ForeverGeek » Noemi Twigg

Who Wants a Bone Guillotine?

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:00:40 +0000

Why would anyone want a guillotine, much less a guillotine made of bone? Then again, why wouldn’t anyone want one? The guillotine is known to be one of the worst methods of execution, and while I don’t think anyone uses it today (you never know, though), it does have a lot of historical value.

If you are into history and execution-related stuff (not to mention bones), then this bone guillotine model will certainly catch your attention. While I am not particularly into gory things, this bone guillotine model did make me look twice. Even three times.

Bone Guillotine Model

You have to admire the work that went into the bone guillotine model. Even a cursory look reveals the details that have been put into it. And no, the bones are not from humans, but animals. The bone guillotine model was found in Dorset. An expert has determined it to have been made by a prisoner of war – presumably French, naturally – between 1805 and 1815. Yes, this thing is ancient, and it is a wonder just how it still is in one piece!

This bone guillotine model is a rare find, as explained by expert Amy Brenan:

Napoleonic prisoner of war models made from bone and ivory are hard to come by. Many designs such as the model battle ships, spinning jennies and guillotines are so intricate that they disintegrate overtime and this makes any surviving examples extremely rare. The sheer skill in creating a working model of the guillotine coupled with its social significance at the time, has made the guillotine models particularly desirable.

No one who has seen even just the photo can argue with that! And, naturally, this collectible is selling for a crazy price of £4000 – £8000 (about $6300 – $12,600). Still want it?

Via The History Blog

Win a Bottle of Geeky Nail Polish from NerdLacquer!

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:00:03 +0000

Star Trek Nail Polish

Remember the post we had about geeky nail polish last month? Etsy shop owner Amanda Collier blends the nail polish on her own, drawing inspiration from all-time sci-fi favorites such as Dr. Who and Star Trek. You can purchase your geeky nail polish of choice from her Etsy shop NerdLacquer, or you can join our giveaway contest to win a color of your choosing!

If you’re a girl, this contest is perfect. If you’re a guy, it still works. Either you give the nail polish to your girl friend for Valentine’s or you wear the polish yourself. It’s not like guys don’t do that these days, right? ;)

You know how our contests go, but to avoid confusion, here are the rules for this Tweet + Link Contest.

Step 1: Copy & paste the following, and then tweet it:

I want to win a bottle of geeky nail polish from @geekforever & NerdLacquer (http://spla.us/zVt6RB)! Enter here: http://spla.us/ymAvhu

Step 2: Leave us a comment on this page (below) to let us know you tweeted, and paste the link to your Tweet in your comment. (Note that our comments are moderated, so your comment may not show up immediately after you click the “Post Comment” button.)

The winner will be selected at random from the commenters on or around 8:00 pm EST on Friday, February 10. That’s tomorrow, folks! The winner will be notified via Twitter, after which you’ll send your mailing address to Amanda at NerdLacquer so she can send you your prize.

Important: You can enter the contest once per day between now and tomorrow. Amanda has kindly agreed to ship anywhere in world – well, almost, as she has problems sending nail polish to Italy and Brazil. Sorry guys, if you are based in those two countries!

I am not imposing my preference on you, but may I suggest Warrior Ethos if you win? ;)

Happy tweeting and commenting, and good luck!

Brits Get Lucky with Roald Dahl Stamps

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:00:46 +0000

Did you go through the phase of collecting stamps as a child or teenager? Did you engage in the good old activity of writing snail mail to pen pals from all over the world? Maybe today, as an adult, you still consider yourself a philatelist.

If this is the case, then you might be interested in the recently launched stamps series by the UK’s Royal Mail. The series is none other than artwork from the stories of children’s book author Roald Dahl.

Who doesn’t recognize that name? After Charlie and the Chocolate Factory captured the attention of people of all ages all over the world, Roald Dahl became a household name – if he wasn’t before that. I particularly remember him for his story The Witches. I still am not sure if that is to blame for my fascination with witches, but that is one tattered book in my bookshelf.

In any case, even if you are not a hardcore philatelist, the idea of getting your hands on these fun Roald Dahl stamps is a worthy one.

The Roald Dahl stamps are illustrated by Quentin Blake, who has been the artist behind Dahl’s works. Dahl fans will be delighted with stamps featuring The Twits, Matilda, The Witches, Fantastic Mr Fox, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG. These children’s books, I think, should be introduced to every kid.

While the author certainly does not lack recognition and acclaim as a writer, these Roald Dahl stamps serve as icing on top of the cake. As his daughter Ophelia Dahl states, “My dad wrote thousands of letters home throughout his life and never dreamed that one day one of his own characters would grace a stamp.”

Take a look at the Roald Dahl stamps yourself.

Now who is in the UK and willing to send letters via post?

Via Design Taxi

Dark Knight Mr. Potato Head

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:00:07 +0000

Who’s on the edge of their seats waiting for when The Dark Knight Rises finally comes out in the theaters? I guess the better question is: Who isn’t?

