danipretto

pipistrellus:

impulsivefarmer:

notstevebuscemi:

Found this gem of a review on Amazon tonight.

I keep picturing a middle aged woman trying to shoo a bunch of goats away with this and I’m crying from laughing so hard.

doesnt scare goats in the least

Above, Biblioteca Real Gabinete Portugues De Leitura, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Architecture And Design rounds up "50 Of The Most Majestic Libraries In The World." Read the rest

You had me at whiskey and donuts. Note: Been sick all week, going back to the doctor now. Might be around this weekend to post some, but if not, I'll be ready to melt your faces off (with a tank-mounted flamethrower) on Monday. This is the Craigslist ad posted by some sad sack of shit who can't beat Vanilla Dome in Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo. Vanilla Dome, seriously? Are you only playing with your tongue or something? Now listen -- I won't come beat it for you, but I will come over and TEACH you how to beat it. How does that sound? You know what they say -- give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day, but TEACH a man to fish, then you have a fishing buddy and you two can go out drinking and do fun stuff together. I'm saying I need a friend. Thanks to JESTOR, ed and SourCream (mmmm!), none of which responded to my call for help with the last palace in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.

Today is apparently the most depressing day of the year, so here is a video of a seal and a dog cuddling on the beach.

In the short YouTube clip, "You" the seal cozies up to his pal the yellow Labrador on a beach at Cap Ferret in France.

We have no idea whether or not these two were friends beforehand, but the dog doesn't seem to mind the contact, lying there and panting as the seal nuzzles his neck.

"You" also seems to be pretty tame, allowing a man on the beach to pet him.

Check out the adorable moment in the video above.

The fate of TLC's final album rests in your hands, unless of course you're a scrub.

On Sunday, the legendary group's surviving members Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas launched a Kickstarter to produce an album directly funded by fans. The album would be the group's first since the death of their bandmate Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in 2009, according Jezebel.

The R&B group has toyed with the idea of a new album since 2009, but fans have only seen live performances from Chilli and T-Boz as well as best-of albums. The group's Kickstarter says the album will be a return to TLC's '90s roots.

"Our final album will stay true to the TLC sound, always confronting the real issues and life experiences that we all must face every single day, everywhere. We write music that people relate to...timeless music. No matter the trends, we feel like our music is always relevant," reads the Kickstarter's description.

TLC is looking to raise $150,000 to make the album and aims to feature members of the group's original team. As of Monday afternoon, the project had raised $12,496 from 170 backers.

The group won a Grammy for their sophomore album "CrazySexyCool" in 1996 and has since sold over 10 million units. Despite their success, the group filed for bankruptcy within the same year.

In an interview with Billboard, Thomas says the decision to go with Kickstarter wasn't motivated by money but rather, creative control.

"The only people we'll be talking to and asking their opinion is the fans. That's it," said Thomas. "Doing stuff outside of the box is what TLC does. We came out of the box already out of the box. If we feel like we're in the box, we'd go crazy."

As with all Kickstarters, pledging a certain amount nets perks. In this case, $5 will land you "behind-the-scenes updates about the album" and the chance to vote on a TLC song to be remixed for the album. Fans looking to snag a copy of the album will have to donate at least $15 for a digital copy. Hardcore groupies (or those with a lot of cash) can opt for the $7,500 tier which promises a photo shoot with the group, plus all of the perks from the other donation levels.

The duo also promises to hit the road with a U.S. tour within the year, Thomas told TIME Magazine.

The group says they've already begun writing and production phases and aims to drop the album in May.

With Files From The Associated Press

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:

The future of washing on-the-go fits in the palm of your hand and uses ultrasound to get your garments clean. Called Dolfi and designed by MPI Ultrasonics, the little handheld clothes washer can tackle everything from your delicates to your toughest stains using minimal energy and water. Just drop your garments in some water, toss in the Dolfi and your clothes will be clean in 30 to 40 minutes.

READ MORE >

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: clothes washer on the go, clothes washing, Dolfi, Dolfi washing machine, ecouterre, ecouterre washing, hand held washing machine, low energy clothes washers, low water clothes washers, palm sized washing machine, portable washing machine, traveling clothes washer, ultrasound cleaning, ultrasound washing machine, washing on the go

dazedfox:

are you f**kin seeing this

Boatlers is a worldwide peer-to-peer boat rental platform that connects boat owners to renters directly on its website. Boatlers

Every day we alert our readers of new startups in the travel industry being listed on Angel List as an early information service for those who keep track of such things. Every weekday, there will be a list of these newbies, along with each of their mini-profiles.

