ForeverGeek » Dept. of Want It!

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.

Go Retro with Superhero Pin-up Posters

Noemi Twigg — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:29 +0000

Who says pin-up posters are outdated? Definitely not artist Maria Danalakis! This gal certainly knows what she was doing when she creates these retro superhero pin-up posters. Based out of Brooklyn, New York, Danalakis works with oil paint, paper collage, and loves Adobe Illustrator. She is a graphic artist and illustrator by profession. No wonder her posters make you say “Want!”

Thanks to Design Taxi, I discovered these really fun retro superhero pin-up posters. Take a look yourself.

Retro Harley Quinn

Technically a super villain, this retro Harley Quinn does not look so evil to me. She does look really sexy, though, doesn’t she? I think it’s the glasses.

Retro Poison Ivy

Another super villain, Poison Ivy is considered to be an eco-terrorist. This retro rendition does not really match her reputation, does it? Then again, the best of villains can be disguised in a bundle of cuteness. I think I prefer the original – darker – version of Poison Ivy.

Retro Cat Woman

I don’t know, but there is something about Cat Woman that makes her look so alluring no matter what. Even this cute version does not totally get rid of that certain something – whatever it is!

Retro Batgirl

With a doctorate in Library Science, Batgirl (the Barbara Gordon Batgirl) can easily be the most attractive of the female superheroes. That is, if you like that kind of thing. In this this retro pin-up poster, Batgirl does not seem to fit the “normal” idea of a librarian, but heck, is she hot! Just forget the glittering purple skirt.

Retro Wonder Woman

In spite of not being a comic reader, I just have this thing for Wonder Woman. Isn’t that just perfect?

You can get these prints – and more – from Danalakis’s Etsy shop for only $10. I think that the artist is also open to having other characters drawn if you ask her nicely.

Heavy Metal Coloring Book for Grown Ups

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:00:02 +0000

Coloring books are a staple in a child’s life. They not only battle boredom, but they also help develop a lot of skills. From honing creativity to learning about colors to refining motor skills – coloring books serve all these purposes and more. Of course, kids are not the only ones who can benefit from coloring books. I know some adults who love to spend time with their own coloring books for whatever reasons of their own.

Enter the heavy metal coloring book which, while I have labeled it as “for grown ups”, will do very well for kids of any age. The cover alone is enough to get anyone who is into coloring books excited. Not to mention if that person is also a metal head. Now think about parents who love heavy metal and would like to impart that love to their children. Nothing more needs to be said.

Heavy Metal Coloring Book Cover

The heavy metal coloring book is not just about having some metal-looking drawings that need to be filled in with color. It does have some educational value as well! Take a look at this page.

Heavy Metal Coloring Book - Papa

And here is one way to color it up.

Heavy Metal Coloring Book - Papa Colored

I am sure you have your own ideas of how the color scheme should be, but that is what coloring books are all about anyway, and the heavy metal coloring book is not an exception!

Of course, we cannot forget mama.

Heavy Metal Coloring Book - Mama

And the colored version.

Heavy Metal Coloring Book - Mama Colored

The guy behind this brilliant idea is Christopher Tauber, and you can see more of the heavy metal coloring book pages in his Flickr account.

Atomic and Microscope Pendants: Christmas Gift Ideas

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:00:32 +0000

Atomic Symbol Pendant

It’s never too early to get your Christmas shopping done, especially if some of my friends can be believed. As usual, I have not gotten around to it, but something caught my eye today, and maybe you’ll be interested in these geeky accessories that will do any male or female proud. Last year, I discovered Boutique Academia for the first time, and I fell in love with their pendants. I still am yearning for the Pi pendant and the Fibonacci pendant, and I can only hope that I have been a good enough girl so that Santa will pay me a visit this year.

If you liked those pendants, you might be interested in the new designs that Boutique Academia has recently put on offer: atomic and microscope pendants!

Now don’t anyone tell me that there was not a point in your young adult life wherein you didn’t marvel at how the microscope works. I remember afternoons at my best friend’s house tinkering around with her microscope as a 6th grader. She was fortunate enough to have one, and those afternoons were sheer bliss at that time! If you have ever felt that way for the simple microscope (or not-so-simple, depending on your experience), take a look at this pendant.

Microscope Necklace

Isn’t that a beauty? I chose the photo of the red pendant, simply because I can never resist red, but the pendant is also available in blue, green, and teal. The atomic symbol pendant is available in the same colors. For $17.99, you can have one!

If you are looking for Christmas gifts as early as now, you have one (or two or three) solved. For sure, these atomic and microscope pendants will be very much appreciated by at least one person in your gift-giving circle.

Punctuation Mark Lamps for the Grammar Geek

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:00:12 +0000

Punctuation Mark Lamps

This discovery has got me all excited that I just had a difficult time writing this post. I am not passionate about interior decoration, but I do have my quirks and when I see something really cool for the house, I get all enthusiastic about it. And what can be cooler than these lamps which are shaped like punctuation marks?

