Hello from Crissy Field! Can you believe it's January??

Easy chair for Nancy's phone.

Mimoco graces CES 2012 with Mimomicro

So cute!

Mimoco graces CES 2012 with Mimomicro:

Just how far can a USB flash drive go in terms of marketability? I suppose if you happen to be a generic manufacturer who slaps on company logos for different customers, then there is always a steady stream of business, but you will not really stand out from the rest of the crowd. Why not take the same route that Mimoco does, by working with other intellectual properties worldwide to create officially licensed products? Case in point, Mimoco’s latest attempt at milking George Lucas’ seemingly perpetually full cow dry involves the Mimomicro.

This is a new versatile miniature storage device that will feature either a sculpted vehicle or character from the Star Wars universe, and not only that, Mimoco has also teamed up with DC Comics as well to tap into their veritable wealth of characters.

To put it in a nutshell, the Mimomicro is but a smaller and more versatile evolution of the Mimobot collection. You can not only use the Mimomicro as a USB flash drive to tote your precious data around, it can also double up as a microSD memory card reader in order to ferry data between smartphones, tablets, e-book readers, digital cameras, MP3 players and portable media players to another computer.

Each Mimomicro comprises of a 3D sculpted character, as well as being the first in a series of vehicles. Thanks to its cap-free design, you need not worry too much about losing the caps to these little critters, as a flip-out USB plug will work in your favor instead. To further make sure these already small peripherals have a higher chance of survival outside of the cubicle environment, it comes with a built-in keychain and LED indicator light, allowing you to strap this to your bunch of keys so that it will always remain nice and close to you. Each Mimomicro measures 1.6″ x 1″, and will launch to the masses this March.

Evian bottles get the Star Wars touch

Evian bottles get the Star Wars touch:

Just how many kinds of cash cows do you think George Lucas owns? Well, actually he does not need that many, only one, and that ought to be more than good enough for some of the poorest countries in the world to form bulk of their GDP. I am talking about the Star Wars franchise, where the first three films really made sure that it established a global fan base, and most recently at the turn of the century, the second trilogy would have roped in a whole new generation of Star Wars fans who will most probably be able to identify a sliver of that kind of ‘magic’ that their parents spoke about when they first watched Star Wars all the way back in 1977.

Well, six films in the entire space opera has spawned its fair share of merchandise, allowing George Lucas to literally swim in a pool of money without missing a beat. Just which product line or idea has yet to feature a Star Wars theme or character? Coming up with an example would be pretty hard, as you will find not only officially licensed Star Wars products, but fan made features as well. Here we are with Evian bottles that have received the seemingly magical Star Wars touch. Find out more about these bottles after the jump.

French luxury mineral water brand Evian engaged designer Many Brenchys to deliver these Star Wars themed bottles of mineral water to the masses, where these bottles were specially designed to resemble famous Star Wars characters as well as lightsabers, while increasing the final sticker price on these bottles by $2. That is not too much to ask if you are a collector, is it?

With the 3D version of the Phantom Menace being released next year, you can more or less guess that this is going to be a blockbuster as with its predecessors, never mind that the storyline is super weak with Jar Jar Binks inside. Expect a 3D Blu-ray edition to be released after that, and it does lead me to wonder – how does George Lucas intend to spend all of his wealth in the long term?

Contributing to the Planet

I made this cup cozy so I wouldn't have to keep using those cardboard things.  It's a little loose so it kept sliding up to the top of the cup but my next one will fit better... :)

Bear Ear Hat

My first hat project came out nice.  Here's Penny modeling her bear ear hat.  Someone told her it looked like Mickey Mouse... unintended but cute either way.  Least I think so... :)

I have no clue why I found this so funny last night.

Burger Bear

Someone is obsessed with their burger toy.

Bear says, "Who me? Not I!"

"Oh yes!  Burgerrrrr!"

No segregation here at Loft

Yes the tree is real!

Sol's Buster Keaton Hat

This video went viral the other day Audrey and I couldn't stop laughing.

Shhhh

Maybe they won't find me in here...

Santa Paws

PY and MM make it to the Mall for Santa Paws.  Penny look at the camera!  The squeaky toy is for Bear!  Hehehe.

