More of a personal statement...

'Smart Firearms' might be getting quite a bit smarter soon. A Silicon Valley investor has begun a series of challenges for incremental improvements in individualizing firearms to only work for their owners.

Read more about it via CNET:

news.cnet.com

The basics...

When in London, the pre-evening caviar stop would be 'Bob Bob Ricard' - a Russian - UK - Art Deco mashup. The booths include the infamous 'more champagne' button to summon help. Re-opening this February with a new kitchen.

Info via Bob Bob Ricard:

http://bobbobricard.com/index.html

Big game...

Northrop Grumman has been working on their VIPE (virtual immersive portable environment) holodeck. Using off the shelf components, they've managed to keep the cost low and the system expandable.

Watch the vid via YouTube:

youtu.be/T7ro7RoGjes

GATR Aid...

The US Military is investing in GATR technology - parabolic satellite antenna arrays that can be quickly deployed inside of inflatable balls. Yes, of course the balls are bullet proof.

Read more about it via GATR:

www.gatr.com

Watch your step...

Lemur Studio of Bogota has a design for a mine detector that can be a shoe insole. The printed coil of conducted material can produce an electromagnetic field, and alert a wrist worn monitor when it detects a mine.

Read more about it from Co.Exist:

www.fastcoesixt.com

Water blogged...

Li-Fi is a technology that can transfer data using the visible light spectrum. Scientists at UCSD are working on a variation to allow silent underwater communication via light, rather than acoustic systems.

Read more about it via UCSD:

www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/news/news_releases/release.sfe?id=1471

Jamming...

The 'Door Jammer' is a little device that can be attached to any door to jam it from opening. The clever locking mechanism can be quickly popped up when no longer needed. Cost: 50 USD

Info and order via Spy Associates:

www.spyassociates.com

Just look at this...

The 'myris eyelock' personal iris scanner will soon be replacing passwords on computers. Looking into the puck-like device, both irises are scanned from an arm's length of distance. Cost: TBA

Read more about it via EyeLock:

www.eyelock.com/index.php/products/myris

Maxi-Sub...

After many years of delays, Russia's Severodvinsk class nuclear attack sub is on the prowl. Certainly, many of the specifications are classified - but one thing is for certain... it's very large.

Info, photos, and renderings via Sploid:

sploid.gizmodo.com

Pow...

Smith and Wesson unveiled the rather crazy 'Backpack Cannon' - a .460 caliber handgun. The revolver features a shock absorbing handle... because it needs one. Cost: 1,200 USD

Read more via the Washington Times:

www.washingtontimes.com

Roughing it...

Why huddle in a survival shelter when you can stretch out in 'Cabela's Ultimate Alaknak Tent'. Larger than some houses, this sturdy tent even has the fittings for an indoor stove. Cost: 1,499 USD

Read more and order via Cabela's:

www.cabelas.com

Hide and seek...

Would it surprise you to hear that the world's best bounty hunter is a woman that's 4 foot 11 inches tall and weighs just a bit over 100 pounds? Follow the link to read her rather amazing story.

How the World's Best Bounty Hunter Does Her Thing - via Wired:

www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/12/skip-tracing-ryan-mullen

Concentrate...

Rawlemon Solar Devices is planning to use large spheres to concentrate solar energy for high efficiency. The largest devices can even generate energy from night time light.

Read more about it via Indiegogo:

www.indiegogo.com/projects/rawlemon-solar-devices

Breath easy...

South Korean designer Jeabyun Yeon recently unveiled a design for the 'Triton Scuba Mask' - an electric powered gill that would potentially free scuba divers from cumbersome tanks. The gill mouthpiece extracts breathable oxygen directly from the water.

Read more via Inhabitat:

inhabitant.com

The house printer...

Using 3D printing techniques, and a really large 3D printer full of quick drying cement, a professor at the University of Southern California can make a house in 24 hours.

Watch the video via SlashGear:

www.slashgear.com

It's a private call...

