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Monday, January 7, 2008

Chop 2 Pot makes cutting board spillage a moot point

Buy it here:

Folding Cutting Board
Mark Sanders, 1989


Chop foods on this multi-purpose cutting board and then fold it into a chute to transfer ingredients without spills. Made of polypropylene. Dishwasher safe.

Represented in the MoMA COLLECTION

Size: Green: 15.25l x 8.75w x 1.5"d; Large White: 18.75l x 10.5w x 1.5"d

Gift Wrap Available

Green Item# 61665
$16.00
$14.40 Members
Qty
Large White Item# 67590
$24.00
$21.60 Members

Blu Ray wins with Warner Bros joining the fray.

Sony on Friday scored a key win by luring Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. to its Blu-ray technology, putting itself in a position to triumph over Toshiba Corp.'s HD DVD after a years-long fight to become the standard for the next generation of DVDs.

However, Sony's push for Blu-ray -- which analysts estimate as an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars -- has cost the company in areas such as the key videogame market.

Many analysts believe that Sony's insistence on putting Blu-ray on its PlayStation 3 players gave it just enough extra consumers to help tilt next-generation DVD sales toward Blu-ray. Paul Erickson, analyst at the NPD Group's DisplaySearch research firm, calls it the "X factor" that "saved their Blu-ray fortunes." If Toshiba had underwritten the cost of putting HD DVD onto the rival Xbox 360 from Microsoft Corp., the reas

The 8 Sexiest Sirens of Indie Rock

by TKK





They may get all the attention but mainstream songstresses make us tired and sleepy. Paris may have the looks but she's absolutely devoid of natural talent. Mariah Carey has the voice but she's fallen off in the sex appeal department. Britney is a trainwreck these days and while Beyonce has the total package, we respect Jay-Z too much to ogle her; besides, he'd totally kick our ass if we did. So we thought it was high time we celebrated some sexy and talented women who are a feast for both the eyes and the ears! Join us as we countdown the 8 Sexiest Sirens of Indie Rock!

8- Joanna Newsom

When most people think of musical instruments, they tend to envision things like guitars, drums and pianos. But not a lot of people will think of the harp. Pay some attention to the beautiful Joanna Newsom, however, and the harp will suddenly look a whole lot more enticing. The lovely Ms. Newsom owns a fragile sounding voice that still somehow manages to convey a sense of strength; she's ridiculously easy on the eyes as well.


7- Kori Gardner


The only thing that could potentially keep Kori Gardner, one half of the awesome Mates of State, of our list is the fact that she's happily married to her bandmate, drummer Jason Hammel. And while it's wrong to ogle another man's wife, especially considering how obviously in love they are-go see them live and you'll see what we mean-there's no denying that Kori still qualifies as for our list. She's not only hot but she also packs enough energy to bring the house down. Who the hell knew that the organ could be such a rocking instrument?



6- Karen O


We're not big fans of the helmet shaped haircut that Karen O normally wears on stage and her outfits, while funktastic, are have just a little too much personality for our tastes. But there's still no denying that the energetic leader of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs deserves a place on our list. While she tends to hide her face away, there are moments when her vibrant smile and attractive features come into view. But her true strength lies in her unique voice and boundless energy. We're willing to bet that dating Karen O is like riding a rollercoaster: you strap yourself in and go on the ride of your life.



5- Jenny Lewis

While we love her for her music, our infatuation with the lead singer of indie darlings Rilo Kiley began when in our adolescence, when we first saw her starring opposite Fred "Kevin Arnold" Savage in the awesomely bad movie "The Wizard." But rather than take the low road, as most child actors tend to do, Jenny Lewis is riding high on the success of her music. And while she's matured into a certified hottie, our inner 12-year olds will always think of her as the spunky and cute Haley.


4- Feist

If we had to describe the haunting beauty of Feist and her music with a single word, we would have a tough time choosing between 'sophisticated' and 'vulnerable.' So we'll just mash to the together and call her 'sophistinerable.' Or would 'vulneristicated' be better? Either way, Feist lands on our list of sexy sirens because she's, well, hot and she can sing. What else do we have to say?


3- Regina Spektor

Judging from the photos that we could find, Regina Spektor isn't very tall. We're guessing she stands no taller than 5 feet. We could be wrong and really, it doesn't matter, because her diminutive frame packs a voice strong enough to reach the highest rafters. Her quirky songs and quirkier demeanor make her shine and easily earns her a spot high up on our list.


2- Neko Case

Whether she's singing alone or as part of indie rock group, The New Pornographers, Neko Case is as red hot as her hair color would suggest. Armed with a powerful voice and a sophisticated charm, Neko Case is the kind of girl that your mother will love and that your friends will drool over.