We can’t do anything about that but wait, although you have the option of stoking the fire of anticipation by watching the teaser again and again. Or reading up on the movie over and over. Or you can just head on over to The Big Bad Toy Store and get your very own Dark Knight Mr. Potato Head.

Dark Knight Mr. Potato Head

If you are a fan of spuds, then you will need no convincing to get this toy. If you don’t have a single Mr. Potato Head in your home, what better time to start collecting them than now?

You have two options: Standard Grade and Collector’s Grade. The former will give you:

The item is brand-new, in mint condition, and sealed inside its packaging.
Packaging condition is verified to be 80% mint (C8), or better.
Standard Grade items are suitable to display in the package, or to open.

For the latter, you’ll have:

The item is brand-new, in mint condition, and sealed inside mint packaging.
Packaging condition is verified to be 90% mint (C9), or better.
If you upgrade, our warehouse will carefully choose items in mint condition.
Each item will be wrapped in a clear poly-bag for protection during shipping.
Collector’s Grade items are meant to be displayed in their packaging.

You only need to add $2 to get the Collector’s Grade toy.

The Dark Knight Mr. Potato Head is available on pre-order basis and is estimated to be available by June 2012. If you order from The Big Bad Toy Store now, you get a $2 discount from the list price of $19.99. That should leave you with enough to get the upgrade.

Earth Laughs in Flowers – Not Your Everyday Flower Art

Noemi Twigg — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:35 +0000

It’s that time of the year again, when everyone and their mom seems to be caught up in the overly commercialized fever of the “Love Month”. We are not totally averse to Valentine’s Day, as you may very well know. We have posts such as the one about the Indiana Jones engagement ring. If, however, you are not feeling all too lovey dovey this month, don’t worry. There is no pressure to fall into the commercial trap from us!

In fact, today’s post just might make you appreciate flowers more than ever. Without the usual connotations that come with it. These flower pictures are the work of American photographer David Lachapelle, and while they might not be as geeky as the flowers Robin wrote about some time last year, they will certainly catch your eye and keep you hooked as well.

Lachapelle calls his work “Earth Laughs in Flowers”. Obviously, the photographs have flowers – all sorts – in focus, but it is the surrounding details that make the difference. And such a huge difference does the setups make!

Forget mushy and sloppy flower arrangements. Think vivid, dark, brilliant – all exploding in one image! Think cigarette butts, dismembered dolls, water guns, and ripe fruit that looks like the flavor is bursting out of them. Oh, and don’t forget the mobile phone and medication.

Lachapelle’s work is more than about the universal symbol of the month of February. It “explores the fragility of society and ideas of vice and vanity”. It might be difficult to internalize that concept without seeing the photos, but once you go through the gallery below, I trust that you will not walk away without getting the message.

Make sure to click on the thumbnails for the full Earth Laughs in Flowers experience.

Mapping Stereotypes Calendar: Not for the Politically Correct

Noemi Twigg — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:00:28 +0000

We just released the only 2012 movie calendar that you will need, and I think that many of you found more than a few interesting titles in there. (Remember that you can give your input by getting in touch with us via the link given in the post!)

Anyhow, if you are into calendars that serve a different kind of purpose, you will love the Mapping Stereotypes Calendar Project by Alpha Design. As you can read from the title, however, this is definitely not for you if you are rather sensitive about political correctness and everything else remotely related to the concept. The Mapping Stereotypes Calender Project might very well be the furthest thing from political correctness.

The idea is to take the map of the world – or parts of it – and change the labels on the countries depending on the perception of a group of people. You can easily see how wrong this can go. Then again, you have to bear in mind that this was done with all silliness in mind. Just laugh it away and not take it too seriously.

With that warning being thrown out there, I shall let the maps speak for themselves.

Mapping Stereotypes Calendar: World According to the United States of America

World According to the United States of America

Mapping Stereotypes Calendar: Europe According to the United States of America

Europe According to the United States of America

Mapping Stereotypes Calendar: Europe According to Greece

Europe According to Greece

Mapping Stereotypes Calendar: Europe According to Germany

Europe According to Germany

Know what I mean now? If you only took a short time to go through the maps, take a look again with a more open mind this time. These maps – and a whole lot more – are part of the Mapping Stereotypes Calendar, which you can purchase at Alpha Designer.

Go Old School with LEGO Moleskine

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Do still remember the good old days when you had to sit in class, listen to your professor give a long lecture, and write down notes in your trusty notebook? I certainly do! These days, I think kids still use notebooks, but I wouldn’t be surprised if many university students these days use their smartphones, tablets, or even laptops.

However, I don’t think that you can deny the pleasure of actually wrapping your fingers around a nice pen and writing things down on a sheet of paper. And nowadays, when it comes to notebooks, I think we can all agree that Moleskine is one of the more popular brands out there. This is not to say that I actually use them – I think they are overrated notepads – but they do come up with cool collections now and then.

LEGO Moleskine

Speaking of cool collections, the very new LEGO Moleskine collection will get the attention of everyone, especially AFOLs. The LEGO Moleskine collection will have four versions. If you are particular about whether or not your notebook pages are ruled or not, you can also choose between the ruled and plain pages.

