I Am Cracker

Ever since watching this video...

...I haven't been able to open an egg to save my life. Every omelet is preceded by this Humpty Dumpty fumble of a dramatic eggactment.

Want your very own EZ Cracker? They do exist.

Warm for Porcelain

USB Heating Gloves, at USB Geek

Happy birthday, Porcelain!

I regret I did not buy the shown-above BEST BLOGGER GIFT EVER for your special day. I suggest you sit on your hands, for the time being, and just wait and hope for Christmas...or next year...or (best yet) a warmer, mo' better work environment.

I love you, my blogger buddy, and I hope 2010 brings you success and warm fingers!

Turn that Ass Up!

Asspeaker Concept, at Gizmodo

Now your speakers are bumpin'! You don't actually shake, bump, or slide the Asspeaker to get your sounds out. The idea is that the speaker responds to a gentle tap (ON/OFF) or a smoove rub (VOLUME).


All credit (and subsequent ass jokes) should be directed toward Heat, as he is the one who found invented it.

Me & My Schmoo

Does this picture kinda freak you out?

Funkionide Part II

Then you should watch the super creeptastic video* !

Funktionide Part II

Funktionide Part II, designed by Stefan Ulrich, is essentially a body pillow...that breathes. Made of electroactive polymers or "artificial muscles," the purpose of this snuggle form is to help one through the lonelies.

What? No big comfy slug for you? Com'ere, lemme give you a hug...

* Thanks goes to Towleroad for the tip off AND for calling it a "schmoo."

Bonus Bone: Bent Nail Toothpicks

Bent Nail Party Toothpicks, at Stupid

They make you feel like you've actually earned your snacks...and they're reusable!

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.

TV Hate

ANTM, Cycle 13

Digital TV is the worst! I don't get enough signal to watch Tyra and her debut of America's Next Top Short Model and, with the glitches and skips, listening to Obama's speech sounds a lot like this:

Image via Bad Paintings of Barack Obama

Digital TV can suck it.

How Much for the Wood?

Wood LED Clock, at Grün

I like'a this bedside clock. I do not, however, like'a the $129 (down from $179!) price tag. Methinks a section of stud and a projector might be cheaper.

Bonus Bone: "Four Eyes" USB Drive

"Four Eyes" USB Drive, at The Curiosity Shoppe

Geek chic was never nerdier!

For this reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

*Cute girl photo courtesy of Smarts & Crafts

Design Discourse: Lo-Tech

I've been thinking lately about music systems. I don't have a great one. I have a boombox (old school), I have a laptop (weak), and I have a Zune (shut up, I know). I do not have stereo piped subtly into each room or even a stackable component system with GIANT speakers. But, it could be worse...

Stroll down memory lane as Porcelain & I discuss the musical methods that made us:

Porcelain:
Ha! I remember my parents got me a little boom box for Christmas one year and I was so disappointed in it 'cause it didn't have a record button. My way around that was to play the radio and record the song from a tape player, like this:


The recordings were all crappy and you could hear background noises and me shuffling around trying to be totally quiet. Hahhha! That was the best!


Cardboard:
Hahahhaa, I used to record songs with my pink boom box (which I still have). But - and this is the BEST part - I used to record them off the TV from some non-cable Saturday video show! Hahahahahahahahahahah...

Call us low-quality but never call us unoriginal. How did YOU used to do it?

Porcelain's Internet Adventure

Compubody Sock, by Sternlab

Tomorrow is a big day in design boner history...[drumroll]...

Porcelain is getting internet at home!

[cymbal crash]

Maybe now she will finally post her blog spot (once she figures out where it will be - exciting!). And gone are her days of shielding her internet cafe blog antics with a Compubody Sock. Just in time for summer!

Congrats, P, and welcome to the decade!

Hello? RCN?

Bamboo is leaving soon. I'll miss her company tremendously but, even more than that, I'll miss her share of the rent! (JK, Bamboo, JK!)

So as she bubblewraps her most-treasured items, I'm facing the task of forming a new (and serious) budget. I realize I need to trim some fat and dropping a Starbucks or two just won't cut it.

The question I pose to you is one of cable and internet. Right now, we're paying Comcast $100+ per month for internet access and basic cable. No more! I really want to keep my cable TV because I'm addicted to Bravo and Porcelain's addicted to my coffee break re-caps. You're reading this online - ipso facto - I needs me my internets.

My thought is to switch to RCN? Do you use them? Are they great? What's your monthly bill look like? Their website is showing a promo of about $65/month for TV and web. Sounds like a good deal to me but I'd like your input.

Use Your Words: Barack Obama on Unity

"...We have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America."

- President Barack Obama, Victory Speech (Nov. 4, 2008)

Photo credit: Nibs & Chicago Sun Times

Tell Me, Sony, You Feelin' Lucky?

Gunslinger TV Remote, at LatestBuy

This TV remote might make watching Olympic skeet shooting a little more exciting. In the very least, the bonus Sheriff's badge will put an end to any household remote wars.

Working for a Living

Hunky Builder Hand Towel, by handyjan on Etsy

Don't mind our dust!

If you notice any odd things going on with our site (colors changing or items moving around) it's because we finally upgraded to the new Blogger format. This move made many of our prior settings go wonky so we're slowly trying to get things back to the way they were. Perhaps we'll even improve ourselves!

But, as always, we do love feedback. If you have any graphic designerly tips or maybe just a reader preference or two, please send them our way.

Many thanks-
Porcelain (in hard hat) & Cardboard (with drill)

Style Time

Fabric Clock, at Suck UK

Now this is cool. It's a digital clock, constructed from walnut veneer and stainless steel. The cool part is the face - it's fabric and it's interchangeable. Feeling a little romantic and waking up to opera? Cut out a piece of flocked damask and affix it to your clock. Maybe you prefer NPR and a smart pinstripe? Done. You can even match your clock to your bedding.

The product is not yet available but is currently quoted at...yikes...$200. Maybe this can inspire a less expensive DIY.

Woofers

Woofers designed by Sander Mulder

Love love love the intended pun!

Bonus Bone: MacBook Air

MacBook Air

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Bonus Bone: a Wireless Router

Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router

Finally! After about four hours of pulling our hair out, searching our computers for "wireless adapters," and dialing up the customer support at both Linksys and Comcast, Bamboo and I finally have our wireless up and running.

Previously, my laptop was tied down to one spot, chained to our old non-wireless router. Or, if I wanted to float about and be connected to the internet at the same time, I had to glom onto some stranger's shady "insecure" wireless connection. No more!

Working on my 2008 goal of simplifying life, I bought the wireless doo-hickey and, after only a few frustrating hours of general configuration, I am now able to sit on my couch and blog. I'm not sure if extending my blogspace is a healthy thing but I will say that, for tonight, it's all very exciting.

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.