Device Attaches to shoe to transform Kinetic Energy into Electricity

Inspired by the skaters, Argentine designer Soledad Martin has come up with a cellphone charger concept, based on the modern way of transforming movement into electric energy called the “kinetic energy,” thanks to the nanogenerator system. What is interesting about this charger is that you can attach it firmly to your shoe and just go outside and practice any kind of sport or even just go for a walk and charge the battery attached to the device. So when you are running low on battery, just remove the lid and attach the USB cable to juice up your mobile phone right there on the street .In addition, the charger comes with interchangeable straps with snap buttons so the user can choose what color to wear.

http://fgadgets.com/future-gadgets/phone-charging-device-attaches-to-shoe-to-transform-kinetic-energy-into-electricity

Jason de Caires Taylor’s underwater sculptures

Jason de Caires Taylor’s underwater sculptures create a unique, absorbing and expansive visual seascape.

http://www.underwatersculpture.com/pages/artist/about.htm

Casio Tryx

It can be hard to differentiate yourself in the pocket cam market but Casio has managed to do so with the Tryx. The entire camera swivels and rotates inside a body frame doubling as a stand which could make for some interesting shots. The touch screen has the usual goodies like touch focus but the lens is some kind of magic. The tiny 12.1MP SMOS sensor shoots 1080p video inside a wide 21mm lens. THANK YOU Casio! Available this April for $250.

Resources for Portland, OR. Thanks to "Yo" of Core77.com

http://unscene.com/

http://superfuture.com/city/city/selected.cfm?city=29

Fugitives and Refugees: by Chuck Palahniuk (a guide to the city by the author of Fight Club)
http://knitting-channel.com/kh5y3

A few of my favorite things:

Check out Just Be Toys (which also has the compound gallery) Japanese toys, rare sneaks, art, overpriced Tees, the owner's name is Katsu and a friend of mine. It's on NW5th. http://www.justbedesign.com/ , aroung the corner is Motel: http://www.motelgallery.com/ , Backspace (geeky but funny) http://www.backspace.bz/ and http://www.groundkontrol.com/

Thai /pan asian food: Saucebox http://www.savvydiner.com/details.php?r=846 another great spot within walking is East: I love it there http://www.eastchinatownlounge.com/ For a good dive bar, check out the Tiger Bar: http://portland.citysearch.com/profile/8463314/ , the food is actually not bad either. Sushi: Masu http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=4725 Peruvian (if you haven't you should) Andina: http://www.andinarestaurant.com/location.htm , get a drink at Apothke after right upstairs: http://www.apotheke-nw.com/ Also on the West Side NW 23rd has evolved into kind of a yuppie bonanza of outdoor shops, and 21st street a collection of restaurants.

On the East side if you have time, there are some great restaraunts, the Clark Lewis, Gotham Tavern, and Mint are some of my favorites but if you do get over to the East side, 2 spots to see are The Doug Fir http://www.dougfirlounge.com/calendar.html (great place to catch a live show) and The Blue Monk for some local Jazz http://www.thebluemonk.com/history.htm Also on the East Side Hawthorn and Alberta Streets have evolved into nuovo hippy trendy shoppy zones, some good stuff.

Music is great in Portland, I've seen a lot of good DJ's and acts that normally play at bigger spots, in small little venues here, some good spots for music:

http://www.holocene.org/
http://www.berbati.com/site.html
http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=2
http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=2
http://www.wonderballroom.com/
http://portland.citysearch.com/profile/8463913/
http://www.officepdx.com/events.php


Original Thread: http://boards.core77.com/viewtopic.php?t=9197

Brighten up that room.. with concrete?! Kneet.

       Concrete has a sometimes-bad reputation as a harsh, rigid, cold-to-the-touch and straight-edged material. Litracon is doing a great deal to change that image of concrete through a score of creative and sustainable applications for their patented light-transmitting concrete. 

