A little tweaked...

Scientists at Dartmouth College have written a new program for detecting manipulation in digital images. It was built for exposing the depth of manipulation in advertising, the program can be used more generally to spot 'fakes'.




Details from Nature.com:
www.nature.com

Additional article with examples via The Daily Mail:
www.dailymail.co.uk

Rugged...

if you're looking for some leather accessories that might outlast you, you'd do well to talk to the gents at Saddleback Leather. All of the bags and accessories come with a 100 year guarantee. The best part: the bags look better the more weathered they get.





Extremely rugged bags via Saddleback Leather:
www.saddlebackleather.com

Over ice...

When Ernest Nimrod's 1907 Antarctic Expedition site was discovered, there were 3 bottles of whiskey that had been preserved for almost 100 years. Alfred Dunhill has teamed up with MacKinley to create a commemorative cabinet and whiskey set. Cost: 56,000 USD.





Read a bit more via Esquire:
www.esquire.com

Making tracks...

The 'Iguana 29' is an amphibious tender vessel that is truly a hybrid. It has retractable caterpillar tracks that allow it to crawl over sand dunes and such - and can switch from gas power to electric. Cost: 215,000 EUR





Info and video via Iguana:
iguana-yachts.com/default.asp?lang=en

Instrumentation...

If you'd like a touch of vintage Italian racing car in your watch selection, you might care for the 'Autodromo Watch Collection'. The three models (Brescia, Vallelunga, and the Veloce) all have a distinctly vintage auto look about them. Cost: about 425 USD.





Info via AutoDromo:
www.autodromo.com

Tiny kamikaze...

The 'Switchblade' is a tiny unmanned drone that can be backpacked by troops and quickly deployed. The drone beams information back to the ground - and if need be, can switch to kamikaze mode striking a target with it's small warhead.





Details from Defense Update:
defense-update.com/products/l/switchblade_31122010.html

Robo-Vision...

Researchers from the University of Washington and Aaito University in Finland have announced they are much closer to a contact lens display system. Using a tiny antenna to harvest transmitted energy - the contact lens would act as a 'heads up' display for the wearer.





Read move via the BBC:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15817316


Detail technical paper via the Journal of MicroMechanics:
iopscience.iop.org

Time tested...

Here are 15 Classic Spy Concealments presented by the guys at 'The Art of Manliness'.








Man Knowledge: 15 Cool Spy Concealments by The Art of Manliness
artofmanliness.com

Have the combo...

Here's something you don't see everyday - a combination fishing rod and survival rifle. 'The Pack Rifle' compresses to fit easily into a backpack.





Details from 'Pack Rifle':
www.packrifle.com

Burrowing...

Here's an interesting visual tour of a declassified Soviet Era nuclear bunker in Moscow via EnglishRussia





Hidden bunker via English Russia:
englishrussia.com/2011/11/18/declassified-bunker-of-the-ussr

Mongolian beef...

If you'd like your mongolian food to be a touch more authentic, you might like 'The Genghis Kahn Hibachi'. This cast iron mongolian grill is a sturdy 32 pounds of iron, and ships with a variety of skewers and grates. Cost: 180 USD.





Available from Wild Wood Ovens:
www.wildwoodovens.com

Pods of fun...

If your computer based flight simulator is getting a little stale, you might upgrade to this: 'The OVO-4 Flight Simulator Pod'. This full motion simulator vibrates, pitches, and everything else you can think of. A connected supervisor unit allows others to observe your skills. Cost: about 57,000 USD (36,000 GBP)






Details and order via Firebox:
www.firebox.com

Refined but edgy...

If you're wanting to carry a small blade with you, but need to be discreet - you might take a look at the 'Hidden Gentleman's Knife' from Garrett Wade. This small stainless steel blade folds into an barely noticed package. Cost: 44 USD




The Gentleman's Blade via Garrett Wade:
www.garrettwade.com

Quite a switch...

If you've watched old movies, you know the switch for the secret passage is usually a book on the shelf. Now you can have that electrical switch in your own home. B.Light Design's 'Secret Switch' can be used as an on/off for electrical devices. Cost: 50 USD. Secret passage not included.





More info via B.Light Design:
blightdesign.com/misc_book.html

Dirty prints...

The University of East Anglia has a prototype device that can identify illicit drug use via fingerprints - immediately. It will analysis the sweat content of the fingerprints within a few minutes. The device is expected to go into production next year.


Read more about it via the University website:
www.uea.ac.uk/mac/comm/media/press/2011/November/ifpprototype

Rising to the surface...

