February 2008 - Posts

• Special Education

  Posted by Steph Auteri

  [$26, Urban Outfitters]  I do all my best thinking in the shower, and so I tend to believe that our brains are working at a higher level during bath time. After all, when suffering from writer's block — or, back in college, when reaching desperately for oral presentation or research paper topics — the warm embrace of water turned up to scalding has always gotten the creative juices flowing again. Can we harness the restorative powers of showering in a new way, perhaps to increase knowledge? Perhaps so. Which is the reason for the SAT Words shower curtain above, I assume. If your vocabulary levels are already magnificent, how about picking up a new language? + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 06:30 PM with no comments Filed under: bathroom, shower

• Cheap Trick: Shower Mic Sponge

  Posted by Steph Auteri

  [$6.99, Insound]  In a continuation on the theme of me using things that are not microphones as microphones, I am just pleased as punch to find another non-microphone, microphone-shaped item (got all that?). I introduce to you the shower mic sponge. And since everyone sounds better in the shower (it's the acoustics, I think), it's actually a pretty smart idea, besides me ridiculous and all!  + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 05:30 PM with 1 comment(s) Filed under: bathroom, toys, shower

• Happy Hour: Wanna Sip?

  Posted by Wendy Atterberry

  These may be the sexiest tumbler glasses every made. I don't even care that they're designed specifically for cognac, to increase "the pleasure of the deep color and movement of the liquid." I think my pleasure would be increased even if they were filled with apple juice. Or cranberry juice! Or anything that sat in the bottom of the glass, cocked to the side seductively as if to whisper huskily, "Wanna sip?" But yeah, the cognac would be pretty good. [$50, Fitzsu]  + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 05:00 PM with no comments Filed under: Happy Hour, drinkware

• Dirty Minds

  Posted by Steph Auteri

  [$200, Supermarket]  Okay, I know this is incredibly juvenile of me, but seeing this Virginia is for Lovers plate from James Victore's Dirty Plates series made me snort. Then again, until very recently, I was perpetually amused by my very own "Idaho? No Udaho!" t-shirt. Am I too old for this?  + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 04:30 PM with no comments Filed under: dining, plates

• Best Buy

  Posted by Wendy Atterberry

  I went to Chicago last weekend to visit some friends and while I was there I stopped by my favorite boutique to check out the big 75% off sale. I must have tried on no fewer than 30 items of clothing and sadly, nothing fit quite right. In fact, everything looked pretty bad on me—pants pulled across my ass and gapped through my waist, shirts tugged awkwardly in all the wrong places, and dresses looked like potato sacks on me despite their cute shapes and styles on the hangars. (A happy ending after the jump). Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 04:00 PM with no comments Filed under: Fashion

• Fun With It: USB Flash Drives

  Posted by Steph Auteri

  [$14.99, Wowzzers]  NotCot's highlight of this USB exercise dog flash drive made me think of all the fun designers seem to have with the flash drive in general. I'm so curious about who comes up with this stuff! For your viewing/shopping pleasure, some additional cute-as-heck flash drives on the market: Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 03:23 PM with no comments Filed under: gadgets, computers, tech

• 8GB Video Watch Turns You Into James Bond

  Posted by Alex Zalben

  Though it doesn’t include a communicator, you definitely have enough memory on this 8GB Video Watch to record a conversation with a friend, build in pauses, and pretend you’re having a real time conversation. You know, just like Bond. The watch plays pretty much any format of video, at a resolution of 160x128. Which, let’s be honest, isn’t THAT much smaller than your iPod Nano. Oh, and it’s a watch and mp3 player as well. Find out more ridiculously amazing things about this watch after the jump... Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 03:00 PM with no comments Filed under: gadgets, tech, watches

• Love It or Leave It? Woofer Speaker System

  Posted by Steph Auteri

  [$999, Generate]  Headless dogs that are also speakers/woofers! Dogs "woof" when they bark! Get it!? Personally, they sorta creep me out. [Via Uncrate]    + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 02:30 PM with 3 comment(s) Filed under: gadgets, Love it or Leave it, Music

