Gimme that!

Dyson has d0ne it again! After developing a filter-less vacuum and a towel-less hand drier the company recently introduced a blade-less fan. The result is an "air multiplier" that emits smooth air-flow without the choppy qualities of a regular fan (I never noticed that the air was choppy but I'll be on the look out from now on). Also, it doesn't make any of those buzzing, ratcheting noises AND it's easy to clean. I'm sold. Anyone got $300?

Bentover backwards

HOLY SNAP! Pardon me for two WTWTA posts in such a short time period, but I couldn't help myself. Want to see more bento art? Click here

Give the bear a home

Designed by Teerachai Jai Suppameteekulwat (woah!) - A tiny bear surveys the landscape atop a silicone tray of arctic ice chunks. Fill every hole with water or juice and place the tray into the freezer to make a home for the polar bear. Makes 15 cubes, costs 18 bucks.

Contemporary Jewish Museum: Where the Wild Things Are

The CJM in San Francisco just opened an exhibition about Maurice Sendak, the author and illustrator of the childrens book (that upon reflection may be more for adults) Where the Wild Things Are. Interesting choice for the Contemporary Jewish Museum considering Sendak is excorciatingly anti-religion and a gay man. I'm impressed with their openness! I hope to get to see the exhibition. Here is a brief description from the CJM website:

Sendak was born in Brooklyn in 1928, the youngest of three children. His parents, poor Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, suffered greatly from the loss of many family members in Poland during the Holocaust. The sadness and complexities of the Holocaust, the rich memories of his parent's lives in Europe, and his own childhood experiences with his Jewish relatives, are currents that run through all of Sendak's work. The exhibition explores a number of different aspects of Sendak's books including his child characters, monsters, literary and artistic influences, and the settings of his stories. Visitors will delve into the hidden nuances and personal secrets within Sendak's work through exclusive interviews with the artist on digital touch screens throughout the exhibition. As Sendak himself said in one such interview, "When you hide another story in a story, that's the story I am telling the children." These hidden stories within Sendak's work form the core experience of There's a Mystery There.

And, because I love Dave Eggers (the writer) and Arcade Fire, here is the trailer for the upcoming film:

Horchata & Orxata

The drink, and subject of a new Vampire Weekend song (see below), refers to several kinds of traditional beverages made of ground almonds, sesame seeds, rice, barley or tigernuts (chufas). In Spain, it usually refers to orxata de xufes (horchata de chufas), made from tigernuts, water and sugar.

Originally from Valencia, the idea of making horchata from tigernuts comes from the period of Muslim presence in Valencia (from the 8th to 13th century). It has a regulating council to ensure the quality of the product and the villages where it can come from, with the Denomination of Origin. The village of Alboraia is well known for the quality of their horchata. 

It is served ice cold as a natural refreshment in the summer. Tigernut horchata is also used in place of milk by the lactose intolerant.In the US, rice-based or morro horchata is served in many Mexican restaurants, and the horchata de chufas (tigernut) is virtually unknown. Rice-based horchata is also sometimes available in US grocery and convenience stores, especially in Hispanic neighborhoods.

Vampire Weekend - Horchata