The coolest invention this year! (was invented two years ago) - Yahoo! News. I’ve written before about my preference for cheap, ubiquitous tech over flashy and expensive gadgets. The exclusivity of pricey next-level gizmos actually detracts from their usefulness and prevents strong user/developer communities from forming (iPad, anyone?). With that in mind, I dreamed about tablet computers becoming as cheap and ubiquitous as USB keys.
Turns out, I should have dreamed bigger. Thanks to Pranav Mistry of MIT’s Media Lab, screens themselves could be rendered irrelevant. Screenlessness may be just the beginning—Mistry’s invention integrates physical and digital space in a way that strikes me as a solution to some fundamental limitations in computing. I’m particularly inspired by Mistry’s sheer ingenuity—SixthSense is not the product of a genius math-whiz or a triumph of computer engineering—it seems more like a homemade mashup of existing cheap devices, a puzzle Mistry solved through imagination. So what happened with SixthSense? Eight great gadgets for college dorms | All the latest gadgets: the Gadget... It's almost time for college students to begin fall classes, so I thought it would be good to compile a list of gadgets for college dorms and apartments.
The obvious ones, like smartphones, laptops, iPads and calculators aren't listed here because I went for the fun and unique gadgets instead. Take a look and let me know if you've found something cool that should be included. (Scroll to the bottom to see a video that demonstrates the gadgets.) 1. The Elite Cuisine Multi-Function 3-In-1 Breakfast Center is a coffee maker, toaster oven and griddle all in one. Great for those late-night study sessions, some frozen egg rolls or a short stack of pancakes in the morning before class. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Cool Tools. Gar's Tips & Tools - Issue #154 Gar’s Tips, Tools, and Shop Tales is published by Cool Tools Lab. To receive the newsletter a week early, sign up here. I was thrilled to discover this shout-out from Kevin Kelly in a recent Recomendo.
Maker tips: I continue to be impressed by Gar’s Tips & Tools, a newsletter that we co-publish with Gareth Branwyn. Every week Gareth scours the internets and the youtubes to find practical tips for makers of all stripes. His sources range from weekend crafters to hard-core professional workshoppers, from sewing cosplay to blacksmithing to woodworking. I got a big bump in subscribers after this. For years, I saw other people, like my pal Kent Barnes, recommending alignment dots for mindlessly mating a jack to a plug without having to align the exact location or figure out the plug orientation. One of the most-requested projects I get asked about are DIY rolly cabinets for storing portable parts organizer cases, popular among makers. Reader Chuck writes: Soap Making Instructions | Soap Making Recipes and Tutorials | Teach Soap. The Origin of Words and Names.
That girl... That quilt...: Have a Stitchin Weekend. I spend a lot of my week days sketching and dreaming about new projects and then I sew a lot on the weekends. I adore weekend projects that I can complete and smile about all week long so... ...welcome to where I will share a tutorial or project every Friday that can be completed in a weekend {or less} so that your weekend can be as stitchn' as mine. :) And because I'm not that creative, I will also be looking for guest bloggers to share projects so email me if you are interested. Every Monday I'll be posting and giving ya'll the chance to link up and show off your weekend projects. Weekend # 1: Half Square Triangles {That Girl Style} I really like the look of half square triangles {HST's} and if there is a fast way to whip them up, 4 at a time, then I'm all about that. I was playing quilt late one night when I put two layer cake squares {10" squares} together and started thinking about geometry.
Take one light colored square and one darker colored square and place them right sides together. Persephone Magazine &124; Blog &124; The Lazy Lady's Guide to... At some point near the middle of March, I always decide that I’m “done” with winter. The sweaters and jackets get pushed to the back of the closet, the flip flops come out, and I inevitably freeze my butt off for several weeks until the weather catches up with my warm-weather state of mind. Likewise, my cravings for fresh herbs and veggies are always a little ahead of the season. Growing your own herbs is a great way to save money and avoid buying too much at a time and letting most of it go to waste. If it’s still too cold to plant outside where you are (or if you’re short on space!) This hanging herb garden is the perfect project to get you in gear for spring. What you’ll need: Tin containers with snap-on plastic lids (tea, cocoa, and coffee cans are a good bet), coat hangers, pliers, scissors, herbs (I bought basil, rosemary, dill, and cilantro for about $2.50 each), masking tape, coffee filters, a nail, a hammer, X-acto knife, scrap fabric or paper, and glue or spray adhesive.