STUFF: News, Technology, the cool and the plain weird

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LIFE - Official Trailer

Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds hop on board the International Space Station in the first look at Daniel Espinosa's space thriller. The pair and their crew are picked to study what might be the first trace of extra-terrestrial life found on the Red Planet, but, as you'd expect, things go terribly, terribly wrong. Also starring Rebecca Ferguson, Olga Dihovichnaya, Ariyon Bakare, Hiroyuki Sanada, the film is slated for release this U.S Memorial Day.

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CU BOCAN 1989 SCOTCH WHISKY

Named after a mythical hellhound that has stalked residents of the Highland village of Tomatin, Cù Bòcan 1989 is a special release from the Tomatin distillery. This sweet and smoky single malt is non-chill filtered and was matured in 1st fill ex-Bourbon casks before being bottled at cask strength. This rare edition of Cù Bòcan delivers light smoke combined with citrus and spice for a dark dram worth tracking down.

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The Arctic Is Having A Very Bad Time

After shrinking to exceptionally low levels this summer, the Arctic's shiny mantle of sea ice is finally starting to regrow. Way, way slower than it normally does.

In September, Arctic sea ice hit its annual summertime minimum, dwindling to just 4.14 million square km, the second-lowest extent since satellite record-keeping began. Now, as the northern hemisphere transitions into winter, scientists expect to see sea ice rebounding rapidly. But this year, the Arctic is less like a healthy patient putting on the holiday fat and more like a starving polar bear that just ate its first meal in months. Which is also, probably true.

For the first two weeks of October, Arctic sea ice only increased by 378,000 square km, less than a third its average growth rate from 1981 to 2010. While ice growth picked up a bit in the latter half of the month, overall, October 2016 rounded out with the poorest Arctic sea ice showing on record: A monthly average of 6.4 million square km, which is 2.55 million square km less than normal for this time of year.

2.55 million square km is about four times the size of Texas.

Above image of Arctic ice shelf as of 2016

It should surprise no one to hear what's behind the stunted Arctic sea ice growth: Lots and lots of heat. Data released by the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) this week shows surface temperatures in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, along the Eurasian coast and in the Eastern Siberian sea more than 3C above average for this time of year. Air temperatures are also unusually warm over much of the Arctic right now.

According to Julienne Stroeve, an ice researcher with the NSIDC, it's too early to say whether or not this slow start is indicative of another record low winter for sea ice in the Arctic. "It's not necessarily unusual for ice growth to stall during the wintertime," she told Gizmodo. "But this year has been an interesting year - we've already had a lot of records."

Sea surface temperature anomalies on 25 October 2016.

Indeed, this year has been marked by temperatures many degrees above normal across the entire Arctic, resulting in record low sea ice all winter and spring. The Arctic's hot flash mirrors the global monthly temperature records we've been hitting with brutal regularity, as well as annual heat records. (Last month, NASA pretty much decided that 2016 is going to displace 2015 as the hottest year on record. 2015 just displaced 2014.)

If the slow growth persists, Stroeve said, Arctic sea ice may not have the chance to thicken up to its usual wintertime extent of 1.5 to 2m. Thinner ice encourages more rapid springtime melting, which causes problems for polar bears and other animals that depend on the ice for hunting and breeding.

Rapid spring melting also means a longer ice-free summer. And longer ice free summers cause Arctic seas to absorb even more heat, potentially triggering even more ice retreat. "You start to get into feedbacks," Stroeve said.

On a brighter note, once the Arctic is completely ice free in the summertime - a milestone we're expected to hit by 2050, if current carbon emissions trends continue - there'll be plenty of extra room for luxury cruise liners to tool around, and plenty of extra seafloor for oil-hungry nations to squabble over the drilling rights to. Let no one ever say humanity's ship sank quietly.

 

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Neil Patrick Harris' Villain Is Revealed In First Footage From A Series Of Unfortunate Events

The first actual footage from Netflix's Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is here. And while it's interesting to see the show's aesthetic, the real highlight is the full reveal of Neil Patrick Harris' villainous Count Olaf.

He looks creepy, and very much in line with what we expected after seeing Jim Carrey play the same role in the 2004 movie. Nevertheless, Harris has great range and seeing him as such a despicable character is going to be a lot of fun.

Set to debut January 13 on Netflix, the show follows three children who lose their parents and end up in the custody of their evil uncle. He'll stop at nothing to gain their inheritance so he continually tries to kill them - and the kids have to outsmart Olaf while working to solve the mystery of their parents' death.

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The New Wonder Woman Trailer

The latest glimpse of the upcoming Wonder Woman movie takes us back in time, to show how an Amazon princess becomes a hero capable of inspiring the whole world.

 

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Before the Flood - Full Movie | National Geographic

Join Leonardo DiCaprio as he explores the topic of climate change, and discovers what must be done today to prevent catastrophic disruption of life on our planet.

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Benedict Cumberbatch Presents The Apple Toilet On SNL

Apple haters rejoice! SNL and Dr. Strange himself took Apple's history of over-the-top marketing of (occasionally underwhelming) iterative design to task and yeah, it was actually funny.

