Derringer is the neo-classical interpretation of a 1920's era board track racing motorcycle, but that's not all. Designed by world-renowned industrial designer, Adrian Van Anz, this revolutionary moto-hybrid was conceived as an exciting new option in highly-efficient transportation.
Derringers can be pedaled as a traditional bicycle, propelled via engine power (49cc 4-stroke means it's street legal), or pedaled with the assistance of engine power. While under power, the pedals can also remain stationary, allowing you to operate in the style of a traditional motorcycle (with speeds up to 40mph).
Capable of fuel economy ratings that can exceed 150 mpg, Derringers take the compromise out of environmentalism, clearly evidenced by the number of customers who purchase a Derringer along with an in-home display stand.
Today, there are many all-in-one tools, but only one of them is a near-universal metaphor for versatility. And it isn’t Leatherman. In the imagination, Swiss Army Knives and their 126-year history stand alone.
Steven Regengold, who blogs as The Gear Junkie, went to Ibach and Delemont, the two Swiss towns which still manufacture every Swiss Army tool for Victorinox and Wenger S.A., for an historical tour. It’s a great read; here are just a few highlights:
The first knife was indeed made for Swiss soldiers in 1884, who needed a foldable knife that could both open food cans and disassemble a rifle;
The descendents of Victorinox’s founder Karl Eisener own both Victorinox and Wenger S.A., which co-own the “Swiss Army Knife” copyright;
The two-company model might be explained by the fact that Victorinox is German-speaking and Wenger is French-speaking (this goes against all expectations one might have based on the spelling of the two company names, but is very Swiss);
“In 2006, Wenger introduced the Giant, a gargantuan, nine-inch-wide “pocket knife” with 85 implements that sells as a collector’s item for $1,400″;
The hidden springs that let each knife/screwdriver/tool gently come forward and snap back were an innovation of the original model over 100 years ago.
Danish bicycle company Biomega and design collective KiBiSi have collaborated to create this new bike for sports brand Puma. The PUMA Mopion Bike has a metal rack attached to the front of the frame for carrying baggage. The frame is made of aluminium, weighs 22 kilograms (48.5 lbs) and comes in black, white, or a magenta, blue and lime livery.
PUMA Mopion is rock steady for the daily grind. It mixes city bike features, and cargo bike features, making it a sturdy companion. It comes with a super-size innovative front carrier for heavy duty transport of your groceries or other needs. Developed for city dwellers, Mopion features a light aluminum frame, making it a one-of-a-kind lightweight cargo bike. The geometry holds the body in a slightly inclined, but still heads-up position for navigational ease and exceptional balancing.
Earlier today, the Thayer IV, took to the water, on a lake in Minnesota, for the first time since it's near-complete restoration. Few probably know that this boat, a 1950 Chris-Craft Sportsman, was featured in several scenes in the Oscar-winning movie "On Golden Pond".
For me, that boat was the highlight of the movie. Ever since being conscripted to watch the Hepburn / Fonda melodrama with my folks when I was younger (it's not a kid flick), I have been infatuated with older Chris-Craft runabouts. These dames were endowed with an elegance and character that I didn't see in the motorboats produced during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s (even those built by Chris-Craft).
In 2000, Chris-Craft was sold out of bankruptcy to Stephen Julius, who also owned the iconic brands Indian Motorcycles and Riva (Italian boat maker - remember the boat chase in the third Indiana Jones movie?). Mr. Julius, who seems to be, like myself, inspired by history, set out to re-establish Chris-Craft's image of luxury. From a design standpoint, this meant introducing new models that harkened back to Chris-Craft's heyday in the 50s. All new models were united by distinctive design flairs, such as the classic reverse transom and a flared bow.
Chris-Craft and their European competitors now offer a fleet of aristocratic, yet seductive, motorboats that infuse classic design with contemporary technology. As evidenced by the number of industry awards bestowed on these boats, this is apparentlywhat the boating crowd desires.
Now, although I'm still counting my nickels and dimes, I do of course have a wish list in my head for when that day arrives where I can motor off into the sunset. Here are my current favorites... which will hopefully have made their way to the pre-owned market by the time I'm ready to buy:
In the early, chaotic, primordial years of the mobile phone era, you had to press real, actual "buttons" to get things done. Almost barbaric to think about now, isn't it?
As society advanced and we gradually became a more civilized species, buttons gave way to touchscreens and voice control, mercifully giving the atrophied sausages we call "arms" and "fingers" a bit of respite every time we needed to surf through cyberspace, place a phone call, or send a text message. Now, it seems the evolution of Homo sapiens is reaching its inevitable final stage with the release of the PLX XWave, headgear that plugs into your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad and -- after a bit of training -- lets you control the device with your mind alone.
The headset makes use of the NeuroSky technology that we've seen several times through the years and will be made available with a number of apps upon its release next month including a game, dedicated training app, a music controller (which will let you compare brainwaves with other XWave users, interestingly), and an "Om Meditation Timer." If none of those titles have captured your imagination, you'll be able to write your own apps with the device's SDK; needless to say, we'll be patiently waiting for the levitation app depicted here. Orders are online now for $100 with delivery in October.
Let the Right One In: Birth of a Contemporary Vampire Legend Set in the early 1980's Stockholm, the story is an unusual blend of a coming of age buddy tale and an eerie vampire horror. A much needed, fresh departure from the other Vampire stories currently splattered upon the zietgeist.
So This is What the Future Will Look Like Restaurant reviews, directions, nearest amenities—all these can be pulled up in the HUD-style ‘view’ on smartphones today, but NatGeo is speculating these displays will be common on eyewear in the next five years.
Your Personal Predator Drone: iPhone Controlled Quadracopter Get inside the cockpit! Even meters away, keep control with your thanks to streaming Wi-Fi video. Two cameras are embedded in the copter, one on the front and one underneath facing the ground.