With everyone's concern over privacy, the 'Blackphone' is promising a new era of secure calls. Using a variant of Android, the new service is said to be completely secure. Pre-orders will be taken at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Read more about it via Blackphone:

www.blackphone.ch

Nice pipes...

Desvall,the Swedish luxury shisha makers, have teamed up with Bugatti to make a branded water pipe. The elegant titanium and carbon fiber will match your Veyron perfectly. Cost: 100,000 USD

Story, photos and link to press release via AutoBlog:

www.autoblog.com

Is that a thermal imager in your pocket?...

FLIR, one of the premier makers of thermal imaging products, is readying a personal imager - 'The FLIR One'. The backing clips on to an iPhone - the slight add in weight adds a thermal imaging sensor, and additional power supply. Cost: 350 USD.

Read more and watch the video via FLIR:

www.flir.com/flirone

Like a Huracan...

Lamborghini has announced the LP-610-4 Huracan. It will be powered by a 5.2 liter V10 and run from 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. Cost: estimated at 250,000 USD

Tech details from Lamborghini:

www.lamborghini.com/en/models/huracan-lp-610-4/explore

Stuff it...

The only thing that might improve the military duffle bag - a re-do made of vegetable tanned leather. Available from Whipping Post. Cost: 319 USD

Order via Whipping Post:

www.whippingpost.com/products/the-military-duffle-bag

Cheaters...

Tracking-point, makers of precision guided firearms, is taking pre-orders for their new 'AR Series Smart Rifles'. The new technology promises to make anyone an expert marksman at distances up to 500 yards. Cost: 9,950 USD

Read more about it (and pre-order) via Tracking-Point:

tracking-point.com/labs/ar

At your fingertips...

The 'iFingerLock Padlock' is a biometric lock that can store up to ten prints. It's powered by 2 AA batteries - and will retain the print information even if it runs out of charge. Cost: about 85 USD

Info and order via Gun Safe Bests:

www.gunsafebests.com

Holistic...

A new option for a weekend escape from Shanghai: The Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort. Shaped like a giant glowing doughnut - the modern hotel sits on shore of lake Taihu.

Info and photos via The DailyMail:

www.dailymail.co.uk

Clearly different...

The soon to ship 'Clio' speaker uses and ultra thin acrylic glass membrane to produce sound. It melds into any room discretely, and can be easily moved. Cost: 350 USD

Info via ClearView Audio:

www.clearviewaudio.com

In the general area...

The 'Mi-Bullet' is ammunition that allows you to be a little sloppy with your aim. The shells split into four linked fragments, covering a wider area. Available in non-leathal, semi-leathal, and fully-leathal.

Read more and watch the video simulation via Mi-Bullet:

www.mibullet.com/index.html

Having a ball...

LaCie's newest hard drive is a mirrored silver sphere made in co-operation with Christofle. The sleek minimalist hard drive stores 1TB while looking great on your desk. Cost: about 500 USD

Details via The Verge:

www.theverge.com

In a big hurry...

Spike Aerospace has been working for the last few years on the 'Spike S-512', the first supersonic business jet. Clocking a top speed around mach 1.6 (1100 mph) a trip from LA to Tokyo would take 5 hours. Cost: about 80 Million USD

Read more about it via Spike Aerospace:

www.spikeaerospace.com

Shelf-ish...

'How to: Make a Secret Bookshelf Stash' - Detailed instruction from the guys at ManMade.

Secret Bookshelf Stash via ManMade:

manmadediy.com

A year's supply...

Here's an excellent index of 25 internet sites of free books. Classics, multiple languages, history, philosophy... in multiple downloadable formats.

25 Book Download sites via eBookfirendly:

ebookfriendly.com/free-public-domain-books-sources

Foiled again...

A new weapon in preventing electronics from being tampered with: glittery nail polish. Painting access points and keeping pictures of the 'unique star pattern' can alert one to tampering.

Read more via ThreatLevel at Wired:

www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/12/better-data-security-nail-polish

Eye contact...

According to a newly published paper, there's an 80 percent chance of identifying the photographer by the reflection in the cornea of the subject.

Read the abstract and download the paper via PLOS ONE:

www.plosone.org