1- Cat Power

The enigmatic Cat Power catapults to the top of our list thanks to a sultry voice, a beautiful face and an undeniable stage presence. There is no doubt that Chan "Cat Power" Marshall has both the voice and the beauty to easily win the top slot in our little countdown. Just watch her video for "Lived In Bars," and you'll have all the proof you need. Now, if she'd just say yes to our marriage proposal...



Foliage Covered Botanical Building by Mass Studies

by Emily

Mass Studies, green retail design, green roof, green walls, living building, green building, building that is literally green, growing building, botanical building, foliage architecture, green walls, ann demeulemeester, seoul architecture,  Minsuk Cho, Kisu Park, biomimicry

If you’re a fan of botanical architecture, this might just be the coolest building ever. Architects Minsuk Cho and Kisu Park of Mass Studies designed this flora-clothed multi-level building to house Belgian fashion designer Ann Demeulemeester’s store in Seoul, South Korea. The building was completed in October 2007 and takes green roofs and living walls to another level, using foliage to cover both the external and internal wall surfaces. We love that it looks as if the building is growing up from underneath the greenery, blurring the lines between plants as ornamentation or structure.


Mass Studies, green retail design, green roof, green walls, living building, green building, building that is literally green, growing building, botanical building, foliage architecture, green walls, ann demeulemeester, seoul architecture,  Minsuk Cho, Kisu Park, biomimicry


On a site located in an alley near Seoul’s rapidly transforming Gangnam district, the building stands as a green marvel, three floors tall, housing the Ann Demeulemeester shop on the first floor, a restaurant above, and a Multi-Shop in the basement. The designers, Seoul-based Mass Studies Architects, wanted to incorporate as much nature as possible into the building within the constraints of a low-elevation, high-density urban environment.



The building is defined through the convergence of natural and artificial, interior and exterior, rather than demonstrating a stark contrast between the dualities. If you’re wondering what those green species are, it’s primarily a geotextile planted with an herbaceous perennial to form the living walls.


+ Mass Studies Architects

+ Ann Demeulemeester

Via Contemporist


Massive Studies, green retail design, green roof, foliage architecture, green walls, ann demeulemeester, seoul architecture,  Minsuk Cho, Kisu Park, biomimicry


Mass Studies, green retail design, green roof, green walls, living building, green building, building that is literally green, growing building, botanical building, foliage architecture, green walls, ann demeulemeester, seoul architecture,  Minsuk Cho, Kisu Park, biomimicry








Engineer: Tank Found In Pit At Middle School



UPDATED: 7:30 am EST January 7,
2008
Residents near a local middle school said they find it hard to believe that no one knew about the World War II bombing range the school was built on.

The Army Corps of Engineers detonated 400 pounds of explosives found on the school property on Saturday.

"We were able to explode and render safe 49 23-pound bombs," Mike Fulford of the Army Corps Of Engineers said.

Superintendent Ron Blocker will be at Odyssey Middle School on Monday to assure students and parents that the school is safe.

The engineers who wrote the site survey fore the Orange County School District in 1999 before OMS was built assured the district that no bombs had been dropped on or fired from the property.

The engineers also did not mention what has just been learned about pits being dug on the property with bombs left inside them.

"A World War II tank is physically located in one of these pits," one engineer said in reference to the size of the pits.

"The best of the experts tell us that it is safe," Sen. Bill Nelson said.

Officials said that because the explosives are buried six feet or more underground, it is not a danger.

Residents are not buying the claims that no one knew the history of the school property.

"This was 1940. It's not like it was 50 centuries ago. It would be recorded. This is the government and the U.S. military and there is no reason why this shouldn't be recorded in public record," one Vista Lakes resident said.

"I just want to move. I don't want to be here anymore," homeowner Arisleyda Bonetti said.

Universal Engineering Services painted a rosy picture of the now-school property when it was surveyed in August of 1999: "No practice or live ordinance was dropped or fired on or from the Vista Lakes Property during operation of the Pine Castle Jeep Range. Former activities of the PJR do not appear to have adversly impacted the subject property."

It is unclear if engineers were wrong or if they had no information available to them at the time of the initial survey.

The Army Corps of Engineers expects to be working at the site for at least a year.

To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Bob Kealing.


Chismillionare a big fan of Hancock!

Hancock the Movie

7 (More) Abandoned Wonders of America: From Military Islands to Mills and Institutions


Amazing Abandoned Wonders of America


Imagine entire islands and vast building complexes eerily abandoned virtually in your own back yard. This seemingly far-fetched scenario might be more real than you realize. Complexes of more than 150 buildings and even small islands are located near the heart of major cities such as Houston and Washington DC. You may know these 70 Wonders of the Ancient World but few consider how such ‘wonders’ become abandoned at all. From insane asylums to military bases, hotels to theme parks and seminaries to silos here are 7 more abandoned wonders of America.