• Refurnishings: Papa Bear Chair

  Posted by Wendy Atterberry

  This may be called the Papa Bear Chair, but I think it'd fit me just right. Too bad the current bid is already higher than the price of a new Mac (something I'm saving my pennies for as the one I have now is on its last legs). Although, given that the classic design is in production once again and being sold for a suggested retail price of over $18,000, I suppose this antique is still a bargain. Speaking of 'suggested retail," what does that mean exactly? It's like the retailers are saying, "Well, I suggest you pay $18,000 for this chair," and then we, the consumers, come back with, "Well, I'm going to have to ignore your suggestion and pay just $18." Oh, if only it were that easy. [see site for current price, eBay]  + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 02:00 PM with no comments Filed under: Refurnishings, eBay

• The Sweet and the Low: Adjustable Coffee Tables

  Posted by Steph Auteri

  [$695, Dania] It's not often that a $695 item can classify as a low item on the sweet and low scale, but when the upscale version is over $1,400, anything under a thou seems like a steal. Especially considering what you're getting. Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 01:30 PM with no comments Filed under: furniture, living room, coffee tables

• Happy Leap Day: Quantum Leap

  Posted by Alex Zalben

  Every leap year on February 29, I like to close the curtains, huddle up on the couch, and relive the greatest hits of Samuel Beckett. Whether he was waiting for Godot, or buried up to his neck in dirt, Sam Beckett… No, wait. Wrong Samuel Beckett. I’m of course talking about Scott Bakula’s Sam, the inveterate time traveler who leaped from one body to another, hoping that each leap would take him home. So how better to celebrate this, the weirdest of days, than with a collection of the first four seasons of the best time traveling show until Journeyman*? If I haven't convinced you to buy this set with the mere mention of the name "Quantum Leap," then perhaps you need to check out the video after the jump... Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 01:00 PM with no comments Filed under: Television

• Tote Bag Makes Robots Cry

  Posted by Alex Zalben

  Hey, I don’t need a bag to tell me to go f*ck myself, but I may need a bag to tell other people the same. Enter Etsy user RedPaperRecord, who has created the perfect black tote bag to tell people what you think about them, without them having any idea what you’re talking about… Unless they’re a robot. And that’s because the bag says "F*ck You" in binary! Robots speak binary! Get my joke? Though I’m going to guess the bag will be sold out by the time you read this (there’s only one of them available), RedPaperRecord is happy to print the lovely little message on a shirt, or in a different color. May I suggest requesting a computer cosey? And if you don’t like that suggestion, you can go 01100110011101010110001101101011001000000111100101101111011101010111001001110011011001010110110001100110. [$14, Etsy] [Via Thoughts From the Sidelines] Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 12:30 PM with no comments Filed under: Bags, geeky, Etsy

• Cheap Trick: Matchbook Notepad

  Posted by Wendy Atterberry

  I know it's sort of lame, but I just started a matchbook collection. I don't know, I guess it seemed like as good a way as any to kind of keep track of places I've visited. Plus, I read somewhere that collecting things helps alleviate stress and collecting matchbooks seemed easier than exercising regularly, so there you go. I also like notepads, though I don't collect them, so this matchbook notepad caught my attention. I could use it to make lists of other things I find worthy of collecting, like coins and stamps and my social security checks, apparently. [$6, doe-sf]  + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 12:00 PM with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Fun Stuff, Cheap Trick

• Product Porn: Nokia Morph

  Posted by Alex Zalben

  The Nokia Morph is a flexible cell phone concept. It's energy harvesting, self cleaning, and completely rad: [Via Thoughts From The Sidelines]  + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 11:30 AM with 2 comment(s) Filed under: gadgets, concepts, Product Porn, phones

• Retro Arcade: Super Mario Bath Bombs

  Posted by Alex Zalben

  Okay, the first thing I’m going to suggest about these bath bombs is DON’T GIVE THEM TO KIDS. 1)    They look like candy. 2)    They contain a small, mouth-size toy inside. So please, do us all a favor, and keep these for yourself. I mean, safety first, right? If you are tempted to buy these, take a few of ‘em, let ‘em fizz up in your bath, and then play with the tiny figurines of Mario, Luigi, Fire Mario, Bowzer, Goomba, and Power Mushroom that will slowly appear as you soak. You know, to make sure they’re safe. For kids. [$6, Think Geek] [Via Coolest Gadgets] + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 11:00 AM with no comments Filed under: bathroom, video games, Retro Arcade, Cheap Trick