(image via jreenfin)

A seven-year-old girl reeling from the loss of her aunt and cousin in a car crash has written an impassioned letter to B.C. Transportation Minister Todd Stone.

Earlier this month, an SUV carrying a family of five crossed the centre line of Highway 99 near Lillooet and sideswiped another car. The impact sent the family's vehicle over a steep embankment in heavy snow. McCaul Sage, 7, and his mother, Trish Donohue, were killed, while his father and two sisters (aged four and 11) survived.


A Squamish family's SUV crashed down an embankment near Lillooet. (Russell Peters/Facebook)

In the wake of the accident, Riley Gilmour wrote a letter to Stone, pleading with him to install concrete barriers on the highway.

"There has been a car acadint with my famaley," she wrote about the deaths of her cousin and aunt, adding later, "Please, please, please, please put berryrs thare."


Riley Gilmour's letter to Todd Stone

Stacey Royal posted the letter to Facebook on Riley's request.

"She [Riley] wanted me to put it on Facebook so more people write letters to him," Royal wrote in the comments. She added that Riley told her she was addressing the letter to "the guy who makes the roads."

An online petition is also underway, asking the transportation minister to take another look at road safety in the area and adding concrete roadside barriers along Highway 99, Highway 12, and Road 40 to "prevent unnecessary deaths."

Stone's office confirmed to The Province that it plans to respond to Riley's letter. The transportation ministry will conduct a “guardrail warrant assessment” on the section of highway where the crash happened, the newspaper said.

A memorial Facebook page for Trish and McCaul asked that in lieu of flowers, people make donations to the Lillooet and District Rescue Society.

"With deep gratitude, we feel that this organization is worthy of support," the page reads. "They performed under extreme pressure and brought aid & comfort to our family."

There will be a memorial for the mother and son on Saturday at West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish, where the family lived.

Like Us On Facebook
Follow Us On Twitter

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:

The GOODS from Pidgin

Vancouver, BC | This year, PiDGiN invites guests to experience a Dine Out evening that will leave them fully satisfied in all manner of ways. In addition to the usual excitement of Dine Out Vancouver, PiDGiN is offering a twist that will invite captivating conversation and uninterrupted quality time, all accompanied by exquisite food and all for a good cause.

Any table that wishes to participate will be encouraged to switch off their cellphones for the night in exchange for a $1 donation from PiDGiN to a DTES organization that will be crowdsourced post Dine Out online by patrons. Not only is this a chance to give back, but it’s also a chance to disconnect from life’s chaos and enjoy great food and great company.

Whether you’re looking for a simple dinner for two, or a chance to power down and reconnect with your evening companions, Pidgin’s Dine Out Menu is sure to delight and tantalize your taste buds.

DINE OUT DINNER MENU

smoked almonds
and
onsen egg, ikura, pickled kabocha puree, chicharron
and
beet, dark chocolate crumble, smoked beet puree
and
tuna, smoked yolk puree, shishito pear salsa
and
soft shell crab, bouillabaisse, octopus chips
and
beef striploin, lobster bisque cabbage, pickled shimeji

DINE OUT VEGETARIAN MENU

daily pickles
and
shishito peppers
and
“dan dan” kohlrabi noodle salad, tofu, almonds
and
mushrooms, snap peas, egg, soy yuzu brown butter
and
parisienne gnocchi, radishes, radish green pistou, buttermilk ricotta

DESSERT
caramelized white chocolate mousse, black sesame crumble

The Dine Out dinner menu is served family style and costs $38 per person, not including tax and gratuity, with both vegetarian and gluten free options available. For more information or to make a reservation please call 604.620.9400 or visit www.pidginvancouver.com.

DETAILS

350 Carrall St. | Vancouver, BC
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 5:00pm-12:00pm | Sunday: 6:00pm-12:00pm
Phone: 604-620-9400 | Email: info@pidginyvr.com
Web: www.pidginvancouver.com | Facebook | Twitter

GALLERY

The Team

Brandon Grossutti – General Manager
Nelson Navasero – Assistant General Manager / Bar Manager
Shin Suzuki – Head Chef

About PiDGiN

Common cuts rendered sublime. Deceptively simple staples skewed and polished with Asian elegance. Large format family-style ssäm with the attention to detail and flavour usually reserved for highly composed dishes. These are the cornerstones of PiDGiN’s food. Rarely predictable, never overwrought and fussy, always thoughtful, cared for, and prepared with the utmost integrity.