The LEGO Moleskine collection notebooks feature imprinted covers, which in themselves make buying a notebook worth considering. You do get more perks such as a LEGO-themed bookmark, stickers, and LEGO graphics. There is even a LEGO patch which you can play around with.

Open LEGO Moleskine

As can be expected, the LEGO Moleskine collection is going to be limited edition, so you better get to the stores quickly come the first of March, when the notebooks will hit the shelves.

Via Freshness Mag

Bang Bang Handle: Gun Doorknob

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:51 +0000

Guns have never been a safe topic, and we will always have the aggressive proponents as well as the just as aggressive opponents. As with most – if not all – of our posts, though, this will not delve into the politics and ideology behind guns. Instead, let’s take a look at some really cool-looking doorknobs.

Designer Nikita Kovalev has thought of a different way to use firepower by creating gun doorknobs that will be a fun addition to any gun lover’s furnishings. Her work, as shown on Behance, is an impressive set of pistols, as you can see below. The concept is called the Bang Bang Handle.

Bang Bang Handles

The site does not divulge a lot of details about the designs and how Kovalev went about conceptualizing the Bang Bang Handle. That does not take away one bit from designs, though, does it?

We also know a little bit about the pistols, but that’s about it.

9 mm Makarov (PM, GRAU index – 56-A-125, unofficial name – “Makarov”, “Makar”, “Macaroni,” “Makarych”) – semi-automatic pistol, designed by the Soviet designerNikolai Fyodorovich Makarov, in 1948
. MP from 1951 until now is the personal weapon of the Soviet and post-Soviet armed forces and law enforcement.

Now if you want to see the Bang Bang Handle “in action”, here’s what it could look like.

Black Bang Bang Handle

I don’t know about you, but that would be pretty cool sight. Then again, I have worries that the handle would break if a little bit of force is used on it. Also, I wonder how keys come into the picture?

The Only Classic Cocktails Chart You’ll Need

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:00:22 +0000

This is what happens when you have been on a diet from good cocktails for months. I am not complaining, but I sure do miss sipping a White Russian and a nice mojito. With this recent discovery, though, I just might be able to whip up something decent without having to pay an arm and leg for something that will only make my head hurt in the end. And maybe you can, too!

In any case, this really might be the only classic cocktails chart that one will ever need. Created by Pop Chart Lab, the image puts together what looks to me hundreds of classic cocktails and breaks them down so that anyone who reads it has a reasonable chance of concocting each cocktail.

In the middle, you will see a myriad of liquors and spirits labeled accordingly. The classic cocktails are then arranged in a circle around the main ingredients, complete with the kind of glass to use, how many ounces, and name, of course. The main ingredients are connected to the appropriate cocktail via colorful lines. These lines will either confuse you or mesmerize you. Guess what they did to me?

It doesn’t end there. Other ingredients such as mixers (juices, sodas, condiments, etc.) and garnishes (fruits) are placed at the top and at the bottom of the chart, also with lines connecting them to the matching classic cocktail. The result is one comprehensive classic cocktails chart.

Classic Cocktail Chart

For $28, you can have a 27″ x 39″ print of the classic cocktails chart. Then you’ll only have to stare at your wall when you need to whip up a drink or two.

For a Successfully Weird Party: Alien Brain Hemorrhage Cocktail

Noemi Twigg — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:26 +0000

When was the last successful party that you threw? We’re only about to end the first month of the year, so the chances are that you still remember your New Year’s Eve party. Or maybe you even celebrated Chinese New Year. Who cares about having a “good” reason to throw a party, though? Any time you want to throw one, there really is no need for an excuse. But, just in case you do want something especially weird and unique for your next get together, nothing will do the trick like this Alien Brain Hemorrhage Cocktail. (Although having pi-shaped ice cubes is always a hit as well!)

You don’t even need to take a second look at this photo to make the decision to make a go for it, do you?

Alien Brain Hemorrhage Cocktail

Doesn’t that look like a disgusting thing? It’s so disgusting it becomes good! And actually, if you think about it, the Alien Brain Hemorrhage Cocktail seems rather complicated to make. That is, if you base it on the looks of the drink. (Then again, I am no bartender, so I really have no idea.)

The nice surprise is that it seems that anyone – maybe even I – can make a shot of Alien Brain Hemorrhage Cocktail! According to Latin Rapper, all that you need to do to make the Alien Brain Hemorrhage Cocktail is to get together some peach schnapps, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Blue Curacao, and Grenadine Syrup. Of course, you need a shot glass.

First you pour some peach schnapps into the shot glass – about halfway full. You then take the Bailey’s and gently pour it over the peach schnapps. Just before the glass gets totally full, add some Blue Curacao to the mix. The last touch is to add a few drops of Grenadine Syrup. The result? Something that you might actually believe is an alien’s brain hemorrhaging!

Apparently, the Alien Brain Hemorrhage Cocktail is from Scotland (I guess they have some alien specimens there), and here is a video which can show you how it is made. Be warned: offensive language is used.

