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