At PiDGiN, there is no need for distinctions between casual and fine dining. A restaurant can be both beautiful and comfortable; cuisine can be at once delicate and approachable. As dining perspectives have changed, so too has the line between east and west. Pidgin’s chefs and owners draw inspiration from their travels and work experience on different continents which is reflected in the restaurant’s design, drinks list and cuisine.

The bar pays its respects to classic cocktails with fresh interpretations that make good use of our region’s fine local bounty. For the more adventurous the taps pour local sake. By the glass and bottle is a tight wine list, bolstered by a well-curated reserve list for those seeking something truly special. Perhaps most exciting is the harmony between kitchen and bar, a collaboration that ensures equal attention to detail and creativity with the ladies and gentlemen behind the wood and stoves.

Craig Stanghetta of Ste. Marie based PiDGiN’s design around the food. Much like the namesake, the design borrows liberally from different schools of thought. Curated ephemera, inverted subway tile and contemporary lighting stand against clean Japanese joinery, simple panel moulding and an intentionally sparse and functional layout. The mandate was to be disparate and somehow achieve balance, much like each dish that leaves the kitchen.

The post GOODS | Guests Invited To Connect The Old Fashioned Way At PiDGiN During “Dine Out” appeared first on Scout Magazine.

California chefs are facing death threats after a federal judge overturned a law stating that foie gras must be banned from menus in California restaurants. Foie gras is a dish prepared with duck’s liver, and the fatty delicacy is often made even fattier by force-feeding ducks via metal tubes so their livers enlarge.

Missing Attachment Missing Attachment

Read the rest of California chefs face death threats for foie gras dishes

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: animal cruelty, california ducks, california foie gras, california foie gras ban, Chef Frank, cruelty to animals, cruelty to birds, duck cruelty, duck liver, fatty liver, foie gras, foie gras ban overturned, foie gras PETA, Ken Frank, La Toque, napa valley, PETA, PETA demonstration, PETA foie gras, PETA foie gras ban, poultry, poultry products

A massive lobster, a cake, and lox and cream-cheese pinwheels. We get it, you're rich. Wait -- is that a dinosaur egg in your crisper?! Remember LG's $3,500 Door-In-Door refrigerator? Well the concept was such a success with filthy rich people now they're releasing a DOUBLE Door-In-Door version. So many f***ing doors! Still, you know what would be even cooler than a fridge with double doors-in-doors? A fridge that is really a portal to the grocery store and you can just reach in and pull things right off the shelf. Plus without paying! Yeah, that would be sweet. At least until a stock boy sees me standing in front of the fridge naked in the middle of the night. Hey -- this pepperoni ain't for sale, kid! Ooooh, toss me some of those string cheeses. Thanks to Richard M, who I suspect works for LG and should really hook me up with a scratch-and-dent model of this bad boy.

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) have made a breakthrough that could someday help paralyzed people walk, run, or even dance again. After years of research, the team has developed e-Dura, a flexible material that allows an implant to be placed on the actual spinal cord without causing damage to the nerve tissue.

Read the rest of Could this new spinal implant someday help people with paralysis walk?

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: breakthrough, discovery, helping people, learning to walk, medical advancements, medical technology, Medicine, mobility, paralysis, paralyzed, prosthesis, rehab, research, scientists, spinal, spinal cord, spinal implant, spinal injury

Casey Newton noticed that Google turns up a pretty cheeky result when you search for the string "what do you call a company that was meant to fail."

I redid his work in Chrome's incognito mode and, yep:

It's not clear if this is a Google bomb perpetrated by third parties, or a prank by Google's own staff. But fear that Google will use its search dominance to undermine competitors in other areas has attracted the attention of regulators at the Federal Trade Commission and the European Parliament, so this would be a pretty dumb (albeit amusing) stunt for Google to pull.

The issue does seem to be Google specific. If you Bing the same phrase, things look different:

Correction: This article originally stated that Adnan Syed's latest appeal had been denied by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. This was based on a tweet from an NBC news reporter that mistook a document from prosecutors arguing for such a denial for a ruling. In fact, the decision has yet to be made. We sincerely regret the error. The post below has been corrected.

Adnan Syed — whose conviction for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee was the topic of the massively popular podcast series Serial — has an appeal pending with the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.