DIY Retro Star Wars Dress

Noemi Twigg — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:04 +0000

What was the last thing that you made using your hands? And I don’t mean coding. While you do use your hands to type, that doesn’t exactly count in this case!

This gal from Los Angeles, California impressed me with her sewing skills, if only because the only time I tried making a dress in high school Home Ec, it was an utter disaster! Seriously, this high school teacher married to a scientist rocks!

She got hold of some Star Wars sheets, of which there is no shortage of, I assume. She then proceeded to get her hands and imagination busy and created this wonderful DIY retro Star Wars dress. Male or female will certainly stop to take a second look at this.

DIY Star Wars Dress

By the way, the sheets that she used for this dress are not your ordinary sheets. They were a gift from a friend: original 1977 Star Wars sheets! Okay, I can hear some of you shouting – what a way to treat vintage sheets! Then again, if you look at the result, I suppose that it is a forgivable act.

This is the back of the DIY retro Star Wars dress, and you can see that some thought was put into how the design of the sheets would come out with the dress. I think it’s perfect how she was able to put C3PO into each of the straps.

DIY Star Wars Dress Back

I have a feeling that you want to see that skirt spread in all its glory. Well, here it is. Feast your eyes on the print.

DIY Star Wars Dress 2

Guess how much this cost to make? About $6 in materials!

Doesn’t this make you want to try your hand at making your own DIY retro Star Wars dress – or any other similar idea? As I have no skill at all when it comes to sewing, I suggest you visit Cation Designs for the details instead.

Every Doctor Who Episode in 10 Minutes

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:30 +0000

How many episodes of Doctor Who have you actually seen? By episodes, I am referring not only to the sixth series, but to every Doctor Who episode dating from the first time the TV show aired. I was introduced to this addictive show only last year, and even now, I have not seen all the episode in the latest series. Then again, I have this thing about not having time to sit down and watch TV series completely.

Anyhow, there is so much to the TV series that I think a lot of people have not seen every Doctor Who episode that has been made. There are, of course, the die hard fans who can tell you all about the 11 doctors and everything they have done. I think it’s safe to say that you’re not alone if you have not seen the first series. Or even the second, or the third. That is why we have all sorts of guides, such as this Doctor Who Timeline.

Thanks to the efforts of BabelColour, you now only need 10 minutes of your time to be able to say that you have seen every Doctor Who episode. Yup, 10 minutes! That’s about as long as it will take you to eat a slice or two of pizza, or maybe as long as it will take you to finish your first cup of coffee for the day.

The video first came out in 2008, but as we all know, more has happened to the doctor since then. Here’s BabelColor’s updated video of every Doctor Who episode. It might be a little longer than your usual online videos, but hey, at least the end you will be able to say that you have indeed seen every single episode!

Indiana Jones Engagement Ring Just Might Get You a Yes

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:00:24 +0000

If your girl friend is an Indiana Jones fan, that is. Otherwise, you might want to rethink going for this ring.

Indiana Jones Engagement Ring

We’re no strangers to geeky jewelry. As a matter of fact, we love them! Remember the Atomic and Microscope Pendants? How about the list of Valentine’s Day Jewelry Gifts for Geeks?

This piece of jewelry is not an ordinary gift, though. A guy going by the name Homerliwag on Reddit gave the ring to his girl friend when he popped the question. I suppose that not all girls will appreciate being presented with this Indiana Jones engagement ring, but if you think about it, the thought and work that was put into the ring might very well be enough to impress a lady! Of course, if that lady can’t resist Indiana Jones, then the story ends right here.

Homerliwag did put a lot of effort into his engagement ring. One look at the schematic can tell you that!

Indiana Jones Engagement Ring Schematic

In addition to having the engagement ring custom-made, he also paid a lot of attention to the presentation. He made a custom ring box – none of that generic black or white velvet/leather box – out of a 1920s steel soap bar box. Inside, he put some sculpting clay to achieve the effect of having ruins inside. Archeology, yes?

Indiana Jones Engagement Ring in Box

It is to be expected that since he had already gone this far, he would also go to great lengths to make the actual giving of the ring unique. And so he did. He made other boxes, and asked his girl friend to choose wisely. Of course, he had measures in place to make sure she chose the correct box, and voila, he had one happy girl friend. Or ecstatic, maybe.

Plus points for creativity! Now what theme would you choose if you were to give a similar gift? Think, and choose wisely. V-Day is coming up.

Via The Mary Sue

DIY NES PC

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:00:01 +0000

Who has an old NES lying around the house gathering dust? If you do, you might want to pay particular attention to this post. You might just be able to do something productive with your hands and make some use of that old gaming console. If you don’t have one, but you have some cash to burn, you can still get your hands on this pretty nifty DIY NES PC.

Jamie Regan got in touch with us to see if we would be interested in his creation: a DIY NES PC. According to him, he built this baby because he has too much time on his hands, the lucky guy. I think that even luckier is the fact that he had the creativity, skills, and patience to tinker with the device to come up with a something “new”.