Guess We Should Call It “Chink-fil-A”: Chick-fil-A Employee Dubs Asian Patrons “Ching” And “Chong”

Buddhist teachings say that you should not give in to others' hate of you, since therefore you will be fueling their hatred. I'm sure that's not exactly how it's said but you get the gist of it but stuff like this pisses me off. Personally I think it's the resentment they have towards our success here in America. That we as immigrant people can come here, barely speak the language and yet excel, be prosperous. Maybe one day when she finally makes it to manager of the joint and reaches her maximum potential she will realize what just a little bit of hard work can get her. Either that or just forever be the dumb check out girl who can barely spell and needs pictures on the register in order to use it. Check your change people, she probably can't count to ten either.

Re-posted from Disgrasian.

Guess We Should Call It “Chink-fil-A”: Chick-fil-A Employee Dubs Asian Patrons “Ching” And “Chong”:

I used to love Chick-fil-A growing up. That simple chicken sandwich, with its yellow mustard and sliced pickles and nothing else in the way of adornments, those hefty waffle fries, the samples they used to give out while you were walking by in the mall..it was a cut above all the other fast food chains.

The chicken sandwiches are still tasty, so I’m told, but everything else about the company has become increasingly unpalatable. The company actively hates gays and gay marriage, donating nearly $2 million to anti-gay groups in 2009. It’s also no friend to the little guy. The company’s currently suing Bo Muller-Moore, a Vermont folk artist, for trademark infringement because Muller-Moore has been selling t-shirts since 2000 that say “Eat More Kale,” which Chick-fil-A contends too closely resembles its intentionally-misspelled trademark “Eat Mor Chikin.”

And now this: on a recent trip to the Irvine, CA Chick-fil-A location, two Asian students were rung up as “Ching” and “Chong” by a “team member” named Lia.

An argument could be made that this was only an isolated act of prejudice made by one Chick-fil-A employee, but the fact is, Chick-fil-A is renowned for rigorously vetting its employees so that hires reflect the company’s “values.” Forbes reported in 2007 that a training manager for the chain went through 17 job interviews before he was hired, and this was only after he was rejected a first time, after 7 interviews. Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy said in the same profile:

“You don’t have to be a Christian to work at Chick-fil-A, but we ask you to base your business on biblical principles because they work.”

So if Lia is the kind of employee Chick-fil-A believes reflects its own principles, then it’s safe to say that the only thing the chicken joint’s serving up these days is a big, fat, juicy bullshit sandwich.

[via Angry Asian Man]

UPDATE: Chick-fil-A’s issued a statement addressing this incident and confirming that Lia’s been fired. In the statement, the company chalks up their ex-employee’s behavior to “immaturity, failed judgment, and human error.” The company maintained that it still hates gays, however, but will continue to be happy to serve them in their restaurants.*

*The last part of this statement was not actually made by the company, though it’s presumed true.

USB Toast Handwarmers

Ha! These are so cute!

I would totally get that if I actually worked in an office that I would use a computer.

USB Toast Handwarmers:

I know that some of us absolutely loathe the winter simply because the cold as well as gloomy weather tend to get you down, leaving you depressed even when everything else in your life is peaches and cream. Well, the $24.99 USB Toast Handwarmers is a surefire way of carving a smile on your face – after all, it will not only keep your two hands nice and warm (toasty, get it?), they are also cute as a button to look at with a printed smiley on each toast.

Squishy, soft and adorable, all you need to do is find the nearest unused USB port, plug them in and switch them on, and you’re good to go. It takes just mere moments to keep your hands nice and warm, and contrary to popular belief, you are still able to type while wearing them. As long as your hands are not too large, they ought to be able to fit, since the toast measures a rather generous 5.5″ x 5.5″. I would say that it is advisable to make sure you remember this pair is hooked up to a USB port, as forgetting that fact and getting up suddenly to walk to the loo or water cooler might see them being yanked away by force, which is not a pretty sight for any connected device.