Syed is claiming that his lawyer, Christina Gutierrez, had provided ineffective assistance during his trial. The specific issue was a request Syed says he made for Gutierrez to ask prosecutors about a plea deal.

Not being considered is the question — fiercely debated among Serial followers — of whether the inconsistencies in prosecution witness Jay Wilds' statements indicate that Syed cannot be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and thus should not be incarcerated.

If Syed's appeal is denied, the decision cannot be appealed further in state court, but Deirdre Enright of the Innocence Project Clinic at University of Virginia Law School, which is working on the case, has said it plans to petition to test DNA evidence which could exculpate Syed. That, effectively, is his last chance. To quote University of South Carolina law professor Colin Miller, "After this, his only avenue is DNA testing in state court."

See our guide to the players in Serial here, and our explainer of the show and the case here.

David Bowie turned 68 last week, and he's probably had nearly as many stylistic reinventions over his 50-year career. I say probably because this amazing GIF here, by illustrator Helen Green, moves too fast to count. But its speed makes the sheer number of transformations even more impressive.

Posted to her awesome Dolly Chops Tumblr, Green has drawn Bowie's various hair and makeup styles from 1964 right up to 2014.

The team behind Wheelys, the world’s smallest and arguably most eco-friendly café, just launched a new coffee shop on wheels and an Indiegogo campaign to allow entrepreneurs around the world join their global coffee franchise for just $3,450—less than 1 percent of what it would cost to launch a Starbucks franchise. The tiny solar-powered and WIFI-ready mobile cafe is enclosed in a hi-tech bicycle and is equipped to serve coffee, sandwiches, and even refrigerated drinks. Successfully tested in countries across the world from Singapore to Jordan, Wheelys has the potential to generate up to $700 per day despite its low startup costs. Want to see a Wheelys in your city? You can pledge support or buy your own cafe bike on the Wheelys Indiegogo page.

+ Wheelys Indiegogo

The article above was submitted to us by an Inhabitat reader. Want to see your story on Inhabitat? Send us a tip by following this link. Remember to follow our instructions carefully to boost your chances of being chosen for publishing!

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: cafe bicycle, cafe bike, coffee franchise, ecofriendly cafe, ecofriendly coffee cafe, franchise, IndieGoGo, solar powered cafe, Wheelys, Wheelys franchise

2014 was a record-breaking year for the solar power industry around the world, and here in the U.S. we were installing new solar systems at a faster rate than ever before. New data from GTM Research shows a new solar system was powered on every 2.5 minutes last year—which is, if nothing else, a huge leap from past numbers, such as one system installed every two hours in 2004.

Read the rest of A new solar system is installed every 2.5 minutes in the U.S.

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: commercial solar, concentrated solar power, green energy, GTM Research, pv installations, renewable energy, residential solar, solar installations, Solar Power, solar USA, us solar, utility scale solar

Read the rest of Incredible ICEHOTEL shows off stunning fantasy-like rooms carved from ice and snow

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: Art Suites, hotel rooms made from ice, hotel rooms made from snow, ice, ice hotel room, ice room, ice theater, icebar, icehotel, ICEHOTEL 25th anniversary, jukkasjarvi, snice, snow, Sweden

After cataract-removal surgery restored her sight, a rescued orangutan named Gober has been released into the wild with her twins. Gober was moved to the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme center in Medan, North Sumatra, after being found raiding a farmer’s crops. Her rescuers feared she would be killed, even though killing an orangutan is technically illegal in Indonesia. Orangutans in the area are under constant threat as their habitat is constantly destroyed in favor of new palm oil plantations.

Read the rest of Formerly blind orangutan is released back into the wild

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: baby orangutan, blind ape, blind orangutan, blind orangutan released into wild, indonesian orangutans, orangutan released into wild, orangutans and palm oil

The field of ethical meat consumption is a complicated (and arguably oxymoronic) one, but that hasn’t stopped some retailers from working to ensure that the meat products they serve come from animals who are humanely treated. Chipotle is among these retailers, and after finding that pork for over a third of their 1700 locations came from pigs who are farmed in poor conditions, the restaurant chain has pulled carnitas from the menu.

Read the rest of Chipotle pulls pork from menus after pigs found to be poorly treated

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: anibiotics, animal rights, animal welfare, carnitas, Chipotle, hormones, humane farming, pigs, pork, responsibly raised, vegan, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism

Last winter some of the Scout crew went on a staff retreat to a log cabin at Bodega Ridge on Galiano Island, a 22 acre getaway owned and operated by a really down to earth guy named Jesse Keefer. It was very much a work trip and much had to get done.

