It's not often that I have top-secret papers that need to be shredded, but it happens occasionally. I can't justify cluttering up my house with a clunky shredder, or spending the dollars on something I rarely use. I would, however, throw down for a pair of The Container Store Stainless Steel Shredding Scissors ($8.99). For that periodic confidential envelope, or when I want to make confetti or packing stuffing, these shredding scissors will come in handy. Yeah, they require a little more work than an electronic paper shredder, but it's fun work.
This got me wondering if your cell phone has taken the place of your other gadgets? I know that my iPhone has inadvertently replaced several on this list, but there are a few I can't live without (hello, proper digital camera!). Has your smartphone replaced any of your other beloved gadgets?
Garnet Hill is currently offering 30 percent off all of the towels in the shop. I know that my towels have seen far, far better days, so I'll definitely be hitting up this sale. Some of you may be expecting guests for the holidays, so perhaps you should consider giving them a fresh bath sheet to dry off with. There are also some cute hooded towels in animal shapes that might make good gifts for any kids you know.
As into Star Wars as I was, its parody Spaceballs enthralled me just as much by making fun of the silliness I hadn't yet recognized in George Lucas's earnest films.
Mel Brooks's hilarious send-up replaced Chewbacca with John Candy's Mog (half-man, half-dog: "I'm my own best friend!") named Barf, Bill Pullman was Lone Starr (mocking both Han Solo and Luke Skywalker with one character), and teeny Rick Moranis was Dark Helmet — the Napoleon-complex-addled Darth Vader.
And how could I forget Dot Matrix, Princess Vespa's C-3PO? She had a loud "virgin alert" that went off if Lone Starr got too close.
Though my passion was always for the original Star Wars, I've always had a soft spot (er, funny bone) for Spaceballs. Do you remember it?
Have memories of something geeky and awesome from your past? Join the Vintage Geek group and submit it — it may show up on geeksugar's home page!
There's nothing that Capucine does that is not mind-bendingly adorable. Here, the French video phenom tackles the Wii Fit, and even though she doesn't do too well (which she acknowledges), I am still jealous over the fact that my video game exercising never looked this cute.
You know the pleasure you get when you add a colorful new theme to your iGoogle page? OK, multiply that by 1,000, and I give you the sleek new themes for Gmail. Just launched today, there are already 30 different themes to choose from — ranging from nature themes to shiny and chrome-style themes. Google has given Gmail a little makeover with crisper and cleaner lines (it reminds me of Google reader). To spice up your email, go to the themes section in settings and you should see the new themes. And if you don't see them, keep checking back and they should appear sometime within the next few days!
The main reason I'm wary to purchase a new bag is that I just don't believe I'll get through the security line without having to remove my computer from one of these special bags. And I would not be about to argue with airport security either with a, "Oh no, you don't understand, this bag is checkpoint-friendly!"
Adding fuel to my theory is that the TSA approved some common styles of laptop bag for this purpose, but at no time on my recent flights has anyone assured me that I could leave my computer in its sleeve.
Therefore, I don't necessarily trust that I'd be able to breeze through airport security, laptop in laptop bag the whole time — not quite yet, anyway. Do you?
This room, which uses Michael Devine Home fabrics, is quite extravagant. Between the pedestal, chandelier, floor lamps, six different textiles, and floral arrangement, there's a lot going on. Normally, I'd pass over this style of interior design, but I was immediately drawn to its tented drapery. With a busy pattern like the fretwork shown here, I'd pare down the furnishings and accessories to solids and clean-lined shapes, and lose the fringe! The tented drapery is already the center of attention; too much else going on just competes. You could also go with solid fabric for the tenting, and upholster the sofa in a bold pattern to create a focal point within the room. What do you think? I think it's a wonderful alternative to wallpaper, and it creates an intimate setting. Source
Mr. Simon continued being awesome with a stop over at Stephen Colbert's place last night. Paul was on hand to promote his new book Lyrics 1964-2008, a title which Colbert deemed utterly unpoetic (his suggestion: Word Salad Jazzmatron). Simon's stay spanned two segments. The first had Stephen ask Simon to defend some of his hippie-era lyrics, explain what exactly Julio was doing down by the schoolyard, and why Paul needed to walk out on Cecilia to wash his face. ("Well it was the '60s so I don't remember.") After wits were traded, Paul performed "American Tune," with the stars of the flag and the city skyline hanging behind him. Utterly poetic.
The longtime jazz trio Bad Plus (no, not Bad Pus) are releasing a new album For All I Care in a couple months. It includes the trio's first recordings with a vocalist: Wendy Lewis adds her voice to the bass, drums, and piano. The band explains that the approach and the recording were inspired partly by the 1963 collaborative work of John Coltrane and vocalist Johnny Hartman.
Coltrane's quartet had already developed a group language, and then they enlisted this incredible singer without changing the language of the band," says King. "In that same sense, this is still very much a Bad Plus record. We just happen to have a great singer singing the songs with us.
Except Coltraine never got around to covering the Flaming Lips' " Feeling Yourself Disintegrate."
Recently you had a mixed reaction to AYWKUBTTOD's soaring, piano-lined "Inland Sea," from the Texan rockers' forthcoming Festival Thyme EP. Another track's up for grabs at RCRD LBL, "Bells Of Creation." Conrad says it's inspired by School Of Seven Bells, and Mormons. One is more obvious than the other.
"Bells Of Creation" comes from the Festival Thyme EP, and also appears on the band's as-yet-untitled full-length, out in early '09 on their Richter Scale label.
It's getting to be that time when people start asking you to make lists and rank the year in music. Fun! Texan outfit and BTW Fight Bite are on my shortlist for the year's finest debuts, and "Swissex Lover" is its signature track. The duo of Leanne Macomber and Jeff Louis crafted their swirling, cinematic ten-song set Emerald Eyes in a bedroom in Denton, and their first video combines those charms in this simple, stirring black-and-white visual: homemade images of the pair superimposed on film footage of playgrounds and armies, families and office spaces. It's a moment of heartbreak and acceptance on a dorm-room budget. Fair enough. It's been that sorta year.
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