Alternate route...

Here's one of the design winners for this year's IDEA competition: the under water commuter vehicle 'Aqua'. This single user sub is designed for offshore commuting. Or chasing evil geniuses. Very cool.




Not much info via Businessweek:
www.businessweek.com

What a croc!

If you're in the area of Darwin (Australia), you might like to check this out: 'Crocosaurus Cove'. Yes, for a nominal fee, you can climb into the water with some very large crocodiles. Hopefully, no animals are harmed during the process, as the tourists are kept in large steel cages.


Read about it via Atypical Events:
www.eventective.com



More info via the Crocosaurus Cove site:
www.crocosauruscove.com

flippers...

Walking on dry land or climbing while wearing swim fins can be quite a chore. The 'Amphibian' swim fins are the first high performance fins that are hinged - allowing for easy forward walking and climbing. Cost: about 150 USD. Brilliant.



Description and embedded video via Nugadets:
www.nugadgets.com

In plain sight...

Sometimes the best way to hide your workout equipment is to leave it out in the open. The 'Kinesis Personal Heritage' system from Technogym takes up only one square meter of wall space, and is attractive enough to just leave out for anyone to see. The resistance system can be used for over 200 different exercises.



Details and video demo via Technogym:
www.technogym.com

Dial 'W' for Weasel..

'Sly Dial' is a new phone service that will allow you to call a mobile phone and bypass talking to the owner - by going directly to phonemail. Of course, this service can be used for good (not waking a the phone's owner in the middle of the night) or bad (breaking up with someone via a recorded message). Cost: Free. Frequent users can subscribe for advanced features at a nominal price.



Details and justifications via Sly Dial:
www.slydial.com

Good afternoon, Mr. Smith...

Here's another great resource for finding groovy hotels: the 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' website. This directory of interesting and luxury hotels is a perfect starting place while researching lodging for a trip. While poking around the website, you might like to check out their signature CD's - sublime collections of up tempo tunes for traveling.



Directory and hotel booking via 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith':
www.mrandmrssmith.com

Pack-bot...

Boston Dynamics makes a lot of interesting gear for the military. One of the projects they've been working on is 'The BigDog'. A quadruped robot that can carry a payload of around 350 pounds. It can pick it's way over rough terrain, ice, and rubble. Did anyone mention it was kind of creepy looking? Anyhow, watch the rather amazing video of people trying to knock over the robot.




Details and video of the BigDog in action via Boston Dynamics:
www.bostondynamics.com

The Eagle has landed...

Lotus Corporation's 'Project Eagle' has been unveiled this week at the 2008 British Motor Show. The first new Lotus in quite a few years, it will be called the Evora. Beautiful lines, luxurious interior, and fun to drive - all while meeting the stringent UK green specifications. Only 2000 of these mid engine beauties will sold starting in spring of 2009. Cost: about 45,000 GBP.



Tech specifications via the Evora microsite:
www.lotusevora.com



Details, more pictures, and press releases via Jalopnik:
jalopnik.com

Ask a spy...

It's summer in North America, and the lovable TV series 'Burn Notice' is back on for a couple of weeks. The promoters have done an admirable job on the website for their show - including an area called 'Ask A Spy', which is surprising good. Video shorts of the main character describe answers to submitted problems ... from prison breaks to avoiding getting drunk at corporate functions....very amusing.




'Ask A Spy' via the 'Burn Notice' website:
www.usanetwork.com

Two pack..

Paris based luxury leather goods maker Berluti is known for their unique designs. For transporting a pair of your favorite cigars, they've come up with this: 'The Havana Cigar Case' . This embossed cacao calf skin case will fit perfectly into your jacket pocket. Cost: about 450 USD. Available at their worldwide stores - and Barney's New York.




The Berluti homepage:
www.berluti.com


Direct order via Barney's New York:
www.barneys.com

Plan B, for Outer Space...

The gents at NASA are working away on plans for the Ares rocket (pictured) that will be used for the next generation of manned American flights to the moon. As a hobby project, many of the retired engineers and other space enthusiasts have come up with their own 'skunkworks' plan - the Jupiter rocket. Designers of this rocket claim it would be much more efficient and save billions of dollars over the life of the project. And it looks cooler.



Very interesting reading at Space.com:
www.space.com

Weight a minute...

Having trouble getting motivated to work out? The folks at World Wide Fred have an idea: the ShapeUp! alarm clock. The alarm clock is a dumbell shaped weight that won't stop ringing until you perform 30 repetitions with it. No one is sure if it will work after being dropped out of a window. Price to be determined.




Very little additional info from World Wide Fred:
www.worldwidefred.com

Gifted...

If you really like backgammon or need a thank you gift for a 'head of state' type, you might consider this: The limited edition Geoffrey Parker Backgammon Case. An alligator case with a shagreen inlaid playing field and silver inlay playing pieces. Only 20 cases will be offered at about 9,000 GBP.


Details and order via 20Ltd:
www.20ltd.com

Car hop...

Not satisfied with a regular driving vacation, the Skycar Expedition team will be taking their carbon neutral flying car prototype into the heart of the Sahara during the 2009 season. While in 'fly mode', the car can paraglide using an advanced airfoil. The car is equipped with a parachute if a wing failure should occur.




Read all about it via their site:
www.skycarexpedition.com

Happy place...

If you're looking for a heavy duty wine storage solution, you might like this: the 'Walk In Wine Cellar Vault'. With storage for 1,500 bottles, this brushed aluminum vault also has a computer based inventory system built into it. Cost: about 28,000 USD.




Available from 'Bars, Cigars, & Brew':
barscigarsandbrew.com