If you think about it, these punctuation mark lamps can go both ways. On one hand, just like me, you might go gaga over them simply because you work with punctuation every day. You’re a stickler for their proper use. On the other hand, you might stay clear of the punctuation mark lamps because you abhor punctuation, or you can’t use them properly.

If you belong to the second group, then I think you have even more reason to get these awesome punctuation mark lamps. They’ll serve as an ever present reminder to use punctuation marks the right way! ;)

Here are the lamps on their own. First up, quotation marks. Here are a couple of tips on using quotation marks. One, use quotation marks when writing statements (verbatim) that were originally said by someone else. Two, use quotation marks when writing titles (books, stories, etc.). For more tips on how to use quotation marks, check out this post on Freelance Writing Gigs.

Quotation Marks Lamps

Here’s my favorite punctuation mark at the moment: the exclamation mark.

Exclamation Mark Lamp

Pro tip: one exclamation mark is often enough to make your point. Of course, if you’re really passionate about what you are saying, no one can stop you from using three (or more) of these beautiful punctuation marks!!!

This one’s not really a punctuation mark, but I am sure it will get your attention as well.

At Sign Lamp

I dare you tell me that these lamps will not look good in any living room, office, or bedroom! Oh, and there is more from the collection, and the lamps also come in other colors.

More Lamps

Get these punctuation mark lamps from TABISSO. No idea how much they cost, but seeing that they are made to order and are made in France, they probably will cost quite a lot.

So here’s a question for you typophiles: what font is used for these lamps?

Helveticards for the Card-loving Typophile

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:43:27 +0000

Helveticards

So what’s your favorite font? Sue me, but I am a Comic Sans lover. I still remember using this font as the default for my work e-mail back in the day. Needless to say, I got a lot of flak for that. I have since then graduated to Helvetica, but only because that is the default font of my laptop now. Speaking of fonts, if you are in dire need of a funny read, check out this monologue on McSweeney’s – I’m Comic Sans, Asshole. I read it yesterday and just read it now again for more laughs. Warning (as if you needed one): it might not be safe for work.

Anyhow, this post is not about fonts – at least not fonts in general, just the [insert adjective here] Helvetica. If you are one of those who can’t praise Helvetica enough, and you also like a good game of cards every now and then, you will love this deck of playing cards called Helveticards. No need to explain how they came up with that name, yes?

The designer of Helveticards is Ryan Myers. Here’s the official description of the cards:

Designed with both the typophile and card player in mind, Helveticards are the beautiful, usable alternative to the traditional deck of cards that both Vignelli and Brunson would be happy to deal. (I’d like to think so, at least.)

Who’s Vignelli and Brunson? Brunson, I can help you with. Doyle Brunson the legendary American poker player. As for Vignelli, you have to check out Wikipedia as I am clueless. I think he has something to do with design. ;)

Whether you know those two guys or not, Helveticards is still an interesting thing to have around the house. Or when you go to the beach. Can you just imagine a game of poker becoming more interesting with a discussion on typhography thrown in?

You have less than an hour to get the cards on SALE at Fab.com, for only $7.50. After the sale, the deck will cost you $10.

Direwolf Winter Lager

Noemi Twigg — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:00:09 +0000

Direwolf Winter Lager

So winter is coming. We all know that. We may not know what exactly is coming with winter, though we have five books’ worth of hints and clues. We’re even getting details about the casting for the second season of Game of Thrones.

I am sure you’re all tied up in knots waiting for that season to commence, but there’s nothing we can do about it for now except to hang on to every morsel of news that we can get our hands on. We can also watch reruns. Alternatively, we can scour the web for cool stuff that tells us about the long and harsh winter that is coming – like this awesome shirt design by Nathan Stillie.

Winter is coming indeed, and what better way to keep warm than bottles and bottles of winter lager? I never knew that the Starks had their own brewing company, but hey, why not? After all, those men definitely can hold their drink. I am just not sure if lager is their drink of choice.

Nonetheless, this design is worth taking a look at. While all the curly things at the bottom are not really my type, I can’t deny my appreciation for the tough expression on the direwolf’s face. I think, though, that the direwolf is a little too lean. Then again, the direwolves in HBO’s series were not too buff anyway.

My only regret is that I only stumbled upon this design today, when it was on sale at Tee Fury for only 10 dollars on Wednesday! Maybe with enough demand, they will put it up on sale once more.

In the meantime, stay warm and don’t forget, winter is coming. Oh, and you might want to go back to some previous Game of Thrones-related posts. These ought to keep you happy for a bit.

Your Guide to Game of Thrones Infographics - in case your head is swimming with all the characters
Game of Thrones Flowchart: Would You Survive in the Seven Kingdoms? - just for fun
The Best Game of Thrones Theme Cover - the metal version of the theme song
The Inn at the Crossroads: Real Food from Game of Thrones - if you feel like cooking this weekend

Not Your Everyday Superhero T-Shirts

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:00:26 +0000

So you like superheroes and you like t-shirts. News flash: you’re among the millions of people around the world who have the same interest! Not that there is anything wrong with that. With the superhero t-shirts being one of the most popular items worldwide, you can find all sorts of designs and styles. If you’re lucky, you might even find a unique one among the countless superhero t-shirts.