Origami Baby Stroller can fold by itself

Origami Baby Stroller can fold by itself:

In Up in the Air, George Clooney advises his protege not to follow someone with a stroller through airport security, as he has “never seen a stroller that has taken less than thirty minutes to take down”. That is an exaggeration, but as someone who once purchased a folding stroller, that is about how long it took me to learn how to fold one.

Fortunately, the 4moms Shop has come up with a way to do a self-folding stroller that transforms in a way reminiscent of The Transformers. There is a video after the jump, and I am surprised that I don’t hear the wha-chut-chat sounds of transforming from the old cartoon that made their way into the Michael Bay movies.

By the way, this is more than just the first power-folding stroller, as it has its own power. This helps you charge your cellular phone, as well as count your miles. It also has daytime running lights, pathway lights for low-light conditions, and even sensors that can detect when a child is in the seat.

This Origami stroller is “everything a stroller should be”, and I can help but agree. However, this will cost you, a lot. Only rich parents can afford it at $849.

Source

Mike Birbiglia: Illiterate People

Mike Birbiglia: Illiterate People: I shouldn't say bad stuff about illiterate people, though. I should write it.

Bionic contact lens sends emails right to your eyes

This reminds me of the Futurama episode where they implant the phone in your eye....

Bionic contact lens sends emails right to your eyes:

I myself am still rather apprehensive when it comes to wearing a pair of contact lenses, as I still feel that there is something in there which I just need to remove. I guess it will take some time to get used to it compared to those who have worn contacts since time immemorial, but here is a cool idea – what if the contact lens of the future is injected with technology that we never would have thought existed? I’m talking about a pair of bionic contact lens that is capable of projecting emails before your very eyes.

Yes sir, the whole idea of this particular pair of contact lenses is to stream real-time information right to the front of your eyes, and initial tests in animal trials have proved successful according to the scientists behind the project. Imagine wearing your contact lens and reading floating texts as well as e-mails that fly into your inbox without missing a beat, or perhaps even augmenting your sight using computer-generated images just like in the movie Terminator.

So far, early tests point towards this device being safe and feasible – although I am quite sure that folks at the University of Washington in Seattle will still need to run a battery of further tests to make sure it is really good to go across a wide spectrum of users. Of course, one of the biggest headaches with this project would be to locate a decent power source – something that has yet to be discovered.

At the moment, this crude prototype device will work only if it remains within centimetres of the wireless battery from where it draws its power from, and the microcircuitry within is only enough for a single light-emitting diode (LED) – guess that isn’t good enough to play games on it just yet, far from it in fact. I can’t wait to see further advancements made in this area, and who knows, it might just elevate video gaming to a totally different level.

Source

Amoeba Modular USB Drive keeps private things private

This IS a cool idea.... because you never know.

Amoeba Modular USB Drive keeps private things private:

This is a clever concept from designer Hyunsoo Song, which is basically a USB stick with a number of different modules. The idea is that people use their USB drives to store all kinds of things and sometimes there may be private or sensitive data on there you don't want anyone else to see. However, in offices many people end up borrowing them and passing them between colleagues, so this way you can keep your private content private on the first module and still give your friend a USB drive to use if they've misplaced theirs by snapping off a different section! Genius.

[Via Yanko Design]

Hello Kitty Soft Taco Tortilla

Hello Kitty Soft Taco Tortilla:

One of the worst parts of living in Hello Kitty Hell is how the evil feline manages to ruin all types of food. It has already been well established that no food is off limits to her commercialization, and she once again proves that with stunning clarity. Anyone who loves Mexican food should be shedding more than a few tears over the Hello Kitty soft taco tortilla:

As horrible and unnerving as the Hello Kitty tortilla is ( and definitely further proof that there is something seriously askew in the world), you just know it will continue to get even worse…is there really any doubt that the people at Sanrio are already developing Hello Kitty tequila?

Sent in by Susan (via Susan Yuen)

If My Hardass Asian Parents’ Chinese Choir Covered Lady Gaga

Haha, I just had to re-post this....

If My Hardass Asian Parents’ Chinese Choir Covered Lady Gaga:

Well, not exactly. These Chinese old-timers are way cooler than my parents’ choir. The closest thing to pop music that their choir’s covered is Lady (Josh) Groban.