NES PC

It is not that surprising that Jamie was able to pull this off as he is a qualified electrician. Still, he says, the whole project took a lot of time and effort. Go through this post and see if you agree with him that this is the best NES PC mod ever built.

NES PC Inside

Those are the innards of the device. Jamie says he wanted to keep things “as discrete as possible” so he lined the area around the disk drive with metal to achieve a neater appearance. Naturally, he also built in USB ports – two of them.

NES PC USB Ports

If you want more USB ports, you can always purchase a cheap USB hub.

I suppose those were the easy parts, as Jamie shares that the most difficult thing was to create the back panel. As you can imagine, he had to cut out space for all the inputs needed in the back panel. He still did a pretty good job in spite of the challenge.

NES PC Back Panel

Here are some of the things that Jamie used to create his DIY NES PC:

ASRock A330GC Mini Itx Motherboard
Mini ITX PC DC-DC Power Supply Board 120W PSU 12V
Samsung SN-208BB 8x DVD-RW
RAM SATA Laptop Drive
Seagate Momentus 7200.3 SATA 3Gb/s 160-GB Hard Drive
1 GB Ram DDR2 ( 2x 512MBs )

If you want to make one yourself, and you need some help, get in touch with Jamie via email: jamie_regan1@hotmail.com. And if you want to make an offer for the DIY NES PC, you can also ask him about that!

Win a Le Retour du Jedi Shirt from moreTvicar!

Noemi Twigg — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:15:26 +0000

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone! You don’t have to be Chinese to celebrate this time of the year, and here at ForeverGeek, we’re doing exactly that: ushering in the Chinese New Year. Our friends at moreTvicar have kindly offered to give away a t-shirt to a lucky ForeverGeek reader! I’ve always been a sucker for geeky shirts, and if you are too, you will love this giveaway.

moreTvicar dubs themselves as the “Home of the cool tee since 2003″, and even a quick look will make tee enthusiasts happy. The site is UK-based, but don’t worry if you are in other parts of the world. These guys are so nice that they said the winner can be based anywhere!

This is what’s up for grabs.

Le Retour du Jedi Shirt

You don’t need to speak French to get the t-shirt, do you? The shirt is made from a washed cotton blend, giving it that vintage feel. I don’t know about you, but if I had a Star Wars t-shirt collection, this would be a mandatory addition!

How do you join the contest? As usual, let’s keep it simple and do a “Tweet + Link” contest.

Step 1: Copy & paste the following, and then tweet it:

I want to win a Le Retour du Jedi Shirt from @geekforever & @moreTvicar! Enter here: http://spla.us/xIqfmo #WinStarWarsShirt

The winner will be selected at random from the commenters on or around 8:00 pm EST on Wednesday, January 25. The winner will be notified via Twitter, after which you’ll send your mailing address to the good folks at moreTvicar so they can send you your prize.

Important: You can enter the contest once per day between now and the 25th.

Good luck, everyone!

Keds Social Media Sneakers

Noemi Twigg — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:11 +0000

A couple of years back, we saw designer Gerry McKay’s Adidas Facebook and Twitter Superstars concept designs. I don’t think that actual shoes following those designs saw the light of day, but they did catch a considerable amount of attention.

Now, do any of you remember Keds? The brand is still around, but I remember it as the “cool brand” when I was high school. The kids whose parents could afford Keds always stood out. I haven’t been in high school for eons, so I really would not know what the cool sneakers brand is these days, but these new concept Keds designs by Lumen Bigott might just propel the brand to a whole different level. The graphic designer and marketer decided to combine two things that many people utilize on a daily basis: sneakers and social media.

Enter Keds social media shoes.

Okay, there are people who do not wear sneakers regularly, but can you think of more comfortable footwear? And sure, there are a lot of people who could not care less about social media (and maybe are better off because of it), but these Keds social media sneakers are worth a look.

Keds social media sneakers: Facebook

Facebook Shoes

You’ve got one friend request! I think the design is actually low key enough to be worn, don’t you?

Keds social media sneakers: Twitter

Twitter Shoes

What do you think of the use of the fail whale instead of the Twitter logo?

Keds social media sneakers: Google

Google Shoes

These are supposed to be Google Buzz shoes, but we all know what happened to that platform. Hardcore Google fans might want to get their hands on this design, but it is too colorful for me. You?

Keds social media sneakers: Flickr

Flickr Shoes

Shutterbugs who are passionate about sharing their photos on Flickr, this design is for you. Also if you like pink and polka dots.

Keds social media sneakers: YouTube

YouTube Shoes

Video addicts are lucky with these colors. I think use of the loading icon is brilliant, even if I get to see it every freakin’ time I want to see a video. Well maybe not every time…

Keds social media sneakers: Wiki

Wiki Shoes

Who said that grey is boring? Just add Wikipedia’s logo, and you’ll have something else to look at.

Keds social media sneakers: Dribble

Dribbble Shoes

This is the latest update to the Keds social media sneakers collection, and to be honest, I was wondering what Dribble was when I saw it. For those like me who are clueless, you can always google Dribble like I did, but to make it easier for you, it’s basically a network for designers where they can show and tell what they are working on. I think that’s cool, but why does it have to be pink?