The goal was to – among other things – have some fun breaking the back of the Vancouver Lexicon, our dictionary of local terms, and generally prep out what we could of the 4th version of Scout (we recently finished the 5th, and are now working on the 6th), the idea being that when physical isolation meets a strong wireless signal, shit gets done.

It’s nevertheless hard to spend time at Bodega Ridge and not chill the hell out. As I remember it, the work would get done early every day and we’d be glad of it, as it’s a particularly awesome place to plant oneself in winter, with the fires every night, the mists every morning, and all the magical places to explore.

Sunrises and sunsets are equally spectacular on Galiano, and there are shorelines and easily accessed elevated spots on both sides of the island to await and enjoy them. It feels like a world away, yet – as the crow flies – it’s the same distance from the city as Squamish. 

So why write about it now, a year after the fact? Because we miss it — the isolation, the smell of wood fires, the crisp cold and clarity of empty beaches, the camaraderie that comes when you’re gettin’ shit done. It’s a hard combo to replicate in the city, and after experiencing it at Bodega Ridge, we don’t even bother to try.

MORE FIELD TRIPS

The post FIELD TRIP #611 | Hunkering Down In Winter With Work, Wine, And Food At Bodega Ridge appeared first on Scout Magazine.

Next time you're in the mood for a chocolate fix, consider ingesting it through your nose.

In an apparent first for Canada, Vancouver's Commercial Drive Licorice Parlour is now offering chocolate snorting.

Owner Mary Jean Dunsdon says a friend mentioned to her about a year ago that he had snorted chocolate in Amsterdam.

"I just couldn't believe what I was hearing," she told The Huffington Post B.C. Obsessed with the idea, which originated in Belgium, she travelled to The Chocolate Line store in Antwerp, and bought the tools (oh yes, there are tools).


The chocolate snorting kit

The cocoa powder comes in a box kit, complete with instructions and a plastic "catapult" apparatus that launches the powder into the nostril.

"The chocolate goes up your nose and settles into your sinuses and oral factory where most of your tasting happens," Dunsdon explained. The tool never actually touches the nostril, but rather distributes the powder through the air and into the nose.

"Then you just kind of experience chocolate for a couple hours, actually, in a very subtle manner," she says. "It hits all the same pleasure receptors in the brain [as it would] if you were to eat chocolate."


Instructions for how to use the kit

Dunsdon sells individual sniffs for $2 each; keeners can buy their own tin to take home for $12, or purchase the entire kit for $109. There are two flavours to choose from: cocoa raspberry and cocoa ginger; both also have a hint of mint.

Since launching the service in November, Dunsdon says about 60 customers have tried it — including a slew of eager students from the nearby high school. She thinks the novelty is what draws people in, but mentions that some customers say the snorting actually helps clear their sinuses.

But of course, everything in moderation. Dunsdon says only about an eighth of a teaspoon goes into each snort, and that "you don't want to do that much."

The phenomenon began when Belgian chocolatier Dominique Persoone was asked to create something fun for a Rolling Stones birthday party. But now everyone nose about it.

Like Us On Facebook
Follow Us On Twitter

Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory are developing robots to explore volcanoes in Hawaii. The team, led by geologist Carolyn Parcheta, has already tested VolcanoBot 1 at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii and is now preparing VolcanoBot2 for its mission later this year. The team’s robots have been developed in order to gain new information about what happens within volcanoes. Naturally, it’s a dangerous business, so Parcheta and her co-advisor, JPL robotics researcher Aaron Parness, are developing robots that can get into the most perilous of crevices.

Read the rest of NASA is tossing robots into Hawaii’s volcanoes

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: Carolyn Parcheta, hawaii, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Kilauea Volcano, moons, nasa, planets, robotics, robots, volcano robot, VolcanoBot1, VolcanoBot2

Note: Still sick as hell, bear with me. Because bookworms are a hardcore bunch, somebody hacked a road sign in downtown Los Angeles late last week with the message, 'READ A F***ING BOOK'. And while reading is fundamental, reading while driving is considered dangerous and shouldn't be attempted by anyone but professional drivers on closed tracks while filming car commercials. But seriously, pick up a book sometime. Look at me -- I'm reading one right now! "That's an upside-down takeout menu." You don't know what you're talking about. Keep going for the uncensored version. It has a big bold dirty word!