Thanks, Mike!

Bodum Coffee and Tea Maker looks like a science lab!

Bodum Coffee and Tea Maker looks like a science lab!:

We love this new coffee and tea making appliance from kitchen experts Bodum, which looks a little bit like a crazy science experiment, right?!

Basically you put your water and coffee or tea leaves into the first small glass reservoir, you then attach it to the device to start the brewing process and it'll then trickle down into the cute glass tumblers below. The glass reservoir, which looks a little like a bubble, has an integrated beverage filter and as Yanko Design points out, that makes any kind of drink you're making completely spill-proof the whole time.

The device looks pretty unique anyway, but also comes in a range of colors including cherry red, lime green, black and white.

[Via Yanko Design]

Dennis Gaxiola: Trophy Wife

Dennis Gaxiola: Trophy Wife: I got a trophy wife. I know that's not right to say, 'cause if you're married that's your trophy. I'm just saying not everybody got a first place trophy. Some people end up with a plaque. You marry the neighborhood hoochie, you get a participation ribbon.

Hilarious!

Worst Steve Jobs Tribute Ever

Well, I thought it was kind of funny if you ask me....

Worst Steve Jobs Tribute Ever:

Sometimes I forget that Hello Kitty looks at every event that makes the news as an opportunity to promote herself no matter how utterly distasteful doing so may be. A perfect example of this is the evil feline’s decision to create a Hello Kitty Steve Jobs as a memorial tribute as if anyone (besides the fanatics) could ever view this as something positive. See for yourself:

What’s probably most ironic is that while many other computer companies were more than willing to cover their computers and other gadgets with Hello Kitty, I can’t think of anyone who could ever imagine Steve Jobs allowing this type of gimmick to occur to any Apple product. You know that Hello Kitty probably begged and begged to produce any limited edition Apple product and was spurned time and again. So having failed while he was alive, they immediately turn him into Hello Kitty upon his death when he can no longer defend himself. I’m not sure I can think of many things that are quite as Hello Kitty Hellish as that…

Sent in by Sugi

UFO ice cube trays

UFO ice cube trays:

A cute and quirky little idea that kids will love! Fill the tray full of water for 11 UFO ice cubes or jello for lots of multi-coloured martian desserts.

Hello Kitty Lego Halloween

These are so cute! And creative.... I wish I were creative :)

Hello Kitty Lego Halloween:

Apparently there are some people that aren’t simply satisfied with ruining Halloween with an abundance of the evil feline, but also feel it necessary to throw in another beloved iconic toy to ruin as well. When this happens, the result is stuff like the Hello Kitty Lego Halloween figures:

There should be a special place waiting in Hello Kitty hell for any person that does something like this…

Alianoid Humidifier looks like a little creature from outer space

I love designy things.... only if this came out before I bought my cheapy humidifier from Walmart!  Bool

Alianoid Humidifier looks like a little creature from outer space:

A humidifier may not be the most exciting product you can buy for your home, but we love this interesting new design from Minwoo Lee which turns a regular humidifier into a little alien-like creature.

[Via Yanko Design]

Hello Kitty Cigarettes

Err..... um.... yeah.....

Hello Kitty Cigarettes:

There really was no doubt left that Hello Kitty would put her name and likeness on anything and everything after she decided that the Hello Kitty vibrator (oh, sorry, I meant “shoulder massager”) was actually an acceptable item for the evil feline to promote. Since Hello Kitty alcohol was also deemed age appropriate for all the fanatics, was it really that much of a stretch to believe that Hello Kitty cigarettes would appear at some point?

Completely disregarding the irony that a cat with no mouth (but an extreme oral fixation) wants to help girls be beautiful, happy and healthy by encouraging them to suck away on cancer sticks (I have no doubt that they have been engineered in such a way that when the cancer appears, it’s in the shape of Hello Kitty’s face), my biggest fear would be what they actually taste like. One would assume that it would be impossible for cigarettes to taste any worse than they already do, but that would not be giving Hello Kitty her due when it comes to making things worse when it seems impossible to do so. Or maybe she will make them taste so sickly sweet that fanatics can’t resist them. Then they will become so addicted and smoke so many packs that they begin dying off. Maybe Hello Kitty cigarettes aren’t such a bad idea after all…

Sent in by hkdiva

Wooden retro camera iPhone case

I'm not an iPhone person but I thought this was really cool looking.