Before you get all excited and ask around where to buy these Keds social media sneakers, remember they are mere concepts. I am sure that if you are adamant about having one, you can find a custom shoemaker somewhere to help you out. I’m sticking to my Ipanemas.

New Symphony of Science: The Greatest Show on Earth

Noemi Twigg — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:00:33 +0000

What is the greatest show on earth? Naturally, the answer would depend on what you think is great. If you like documentaries about nature, evolution, and the like, then you probably have watched more than your fair share of BBC documentaries. There is no arguing that the stuff that BBC produces is simply ace, especially if seen on a high def TV!

You’ve also probably heard of the Symphony of Science, a project by John Boswell and some other guys. The project is beautiful in that it combines the learning of scientific concepts with music, which is a winning combination in my book. I think I discovered them early last year, and shared a Symphony of Science video with you guys as well.

If you have not checked it out yet, then I suggest that you do. They have a new release, which will catch your interest if, as I said earlier, you like watching BBC documentaries. The new release is dubbed The Greatest Show on Earth, which you may recognize as the title of Richard Dawkins’ book. The video features Sir David Attenborough himself, British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, and scientist, engineer, comedian, author, and inventor Bill Nye.

The music may not particularly impress, but the concept of the Symphony of Science is catchy. The footage from the following videos will definitely catch and hold your attention, though:

Richard Dawkins’ “There is grandeur in this view of life” speech
BBC Life
BBC Planet Earth
David Attenborough’s First Life
Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life
Bill Nye Evolution episode

Enjoy the video!

Superheroes in a Drop of Water

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:00:41 +0000

Earlier this month, I discovered a photographer whose work stopped me in my tracks. Even the most jaded of people might even agree with me in saying that German photographer Marcus Reugels stands above the rest with his photographs.

The work that caught my attention features drops of water refracting the earth, or at least part of it.

World in a Drop of Water

One look at that, and you have to admit that this guy is absolutely brilliant! He has other photos along similar lines, but I think you might appreciate two of his recent pieces even more.

How about a couple of superheroes in a drop of water? Well, technically, it is not the superhero that can be seen, but the emblem. It is still one heck of a viewing experience, though. Here’s the first of the two superheroes in a drop of water: Batman.

Batman in a Drop of Water

If you thought that this is all about black and white, forget about it. See all those striated shades?

I’ve never been a huge Spiderman fan, but this drop of water is something else.

Spiderman in a Drop of Water

The artist’s other pieces are mainly of planets – Jupiter and Mars, for example. They are no less beautiful than the others, but I am hoping that he will come up with more photos of superheroes in a drop of water.

Oh, and if you want prints of his work, you can purchase them. Even better, you can get in touch with him if you have a particular subject that you want him to take photos of. Here’s more of Marcus Reugels.

Amazing Geeky Papercraft

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:00:59 +0000

Got nimble fingers that can fold, cut, and shape a simple sheet of paper into something that will make people go “Wow!”? I sure don’t, but that does not mean I cannot appreciate the art of papercraft, which I seem to be seeing a lot these days. Just very recently, I shared what is being dubbed as the future of food: papercraft hamburger.

Today, I found something even more fascinating: a collection of geeky papercraft. These works of folded paper can be credited to ~homestah of DeviantArt, who seems to have a propensity for fiddling with paper to create gifts for friends. I wish I were his friend!

First up, we have a giraffe. Okay, it might not really be considered geeky papercraft by some, but it is still pretty impressive, isn’t it?

Giraffe Papercraft

This is the piece that actually caught my attention.

Dragonite Papercraft

It’s a cute little dragon – a little too cute for my personal preferences, actually, but I still like it! Unfortunately, the friend who got this geeky papercraft piece doesn’t have it anymore as his dog tore it to pieces. :S

Another dragon, which comes from that wonderful animated movie I can watch over and over and over again!

Nightfury Papercraft

This is from Howl’s Moving Castle, a Japanese animation movie which I have not seen, but of all the geeky papercraft pieces in this post, I think this one is the most striking.

Howl's Moving Castle Papercraft

Agree or not?

Anime enthusiasts will also love this geeky papercraft rendition of Inuyasha. Again, ~homestah made this one for a friend’s birthday. What a lucky girl!

Inuyasha Papercraft

I saved the best (for me) for last.

BSG Viper Papercraft

Miss BSG? Get the Battlestar Galactica Series Bible for some reading material.

Marvel Soap That Will Get Anyone Wanting to Clean Up

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:00:06 +0000

Have a kid who is averse to cleaning up? When I say kid, I am not just referring to the age – you know what I mean? I remember someone saying before that women wash their hands after going to the loo less than men do. While I am not sure about the veracity of that statement, I know for sure that this set of Marvel soap will get anyone wanting to keep washing their hands. Or taking a shower. Or anything that will be a good excuse to use the soap.