      Filled with optical fibers that run from one end of a poured piece of concrete to the other, these prefabricated blocks and panels effectively transmit light from one side to the other. Colors and light remain remarkably consistent from end to end, but with a natural variation from the pouring process that actually softens the effects considerably.

      The fibers can transmit light to over 50 feet and, as they occupy only a small percentage of the total concrete block or panel, they do not significantly effect the structural capabilities of the poured pieces.One could imagine all kinds of artistic as well as functional applications for this new-and-improved form of concrete. Daylighting possibilities abound and all with potentially much lower heat loss and cost and with greater durability.
      Perhaps best of all it puts another broad-ranging, highly versatile material choice in an architect’s or builder’s structural tool kit – what designers do with this solid-but-see-through substance ultimately will probably surprise us all.

http://dornob.com/see-through-light-transmitting-concrete-material/

Good direction for future travel bags

Psychic Factory has come up with an idea that is so obvious one has to wonder why no one else has done it. To be sure, if they put it into production their will be problems to solve – like how to keep clothes neat when this wheeled contraption may not travel entirely upright, or how to lock the drawers from coming open in transit.

Alternatives to eBay for unique Arts-N-Crafts!

 These two sites let you Buy and Sell online while avoiding the foreign underground market trying to pawn off cheap goods. Make some stuff, and sell it here!

Etsy.com
Bonanza.com

Peektures

My favorites from: http://haha.nu/creative/creative-photos-by-chema-madoz/

This guys a character

Furniture Design Guidlines

Here is a kneet website for some pretty straight forward furniture design guidelines.

http://www.whitemountdesign.com/FurnitureDesign.htm

"Golden Age of Furniture ( 1700-1799)

Late Jacobean 1160 -1680
Queene Anne 1702 - 1714

Georgian 1714 -1745

Chippendale 1749 - 1774 ( Queene Anne cabriole legs, complex , ornate carving)
Hepplewhite 1750 - 1790 ( tapered legs, clean lines, fine construction, curved pieces)
Sheraton 1790 - 1810

Classic Revival

Shaker 1784 - 1850
Federal 1790- 1825

Victorian 1800 - 1850

Biedermeier 1800 - 1850
Regency 1811 - 1820

Art Nouveau 1875

Arts & Crafts 1876 - 1916

Modern 1900 - Present

Bauhaus 1919 - 1933
Art Deco 1920 - 1930

Contemporary

Scandinavian

A few modern , well-known furniture makers

Sam Maloof contemporary furniture maker (California)

James Krenov contemporary furniture maker (Scandinavian influence)

Wendell Castle contemporary furniture maker

Jere Osgood contemporary furniture maker"

Pieter Hugo :: The Hyena Men of Abuja, Nigeria 2005 II

http://davidmurodesign.com/blog/?p=155

Beautiful Loft in Boston!

1912 SF± Top floor Loft in Boston, MA. Amazing living space.



http://www.loftsboston.com/boston/lofts/residential/rentals/Channel_Center_35_501

Furniture Inspiration

Blow up some pictures to this size pixels... stick it on anything. :) so artsy.

Group Hang

Furniture taken from a sheet of material.

Kneet Shape for a Desk

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRY2D_CMxL8R_4Y-0Op-oUJ-9gibaHmIylHOrudeKXSMKUiar8tvaM2bU2APEKvLi-NufUWhpfjzdRWUsHojYj8mW0QjQ3nlR1_gTg9961MKoko1F9ZwtJfaJ0le8uKhs-iEokTjoN4YU/s1600-h/DSC03798.JPG

