stash all your parts when kitting out a billiard room: 'The Cue Bench'. Compartments for balls, sticks, bridges, etc - all wrapped in a fashionable leather bench. Cost: about 3,400 USD.






Available from Pool Table Portfolio:
www.pooltableportfolio.com

State of the box...

If you're looking for a state of the art humidor - here's the one: the 'Grand Connoisseur' from Buben & Zorweg. This 5 foot 6 inch tall humidor is all about leather inlays, stainless steel, cedar from Spain, and German craftsmanship. Very snappy.





The precise website of Buben & Zorweg:
www.buben-zorweg.com

Knotty problem...

Sometimes it's difficult to follow those little charts on how to tie a knot. 'Animated Knots' by Grog is an animated dictionary of knot tying. The information is broken out by usage (boating, fishing, climbing, etc). Each includes a step by step mode as well. You'll have that Boy Scout badge in no time.





Animated Knots:
www.animatedknots.com

A Room with a Vue...

Setting up a multiple camera monitoring system can be a bit of a chore. The new 'Vue' system can simplify that. Using a magnetic base for camera positioning, these little cameras can transmit a million frames on a charge. The software is based on the mesh network technology developed for DARPA. The camera feeds stream to company's website, where they can be accessed from anywhere. Cost: basic system starts at about 300 USD.




Details from 'The Vue Zone':
vuezone.com

Hands on...

Security conscious travelers with an aversion to keys will enjoy this; 'The Biocase' - biometric lock luggage. Holding up to eight different fingerprints for access, the case will run for three months on a single charge. Available later this year in two carry on sizes.





Press release via gadget review:
www.gadgetreview.com

Flying Sharks..

If you're tired of those box-like hover car designs, here's some relief: the 'Audi Shark' future concept car. A design concept presented by Kazim Doku, it's lines were inspired by motorcycles and aircraft. Let's hope the future gets here soon.







Concept sketches for the Audi Shark via Car Body Design:
www.carbodydesign.com

In plain sight...

You could hide stuff on your lawn in that garden gnome, but that's pretty obvious. Try this instead: 'The sprinkler hide a key'. It looks just like a sprinkler head, but has a hollow body with a simple screw top cap. Cost: about 6 USD.






The Sprinkler Hide a Key from ThinkGeek:
www.thinkgeek.com

One Sugar, Zero G's...

Astronaut Donald Pettit has a mission: getting a decent cup of coffee in space. Tired of drinking his morning joe out of an aluminum bag, Donald is working on a way to keep is hot beverage where it belongs - in a Zero G Mug. This will of course, pave the way for the first off planet Starbucks.




Read about his design via Tuvie:
www.tuvie.com

Lucky Tie...

If you're heading out to a casino, you might one to put one of these on: 'The Lucky Tie' from Hermes. It's a hand folded silk tie with a subtle dice motif. Cost: about 180 USD, but you can win that back very quickly.



'The Lucky Tie' via Hermes:
usa.hermes.com