Abandoned Military Island Buildings


Baltimore, Maryland has a number of interesting abandonments, but none so sizable and prominent as Fort Carroll. Over a century old, this for was constructed in the middle of the 19th century though it never saw war. In WWII it was briefly used as a firing range for the Army and a checkpoint for ships, but has been abandoned ever since. Developers have failed to find uses for it and it has since become a habitat for numerous animals and the site of occasional urban explorations.


Abandoned American Mental Hospital Buildings


Brooklyn, New York is home to one of many now-abandoned institutions for the mentally ill. The Kings Park Lunatic Asylum was established in 1885 and grew from a few wooden buildings into a vast complex of over 150 stone and brick structures housing over 9,000 patients. Uses included a power plant, railroad spur and theater and more. Currently only two of the buildings are still active, and there are no solid plans for redevelopment as just cleaning up the land would cost $80 million.


Abandoned Historic Hotel Building


Mineral Wells, Texas is home to a grand old abandoned hotel with the first Olympic-size swimming pool in the United States. Opened nearly 80 years ago, the 14 story Baker Hotel had visits from celebrities including Judy Garland, Clark Gable, Roy Rogers, The Three Stooges, Bonny and Clyde, Helen Keller and even Ronald Reagan before closing its doors. As per a strange promise made to the public, the hotel’s founder Earl Baker closed the hotel on his 70th birthday. The hotel was auctioned and reopened under new ownership but in the late 1960s Baker had a fatal heart attack (strangely enough) in his own grand hotel’s Baker Suite. The hotel closed shortly thereafter for good, leaving behind only pictures of this wonder.


National Park Seminary Abandoned Structures



Washington, DC is known for many things, but relatively few know about the National Park Seminary which sits on its outskirts. The first buildings on the campus were built in the late 1880s, starting and an inn and followed by bars and gambling. More structures were added as the site became a finishing school for girls before the complex was converted to a military hospital during WWII. Though they are currently still abandoned as shown in the photographs above, developers plan to turn these unique buildings into housing units in the near future.


Abandoned Theme Park and Playground


Houston, Texas was one of numerous locations where the Malibu Grand Prix entertainment company set up a theme park a few decades ago. The complex included mini-golf, boat and go-kart racing as well as video games and other entertainment. Two Grand Prix locations in close proximity were abandoned quite recently in part due to a scandal which erupted when three employees of were accused of murder (two of whom received the death penalty) and these photos do not do the locations justice.


Abandoned Mountain Tram System


Provo Canyon, Utah features some amazing natural wonders including Bridal Veil Falls - a 600 foot waterfall. The world’s steepest aerial tram was built in the 1960s to connect visitors to the top of the falls but was destroyed over a decade ago in an avalanche. With the closure of a local tourist train route, there was insufficient incentive to rebuild the tram which has been left to decay along with the eerily vacant tram buildings at both top and bottom as shown in the images above.


Abandoned Saw and Flour Mills and Silos


Minneapolis, Minnesota sits on the Mississippi River and was historically a center for mill work based on its banks. Starting in the 1930s, however, Minneapolis lost its position as the wheat and wood milling center of the United States. Many now-inactive mills sit idle despite occupying amazingly valuable property in the middle of the city. Today, some of these mills have been turned into museums that can be visited while others are simply closed to all but the most intrepid urban explorers.

Want More? Check out These Other Amazing Wonders of the World:

7 Abandoned Wonders of America

7 Abandoned Wonders of the World
7 Deserted Wonders of the World
7 Underwater Wonders of the World
7 Underground Wonders of the World
7 More Underground Wonders of the World
7 Island Wonders of the World
7 Engineering Wonders of the World

Alienware Curved Monitor Looks Like It's From Another Planet




The Sighting: We can't have one of these Alienware curved monitors until the second half of this year, but until then, we've been abducted by its four nearly seamless and sharp screens of DLP goodness. Lit by LEDs, this 2880x900 monster is well over three feet wide and is said to have an other-worldly .02ms response time, great for gaming. The Soylent Green: You can see the seams between this monitor's four segments, but the Alienware humanoids tell us that flaw will be gone by the time this craft lands on Earth. The blacks look a bit washed out to our eyes, too. Price is yet to be determined.



alienwaremonitor8.jpgalienwaremonitor7.jpgalienwaremonitor6.jpg alienwaremonitor2.jpgalienwaremonitor1.jpgalienwaremonitor0.jpg




Scientists Find Key to What Could Make Bird Flu a Human Pandemic

Scientists have identified a key mechanism necessary for bird flu to morph from a rare but deadly infection into a pandemic that could kill millions of people.

