Monday, April 28, 2008
The Newest Tech for Getting Fit
Monday, April 21, 2008
Earth Day Fun
Monday, April 14, 2008
DVD Crazy!
It would probably work well, but I have a few hang-ups about it:
- It's pretty big and doesn't exactly blend into many spaces very easily (If you want it at eye level you have to keep it on a table, which would just be a waste of space and not very appealing)
- The folders are paper, which really isn't ideal for keeping them in good shape
- It's not portable at all
After that, we found these media storage devices that are really cool and I'm almost really excited about. Each unit holds 100 cds/dvds and is hooked up to your computer. It comes with simple software which allows you to search for and choose a dvd on your computer and it will pop out of one of the units. No need to dig through cabinets or flip through binders, and it keeps all of them safe from ruins.
But again, it's not perfect yet. We would need six of these stacked on top of eachother to hold all of the movies. Not something that I want to look at everyday. Also, many people don't have computers near their TV, which makes it less convenient.
So we haven't decided on a solution yet, although I know I will keep looking. Now I'd like to share one idea I've thought of after all of this: A computerized media storage coffee table.
- This coffee table would allow storage of all your dvds without adding an extra piece of furniture to your living room.
- It would utilize the same technology as the smaller units above, but would store hundreds of cds out of site within the table.
- A touch screen on the top of the table would allow you to search through the movies you have.
- Once you have chosen the dvd, one touch will pop the movie out for instant gratificaion
This super coffe table would allow everyone to have the same convenince I do with dvd storage, even if they they own 30 times the dvds that I do.
I'll leave you with a couple fun coffee tables that are actually available now:
Enjoy and Have a wonderful day!!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Digital Decorating
This past year at CES (consumer electronics show), the tech savvy crowd was bombarded with new digital picture frames and, judging from the reviews that I've read, not many were impressed. Maybe it has to do with the fact that many people who attend CES tend to be men who have had absolutely no desire to put together a photo album or hang a picture frame without the help/pressure of a woman. However, it could also just be that the boxy, dull frames are just not eye-catching enough to draw attention away from shinier things.
Either way, I haven't been persuaded to buy one just yet either. I love the idea of not having to print out pictures and that I can update them as often as I get new photos, but I can't help but feel that they could be better.
Some of my hang-ups about current offerings:
- They tend to be bulky and boring; often only available in black, silver or white
- Many need to be plugged in, making it difficult to hang them or even place them anywhere you'd like
- They are yet another gadget that sits on all day, sucking up more energy
- Thinner, wireless frames which can be easily hung
- A more interesting variety of shapes and colors of the physical frame, perhaps with the ability to customize the frame with you're own words or designs
- An offering of "bundled" frames, which are all linked to your computer and can be modified from there (which also allows frames to be skinnier since photos are not stored in the actual frame)
- A feature which allows the user to set timers for when the frames should be on or off throughout the day (as well as manual on/off button)
- Picture frames that are directly linked and controlled by your digital camera
- Digital touch frames with photo editing software so that pictures can be edited directly on the frame
Kodak's week-old Easyshare line of digital frames are wireless, high definition, touch screen enabled, mp3 - playing monsters starting at $200 each. Definitely the most innovative out there so far, but still are pretty bulky and not quite economical for decorating an entire house with.
In May, Pandigital will release PanTouch which allows you to scroll through your photos by touching the screen. The thing that sets it apart from other touch frames is that it simulates a turn of the page between each photo.
There is also an interesting product from Smartpart that combines a digital photo frame with a printer. Could be cool if a friend wants a copy of a picture you have, but the quality of the prints are really low and are pretty expensive as compared to just ordering them online. Better luck with the next generation maybe...
Monday, March 31, 2008
A $100,000 Shower ?
For that much money, it has to be an amazing mix of design, technology, and function, right? In my opinion, wrong. I think it must have been designed with the sole purpose of getting a person in, soaped up, rinsed, and out in 2 minutes flat. Usually there's nothing wrong with that when you're in a hurry or just need a wake-me-up, since it saves water and you don't need to do any of the extras. But as you can see below, there will be absolutely no water saved by using this shower.
With 18 shower heads, including the rather intimidating, up-ward shooting one at the bottom, this money-sucker raises some interesting questions like:
~Where am I supposed to shave?
~Will I be able to see what I'm doing?
~How am I going to sing when there's water being shot into my throat?
~Why on earth would I pay $100,000 for this thing?
Of course, I have to admit, there is one thing about it that I love. It is entirely computer controlled, so you can control the temperature with the push of a button. There is nothing worse than standing in an unfamiliar shower trying to figure out the alien nozzle while freezing and/or scalding water is coming down on you. So kudos for that!
But while I'm on the subject, here are the specs for my ideal 100 grand shower:
- A keypad that allows me to set the temperature and then choose either bath or shower
- Color changing water that notifies you when the water is hot enough, like this KZLIDEA product:
- A control option that allows me to control the pressure so that it can be turned up while I'm rinsing out conditioner and turned way down while I'm shaving
- A clock with alarm capabilities for those morning showers
- A real soundsystem with waterproof speakers and an LCD panel at the back of the shower so that I can get my daily dose of the Today show on NBC
- An automatic shower cleaner so I don't have to do any dirty work once I'm all clean
Got an ideas that you'd like to see? Leave them here so they might one day be real!