Wooden retro camera iPhone case:

We love the quirky, retro camera case featured on Like Cool today, which is presumably homemade as we can't find a link to buy it...

Now where's that saw!?

Star Trek Enterprise Light-Up Feeding System

Haha!  If I had kids I would totally get ones of these.  Only if it played the theme it would be golden!

Star Trek Enterprise Light-Up Feeding System:

You grew up watching Star Trek on your TV, and did keep your fingers crossed that one day, you will be able to pass on the love for the sci-fi franchise down to your next generation. Well, now that you’re married and all with a kid in tow, here’s your chance. Inculcate the early doctrines of Star Trek through subtle use of items around your kid, such as the $24.99 Star Trek Enterprise Light-Up Feeding System.

After all, feeding a toddler is not an easy taks, as he/she tends to be extremely distracted, and sometimes when you’re tired, you do not want a lengthy feeding session since there are still a thousand and one other chores to finish up. Not with the Star Trek Enterprise Light-Up Feeding System in tow though, since it will definitely capture the attention of your geekling, and guide all the food straight to his/her mouth without any problem. Batteries in the in plane are replaceable, although the ones in the bib are not.

“Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you...

I had to re-post this..... re-posted from Thick Dumpling Skin

“Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you...:

“Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you become your reality.” - Les Brown

Remember, beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.

This post is part of the 2011 Love Your Body Day Blog Carnival.

Rich Vos: Best Relationship Ever

Rich Vos: Best Relationship Ever: The best relationship I ever had -- I used to go out with a homeless girl. Yeah, it was great 'cause after sex, I could just drop her off anywhere.

Scented gummi bear headphones

Yum... lol.

Scented gummi bear headphones:

These Gummi Bear Earbuds don't just look like the classic little sweets, they also smell like them too!

Each different color has a matching scent, including red for strawberry, green for apple and blue for blueberry. They're certainly cute and quirky, but will a fake and sickly sweet scent be a little irritating?!

The Gummi Bear Earbuds are available from Fredflare.com for $18.

Via Ubergizmo.

A paper clip AND a USB stick?!

These are really nifty.  You can never have enough storage.

A paper clip AND a USB stick?!:

If you look hard enough you'll probably find a USB stick in every shape, size and color. There are those shaped like animals, body parts, pieces of food... You name it, someone has most probably created a USB stick in the shape of it.

So, it's good to see a USB stick (or pen, or drive, or memory device, or whatever you prefer) that's actually functional as well as being a little bit cute and quirky.

The Data Clip, designed by the clever minds at nendo Japan, is a USB stick that doubles up as a paper clip, meaning it's much less likely to be misplaced. I can imagine The Data Clip being particularly popular in schools when students have to hand in both electronic copies and hard copies of their work.

Via Like Cool.

R2-D2 Ice Cube Trays

So cool!  But don't we all have ice makers in our fridges now a days?

R2-D2 Ice Cube Trays:

Who would have thought in a million years that a movie franchise such as Star Wars would end up being super profitable, never mind that the prequels that came out a couple of decades after Episodes IV, V and VI disappointed certain quarters? Well, the merchandise from the Star Wars universe over the years certainly added quite a handsome amount of dough into George Lucas’ bank account, and it seems as though this particular gravy train is not going to stop anytime soon.

The latest to roll out from the Skywalker Ranch would be these R2-D2 Ice Cube Trays, and the name itself is pretty much self-explanatory. These ice cube trays will feature the shape of everyone’s favorite astromech droid, R2-D2, where you will be able to freeze four small Artoos at once in addition to a large version, making it the perfect kitchen utensil to own whenever you want to throw a party for your friends who are absolute Star Wars fanatics.

At $9.99 a pop, surely this is not too much of a burden on your monthly finances?