Marvel Soap

I have to admit that I am a sucker for liquid hand soap more than solid soap, but if I were given some of this Marvel soap, I will not be complaining! The soap blocks are being sold by Luxury Lane Soap for only USD 8.95. The product description reads:

Want to impress your lady/gentleman friend the morning after? Pack your shower full of these bad boys and I bet they stay another night!*

*I can’t actually promise that. Nor can I promise anyone but you will be impressed with these soaps. But, if it is any consolation, I think you have epic taste in bathing products.

Hulk and Thing soaps both glow in the dark. Obviously due to mass amounts of radiation…or skin safe glow powder, whichever…

I don’t know about that first paragraph, but I totally agree with having an epic taste in bathing products if you get these bars. Whatever they mean with the use of epic in this case! And of course, the fact that two of the bars glow in the dark can help when you suddenly remember that you forgot to pay your electricity bill because you do not have power when you need to go to the loo in the middle of the night!

For those of you who are conscious about what goes into your bathing products, rest assured that the entire set of Marvel soap is free from Parabens or Formaldahydes, Sulfates or Phthalates, and GMO or Triclosan. More so, the products were not tested on animals. I don’t know if superheroes escaped the testing, though.

Geeky Nail Polish for the Girl in You

Noemi Twigg — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:00:23 +0000

We have already established that there is a fair number of girls who are geeks. And just because a girl is labeled geeky (whether by herself or others, it does not matter), it does not mean that she does not like primping herself up every now and then, correct? So this post is for all the geeky girls out there, and geeky guys who might be into nail polish. Who says there aren’t any guys like that anyway? Besides, with these sets of nail polish, I think that gender will not matter!

Etsy shop owner Amanda Collier of Fairhope, Alabama has struck gold with her idea of blending custom-made nail polish (nail lacquer) inspired by popular science fiction stories. Not all of her colors are gold, obviously, but they do shine, shimmer, and glitter in a way that would do science fiction proud. I think.

I am pretty impressed with her imagination, and you only have to take a look at the products to agree with me. For example, check out this geeky nail polish set labeled “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Nail Polish Trio”.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Nail Polish Trio

Personally, I would wear “Entirely Unlike Tea”, but the other two are a little to glitzy for me. I do want to get my hands on the next set, though.

Where No Lacquer Has Gone Before

One does not need any other reason to want this geeky nail polish set, does one? I particularly like the color Warrior Ethos. Yes, I am partial to red.

For Doctor Who fans, the next two geeky nail polish sets will get you all worked up.

Mad Man with a Box Series

Oi, Spaceman Series

The “Mad Man with a Box Series” is the best of the lot, if only because all the colors are to my liking. And I think that the name for the shade of blue is just perfect!

You may opt to get a set of these geeky nail polish for USD24, or if you want only one color, it costs USD8 for a bottle. Expect to pay a little more for shipping – only US and Canada, unfortunately. :(

WIN a Code for vlock: the Most Beautiful Video Clock on the iPhone

Noemi Twigg — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:30:41 +0000

vlock iPhone clock

You may think that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, but I believe that whatever day it may be, luck comes to you if you help it a little. Besides, in some cultures, the number 13 is actually considered lucky. So if you are feeling a little luckless today, here’s a little pick-me-upper, courtesy of our friends from XVision.

We’re giving away 3 codes for vlock, which is being dubbed as the most beautiful video clock on the iPhone. If you are looking for more than what the default clock can give you, then vlock might just be what you have been looking for. It allows you to use any video as the background for your clock. Movies, music videos, podcasts, and album videos – no problem, they can all run in the background! Oh, and vlock works on the iPad as well.

If you have lots of videos that you like watching over and over again, you can simply create a playlist and set that to keep playing for as long you want. Alternatively, there are built-in videos which will mesmerize you. If you feel like upgrading, there are, naturally, in-app purchases for additional videos.

vlock costs $0.99 in the App Store, but you can get a purchase code for FREE if you join our contest!

How do you join?

Step 1: Copy & paste the following, and then Tweet it:

I want to win a promo code for vlock from @geekforever! Enter here: http://spla.us/AoLJYj #Winvlock #contests

Step 2: Leave us a Comment on this page (below) to let us know you Tweeted, and paste the link to your Tweet in your Comment. (Note that our Comments are moderated, so it may not show up immediately after you click the “Post Comment” button.)

3 winners will be selected at random from the Commenters on or around 8pm EST on Wednesday, January 18. Winners will be notified via Twitter, after which we’ll send you the promo code for vlock.

Good luck!

Papercraft Hamburger: The Future of Food?

Noemi Twigg — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:00:23 +0000

I don’t know if you remember Lucie Thomas and Thibault Zimmermann, also known collectively as Zim & Zou, but some time last year, we showcased their very colorful papercraft gadgets. If you are not into pretty colors, you might not appreciate their work at first glance. However, the intricacy of the details of each papercraft gadget will certainly elicit a positive response from anyone.

The French designers are back, and this time, they have turned their attention to another thing that never fails to get my attention: the hamburger.

Zim & Zou have constructed a papercraft hamburger that will definitely turn heads. Their work is dubbed the “Future of Food” and is being featured as the cover for the magazine Icon. Gaze at this papercraft hamburger ensemble in full.