Speaking of not-so-ordinary superhero t-shirts, I recently discovered Christopher Dooey, an artist from Warszawa, Poland. His renditions of superhero t-shirts are a refreshing sight, to say the least.

How about a mashup of Japanese character Domo-kun and your favorite superheroes?

Domo Captain America

Domo Wolverine

So maybe Captain America and Wolverine is not be your type (I don’t understand why!)…But you have to admit that combining the official mascot of Japanese station NHK (who has become a manga character as well) with these two superheroes is pretty fun. I wouldn’t mind seeing a Domo and Iron Man mashup as well.

Dooey’s other superhero t-shirts are more conventional in the sense that the designs are not combined with other characters. But that’s basically where convention ends. I don’t know if it’s only because I haven’t seen similar designs before, but Dooey’s designs are like a breath of fresh air.

Iron Man

It’s red. It’s Iron Man. What’s not to like? Seriously, though, the design’s so simple and un-flashy that it just stands out.

Rorschach

I think this shirt is the best of the lot. There is something about Rorschach that just gets you hooked, and the same can be said about the t-shirt.

Wolverine

Another Wolverine t-shirt? Why not?

Superman

I don’t know why, but this faceless Superman does not freak me out at all. As a matter of fact, it is the opposite. I find it mesmerizing.

For more of Dooey’s work, visit his portfolio. The superhero t-shirts are available in different colors and sizes and are prized at $26.14.

2012 Song of Ice and Fire Calendar Is Out!

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:00:59 +0000

Boys and girls of Westeros, this is the only calendar that you need for 2012 – the year of the dragon. The 2012 A Song of Ice and Fire calendar has been released, and if you are anything like me, your heart will be palpitating in anticipation. No exaggeration here.

As one can expect, there are 12 drawings for each month of the year. Drawn by renowned artist John Picacio, the images may be different from what you might expect – thanks to HBO’s Game of Thrones. However, the differences do not really take away from the breathtaking effect of the drawings.

SPOILER ALERT: I tried hard to make sure not to give any spoilers based on the book, but there might be some, especially since the 2012 Song of Ice and Fire Calendar does show some characters not yet revealed in the HBO TV series. Consider yourself warned. Or just read the books!

January: Brandon Stark

Game of Thrones Calendar January Brandon Stark

In the TV series, Bran is the cutest little thing, and I love that fact. However, I think Picacio did a great job with this image, which can be taken as a sign of Bran’s powerful role towards the end of the story (which has yet to unfold).

February: Jon Snow and Ghost

Game of Thrones Calendar February Jon Snow and Ghost

Perhaps one of the best – if not the best – images in the calendar. Looking at the drawing, I just can’t help but feel the energy or tension, or whatever you want to call it.

March: Daenerys Targaryen

Game of Thrones Calendar March Daenerys Targaryen

I love the coincidence of my favorite character (aside from Ned, of course) is featured on my birth month. However, I find her facial features a little disappointing. It might be because I really like Daenerys on HBO. What do you think?

April: Rob Stark

Game of Thrones Calendar April Rob Stark

Another really striking drawing. In spite of the relative lack of colors, the details are just lovely. It still breaks my heart thinking about what happens to Rob.

May: Arya Stark

Game of Thrones Calendar May Arya Stark

Arya Stark has always been one of the most admirable characters in the story, and her character becomes even more interesting as the plot progresses. As for how she is portrayed above – I am not sure whether I prefer this version over the HBO one. What’s your take?

June: Tyrion Lannister

Game of Thrones Calendar June Tyrion Lannister

Naughty little imp he may be at times, but no one can deny his wit and good heart. I don’t know if it’s just me, but doesn’t this drawing remind you of a dwarf (as in LoTR dwarves)?

July: Lady Melisandre

Game of Thrones Calendar July Melisandre

She’s not been shown in the first season of the TV series, but her character has been casted. And I think it is going to be an awesome. The Red Priestess is someone you do not take lightly. Love her or hate her. There is no in-between. Hats off to Picacio for this rendition!

August: Jaime Lannister

Game of Thrones Calendar August Jaime Lannister

One thing I am almost sure of: I won’t ever find a satisfactory portrayal of Jaime Lannister. I blame George R.R. Martin for describing him so perfectly in the books.

September: The Mountain and The Red Viper

Game of Thrones Calendar September The Mountain and The Red Viper

We saw Ser Gregor Clegane aka The Mountain in the first season of Game of Thrones, but The Red Viper has yet to make an appearance. I won’t say anything else about him, except that the scene depicted above is one heck of a fight (at least in my mind).

October: The Hound and Sansa Stark

Game of Thrones Calendar October The Hound and Sansa Stark

I prefer this drawing of The Hound. It makes him look more terrifying, which in turns makes his actions later in the story more admirable. You?

November: The Others

Game of Thrones Calendar November The Others

Winter is coming, and these creatures are why we should be afraid. Also known as White Walkers. I think Picacio’s rendition gives me the chills more than HBO’s take.

