posted by admin on Jul 18

Instead of another vase or table lamp – why not a stuffed sparrow?

There is no need to wonder about the eco-credentials of that wooden furniture, or the sustainability of the materials used in your boutique jewelry or even the human rights associated with the fabrics used to create that delightful throw – all of these unusual ‘gifts’ are eco friendly, sustainable and don’t abuse the rights of anyone.

Why?

Because they are all made of naturally expired animals – dead animals.

The latest creations in London aren’t fashion statements, don’t come via Paris or feature on any catwalk, they are delightfully unique wild or domesticated animals sourced from the UK, that have had the services of an expert taxidermist – and one with an artisitic twist.

Who Are They?
This creative duo work together to offer us cute curled lambs in a mini suitcase – with a tiny finch in the mix. Or a fox who looks like he’s sleeping, with swirls of pidgeons drawn above him like he is dreaming of his perfect heaven!

No animals are killed to make these items – they were all found dead or passed away naturally before being brought back to life as a beautiful life-like model.

And, inspired by each animal and the case, box or suitcase it will be shaped to fit – a delicate field of sketches is laid around and underneath it to set the scene of their re-created life. A sea bird is nestled infront of its flying friends; and a redwing caught in mid-flight across the skies!

Of course they don’t just offer the animals, you can buy a whole collection of similarly sketched or themed goods for you and your home – but you can guarantee that each of these is a one-off.

I mean, those pheasants stuffed in a hat box can’t be replicated exactly – even if they tried! Each bird or mammal used is unique.

Take a look at their store in London and fall in love with their creations yourself!

As featured in Audubon Magazine

posted by admin on Jun 2

Bored of Earrings and Tattoos? Maybe you need optical surgery!

There are many ways for humans to adorn their bodies with color and jewelry – and many are hundreds if not thousands of years old.

However – there is one that is so new it is still only carried out in one place and is awaiting its patent!

Eyeball Implants!

Taking the idea of ‘lizard’ or ‘Devil’ contact lenses one step further – this surgical body modification will implant a small piece of shaped material in the outer layers of the eye ball, like a heart or star.

So if you have enough piercings, tattoos and brandings already – why not stick a four-leafed clover or $ sign in your eye!

JewelEye:
Well this is just what you can get at the Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery – an implant in your superficial, interpalpebral conjunctiva!

It apparently doesn’t ‘interfere with the ocular function of the eye’ – like how you see and move your eye – although I could imagine it could be quite irritating until you get used to it!

And the material used is totally inert and can be shaped to almost any solid shape by the manufacturers – perfect for that ‘unique’ touch that everyone is after.

Implanting The Jewel:
With just an eye anaesthetic between you and the implant – you eye is cleaned thoroughly while you are awake – the qualified opthalmic doctor creates a small pocket in your outer eye with liquid, to about the size of the implant.

The implant is then ‘slipped’ into this pocket with normal forceps and patted dry.

Antibiotic drops need to be used for at least 1-2 weeks after implantation, and then that’s it – all done!

People have had these implants in their eyes for over a year and have had no problems at all – so at least there is that to reassure you of this ‘new’ procedure.

Fancy Getting One?
Well, you will need to go to Holland first as only 2 clinics currently offer this type of cosmetic surgery.

However, if you are interested in learning more – go to their website to look at the procedure taking place as well as more detailed information on the procedure.

Let us know if you have had this done anyone!

posted by admin on May 24

Nobody wants to be tracked while they are driving – but now young people are begging to!

The Co-Operative Society have come up with a great way to find out how safe their new drivers are – and charge them accordingly; by using what they are calling ‘Smartbox’.

Now normally we don’t want to give too much information away about ourselves if we can help it – but when we can be rewarded for our behaviour (and there is money to be saved) we don’t mind!

For example, many people changed to metered water in the UK recently so that they only paid for the water they used – showing that they were using less than the average person. However, water-wasters stil aren’t being penalised as they are only paying the ‘set rate’ still.

But with car insurance it is different! You pay more money for insurance if the insurance companies know that you are more likely to cause them trouble. The equivalent of charging people a huge amount for their water if they don’t commit to a meter to show their exact usage.