If you need to increase your odds of surviving an avalanche, you might need the 'Float Backpack' made by Backcountry Access. The inflatable airbag protects your head neck and upper body from trauma while keeping you afloat on the snow. There's an additional hydration system built in for 3 liters of water. Cost: 685-785 USD





Details and video via Backcountry Access:
www.backcountryaccess.com/product/float-30

Special case...

If you're looking for a stylish way to transport your secret documents, you might want to check out 'The Enigma Briefcase' by Tanner Krolle. The calf leather case is clasped using a combination lock. Cost: 975 GBP







Info, photos and order via Tanner Krolle:
www.tannerkrolle.com/product-details/satchel

Milano Style...

Those looking for stylish hotel accommodations in Milan will be pleased to know that Armani has opened his second hotel (the first is in Dubai). This week marked the grand opening. The seventh floor bar and restaurant offers impressive 360 degree city views.




Story via Vogue:
www.vogue.com


Press release and reservations via Armani Hotels:
armanihotels.com

Toasted...

Tired of carrying around those cumbersome flamethrowers? Here's a 'do it yourself' flamethrower pistol.






The Flamethrower Pistol via Make:
blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/11/how-to-pistol-flamethrower.html

Checking in...

If you're looking for a way to monitor your daily health regime, you might check out the 'Up' from the makers of Jawbone headsets. The new product is a simple bracelet that reports your movement details to an iPhone app. It's useful for tracking exercise, sleep patterns and food intake. Cost: 100 USD




Read more about it via JawBone:
jawbone.com/up

Resurrection...

The 1968 Ford Bronco. They don't make them like that anymore. Well - actually the California based company ICON does. The same company that is making new versions of the classic Toyota FJ-40 has a new product... The ICON Bronco.



Photos and story via Car Domain:
www.cardomain.com/ride/3933492/1968-ford-bronco

Direct link to ICON:
www.icon4x4.com

More or less...

Which is better - one rotor or sixteen? The mad scientists at e-volo are thinking sixteen. Their prototype flying machine tethers 4 quad rotors together for redundancy and lift.






Photos and additional info via e-volo:
www.e-volo.com/Prototype.html

Make it a triple...

There are times when a flask won't cut it. For those times, you may want to have 'The Mississippi Croc Triple Bar Set' from Daines & Hathaway. Three stainless steel flasks wrapped in a suede lined leather case. Cost: 159 GBP







Triple Bar Set from Daines & Hathaway:
www.dainesandhathaway.com

Lighten up...

A Doctor in Southern California is changing people's eye color - permanently. Using a laser, he exposes the layer below dark eyes, exposing the blue orb underneath. The process takes place over a couple of weeks of treatments.




Read more about it (and watch the video) via CNET:
news.cnet.com

Up your sleeve...

When Patrick Priebe found himself with a little extra time on his hands, he made this: a laser sighted wrist crossbow.






Read more and watch the demo video via Geekosystem:
www.geekosystem.com/diy-wrist-crossbow

Home schooling...

Contrary to popular belief, one shouldn't just strap on a jet pack and 'go for it'. if you need a little training, you might chat with Eric Scott - one of the best jet pack pilots. He runs a training camp in the UK for aspiring rocketeers.







Here's a video showing the fun at the training camp:
www.youtube.com


And here's more information on Jet Packs and Eric's handywork:
www.rocketbelt.co.uk

Puzzling...

In a courtyard of CIA headquarters, sits an enigma - a sculpture called 'Kryptos'. The sculpture contains several encrypted messages. Several have been 'cracked' - the remaining one might be soon using a few new tricks.





Read about the sculpture via The New York Times:
www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/us/21code.html

Read more about the newest cipher cracks via The Long Island Press:
www.longislandpress.com/2011/10/27/kryptos-to-be-crackedcopiale-cipher-cracked

Super skimmer...

Aguila Design has a very different take on the idea of a yacht. Their 'Xi' yacht design is a hydrofoil designed to skim the surface of the water. The foldable wings make it easier to doc in tight areas.





Read more about it via Aguila Designs:
www.aguiladesign.com/menulat/xi_gral.html

Upgrade...

The venerable Blackberry phone has been taking a little bit of heat in the market place lately. Say what you will, they are still one of the most secure telecommunications platforms. Now, they can be a bit more stylish with the Porsche Design P'9981 Blackberry. Stainless steel and hand wrapped leather, they make quite an impression. Cost: about 2,000 USD (quantities limited)





Read more about it via Engadget:
www.engadget.com

That's unexpected...

Probably the last thing you might be expected to carry in your pocket: A tiny canon. Earlier, do-it-yourself types had made tiny canons to annoy their friends. Now, you can buy them pre-made. Cost: 29 USD.




Tiny Functional Canons via Pocket Artillery:
www.pocketartillery.com