December: Lord Eddard Stark

Game of Thrones Calendar December Eddard Stark

Is this a case of saving the best for last? Perhaps. He looks more like Benjen Stark in the HBO series, but it still is a great drawing, especially with the Godswood in the background.

I am beside myself with excitement and can’t wait to get my hands on the 2012 Song of Ice and Fire Calendar. Amazon, here I come!

Game of Thrones LEGO Minifigs – Want!!!

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:00:06 +0000

What’s better than A Song of Ice and Fire miniatures? Game of Thrones LEGO minifigs, of course! Now I understand that this is a debatable point, but one cannot deny that the thought of those characters from the incredibly complex story portrayed in LEGO is totally exciting.

I actually cannot believe that I hadn’t seen this collection earlier – it has been on Flickr for about a month now; but since we’re all without new episodes of Game of Thrones, I thought it would be fun to take a look at these Game of Thrones LEGO minifigs. Technically, I think it should be A Song of Ice and Fire Minifigs, but most of the characters are in the TV series as well. Those that are not are bound to show up sooner or later. So yeah, there are some characters that will be unfamiliar to those who have not read the books.

Here are my favorite Game of Thrones LEGO minifigs. Look and drool.

The Stark Family

Game of Thrones LEGO Minifigs The Stark Family

Alright, time for a pop quiz. Name each family member in the image!

Jon Snow and Arya Stark

Game of Thrones LEGO Minifigs Jon Snow and Arya Stark

There’s no need to guess with this. I have not read Dance with Dragons yet, so I don’t know what has happened to Jon Snow and Arya Stark, but I am willing to bet that they will remain alive till the end of the series. What do you think?

Daenerys and Her Men

Game of Thrones LEGO Minifigs Daenerys, Jorah, and Drogo

Daenerys Targaryen with the two men in her life. One dead by her hands, the other alive (for now). By the way, I still am not over the final scene of the first season of Game of Thrones. Are you?

The Lannisters

Game of Thrones LEGO Minifigs The Lannister Family

There is no doubt that the Lannisters have their fair share of haters – maybe more – but they do provide intrigue and action. Hear them roar!

The Baratheon Brothers

Game of Thrones LEGO Minifigs The Baratheon Brothers

Everyone knows about King Robert and his pretty brother Renly. I still am not convinced that he is supposed to be gay, though. Stannis became the rightful king when Robert died, but he never appeared in the first season. He’s a force to reckon with, though, especially with the company he keeps.

The Clegane Brothers

Game of Thrones LEGO Minifigs The Clegane Brothers

Sandor and Gregor Clegane. The Hound and The Mountain that Rides. These two are rather terrifying characters, but I think the LEGO minifigs are cute!

I could go on and on about these minifigs, but you can see all of them over at Dufresne07‘s Flicker account. Unfortunately, they are not for sale. What remains then is for you to go and get busy creating your own minifigs. That or convince the owner to sell.

Star Wars: The Blueprints is the Only Star Wars Book You’ll Want This Year!

Noemi Twigg — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:00:33 +0000

Star Wars: The Blueprints

Star Wars fans, there is no other book that you will want to buy this year after seeing what the guys at Epic Ink have in store for you! They are releasing a collection of blueprints and photos of many of the things you have fallen in love with. The book is called “Star Wars:The Blueprints” and it comes with a custom made case and a a certificate of authenticity. (You never know – they can make copies of everything these days!) The case is actually beautiful – especially with the book inside.

Star Wars The Blueprints in Case

I have the feeling that what’s inside is what’s going to give you a serious case of goosebumps. Or whatever it is that you experience when overly excited.

Jedi Starfighter

Jedi Starfighter Blueprint

Is that impressive or what?

Millennium Falcon Blueprint

From cakes to beds, the Millennium Falcon has been the inspiration for so many creations. Take your creation (whatever it is!) to the next level by making sure it is based on this blueprint!

Yoda’s House Blueprint

Yoda's House Blueprint

In case you are planning on settling down and building your house in the near future – here’s an idea!

R2D2 Blueprint

This is an image of actual pages from the book. I can already imagine countless R2D2 projects cropping up…

Now imagine hundreds of blueprint goodness in one book! Even a non-Star Wars fan would not fail to appreciate the craftsmanship epitomized by this book. And in case you are good with your hands, you might even be able to build something from the book!

Take note of the important details: only 5,000 copies will be printed – each and every copy hand-numbered. Furthermore, the first 125 copies are signed by Academy-Award® winners for Best Art Direction (Star Wars, 1978): art director Norman Reynolds; art director Les Dilley; and set dresser Roger Christian. Naturally, these signed copies cost more than the rest at $1,000. Unsigned copies will go for half at $500.

Serious Star Wars fans with dough to spare – head on over to Epic Ink and pre-order your Star Wars:The Blueprints now. They will ship starting the 15th of September.

The 555 Footstool – Everyone Has to Have One!