Elegant and Creative Ways to Maximize Space Under Your Stairs

We’ve seen a lot of indoor arrangements where the space under the stairs is completely neglected. This usually happens because the owners fear not to overcrowd the living room or hallway. In this post we would like to present 15 creative and elegant ways on how to effectively use the space under your stairs without “damaging” your home’s appearance. In fact, we think the ideas below will help improve the overall design of the rooms where they are put to practice. If you are living in a small crib and feel the need for more space, you might consider improvising a bookcase, a home office or an entertaining area. We particularly like the cozy extendable bed in the first photo, which could turn out to be a good solution when receiving guests. The aquarium and fireplace are two other original methods of making the most out of the area beneath the stairs. Check out the photos for more inspiration and if you guys have any more ideas, we would love to read them.


http://freshome.com/2010/11/10/15-elegant-and-creative-ways-to-maximize-space-under-your-stairs/

Harley Davidson 2011 Superlow

In the seminal 80′s teen movie “Risky Business”, a baby-faced and still-sane Tom Cruise, anxious about his future, is consoled by his pal. His friend, with great gravitas, tells him: “Sometimes you gotta say, ‘what the fuck’. ‘What the fuck’ gives you freedom. Freedom brings opportunity. Opportunity… makes your future.” If made today, that entire scene could’ve been replaced by that friend shushing Tom’s whining and simply pointing at the 2011 Harley Davidson Superlow. Powerful V-twin engine, great curves and iconic detailing, a smooth ride and that legendary roar. Sometimes you gotta say ‘what the fuck’. But it’s way better if you ride off on a Harley after you do. $7999

Read more: Harley Davidson 2011 Superlow | Cool Material http://coolmaterial.com/rides/harley-davidson-2011-superlow/#ixzz14qRSuacB

Timberland Wodehouse Chukka Boots

They don’t make ‘em like they use to, but Timberland’s gonna try. Constructed of premium Horween leather, the Wodehouse chukkas are hand finished for a well-worn and -care-for appearance, giving each pair distinctive characteristics. Boots feature leather-covered, multi-density EVA footbeds for ultimate comfort and support, are lined with cotton canvas and soft leather for breathability, and have moulded leather midsoles that add to their handcrafted look and premium styling. $TBD

Read more: Timberland Wodehouse Chukka Boots | Cool Material http://coolmaterial.com/style/timberland-wodehouse-chukka-boots/#ixzz14qRCIrdd

Generic Surplus Wharf Wool Sneakers

Generic Surplus sneakers are never quite what they appear to be. They all kind of look like sneakers in that they have laces and soles, but something always seems a little out of place. With the Wharf Wool, there’s a bit of high-top, a bit of chukka, and pieces of wool, canvas, suede, and rubber. Somehow they manage to combine these disparate elements into a package that not only looks “bad” (in the good sense), you could probably get away with wearing them to work (we’re doing it at the stylistically uptight office right now and no one seems to mind). They’re not quite sneakers and they’re not quite chukkas so we’ll just stick to what we know and call them awesome. $65

Read more: Generic Surplus Wharf Wool Sneakers | Cool Material http://coolmaterial.com/style/generic-surplus-wharf-wool-sneakers/#ixzz14qNzUH8a

Concrete Wall Wallpaper

Unfinished concrete walls, for some reason, have a pleasing aesthetic. We’re not sure why: industrial simplicity? Rugged beauty? Did we really just write “rugged beauty”? Truth remains that it’s attractive. And the truth also remains that it doesn’t exactly occur frequently in most residential construction. So unless you’re living in a parking garage, consider papering a wall or two with photo-realistic concrete wall wallpaper. A variety of styles and textures are available, some plain concrete, some bricked, others brightly colored with graffiti. Either way, it’s a step up from beige. $180 per sq. meter

Read more: Concrete Wall Wallpaper | Cool Material http://coolmaterial.com/home/concrete-wall-wallpaper/#ixzz14qMQTqp8

Libratone Speaker

Ah those crazy Danish. They’ve come up with another great piece of design. The Libratone Speaker is completely wireless, but unlike other wireless speakers, sound quality is not sacrificed. Its unique design projects sound not just forward and out but behind as well, reflecting off nearby walls and creating a more rich, robust quality to the music. Beyond that, because it’s wireless you can place it and carry it to where it’s needed–out to the patio, into the bedroom, etc. The handsome speaker doesn’t even look like a speaker, as it’s upholstered in a understated felt cloth. Check em out, unless you like the twang of that portable iPod dock. $595

