Write it down...

Planning a get away? Here's an excellent resource for choosing a place to stay - 'The Tablet Hotels'. With choices ranging from 'cool and hip' to 'traditional elegance', they will certainly find something to suite your requirements. Unlike many hotel search engines, you can specify the kind of experience you are looking to have from an outstanding list of worldwide properties.
Brilliant.

The very helpful homepage of Tablet Hotels:
www.tablethotels.com

Smooth running....

Pedrazzini is a small company located on the shores of Lake Zurich in Switzerland. They've been around for over a hundred years, specializing in the manufacture of wooden motor yachts. The Pedrazzini Vivale Runabout is powered by two eight liter engines and can attain speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour. It's specially designed hull keeps it stable in rough waters and reduces spray, all while looking like a work of art.

Pictures and technical specifications via Yachtopolis:
www.yachtopolis.com

Buckle up...

XCOR, a small California based company, announced plans for a suborbital spaceship to be in use by 2010. The small two seat vehicle will be sort of a 'space sports car'. The 'Lynx' will be about the size of private plane and will make the suborbital journey several times a day. No information on what kind of stereo system is onboard.



The XCOR press release via their homepage:
www.xcor.com



Direct link to an animation of what a flight will look like:
www.xcor.com/animation

Like a mule...

One of life's nagging worries is that scientists will revive dinosaurs. You'll sleep better if you have one of these: the A-Square.577 Tyran Rifle. It's named after the fact that it could actually take down a Tyrannosaurus (well, theoretically for now). It is one of the most powerful sport rifles available, and can take down a charging rhino (not so theoretically).

Watch the dramatically scored video of people trying it out on a firing range:
www.youtube.com


More information via the rather spartan A Square website:
a-squareco.com

Resistance is not futile...

If you're looking to punch up your workout routine, and maybe take it the next level - you might check out the Sparq line of equipment from Nike. There's all manner of strange and wonderful equipment like resistance vests, speed ladders, portable timers, drag chutes and so on. Regular running will seem kind of boring after using these.


Details, equipment, and training DVDs via The Nike Sparq Store:
www.sparqstore.com

Around the garden...

Is your garden surreal enough? Have you considered a globe shaped pod for outdoor lounging? Here's one you might like: The Rotating Sphere Lounge from ornate garden. This 2.4 meter globe is the perfect place to have an outdoor meal, relax, or play a board game. Garden spheres are a little expensive, though. This one costs about 6,500 GBP.


Detail and order info via Ornate Garden:
www.ornategarden.com

Com-bats!

Well, this just sounds 'made up'. The US Army is funding a research project with the University of Michigan to investigate tiny, bat shaped sensors. You read that correctly. The six inch bat 'planes' would fly around urban combat locations, beaming information back to headquarters, while looking kind of scary and science-fiction-like.


Read about it via U of M news source:
www.ns.umich.edu

Goldfinger...

You can show off your favorite element with the Periodic Rings from 'its no name'. Currently available in 3 periodic table elements: gold, silver, and platinum. Not available in any of the radioactive elements, thankfully. Cost: 200-6,500 USD (depending on the element, of course)

Pictures and order information via 'its no name':
itsno.name

Small surprises...

Through the years, people have hidden firearms in some very surprising places. Below is a link to a photo gallery of historical hidden firearms - including such peculiarities as keys, rings, crucifixes, bullwhips, and so on. Very sneaky.


The gallery of odd firearms via Dark Roasted Blend:
www.darkroastedblend.com

Breathing easy...

What if you could have a portable oxygen bar in your home? The O2-B Portable Oxygen Bar makes that an option. This sleek, compact, user friendly oxygen bar puts out a surprising 40 percent oxygen enriched air supply to help with healing and recovery after a difficult workout. All without any danger of exploding. Cost: about 730 USD.



Details and order info via the O2-B homepage*:
www.02innovations.com


* as a public service, you will bypass the opening animation.

Thoroughly modern Rolli...

The classic Rollieflex camera has been updated. A new dual lens digital Rollieflex is now available from specialty dealers. The 'minidigi' has a pop-up viewfinder and cleverly incorporates modern digital features into the old 'hand crank' and manual controls while retaining it's classic style. Cost: about 400 USD.


Review and specs via CameraTown:
www.cameratown.com

In flight snack...

What if you could turn a block of cucumber into a full strength martini? All you need is a vacuum machine. The air is pulled out of the 'pickle' and displaced with martini when the vacuum is finished. Isn't science fun?

Watch one being made - via a short NY Times video clip:
nytimes.com

Quiet conversation...

People talking loudly on their cellphones may soon be a thing of the past. The 'Audeo' is a new technology that traps nerve impulses to your vocal cords - and can translate them via a computer program.... allowing for silent communications. There are a lot of interesting implications - one future use could be silent two way communications with computers.

Video of a 'voiceless' cell phone conversation:
www.youtube.com


Details and technical info via 'The Audeo' homepage:
www.theaudeo.com

Pest removal...

Looking for an efficient way to chase those hedgehogs off your lawn? Behold the Sonic Devestator. This handheld, non-lethal weapon emits an ultrasonic blast that causes 'extreme discomfort' lasting up to an hour. Available as either construction plans (about 30 USD) or fully assembled (about 300 USD) from Future Horizons. Also available: a 'riot size' version for 690 USD.


Technical details and order info via Future Horizons:
www.futurehorizons.net

SIM-pull...

Do you ever need to back up a SIM card from a cell phone? And by 'back up', we mean 'snoop around in'. Check out the 'SIM card spy' from Brickhouse Security. This very easy to use tool will allow you to adapt a SIM card to your PC, downloading current and deleted information. All for about 150 USD.


Details, videoclip, and order info via Brickhouse Security:
www.brickhousesecurity.com