Noemi Twigg — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:30:58 +0000

555 Chip

Does that black rectangle ring any bells? Truth be told, I used to have a love-hate relationship with this chip. Back in the day – when I still had the misguided notion that I would thrive as an electronics engineer – I would spend hours and hours with this little black chip. On a good day, whatever circuit we were working on would do what it was supposed to do. On more days than we wanted, though, Murphy was our companion and even this most basic of chips would not work as it is supposed to.

The 555 Integrated Circuit is definitely a familiar item to electronic enthusiasts/professionals and DIY-ers (I think I am neither now). It was designed in 1970 and was released in 1971. The chip is used in various applications as a timer, a pulse generator, and an oscillator. There are many different variations of the 555 chip, but the standard one contains more than 20 transistors, 2 diodes, and 15 resistors on the silicon chip.

Now I won’t bore you with the technical details that I barely remember myself (only the fond/not-so-fond memories remain with me), but here is something that I am pretty sure you will find cool – a footstool modeled after the 555 chip. Mind you, it’s not a simple 555-look alike. The makers of the 555 footstool took great pains to ensure that the piece of furniture has the real look of the chip. They even examined some datasheets before making an attempt to create the furniture version of the chip.

Armed with some plywood, a CNC router, wood glue, dowel rods, a sanding disk, paint, and I suppose, a host of other things that DIY-ers always have handy, the guys started out with some slabs like these.

555 Wood Slabs

And ended up with something that will take you (if you’re like me, that is) back to those good old days of long sleepless nights so that you can have a working circuit to show your professor. The 555 footstool is 12.5 inches long and a little more than 8.5 inches high, and more importantly, it is supposed to be sturdy enough to support your weary feet.

555 Footstool

Needless to say, I want one! For more photos and a more detailed description, pay the Evil Mad Scientist a visit.

Datamancer’s Steampunk Laptop Available for Pre-order

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:30:26 +0000

Richard “Doc” Nagy is no stranger to those who are into the steampunk scene. Around five years ago, he created a splash by making his first steampunk laptop that ran on Windows XP. He’s also made some Victorian-era keyboards in the ensuing years. But his creations were pretty much not available to the general steampunk-loving public.

There’s always bound to be good news at one point or another, and it’s time for steampunk enthusiasts to get their hands on Nagy’s handiwork. In his web site, the self-proclaimed “steampunk contraptor, technical artist, and jackass-of-all-trades” has announced that he is taking pre-orders for steampunk laptops.

The image shown above is the original laptop created five years ago. As Nagy says, that laptop was made “using inferior tools, a free laptop, and very little money.” He has gone a long way since then, and for sure, you will be getting a much better laptop if you buy one from him today.

To be honest, I am not really into steampunk, but this laptop does catch one’s attention. Just take a look at the details below.

And if Nagy is going to make more improvements on the new batch of laptops, then they are definitely worth considering. The only thing is that, as one can expect, these steampunk laptops do not come cheap. For the first batch of pre-orders, the price is set at $5500. However, for future batches, the price is predicted to go up to $7500 – even more. So if you’re a serious collector, there is no better time than now to place your order. You can pass up on other thingamajigs to get your hands on this baby! For inquiries, send an e-mail to Richard Nagy at laptops@datamancer.net.

Conversion Kit Allows You to Use a Typewriter as a Keyboard

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:00:39 +0000

Sometime in April, news broke out that the last remaining typewriter factory was closing its doors. While the news was not all that surprising – who uses typewriters these days? – it still struck a chord in the hearts of many people. After all, many of us probably still remember the good old days of being bent over a shiny machine, happily listening to the clickety-clack of the keys and the mechanism that made the imprints on the paper.

Alas, the news was apparently bogus. While that particular Mumbai-based company has indeed closed shop, one can still find typewriters made by other companies. In fact, a quick search on Google will tell you where to get one of those old machines!

If you are not among those who got needlessly worried that not a single typewriter would be produced anymore, simply because you have a unit or two sitting unused somewhere in the house, then you’d be delighted to know that there is something that you can do with that relic of a machine.

Jack Zylkin. Remember that name, for it will go down in history as the guy who made a conversion kit that allows users to connect the good old typewriter to a computer or even an iPad. With the kit, you can connect a typewriter via the USB and pound away on the keys to your heart’s content!

Isn’t that a beauty? Dubbed the Sunburst Royal Deluxe, this setup really catches one’s eye. You can use the typewriter as you would a “normal” computer keyboard. Even better, if you feel like typing directly on paper, it will still work!

The Remington has been part of writing history, and you can continue to use one with your modern device.

Looking at the pictures and reading the descriptions of the setups, one does not have to worry about the wiring. It looks like Zylkin has done an excellent job with connections. It does come at a price, though. Depending on the specs, you can get a USB Typewriter from $699. The more expensive ones come at $899. If you are feeling “inventor-y”, you can buy the DIY kit for $74.

Back to the Future Posters by Dave Williams

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:00:06 +0000

For the children of the 80s, the Back to the Future Trilogy is definitely at the top of our favorite movies list. And why not? This comedic science fiction series written by Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis made us dream of being able to do whatever it is we want – even going back in time and going back to the future. Who can’t help but love Marty McFly and Doc Emmett Brown as they bumbled around in different points in time?