How It Works:
Well, young drivers are much more likely to have an accident in their car if they drive too fast, drive irresponsibly and drive in the dark – so their premiums are set high to cover the costs of repairing cars if they drive irresponsibly fast at night!

photo credit: thienzieyung

However, many young drivers don’t drive like that – but are statiscally within the same group – and you can’t take their word that they will behave behind the wheel. So in comes the Smartbox.

Basically, this device is fitted discretely in the vehicle and wired up to the cars electrics – like a black box of sorts – and records various details about driving speed, acceleration as well as having GPS facilities and a slock to record time of day.

Add all of this collected information together and they can tell when, where and how the car is being driven – and reward of penalise as necessary.

The machine can’t lie – so it can easily sort the wheat from the chaff so to speak!

Why Would You Do It?
If you have ever tried to get a car insurance quote when you are young and a new driver – you will know why you would be willing to be ‘recorded’ by the Smartbox: car insurance can be – and regularly is – over £1000 per annum. Way too expensive for most youngsters.

So, why not show that you can be a responsible driver in exchange for massive savings over the year?

All the data collected can be viewed online with the Co-Op, detailing which areas of driving you are very good at and letting you know the areas where you could improve your driving. It isn’t just about the money – it is about creating safer roads for the driver and all other road users.

Literally as you drive safely to and from work or college every day you are saving money – and it can be many hundreds of pounds over the year and into your next years premium too.

And, due to the tracking set up for the driving skills – your car is also tracked if it ever gets stolen!

If I was faced with the choice (and I know I am a good driver) – I would fit one!

posted by admin on May 7

Just a really quick post here to let you know that the world has gone mad!

I was in a local book store today, and happened to be standing next to a Gift Card display rack – and noticed that 1 of the cards was for Farmville.

I looked again – and yes, it was a £10 Gift Card for a make believe game on the Internet! A whole actual real £10 to be used buying pretend farm machinery and silver ponies.

Now I know that we spend far too much money on unnecessary clothes, electronics, music and apps – but to spend money on virtual ‘farm’ shopping seems a step to far!

A book gift card can educate, a clothing gift card can make the perfect night – but a Farmville gift card can only buy imaginary equipment to farm your imaginary crops to feed to your imaginary animals……

That is all I have to say on the matter!

posted by admin on Feb 22

How about something unusual to give as a gift – 60,000 years of their history!

A simple and painless swab on the inside of a mouth is all it takes to find out where you ancesters came from soon after they started on the journey of a lifetime!

So instead of buying the lastest DS game for your nephew, or the newest version of the iPad for your godson – why not let them see something far more interesting and unusual: their family’s past!

Genographic Studies.
It is currently believed that all humans alive today were originally from the exact same place in Africa.

It is also believed that around 60,000 years ago, these early humans decided to move to new pastures, and set off on what turned out to be the journey of mankind.

They may have originally been just looking for better food or water supplies not far from their family, but the journey didn’t stop, and humans spread across virtually the whole globe – changing as they went.

Some set up permanent homes in river mouths or forests and others kept travelling, until we get to today – with many thousands of different cultures, languages and individual traits and preferences alive on almost every continent.

So which path did your family take?

Take The Test!
It is now very easy and relatively cheap to get a detailed history of your past. Where your ancesters have been – or still are – and which branches of your family gave you most of your personal genes today.

Whether you think you know your past – you are from an isolated community – or you have absolutely no idea what your past will hold – you can all take part in this unique not-for-profit and internationally shared research project.

Your initial test is totally separate from the International Study and so you can receive your results and keep them to yourself forever – you are not obliged to share anything about yourself.

However, if you do want to be a part of the larger project – any data you give will be treated anonymously and securely as with any other personal details.

Obviously, offering your results to the wider science community may well have benefits to us all in terms of understanding human evolution, migration, settlement and cultural distinctions.

And it could also give you a chance to learn about other cultures and communities around the world – for example, if you find out your ancestors came through Turkey or Asia etc, you may be inclined to read more about those areas – maybe even inspiring you to travel……. and to learn!

More information about the project can be found on the National Geographic Site in many different languages and answering a myriad of related questions – go to their link: Genome Study to find out more……

photo credit: Alex E. Proimos