‘Various & Sundry’ Archives
Palm frond animals
Lots of people like balloon animals, with their colors and squeaks. How about their cousins, the palm frond animals? They come mostly in green-tones, and rattle more than squeak, but they're equally cute, and even more intricate. They also make really good driving buddies.
Faith the 2-legged dog
We are surrounded by inspiration and optimism. Take Faith the 2-legged dog for example. Faith was born without her 2 front legs. Saved by a young boy and his family, Faith is an incredible inspiration. She learned to walk upright on her 2 back legs like a human and her muscles and body have adjusted miraculously. If Faith can overcome what [...]
Ridiculous dancing
There is nothing that can lift spirits quite like a bout of ridiculous dancing. Grab your friends and head out on the dance floor. Do the sprinkler, the cabbage patch, running man, or some good old staying alive. Just make sure you move it, grove it, and laugh out loud.
Custom license plates
Custom license plates (aka: vanity plates) are awesome. They tell you a little bit about the person driving the car they're on. And sometimes, they impart a little wisdom, a little humor, a little inspiration. They remind us to have fun, love life, and even to remember the Golden Rule. So, keep your eyes open for a bit of license plate [...]
Hammocks
What's more awesome than swinging in a tropical breeze, suspended in a coccoon of woven splendor? Not much, really. A hammock can take a full week worth of work to weave by hand. They've been used for thousands of years all over the world, and continue to be used today both for pleasure and practical sleeping quarters. With just the push of [...]
Green Curtain
By growing a living, green curtain outside your house you can cool the temperature in that area inside the house by up to 15 degrees. That's a lot. And there's more. Green curtains are living plants, so a wall of them absorbs a considerable amount of CO2. Plus, if you grow an edible vine (like kidney beans or goya), you can boost your [...]
Cityscape sunsets
I grew up in Southern Idaho, where the sunsets were like shifting paintings, the colors changing from muted blues and greys to vibrant pinks and shocking oranges, reds and purples. The colors soak the skies over prairies and mountains. But in Portland, the sunsets come unexpectedly, tearing at the skies around the city, and giving a [...]
Book Booth
Here's a totally awesome way to do something with an old, unused phone booth. Put books in it and use it as a book exchange site. Amy Inouye started this trend in the Highland Park neighborhood of L.A. Now, that's what I call recycling! Read the GOOD article about it here.
Bananagrams
I love games. I love playing games with friends and family. And the newest game that I love playing is Bananagrams. Played with lettered tiles, Bananagrams uses a great combination of crossword and word scramble skills. The game begins with a pile of random tiles in front of each player. When one person is able to arrange all of [...]
HumanCar Imagine PS
Charles Samuel Greenwood, an engineer from Eugene, Oregon, has been working on developing a human powered car since the 1960s. His latest version, the Imagine PS, is set to hit the market next year. This human-electric hybrid can go 30mph up a hill and up to 60mph on flat terrain. With four people using the hand cranks it can be [...]