It is the future, and it seems that Back to the Future has not lost one bit of its luster. Late last year, Universal decided to re-launch the movie in the theaters. Earlier this year, news about a Back to the Future game was released. And some time last month, designer Dave Williams revealed the design for his latest Back to the Future poster.

This poster is still in the works – mainly testing at the printer’s for colors and such. Dave announced in his blog, however, that only 50 posters will be released – each numbered and signed. You can pre-order your poster for GBP14.99 if you’re in the UK, GBP19.99 for the rest of Europe, and GBP24.99 elsewhere.

Just like Dave’s other posters, this one measures in at 24 x 18 inches. Speaking of the other posters…

Here is the Back to the Future 2 poster.

The pricing is the same as mentioned above.

And here is the first of the series.

It’s the simplest of the three, but one can’t help but appreciate the colors used – very true to the movie’s logo. The DeLorean may not be in the poster, but those yellow “flames” say it all. Understandably, Dave quickly ran out of the original prints, but due to popular demand, he decided to re-print of the design, so you can still get your hands on one to make the collection complete.

Definitely worthy of our Dept. of Want It! Now this all makes me want to start a BTTF marathon!

The Only Superpowers Chart You’ll Ever Need

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:00:42 +0000

I just got done watching X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Dark Knight for the nth time. As is usually the case with mutant and superhero movies, I found myself reading up and thinking about superpowers – what I would want to have, why, and so on. You know how the mind wanders…

Then I saw this jaw-dropping poster about all the superpowers that have ever been in existence. When I say jaw-dropping, I mean jaw-dropping. This is no ordinary chart. It contains more than 100 powers and abilities – some of which you might have thought existed only in your wildest dreams. Not only that, but you will also see the names of more than 200 superheroes – and villains – to give you something to relate the powers to. Awesome? Definitely.

Still don’t get it? Click on the image to see the entire thing and to be able to decipher those squiggly lines.

The group who worked so hard to give us this chart is Pop Chart Lab, in cooperation with Bergen Street Comics. Yup, these guys know what they are talking about, and they made sure that the info in the poster are accurate. The posters are selling for $25 each. With the amount – and significance – of information contained in the poster, that is a small price to pay. You have to be quick, though, as there are only 500 of these posters – each signed by the artists and numbered. They are coming out with future editions, and even better, they are asking people for suggestions. You know, just in case they missed something/someone. If you have a suggestion, send a tweet their way @popchartlab. If your suggestion is used, you get a $10 gift card.

These Fantasy Horns Will Blow You Away

Noemi Twigg — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:52:23 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I need a fantasy fix. I haven’t even had the time to read latest Wheel of Time book! Yeah, I am a slacker. But anyway, here is something that took care of my yearning for some fantasy. It’s not text, but these photos are seriously going to take your breath away.

Horns are a staple in fantasy stories, and I am sure fantasy fans have their very own ideas as to how horns in stories look. Well, stop imagining and take a look at the work of Phillip Montgomery aka bonecarverpm. He makes use of real animal horns and carves them with awesome designs.

Here’s a horn called the Wolfpack and the Tree of Life. You have to admit that it is such an impressive piece of work!

The next two photos are of Martin’s Horn. I love how the lion and crosses are detailed.

A closer look doesn’t change my opinion in the slightest bit.

This is the Horn of Oldenfeld with awesome heraldry.

The same horn, but the lower part.

This last set is of the Horn of Trimaris, which is so beautiful that I really had to keep staring at it.

Last, but not the least, is the Welsh Dragon Horn. Needless to say, this is my favorite of all the horns in bonecarverpm’s collection. That dragon looks very much like my “personal dragon” – a piece of artwork that a friend made for me. I think it’s genius how the muscles and scales were added into the details. Dept. of Awesomeness material, for sure!

Yup, this gal’s been blown away.

Wonder Woman Makeup for the Female Geek

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:30:47 +0000

I can’t believe I am writing about makeup, but hey, it is made by MAC and it is Wonder Woman! Okay, I confess – I did not really know much about MAC until I asked my best friend. So what’s up with this new line of makeup, and why is MAC making it to the Features section of ForeverGeek?

The title says it all, really. MAC’s Wonder Woman Makeup Collection of Spring 2011 has been catching the attention of fashion and beauty bloggers all over the place. Together with DC Comics, the cosmetic company (apparently, every woman’s favorite cosmetic company) came up with the idea to cater to those who want to “feel the magic of an iconic personality”, never mind that the iconic personality is a figment of the imagination. Don’t get me wrong – I love the idea of Wonder Woman makeup. Heck, I have a Wonder Woman shirt! I guess that copy just sounded overly silly to me.

I did look the line up in the official MAC web site, but it seems that they haven’t announced it yet. I found eyecatching photos of the new line, though, and I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on these.

Sorry, guys (and I mean the male readers). I know you probably do not get it, but hey, this is the perfect Valentine’s gift for your geek significant other. According to the grapevine, the line will be available in the United States on the 10th of February. The rest of the world will have to wait till March.