MIT scientists reported in Sunday's issue of Nature Biotechnology that the shape of certain structures in the virus could be key to allowing it to easily pass from human to human. In birds, the shape of the structures match the shape of sugars in the animals' respiratory tracts, allowing the infection to easily latch onto the animals. In humans, those shapes don't match up -- but if the virus morphed so they did, it could lead to a pandemic.

"We’re like a sitting duck, waiting for an H5N1 virus that can attach to us," said Richard Cummings, an Emory University biochemist and influenza cell specialist who did not participate in the study. "This research moves us to the point where we can start anticipating what might happen."

Small and Fabulous: Modular Living as It Should Be


By Rob Beschizza Write to the Author

01.07.08 | 12:00 AM

Single Hauz

The world is getting hotter and more crowded every day, and modular, prefab housing is just what the doctor ordered. When you go small, it's not just about energy efficiency and carbon footprints -- it's also about being strange, cool and beautiful. We've chosen our favorite houses that meld style with globally conscious living. Enjoy. (Please include your own picks in the comments section.)

New software from Ribbit could make it easier to stay in touch


Crick Waters is an easy man to get ahold of. Vice president of strategy and business development for Mountain View, CA, startup company Ribbit, Waters can make all his phones ring at once, be they landline, Internet based, or cellular. Answering one phone will make the others calm, as Ribbit's SmartSwitch technology notifies each device that the call has been picked up. Waters plans to release Ribbit to the general public early this year, offering consumers flexible phone numbers that will work smoothly with multiple devices, and allowing developers to build features that work with all three types of phone.

"There's nothing more powerful than actually seeing a telephone call come in that you can answer on Google Talk, you can answer on Skype, you can answer on an iPhone, or in a Web page," he says.

CEO Ted Griggs says that Ribbit will make it easier to stay in touch: a user can specify how she wants to be contacted through Ribbit, and she can choose to have calls routed to all of her devices so that she never misses a call. (A Ribbit user can place a call to any type of telephony device, whether or not the recipient uses Ribbit, so long as she has contact info.) Ribbit also makes it easier for a user to take advantage of stand-alone phone features, such as a service that allows him to check voice mail through a Web page, by providing developers with a means for building new features that work with other popular offerings, and with various devices.

The software behind Ribbit is modeled after the design of carrier-grade switches that currently handle "the last mile" of phone service, explains Griggs. Rather than routing calls between networks, phone companies use these types of switches to deliver calls to residential and business phones and turn on features for them. Ribbit's software was built to communicate with traditional phones, mobile phones, and a variety of voice over Internet protocols (VoIPs). Like the switches after which it is modeled, Ribbit's software, says Griggs, has capability for 911 calls, is robust enough to survive damage to some individual elements, and can be enabled with common features such as call forwarding and call waiting.

Reprogramming adult cells

New methods to reprogram adult cells could create novel models of disease.

Scientists at George Daley’s lab at Children’s Hospital Boston are using new methods to reprogram adult cells to develop stem-cell lines from patients. These cells can then be used as models to study disease. Daley, who is affiliated with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, is shown here (right) with postdoctoral student In-Hyun Park.
Credit: Jon Chase/Harvard News Office

Last November, two groups of scientists announced that they had independently achieved one of the stem-cell field's biggest goals: the ability to reprogram adult cells into embryonic-like stem cells without the need for human embryos. (See "Stem Cells without the Embryos.") The findings garnered extensive media attention, largely because the new method obviated the need for human embryos, a major ethical minefield that has stymied research.

But scientists at stem-cell labs around the world are excited for another reason. The technique creates cells that are genetically matched to an individual, meaning that it's now possible to create novel cell models that capture all the genetic quirks of complex diseases. "Being able to have human cells with human disease in a dish accessible for testing is a real boon to technology and to science," says Evan Snyder, director of the Stem Cells and Regeneration Program at the Burnham Institute, in La Jolla, CA.

Polaroid back with the Quick PIx


Quick pix: This Polaroid printer is about the size of a deck of cards and prints photos on two-inch-by-three-inch sheets of paper, without using ink or toner. Instead, it uses a novel type of thermal-printing technology developed by startup Zink Imaging. Zink developed special paper (bottom) that contains layers of crystals that release pigment when heated.

Polaroid, the company famous for cameras that print instant pictures, unveiled an ultrasmall photo printer today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The company's new handheld printers produce color photos using novel thermal-printing technology developed at Polaroid spinoff Zink Imaging and first demonstrated earlier this year. (See "Printing without Ink.") John Pollock, the vice president and general manager of digital imaging at Polaroid, says that the printers will be available to consumers by the summer, and they will be priced at less than $150.

Robot Eats Snow, Creates ice Bricks