About a month ago, I keyed you into the original version of Line Rider. You remember– it’s the game where you start with blank canvas, and you draw lines, loops, jumps, and whatever else you want to make a ‘course’ for your Line Rider guy. All the rules of gravity apply– so it becomes a challenge to create a course that your rider can survive. Since I last wrote about Line Rider, it seems as though it has really caught on and has become a cult classic of sorts (you should see some of the new courses people have built!). It has become so popular, in fact, that Nintendo (DS and Wii) will be jumping on the Line Rider bandwagon this spring. This super-simple program, invented by Slovenian university student Bostjan Cadez, is truly addictive– probably why it has generated over 16 million page views and became the 7th quickest gaining keyword in Google. The new version comes complete with an eraser, a checkpoint system, zooming, and acceleration lines. I know what I’ll be doing over the holidays!

Talent Speaks is a new blog centered around a discussion of the advancements in technology and the subsequent increased amount of opportunities for self-empolyed and independent artists. Networking and visibility are key. The discussions at this recently launched blog are getting good, and if you’re an artist or promoter they’re definitely worth reading. Pop by and check out articles like Self Promotion 101 written by an artist and DIY Tools for better self promotion written by yours truly. I’m currently a guest writer for Talent Speaks and look forward to seeing the project evolve, change and improve artist’s lives worldwide.

I don’t know about you all, but in my old age, I am lucky if I can muster enough energy for a half day on the slopes (days like this are different– we’re due for 2 ft. of fresh in CO overnight!). Gone are the days of all-day shredding, and in are the days of the Powder Seat. The Powder Seat comes in two models: the Trident and the Blade– each can be flat-packed for easy storage, and functions by affixing it to the bottom of your snowboard with suction cups. So when that noon hour rolls around, and you are thinking ‘hot toddy and fireplace’ instead of ‘frostbite and waist deep powder,’ your Powder Seat will have your rear.

Via Get Outdoors

The Li Xi Gift Envelope combines Asian tradition, craft and symbolism with a twist of modern design. Traditionally envelopes like these were given during the Chinese New Year, but in an effort to preserve this child-hood memory in a modern world, designer Tram Pham created a laser-cut version which allowed a much higher level of detail in comparison to the old-school traditional die-cutting methods. The results, as you can see are delicate, beautiful and quite impressive.

If you think you’re too late to stuff stockings with a member of the Mimobot family, you are just plain wrong. The folks at Mimoco are offering Fed-ex overnight shipping until Saturday, December 23rd. Darby is sold out, and the rest of the Artist Series 06 is almost sold out, so you better flash yourself over to Mimoco’s website to order one. These things are hot, and couldn’t be a better stocking stuffer!

Everyone who enjoys wine hopefully knows that wine tastes better when it has been aerated. Aeration basically exposes more of the volume of the wine to the air, allowing the vino to ‘breathe,’ thus counteracting the tannins in the wine. The result is a better bouquet, drawn out flavors, and a smoother finish. Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator is an inexpensive ($35) aeration device that requires only a quick pour through. In fact, an independent, double blind taste test determined that “the same bottle of wine treated with Vinturi was higher in overall flavor, intensity, and mouth-feel … higher in red color intensity and overall aroma intensity … more true to type and of higher quality.” With Christmas quickly approaching, you can utilize Vinturi’s overnight or second day shipping options to safely get this under the trees of all the winos in your life.
Via Gizmodo

The Sutra Chaise, from creative designer Brad Ascalon is made from two layers of birch bending ply, seductively layered one over another to form the seat and base of the chair– there are also rubber spacers allowing the chaise to give a little bit when in use. I love the form factor here although I’d be a little concerned about its comfort– no word on production yet, although if we bombard Brad with enough emails he might start making and selling them himself.