Cecelia’s “Flowers” – You Might Want to Take A Closer Look

Noemi Twigg — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:24:19 +0000

Flowers always brighten things up. You have to admit that even if you are not the type who likes flowers, a bunch of brightly colored blossoms in an otherwise plain room makes a huge difference. Flower lover or not, you are in for a treat with these images.

These photographs are the work of Cecelia Webber, a photographer whose usual subjects are not really plants. Before I talk more about them, why don’t you take a look at them first? Here’s a tip: look really really closely.

Are they flowers or what?

According to Cecelia Webber, she accidentally thought of this idea when she shot a nude figure against a black background. When she looked at the result, she couldn’t ignore its close resemblance to a petal, so she “just went with it”!

“Going with it” couldn’t have gone any better for Webber, as her work is now admired by many. What she does is to take nude photos, with her models in all sorts of unusual positions. (Now don’t worry – this is still safe for work.) After she takes the shots, she uses Photoshop to overlay colors to make the finished product look very much like flowers. As you can see, Webber has really done an excellent job with these photos. They’d make really cool wall art, not to mention great conversation pieces. You can buy them from her web site.

NES Electric Guitar

Noemi Twigg — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:00:22 +0000

Music and gaming are no strangers to each other, but the guys at GetLoFi have taken this partnership to a whole new level. They’ve found an alternative use for an old Nintendo Entertainment System in the form of a fully functional six-string electric guitar.

It may not look like your usual six-string instrument, but you can’t deny just how cool that looks, can you?

The guitar’s body is made from a reused NES case while the guitar’s neck is one that you would find in any standard guitar. For the purposes of acoustic integrity, the body has solid oak wood inside. Since it works in the same way as your regular electric guitar, this NES electric guitar also has the following features:

Adjustable height Single coil pickup
Output Jack and Volume knob
Strap Buttons
Intonation has been adjusted
Stays in tune really well

In addition, the makers have taken into consideration serious musicians who want to play around with the instrument to suit their preferences. As such, there is room inside for custom electronics that you may want to add. Each guitar is custom made so no two are the same. How’s that for uniqueness?

The NES guitar goes for $150 plus shipping, which can be anywhere from $12 to $32.

The sad news, though, is that they only made a couple of these guitars, and they’re already out of stock. On the upside, there is a possibility of the guys making more of these guitars. Just send an e-mail to circuitmaster@gmail.com for more details.

Now to tease you a bit more, here’s a video of the NES guitar in action.

$150 does not seem such a bad price for this, don’t you think?

Dress Up Your Door With These Skins

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:00:45 +0000

What better way to welcome a new year with a dressed up door? If you are bored with your door, and you don’t mind ignoring style/design conventions, then you might be interested in purchasing one of these skins.

I discovered Fantasy Factory the other day, and I couldn’t help but think how cool it would be to have one of their door skins. This company just might have the answer to the geek fantasy of having his very own Star Trek Holodeck themed door like the one below. Basically, they create skins that can be stuck on standard doors that can be found in most homes. They sell kits which include covering for the door panel and the door trim molding.

If Star Trek is not your thing, then maybe this Tardis door will do the trick?

They have a lot of other designs available on their web site, but sadly, there is only a handful in the Sci-Fi category. Take your pick from:

Avatar-inspired door theme
Space shuttle door
Star Wars-inspired Falcon door theme
Resident Evil Umbrella Corp door theme

These kits sell for a hefty $350 each – painted. If you want to save $150, you can get the unpainted version and exercise your creativity while you’re at it. If that is not enough of a challenge for you, you can get the most basic theme – labeled Sci-Fi Themed Door Decor Unpainted – for $95.

Here’s their video commercial (which I think could use some work to be honest) if you need more visuals. Just ignore the use of Sci-Fy! ;)

One design that I would like to see is the airlock that Roslin loves to use. What door would you like to have as your own?

Geek Jewelry Christmas Present Ideas [Hint!]

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:00:09 +0000

A comment notification in my Inbox led me to an old post that I might have otherwise forgotten: the Caffeine Molecule Necklace. Thanks to Kaya, I discovered an online jewelry shop that kicks butt; and trust me, it is not your ordinary jewelry store! Christmas is only a couple of weeks away, and here are some items that just might find their way to your shopping list – or maybe your wish list!

Boutique Academia has an impressive collection of accessories for both men and women – accessories which are “smart but subtle”. For now, they only have jewelry pieces, but they aim to have more accessories in the future – something that I am sure you will look forward to after seeing reading this post.

Talk about smart but subtle – what do you think these earrings represent? Trees? Mother Nature? Close enough. Hint: the earrings represent a cell that is electrically excitable and transmits information. I know that my cells got quite excited about the prospect of owning a pair of these earrings! $18.99 for a pair.

The uninitiated might simply remark “What a cute penguin!” if they see this pendant, but I know you know better. Linux fanboys and fangirls – here’s another chance to show off!

This pendant-necklace is a little less subtle as the previous items as no one can miss the label. Adrenaline junkies will not be able to resist this one. While I am no adrenaline junkie, I have to say that the red got me. The necklace goes for $21.99.