Papercraft Hamburger

As I said, one can’t help but do a double take, if only because of the colors used. However, closer inspection will give you a better appreciation of the work and creativity that has gone into the papercraft hamburger. Here’s the future of food up close.

Papercraft Hamburger Up Close

And if you want to see the individual ingredients, you may do so.

Papercraft Hamburger Pieces

Can you name them all?
Oh, and since we are talking about the future, this might very well be how this papercraft hamburger will be assembled. No humans involved.

Making of Papercraft Hamburger

I don’t know about you, but if this is the future of food, I might just be forced to go on a diet or look for alternative food sources.

I Can Has Thesis?: Linguistics Applied to Lolspeak

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:00:17 +0000

Lolcats Getting Shots

You might as well admit it. You have used Lolspeak at least once. You might even be using it regularly. I think some people find using Lolspeak convenient when they want to come off as cute or cool, but that could be just me. While it is amusing to read those captions on silly pictures of cats (or dogs, if you prefer them), I just realized that it can be irritating to hear an adult resorting to Lolspeak all the time.

But that’s just me! Just because I feel that way does not mean that Lolspeak is not a “language” worthy of close inspection. As I like saying, language is dynamic, and Lolspeak is simply one of the paths language has taken, thanks to the Internet.

Would you believe that a thesis for the Master of Arts in The Interdepartmental Program in Linguistics actually focused on Lolspeak and took it apart for analysis? I say it’s brilliant! In December 2011, Jordan Lefler of University of Louisiana at Lafayette submitted his thesis. He begins his work with the definition of Lolspeak, which I assume you all know by heart. For clarity’s sake, here is a snippet from the abstract:

Lolspeak, which I characterize as an internet dialect of English that is used in
conjunction with images of cats, exhibits distinctive variations and patterns which differ from
those of standard English. Lolspeak has influenced other language use and may have a
significant impact on the English language, due in part to the internet‟s role in the evolution of
English.

The thesis examines the following questions:

Why is it important to observe this form of English?
What purpose do Lolcats and Lolspeak serve?
Why does Lolspeak orthography differ from that standard English?
Is Lolspeak really part of Netspeak as I suggested above, or something else? Is it really an invented dialect?
Could we take seriously the suggestions that Lolspeak is a “kitty pidgin” as suggested by Anil Dash, as though Lolspeak had arisen between English and the language of cats?

The study is very thorough, complete with analysis of the parts of speech, consonants and vowels, copula (to be verbs), and determiners, among many other elements of the English language. It also takes a look at the alternative spellings of words such as “hi”, “bye”, and “my”, which in Lolspeak becomes – as you know – “hai”, “bai”, and “mai”.

Lefler’s conclusion? Lolspeak is all about language play – making variations in spelling and sentence structure. He also labels it as whimsical and invented. No arguments there. I do like his use of the word “whimsical” to emphasize the playful nature of the language. While it can be irritating when overly used, Lolspeak does have a place in this world that can get too serious at times.

I suggest reading the thesis in its entirety for a change in reading material. While it is a long read, I think that language lovers will find it enjoyable.

Image via I Can Has Cheezburger?

Skyrim Monopoly: The Only Monopoly Board You’ll Want This Week!

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:00:51 +0000

It was bound to happen, wasn’t it? Gamers all over the world were bound to their chairs waiting for the video game to be released, and when it finally came out, those very gamers either went silent online (presumably glued to their HDTVs) or flooded their friends’ walls and Twitter streams with Skyrim-related posts. It was just a matter of time till someone came up with his own Skyrim Monopoly design. After all, we have seen all sorts of Monopoly variations, Mass Effect Monopoly and Fallout Monopoly, for example.

DeviantArt user ~oddeh (known as Alex Bennett in real life) from the United Kingdom has suddenly gotten the attention of Skyrim enthusiasts with his Skyrim Monopoly design. Here is the Skyrim Monopoly board, and I have to say that I am mesmerized by the center. Never mind that there is not much to see except for what you can see in the game cover anyway. It is beautiful.

Skyrim Monopoly Board

This board is 20×20 inches (6000 px) at 300dpi. If you download it from ~oddeh’s page, you can simply print the image and stick it on top of your existing Monopoly board – unless what you have is a neat version as well. Then you might as well create a new board.

The artist has also created the design for the Guild Mission and Daedric Quest cards.

Skyrim Monopoly Cards

He does have a disclaimer: “I had a little fun with them, so players looking for a serious set may have to adapt them.”

Last, we have the Skyrim Monopoly coins in lieu of the usual bills or notes. Indeed, as the artist says, using the latter just doesn’t seem too apt for a Skyrim-themed Monopoly board. It’s just going to be a little tough to handle all those paper coins, I think. In any case, they look cool.

Skyrim Monopoly Coins

Now you just have to get a 3D printer for your tokens, houses, and hotels, and design Skyrim-themed items yourself. That, or ask ~oddeh for some help. I am sure he’ll be glad to oblige!