Read more: Libratone Speaker | Cool Material http://coolmaterial.com/tech/libratone-speaker/#ixzz14qKA8xgf

WeWood Wooden Watches

Note: Can I make something like this with our CNC router / laser cutter? hrmm

Do you own a wood watch? Neither do we. We wood, if there was a suitable offering from any brands on the market, but up until this point there really wasn’t. Then there was WeWood. With a complete line of chronos and day/dates, WeWood lets you feel all rustic and manly without ever having to leave the house. Each watch is 100% wood, hypo-allergenic, and has a Miyota movement. If you feel bad about the whole sacrificing a tree thing, fret not. For each watch that WeWood sells they plant a tree. This is exactly the type of green movement sustainability we can support because, at the end of the day, it’s a damn good looking watch. There’s nothing more satisfying than doing some good and looking good in the process. $119

Read more: WeWood Wooden Watches | Cool Material http://coolmaterial.com/style/wewood-wooden-watches/#ixzz14qIqWCb6

Facebook Friend Poster

Maybe not a 'friend show off contest' but possible a group poster.. Everyone connected to the IDSA facebookgroup?

Let’s be honest here people, Facebook is just one big ass Internet popularity contest. Quite frankly, we have no problem with that. Judging by the amount of friends you have, you don’t either. One enterprising grad student wants to connect to your Facebook friends list and print your 200 – 2000 friends in 20″ x 40″ (poster size) size so you laud your glorious victory over everyone. Get it with a number of border sizes and colors and then throw a party. You know, as long as you know your “friends” well enough in real life to get them to come over. Trust us, when he finds a way to print our 35000 friends on a single poster every one of you is totally invited to the party… $20

Read more: Facebook Friend Poster | Cool Material http://coolmaterial.com/home/facebook-friend-poster/#ixzz14qI9MyyX

Patagonia Wanaka Down Jacket

There are a lot of things in life you have control over: shoes, blood alcohol content, and choice of girlfriend to name a few. There are other things in life you have little control over: thread count, favorite sports team, choice of girlfriend, and the weather. If you live in a city that isn’t a comfortable 80 degrees year round, you’re going to need some clothes for those times when hell freezes over. Since it’s getting to be that time of year, you better start shopping now. The Patagonia Wanaka Down Jacket doesn’t just have a ridiculous name, it’s got some ridiculous features. Fleece lined pockets to keep your hands warm. 600-fill down to keep your nipples in check. Waterproofing and and insulated hood to keep you dry from top to bottom. All that utility and it still looks good enough to wear to the bar. $349

Read more: Patagonia Wanaka Down Jacket | Cool Material http://coolmaterial.com/style/patagonia-wanaka-down-jacket/#ixzz14qFpeO00

Restoration Hardware Leather Gadget Cases

Restoration Hardware is a great place to pick up the latest and greatest in the world of “vintage,” but actually buying anything there normally requires bartering with firstborn children or organs. Unless of course all you’re looking for is a sweet leather condom for your latest and greatest gadget. Artisan iPhone leather case? $39. Artisan iPad Jacket? $99. Kindle? $69. Warm chestnut leather hue (infused with bark and leaf pigments) with topstitching, coupled with strap or magnetic closures, and the ability to wipe clean? It would be priceless, but we’re pretty sure the only thing priceless and leather clad is Carrie-Anne Moss. Until we can keep that in our pocket we’re going to simply refer to these affordable leather holsters as awesome. $39+

Read more: Restoration Hardware Leather Gadget Cases | Cool Material http://coolmaterial.com/gear/restoration-hardware-leather-gadget-cases/#ixzz14qDPQBKK