Serotonin is the happy chemical, and this pendant-necklace will certainly contribute to one’s happiness – for the same price as the Adrenaline necklace.

If I had to choose, though, I would choose Theobromine – the chemical found in chocolate. Let’s speak Greek for a bit. The root words are: theo, which means God and brosi, which means food. Chocolate? Food for the Gods. I’ll settle for food for ME.

Let’s go mathematical now. I don’t need to tell you what this pendant stands for, do I?

They also sell this in other color schemes.

THIS is the pièce de résistance, folks. I really need not say anything more about it, do I? I want!!!

Geek gals (and boys), show this post to your significant other (if you have one; if you don’t, then show it to your friends and family members) and drop a hint that cannot be mistaken for anything else.

Tell Time a la TRON

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:36:40 +0000

Last week, we saw some really cool accessories – TRON style – courtesy of Robin. I think most of them were for us girls, though. Here’s something that will work for anyone, no matter what your gender is: a Tron-inspired watch (or a set of them).

Dubbed 7R0N (or s2v2n-R-z2ro-N), the design was dreamt up by a guy named Scott from the UK. Anyone who has seen the host of TRON: Legacy posts that we’ve shared in this site will not fail to see where the inspiration comes from. Here, take a look at them and tell me if they are not drool-worthy.

So how do you figure out what time it is? I honestly think that you all have figured that out by now, but just in case, here’s how you do it:

Before you start to frantically click looking for “how to buy” these watches, let me just drag you back to earth – this is merely a concept for now. So, hold your horses, and just hope that someone actually grabs the design and makes the watches. (I call dibs on the red one!)

Terry Pratchett's Meteorite Sword Beats Them All

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:29:57 +0000

I suppose that being the superstar fantasy author that he is, Terry Pratchett is entitled to having awesome stuff come his way. After all, anyone who has the imagination to put together things such as Discworld deserves toys that are way out of the ordinary, right?

That one-of-a-kind bling up there is definitely no ordinary sword. It’s Sir Terry Pratchett’s custom-made meteorite sword.

The idea of having his own sword made stems from the fact that the author has been knighted by the Queen. Understandably, for someone of his stature, the sword has to have something extra special about it. (Aside from the fact that it is Terry Pratchett having a sword made!) If you ever feel the urge to do something like this, here is what you’ll need to do:

Get 81 kilograms of iron ore from fields near your home
Get together a makeshift kiln (you can use clay and hay to create one; and be sure to use sheep manure for the fuel)
Smelt the ore in the makeshift kiln (in your backyard, preferably)
Throw in some chunks of meteorite (thunderbolt iron, according to Terry Pratchett)
Hammer the metal into bars.

At this point, you are allowed to approach the local blacksmith – after all, not everyone is expected to be able to create a sword all by himself. Now you may disagree with me, but this sword is way cooler than the DIY lightsaber I wrote about last month, isn’t it?

Now does anyone know where I can get some meteorite chunks? I gotta have one of these made.

WiiMotes That Could Be, WiiMotes That SHOULD Be

Dina Ely — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 05:00:59 +0000

The news of a sonic screwdriver WiiMote on the way for Nintendo Wii for Britons (no US release planned, sadly) as reported here this week gave me pause. Not just because it would be so incredibly, epic awesome to own one of those controllers, but because I can think of a bunch of other controller accessories and WiiMotes I’d like to see, too. The sonic screwdriver could be just the beginning. Join me on a journey of imagination, as we explore what WiiMotes could exist if Nintendo was invaded by a bunch of geeks with way too much time on their hands. Or, as I prefer to think of us, an elite group of forward thinkers.

Xena’s Chakram WiiMote
You throw it, it beheads a neighbor, and it comes back – having used its Wii core to analyze the physics behind the chakram weapon and explain for once and for all how Xena got it to do the things it did. (Taking out of the equation any not-so-special effects.) Hey, there’s a Link crossbow game, so why not?

Wolverine’s Adamantium WiiMote
-SNIKT- -SNIKT- Now that’s the sound I want to hear when I power up my Wii. Sure, it may look as though he’s flipping someone a cybernetic bird, but imagine the possibilities for play with a pair of Wolverine WiiClaws. I, for one, would rather use the same arm motion for disemboweling baddies than smacking tennis balls at glorified Lego men. The only problem I foresee is the game’s “cool down” stage, which invites you to sit down on an official Wii mossy log accessory with a bottle of beer, looking like you might just howl at the moon for dramatic effect. (A problem in that, horror of horrors, I don’t actually like beer. So you can have mine.)

The Macgyver WiiMulti-tool
Nevermind that famous paperclip, I want to see a Macgyver multi-tool for Wii! Thinking of what he could do with a WiiMote strapped to a bomb is almost too much to bear. I suspect this WiiMote would blow all other WiiMotes out of the water when it comes to Wii bowling. Of course, no pun intended.

What WiiMotes would you like to see? Do you plan to purchase the Doctor Who sonic screwdriver? Do you already own such novelty WiiMotes as the lightsaber?