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Shingled Skateboard Reminds You of Home

shingled-skateboard

Ahh, it’s nice to be reminded of home. Unfortunately this skateboard reminds me of my roof, rather than my cozy couch. How awesome would it be to build a roof using only skateboard?

Designer Devin Barette created several artsy skateboards, including the Shingled Skateboard, for an art show and auction to raise money for charity.

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“Key Hidden Here” Doormat: Everybody Already Knows

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You know that super awesome hiding place you chose for your extra house key? Everybody knows it’s there, seriously. What’s the point of hiding an extra house key under your doormat anymore? As far as your home security is concerned, you might as well advertise your transparency, maybe get a few brownie points for honesty and an oddly self-inflicted sense of humor.

The Key Hidden Here Doormat comes in a variety of sizes, starting at 18″ x 24″ for $24.95.

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Review: Tonium Pacemaker

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I’ve been DJing since I was 15. Never professionally, only at parties, the occasional event or for my own pleasure. My first set of decks were made up of old Numark belt-driven turntables. After I got a little better, I bought Technics 1200s with Ortofon cartridges and a nice Rane mixer. That lasted me until I went digital and started using M-Audio’s Torq Xponent controller in conjunction with Traktor 3 on my Macbook.

Now it’s 2009. For the last few weeks, I’ve been messing around with the Tonium Pacemaker. It’s a rather expensive little DJ device coming in at around $850 but it packs a lot of power.
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How To Build An Igloo

Kevin Kelly has a great find over on his site Cool Tools. It’s an $11 book from author Norbert E. Yankielun that teaches the art of the igloo and other snow shelters. After reading the 208 page novel, all you’ll need to do is wait for the next Nor’Easter and you’re ready to build a house that isn’t affected by sub-prime mortgages. Suh-weet!

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Oh Noes! My House Is Walking Away

A mobile home is hardly a house. It’s a truck with a bed inside. On the other hand, the N55 WALKING HOUSE is the premier modular dwelling system. In addition to its ability to slowly troll surrounding landscapes, it collects energy by using solar cells and small windmills. There is even a system for collecting rain water and another for solar heated hot water. Of course, let’s not forget the crapper and the fireplace, the WALKING HOUSE has both.

Unlike a mobile home, you’re living a pollution-free life but you’re still a nomad. Roaming the countryside with nothing more than your own bedroom sounds great, then you realize you have to eat. Not a problem considering a small greenhouse unit can be added to the basic living module, eliminating the possibility of a food shortage. When we find ourselves in a post-apocalyptic future caused by mankind’s irresponsibility to maintain mother Earth, we’ll all wish we were living in the WALKING HOUSE.

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New Gateway Desktops For Gamer And Media Nuts

While Gateway has never been known for their power house rigs, gamers and media enthusiasts will surely be interested in its latest line of desktops, the Gateway FX6710-01 and LX6200-01.

For the gamer, the FX6710-01 packs an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 CPU, ATI HD 4850 graphics, 6GB of RAM, 750GB HDD, DVD burner, memory card reader and Vista Premium all for only $1199.99. That’s not a bad price considering those specs. Now as for the media enthusiast, the LX6200-01 has an AMD Phenom X4 9400 with integrated ATI HD 3200 graphics. It’s got a built-in analog/digital TV tuner, 8GB of RAM, 750GB HDD, DVD burner, memory card reader, Vista Premium, and HDMI out. Almost identical in specs to the FX6710-01, except the LX costs only $779.99.

Which one tickles your fancy?

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DIY: A Water Bottle Chandelier

When you’re in the market for a new chandelier to decorate your home, style is everything. Sometimes style is outweighed by design, which is the case with this water bottle chandelier designed by Michelle Brand. We’ve seen chandeliers made of all sorts of recycled junk. Ballpoint pens, CD cases and even milk crates can be used to make impressive-looking household decor and the creativity doesn’t stop there.

Artist Michelle Brand uses cut-off plastic bottle bases to shower interiors with light.  So not only is she resourcefully recycling plastic, she’s also making a bitchin’ light source for your living room.

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Dome Housing: The Shire Is Real

We all have that hairy-toed hobbit inside of us whose always wanted to live in the Shire.  The home manufacturer Japan Dome House Co., Ltd. is all about Middle Earth and they want to make those halfling fantasies come true.  These igloo-shaped structures are built from snap-together wall sections made of 100% Styrofoam.  No termites, no rust, no toxic fumes in the event of a fire.

Hobbits from all around Middle Earth will come flocking to your door step to relax in your dome bathhouse as they puff on their pipe-weed and run up your phone bill with that Hobbit phone of yours.  Dome House kits start at around $30,000 which excludes the cost of delivery, assembly and interior construction. I wonder if Peter Jackson will give up his Hollywood home in favor of his very own Bilbo Baggins bachelor pad.

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One Remote To Open Them All

When you’re carrying a ton of groceries, you just don’t have that extra hand to twist the knob to gain access to your house. Well, door knobs are a thing of the past. No Design’s Sao Paulo was obviously tired of the run-of-the-mill front doors found on every house so he designed the Max Door. Simply put, it’s a door with no door knob. What’s unique and special about it is a few of its perks:

It can be opened via remote-control device, much like your car or garage. It’s even got a mailbox built-in to the door, eliminating morning walks to fetch your paper like a dog. And to top it all off, it has retractable guillotine at the base for sound insulation. We’re hoping that it can be used for decapitating trespassers, but no word on if and when this door will be commercial.

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Arduino Lilypad: Oversized Robotic Arm Directs Plants To Window

Your house plants are withering. You have two options: put them out in the sun or build a gigantic robotic arm that takes up half of your living space. Lively plants at the cost of sleeping in the bathtub doesn’t sound too bad either.

The Bartlett School of Architecture showcased their “Experiments in Time” exhibit, which included this steel monstrosity strapped with an Arduino Lilypad controller to tilt a disc into sunlight.  Seriously, all you have to do is pick your house plants up, walk outside and place them down on the ground. You’ll be set, they’ll be healthy and you get to spend the night in your bed without sharing rent with a robotic arm.

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Editor’s Note: SEATTLE!!