• Happy Leap Day: Jumping Brain

  Posted by Alex Zalben

  Continuing our once-every-four-years tribute to all things that leap, Lapolab has created what is, hands down, the cutest little Jumping Brain toy, ever. Though the official site is scant on details, the toy is clearly some sort of squishy jumping brain. And, get this: the hemispheres separate, for two-player fun! I took the liberty of translating a block of text over at the SolosonToys Forum, which revealed a few more pieces of info. Check out how I insult most of the world's Spanish speaking countries, after the jump... Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 10:30 AM with no comments Filed under: concepts, toys

• Love it or Leave it? Handsoap

  Posted by Wendy Atterberry

  Giving new meaning to "handsoap." [$17, Foliage]  + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 10:00 AM with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Love it or Leave it, Fun Stuff

• Happy Leap Day!

  Posted by Wendy Atterberry

  [$7.99, Kitchen Kapers]  In honor of Leap Day, the one day in the calendar that only comes around every four years, I thought I'd post some frog-related items. I'm not really sure if the frog is the mascot of Leap Day or not—and when I think about it, it seems awfully unfair that Leap Day doesn't have an official mascot, you know? I mean, Christmas has Santa, Valentine's Day has Cupid, St. Patrick's Day has a shamrock, even Arbor Day has a tree, so what gives? I want to start a movement—nay, a revolution—making the frog the official mascot of Leap Day. Who's in? Just look how cute the frog is, how eager he is to be an official mascot:   Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 09:30 AM with no comments Filed under: Frog

• 3-D TV

  Posted by Alex Zalben

  Hey, you know how you just bought that new HDTV? And you spent, like, a lot of money on it? Well, Samsung would like to tell you to go f- yourself, because they just released the world’s first 3-D TV!!! !!!! That’s right. An entire paragraph of exclamation points. That’s how excited I am. More after the jump...  Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 09:00 AM with no comments Filed under: gadgets, tech, Television

• Quick Tip of the Day: Phone Holder

  Posted by Wendy Atterberry

  This is one of those "duh" items that I wish I'd thought of first. But no—I'm just the person writing about it instead...not getting rich at all. Despite my jealousy, I think it's an awesome little tool...especially if you travel a lot or have cats like I do. Because you know what happens when you have cats? While you're sleeping, they totally use your phone as a pillow! Because cell phones are so comfy or something. Or, if the phone is sitting on top of a dresser or table, they like to knock it off and break it because they're bored and ornery. I mean, they're cats— it's their job to be ornery! So, get a phone holder and make things a bit harder for them.  [$10, Spoon Sisters]  + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 29 2008, 08:30 AM with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Quick tip, gadgets

• Cheap Trick: No. 2 Task Clips

  Posted by Steph Auteri

  [$6.50, See Jane Work]  I have an weird — somewhat snooty even — obsession with office supplies. Back when I worked in cubicle-land full-time, I used to bring my own office supplies in, because the supplies in the back copy room were just. not. good. enough. And so, on the first day, I'd lug in a backpack with my high-quality pencil cup (can a pencil cup even be high-quality?) and three-hole punch and binder and Kate Spade pencils and feel comforted by the superiority of my post-its to everyone else's (they're shaped like "S," for Stephanie!). Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 28 2008, 06:00 PM with no comments Filed under: office, Organization

• Love it or Leave it? Good Book Hidden Flask

  Posted by Wendy Atterberry

  Consider this an extension of Happy Hour... [$29.95, Cell Phone Flasks]  + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 28 2008, 05:30 PM with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Love it or Leave it, Happy Hour

• Happy Hour: Drink Cooler

  Posted by Wendy Atterberry

  Welcome to a brand new feature here at the Modern Materialist: Happy Hour! Everyday at 5 PM, we'll be posting something related to happy hour, so check back to find the latest barware, cocktail recipes, and coverage of all things booze related. Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 28 2008, 05:00 PM with no comments Filed under: Happy Hour

• Little Coal Briquette

  Posted by Alex Zalben

  This one’s for the fellas, so ladies, go back to your Best of Etsy, or whatever. Dudes, now that we’re alone, let’s talk about the two most awesome things ever, and how we can combine them. No, I’m not talking about Beer Football. I’m talking about cars, and BBQ. Thanks to the fine folks over at BBQ Vette, you can finally combine the hottest car with the hottest coals. Just a quick check, we’re in the 1980s, right? Okay, cool. More vague sexism after the jump...  Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 28 2008, 04:30 PM with no comments Filed under: cars, food

• Coffee Gives You Wings!