I'll leave you with with the latest design idea that made me giggle regarding bathing:
Bathing with the Fishes
Monday, March 17, 2008
I wanna know where the Gold at!
In today's blog I am going to tackle a chore that I have always despised: Laundry. Just to give you an idea of my aversion to washing clothes, in high school my parents used laundry as a form of punishment; if I misbehaved or talked back, then I would have to do it myself. Needless to say, I strove to stay squeaky clean for those years.
There are many reasons for my hatred of this task:
- The looming fear of shrinking, dyeing, or otherwise ruining some of my favorite clothes
- The sorting ritual; whites, colors, hand-wash, dry-clean only, cold water, lay flat to dry...
- Moving clothes from the washer to the dryer and dropping them on the floor in-between
- Deciding which cleaning product to use and remembering to put it in: detergent for colors or whites, bleach, liquid softener, dryer sheets
- The fact that you can't wash a small amount of clothes without wasting a ton of water and energy
- And lastly, the amount of time that goes into all this
Although it's true that I could just have my laundry sent to a cleaner's and that would take care of all but the first of my reasons, the cost of doing so on a regular basis is just too high. Plus there's the added fear of clothes being lost or finding someone else's laundry with your own (eew).
I realize that it's not something I'll ever be able to avoid completely (unless I finally become a millionaire), but I believe that there is a machine that could aide in my suffering: a Smart, High Efficiency All-in-One Washer/Dryer. The high efficiency in order to keep bills to a minimum and my 'help the environment' cause going strong, and the All-in-One aspect to eliminate the waiting around to switch clothes from one to the other (and the agony of dropping things in between). This way I can leave to do something useful and not worry about leaving wet clothes in the washing machine too long (I hate that damp smell they can get). These two aspects are easier to understand, but...
What makes a Washer/Dryer "Smart"?
- Built-in detergent and dryer sheet dispensers to ensure they never forgotten again
- The ability to sense how full the load is and change the amount of water, detergent, and time accordingly
- Traditional Washing options (water temperature, spin speed) alongside traditional drying options (level of heat, etc.) so that an entire cycle can be chosen at the beginning of a wash and not thought about until the clothes are dry, while still giving you the ability to still do one without the other
- Additional "Microwave-esque" quick cycle options such as a Bulky Items button for jeans, sweats, and bedding; or a Hand Wash button that gently soaks your delicates in cold water and uses room temperature to tumble dry. For these loads it is possible to push one button and know that they will be cleaned and dryed correctly, just like the 'popcorn' button on your microwave.
- A steam option to quickly freshen up and clear any wrinkles from clothes you need now
I am saving up the money to buy this machine as soon as someone (LG, Whirlpool, anybody??) decides to create it.
Until then, here are some of the current useful products on the market:
High efficiency washers:
General Information and Selected Products
At Home Dry Cleaning:
DryCleaner's Secret
Washing machine with steaming options:
LG SteamWasher
Laundry Sorter for your whites, darks, and dry clean-only's:
Seagrass Triple Laundry Sorter
And although there are all-in-one machines available, I wouldn't suggest them just yet since they take up to 5 hours to complete a cycle and have less capacity.
Enjoy a green beer today, take taxis, and have a LUCKY St. Patrick's Day!!!
And for your enjoyment, a funny rap video based on an Alabama town that claimed there was a Leprechaun in their midst:
Gimme da Gold
Also, the original news story that it was taken from (this is real)
Yes, this is where my blog title is from =-)
Monday, March 10, 2008
Tales from a Kitchen Rookie
I will begin with a quote from the Today show (my guilty pleasure in the morning):
“Good morning, good morning, everyone in the news this morning, good morning”
~No one has such finesse for words as Ann Curry.
This week I am switching gears a little and talking about something that I would love to be invented, rather than looking into solutions that are, or will soon be, available.
A little background:
I love cooking because it makes me feel like a domestic goddess when I’m all finished; unfortunately, the scene while I’m actually doing the cooking is far from holy. I am incredibly clumsy and am a minor dyslexic; so I tend to spill boiling water, drop pans, cut my fingers, and read most measurements incorrectly. Sounds like it may be a lost cause, but I am not one to give up. I believe that much of my clumsiness arises from the rushed feeling I tend to get while cooking. There are always a few pots on the stove and something in the oven while I’m still at the cutting board furiously chopping and slicing other ingredients. This often causes sauces to burn, pasta to stick to the bottom of the pan, and vegetables turn into mushy messes. So last time I was cooking I came up with an idea that I thought I’d share today.
I think it would be extremely helpful if there was a pot that stirred itself. At the bottom of the pot would be a rotating device that would keep food from sticking to the bottom of the pot and to itself. This way all those trips from the preparation area to the stove would be cut down and less food will be spoiled and/or spilled. They would also be useful in blending the sauce together with the pasta at the end of all the cooking. Since the pots will already need to have a little power in them, I think that there should also be a timer embedded in the handle. That way each item has its own timer and nothing will be over cooked.
Below is a rough picture so you can get an idea of what I'm imagining: (the pink pots are optional)
Some specifications:
- Must be like a normal pot that can be placed on the stove (not a separate device)
- Dishwasher safe
- Either comes with small recharging station or rechargeable batteries
- Stirrers can be turned on or off while the timer is still functional
And just for fun, here are some links to cooking tools/ sites that I like:
How-to guide to a ton of Recipes
Have a wonderful day and thanks for reading!