Hello Kitty Dog’s World

Hello Kitty Dog’s World:

While I don’t believe that anyone actually lives more of a Hello Kitty Hellish life than myself, I really do feel for the pet owners of Hello Kitty fanatics. Especially dogs who must have done some pretty horrific things in their past life to have been dealt such a humiliating hand in this one. Here is yet another prime example of what those poor dogs must endure:

When you hear about those dogs that go around destroying houses by chewing on anything and everything within the house, you can be pretty sure that the cause of it was the pet owner doing something like this to it…

Sent in by Pennies

Mini Mez-Itz Batmobile with Batman

Mini Mez-Itz Batmobile with Batman:

Ever read a Batman comic and wondered just what you would have done differently if you were the caped crusader? Sure, you have the benefit of hindsight since you know how the story pans out, but pretend for a while that you are in Bruce Wayne’s shoes – would you do what he has done? If you feel that you would have taken a different route, then might I interest you in the $19.99 Mini Mez-Itz Batmobile with Batman that allows you to relive those crucial moments in the comics, but with your own style?

The Mini Mez-Itz Batmobile with Batman set is miniature goodness at its very best – Batman here measures a mere 2″ in height, but you can definitely let your imagination run wild. Boasting a real cloth cape, the mini Batmobile comes with a removable hard top, letting Batman (and his sidekick of choice) jump out and save the day.

Even the dash is highly detailed, sporting a wide range of buttons and switches, and obviously for privacy’s sake, the windows will be tinted (partly because they are made out of solid plastic). This is the perfect desk set for Batman fans to have their imagination run wild. Just be more liberal with your thoughts, since the Batmobile has wheels that will not roll.

Jeff Dunham: Tattoos as Cover-up

Jeff Dunham: Tattoos as Cover-up: Jeff Dunham: Did you get the tattoo?

Walter: Hell no.

Jeff Dunham: Well if you had, what would you have gotten?

Walter: I would have gotten a beautiful woman's face.

Jeff Dunham: Ah, and where would you have put it?

Walter: On my wife's face.

Dog tags get QR codes

Dog tags get QR codes:

QR codes are being used everywhere at the moment, on advertisements, products, tattoos, gravestones.. yes, you read right GRAVESTONES.

But as crazy as some uses so far have been, we LOVE this idea from innovative pet company Platinum Pets, which adds a QR code to your little critter's ID tag.

By adding a QR code you can make sure anyone who finds your pet will have access to all kinds of important information, including contact details, vetinary and insurance information and even if you'll offer them a reward!

Of course not everyone is going to know what to do with a QR code, but the more popular they get, the more useful these little pet ID tags will become. They're also only $10 on Amazon at the moment, so they're a must for dog (or cat) lovers!

Eliot Chang: That Stupid Friend

Eliot Chang: That Stupid Friend: We all can agree, no matter what color you are, every group of friends has that one stupid friend. Look around you, you'll find one. If you can't find one, it's you.

The iPhone case that looks like a hand

OMG! So creepy!

The iPhone case that looks like a hand:

We've come across a lot of weird and wonderful tech accessories recently, but none that have been made to look and feel like a body part.

The Dokkiri Hand Case for the iPhone 4 is beyond creepy, no matter how happy and normal the models on the Strapaya World website seem to think it is. However, it would make a pretty unique gift for that friend who seems to have everything, or be a great prank for Halloween.

Available from Strapaya World for a pretty hefty $64.20.

Via Ubergizmo.

Talking Bender Figure

Talking Bender Figure:

Futurama fans, it is time to sit up and take notice of the Talking Bender Figure! Standing tall (or short, depending on your point of view) at 9″, this is a full fledged talking Bender figure from the Futurama cartoon series. He will definitely rattle off your favorite, what shall we call it, Benderisms in order to inject some humor into the situation, especially when it gets particularly tense around the water cooler.

Bender’s ribcage compartment can also be opened up for you to stash away some of the more secretive items, or stuff that you do not want your colleagues to find out about. The Talking Bender Figure will retail for $24.99 a pop, and all it takes to get him talking would be to press a button, and he’ll rattle away digitally. A desktop companion with an attitude – we definitely could do with one of these at the office.