  Posted by Steph Auteri

  [$44 USD, cloudberry]  ...which is why I ingest multiple cups of Gourmet Garage's bavarian chocolate coffee every morning, while I'm working from home. And then proceed into the city for a half-time office gig and ingest several more cups of whatever god-awful stuff they have on tap, even though the quality levels are way below what I have at home. 'Cause at least it's something.   Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 28 2008, 04:00 PM with no comments Filed under: kitchen, ceramics, coffee

• One Click Recorder

  Posted by Alex Zalben

  The One Click Recorder product page from Sharper Image is remarkably short on info, but here’s what I can suss out: - It plugs into the audio jack of your computer. - It can record audio up to 30 feet away. - It can record presentations as you play them on your computer. - These records can be uploaded and downloaded from the unit with one click, allowing you to transfer lectures or presentations from your computer to anyone else’s computer. - It also allows you to replay the lecture or presentation, with audio included, so you can effectively start a lecture, leave the room, go get a coffee, come back, and dismiss your class. I think what we need in today’s society is less human interaction, don’t you*? That being said, this is a nifty little unit that works with one click, and no software or additional hardware to install. If you’re, say, a reporter who needs to interview people on a regular basis, this may be just the thing you’re looking for. Not that I’m one of those. [$60, Sharper Image] *He said while writing on his blog. [Via Dvice] + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 28 2008, 03:00 PM with no comments Filed under: gadgets, tech

• Rock My World

  Posted by Wendy Atterberry

  I once had a foot reflexology treatment that promised to work out the toxins in my body as well as years of built-up stress and mental and physical pain. I'm not sure about the toxins, or the stress and mental anguish, for that matter, but I can attest to the release of some tension in my body. I'm not going to lie though, the treatment hurt like a bitch. It lasted for an hour and I'd say I was in tears for nearly half that time while sensitive pressure points all over my feets were rubbed and manipulated. But when it was over, I felt lighter somehow—more relaxed. Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 28 2008, 02:00 PM with no comments Filed under: home goods

• Product Porn: Space Warp Desktop

  Posted by Alex Zalben

  Crazy, glow-in-the-dark desk toy from Japan? Check. Video with techno-esque music? Check. I will be buying on of these and dancingaround in my teddy bear back-pack? Check.  [$50, Think Geek] [Via TechEBlog] + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 28 2008, 01:00 PM with no comments Filed under: gadgets, tech, toys, geeky

• Cheap Trick: Pizza Fork

  Posted by Wendy Atterberry

  I watched the Oscars the other night with a few friends and since we'd just had a party the night before, we still have plenty of leftover booze and hors d'oeurves. I even brought some extra hummus, carrots, chocolate, and baklava, so when someone suggested we order pizza I played all healthy-wealthy (I just made up that term--it means someone who has an abundance of health!) and said we didn't need it. Three hours later the food was all gone and we were still hungry, so pizza it was. And oh my, the pizza we ordered was so fucking delicious, we stuffed entire pieces into our mouths. In the future, if we care to be civilized and actually eat in bite sizes, it might be useful to have a pizza fork. And an extra pizza, because, seriously, next time we'll just skip the carrots. [$6, Stupid Idiotic]  + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 28 2008, 12:00 PM with 6 comment(s) Filed under: kitchen, Cheap Trick

• Compartmentalize Your Life

  Posted by Steph Auteri

  [$95, MoMA Store]  Some people have trouble keeping their home life and work life separate. Me? I have the same problem, but how am I expected to be able to tackle it when I have enough trouble keeping the chap stick from the lip gloss from the cell phone? Read More... + DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT Posted Feb 28 2008, 11:30 AM with no comments Filed under: design, Accessories, Bags