the ten thumbs of interwubbing

I was at IKEA yesterday looking for a knife sharpener and some clothes hangers (nearly typed ‘hangars’ there, which I’m sure IKEA will be stocking flat-pack versions of someday), and, as usual, spent two hours walking through the store, sitting on every couch, imagining myself inhabiting every show apartment (I quite liked this little two-bedroom number that was 55 sq. metres — unfortunately I can’t afford an apartment of that or any size for the forseeable future). I ended up with not only the (red) hangars and the sharpener, but a cute little milk foamer (it was less than a dollar, how could I resist?) — and I spent far too much time sniffing the chocolate-scented candles. I love going to IKEA even if I have nothing to buy. It’s a great, relaxed way to kill an hour and take in a steady, unrelenting stream of good, and often great design.

IKEA, however, has nothing like this.

Somewhat along the same lines is this concept, although its applications are much more noteworthy than a (non-functional) motorcycle-styled armchair could ever be (a functional motorcycle chair, on the other hand…). However, the concept still doesn’t make a place like Dubai any more wheelchair friendly, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.

Completing a trifecta of strange and new things with two wheels on them, this scooter ‘mod’ is apparently from the same person who made the rocket powered VW Beetle from a while back. I must say, this one seems a tad more exciting. Put some wings on it and I’m sold.

Why do I get the feeling I’ll be seeing one of these pelting down Sheikh Zayed Road sometime soon? (Also, does it need rustproofing?)

There’s a rumour going around that Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and my favourite, Love, Actually) may be writing Bond 22, i.e. the one after Casino Royale. It’s a bit of a straneg choice, but who knows, it might work. Curtis’s writing talents — albeit in the romantic comedy genre — are phenomenal. His dialogue and characters are always memorable, so who’s to say he won’t be able to inject something brand new into the franchise that others who have been hired with a back catalog of similar action/thriller work have not been able to. One thing’s for sure, though, with Curtis writing, the lead Bond girl has to be American, and Bond has to have five supporting friends. Also, at some point during the climax the mute supervillain will turn to Bond and sign, “Your fly is open.”

Here’s the superbly designed poster for The Prestige. Is that really Scarlett Johansson? Can’t really tell. The very modern poster is an interesting design direction to take for a film set in the Victorian Era (by contrast, the Batman Begins posters were more classical looking.

Dominic Purcell is maybe/probably/hmmm/dunno going to play Bruce Banner in the Incredible Hulk project. Cool. I haven’t seen Prison Break, but I loved Purcell’s previous TV series, the criminally overlooked (and then cancelled!) John Doe. There’s no doubt in my mind that even though he may not physically look like the meek geek steerotype of Banner, he can sure bring that kind of crazed nerd mentality to the role, and also do a good job as a template for the Hulk. Here’s hoping this is true, and they don’t end up giving it to Colin Farrell or something*.

(* Were such a choice to come up, I would gladly go with ‘Something’.)

I guess that, being the cinephile and video game junkie I am, eventually I’d have to replace the 12-year-old 21 inch TV with a widescreen HDTV (waiting for CRTs, no plasma or LCD for me) and set up a proper home cinema. When that occurs, I’d much rather plonk down for one of these Open Source-powered media PCs than any of those Windows-based machines out there. Sure, I may not be able to play some PC games, but that’s what the PlayStation 3 will be for.

Do you want to teach your kids to dance? Can’t get a decent instructor for less than the cost of a small island? Very soon, your robot vaccuum cleaner may be able to do the job.

Further to last time’s mousepads with, um, ample cushioning, here’s a pad [NSFW] that may not keep your wrist comfy, but it is for a good cause. One case of a flat chest actually being more attention-grabbing than a more rounded one.

And finally, the gift for that Resident Evil fan in your life (sorry, no trendy, up-to-the-minute Dead Rising reference here).

I was at IKEA yesterday looking for a knife sharpener and some clothes hangers (nearly typed ‘hangars’ there, which I’m sure IKEA will be stocking flat-pack versions of someday), and, as usual, spent two hours walking through the store, sitting on every couch, imagining myself inhabiting every show apartment (I quite liked this little two-bedroom number that was 55 sq. metres — unfortunately I can’t afford an apartment of that or any size for the forseeable future). I ended up with not only the (red) hangars and the sharpener, but a cute little milk foamer (it was less than a dollar, how could I resist?) — and I spent far too much time sniffing the chocolate-scented candles. I love going to IKEA even if I have nothing to buy. It’s a great, relaxed way to kill an hour and take in a steady, unrelenting stream of good, and often great design.

IKEA, however, has nothing like this.

Somewhat along the same lines is this concept, although its applications are much more noteworthy than a (non-functional) motorcycle-styled armchair could ever be (a functional motorcycle chair, on the other hand…). However, the concept still doesn’t make a place like Dubai any more wheelchair friendly, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.

Completing a trifecta of strange and new things with two wheels on them, this scooter ‘mod’ is apparently from the same person who made the rocket powered VW Beetle from a while back. I must say, this one seems a tad more exciting. Put some wings on it and I’m sold.

Why do I get the feeling I’ll be seeing one of these pelting down Sheikh Zayed Road sometime soon? (Also, does it need rustproofing?)

There’s a rumour going around that Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and my favourite, Love, Actually) may be writing Bond 22, i.e. the one after Casino Royale. It’s a bit of a straneg choice, but who knows, it might work. Curtis’s writing talents — albeit in the romantic comedy genre — are phenomenal. His dialogue and characters are always memorable, so who’s to say he won’t be able to inject something brand new into the franchise that others who have been hired with a back catalog of similar action/thriller work have not been able to. One thing’s for sure, though, with Curtis writing, the lead Bond girl has to be American, and Bond has to have five supporting friends. Also, at some point during the climax the mute supervillain will turn to Bond and sign, “Your fly is open.”

Here’s the superbly designed poster for The Prestige. Is that really Scarlett Johansson? Can’t really tell. The very modern poster is an interesting design direction to take for a film set in the Victorian Era (by contrast, the Batman Begins posters were more classical looking.

Dominic Purcell is maybe/probably/hmmm/dunno going to play Bruce Banner in the Incredible Hulk project. Cool. I haven’t seen Prison Break, but I loved Purcell’s previous TV series, the criminally overlooked (and then cancelled!) John Doe. There’s no doubt in my mind that even though he may not physically look like the meek geek steerotype of Banner, he can sure bring that kind of crazed nerd mentality to the role, and also do a good job as a template for the Hulk. Here’s hoping this is true, and they don’t end up giving it to Colin Farrell or something*.

(* Were such a choice to come up, I would gladly go with ‘Something’.)

I guess that, being the cinephile and video game junkie I am, eventually I’d have to replace the 12-year-old 21 inch TV with a widescreen HDTV (waiting for CRTs, no plasma or LCD for me) and set up a proper home cinema. When that occurs, I’d much rather plonk down for one of these Open Source-powered media PCs than any of those Windows-based machines out there. Sure, I may not be able to play some PC games, but that’s what the PlayStation 3 will be for.

Do you want to teach your kids to dance? Can’t get a decent instructor for less than the cost of a small island? Very soon, your robot vaccuum cleaner may be able to do the job.

Further to last time’s mousepads with, um, ample cushioning, here’s a pad [NSFW] that may not keep your wrist comfy, but it is for a good cause. One case of a flat chest actually being more attention-grabbing than a more rounded one.

And finally, the gift for that Resident Evil fan in your life (sorry, no trendy, up-to-the-minute Dead Rising reference here).