Calling back to the famous 1984 ad that announced Apple was here to smash the competition with true innovation, the sketch quickly fast-forwards to the present state of things. That is to say, making new versions of old things. Specifically, a toilet. In case the extremely blunt parody wasn't on the nose enough, the toilet comes in Jet Black.

BONUS: Below is the original Apple ad

 

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Canadian Military Investigates Mysterious Pings From The Arctic Seafloor

Indigenous hunters in the Canadian territory of Nunavut have reported unexplained sounds that appear to be coming from the Arctic seafloor. These sounds, described as "pings", "hums" and "beeps", have attracted the attention of Canada's Department of National Defence, which dispatched a plane to investigate.

The strange sounds were heard throughout the summer in Fury and Helca Strait (winter in Australia), which is about 120km northwest of the hamlet of Igloolik. A government official from the region said the noise was "emanating from the seafloor", and that it was happening in a major hunting area called a polynya - an area of open water surrounded by ice where sea mammals like to congregate. But this summer, "hardly any" animals appeared, prompting suspicion - and a potential link.

Indigenous hunters aren't the only ones who have heard the sounds. Reports also came in from boaters who navigated a private yacht through the area, and a number of other Nunavut residents say they have also heard the sounds. Whatever it is, this sound can apparently be heard through the hulls of boats.

There are no shortage of theories. One suggestion is that Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation - which previously conducted sonar surveys in the area - is back to its old tricks. But the company says it has not conducted any surveys nearby, nor does it have any equipment in the water. Another theory is that the sounds are being produced by construction, blasting or hydrography. But Nunavut officials say no territorial permits have been issued for such work. One of the more weirder theories points the finger at Greenpeace, along with the accusation that the environmental group is deliberately generating the sounds to scare wildlife away from the rich hunting ground. Greenpeace denies the accusation.

The Canadian Department of National Defence told CBC News that it has been made aware of the strange noises, and that "the Canadian Armed Forces are taking the appropriate steps to actively investigate the situation". Yesterday, a Canadian military surveillance plane checked out the area from above.

"The air crew performed various multi-sensor searches in the area, including an acoustic search for 1.5 hours, without detecting any acoustic anomalies," noted the CDND in a statement. "The crew did not detect any surface or subsurface contacts. The crew did observe two pods of whales and six walruses in the area of interest."

The CDND said submarines have not been ruled out as the source, but considered it unlikely. Which seems like a strange thing to say given recent Russian encroachments in various Arctic regions.

So while theories abound, nothing has been proven yet. We'll be watching this story should some new information emerge.

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THIS PERSONAL WINE BUTLER ROBOT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL FANCY AF

Looking to take your wine hobby to the next level? Nothing makes you feel fancier than hiring your own personal wine butler bot.

This nifty little invention promises to upgrade the way your drink wine at home. Part wine-tap, part robotic wine sommelier, this gadget will suggest and pour wine for you and your guests!

Did we mention it has a built-in biometric sensors that analyzes each person and offers them the perfect wine selection based on the readings? That's right, this robot knows what it's doing. We told you it was fancy.

"Nothing makes you look more high class than having your own butler… unless it’s a futuristic robot butler!" writes the bot's creators. "The Butler is a robotic wine cellar that is intelligent enough to recommend the perfect wine to you based on personal tastes."

"It has a biometric sensor that works the magic, differentiating between people, and reading their biorhythm to recommend the best wine. The Butler also doubles up as a table and even a snacks storage, because what’s the point of a butler that doesn’t provide you with the perfect tidbits while you sip your spirit!"

Check out the butler bot here.

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Bram Stoker’s Secret: The Strange Lost Chapter of “Dracula”

Arguably among the most famous tales of darkness and the macabre ever written, Bram Stoker’s seminal 1897 Gothic horror novel, Dracula, continues to set a precedent in the horror genre more than a century after its publication.

Derivative works that range from short stories and novels, to the myriad films portraying the famous Transylvanian count, often depict Dracula as a kind of “king among vampires”, if not very literally so. Among Stoker’s early sources of inspiration for the story had been visits to locations like the crypts at Saint Michan’s Church in Dublin, Ireland, as well as a castle known as Slains, near Aberdeenshire.

However, there were perhaps no elements at play which directly inspired Stoker more than the publication of Sheridan Le Fanu’s seminal novella Carmilla, appearing in print 26 years before Dracula arrived on the scene. 

Considered one of the most sensual and risqué works of fiction for its time, Le Fanu’s novella featured boldly suggestive sexual themes. Most notably, Carmilla’s slow seduction of the story’s female protagonist would set a precedent for lesbian attraction appearing in vampire literature and films for decades to come, in addition to the general sexuality of the vampire in Gothic literature. Dracula’s character, though less explicitly suggestive than Carmella had been a few decades earlier, nonetheless portrays the passions of its namesake in a way that bodes a sort of “coming of age” for Victorian culture; a prominence of rebellion against sexual repression that had once been so common in the era.

Apart from the myriad similarities in the themes shared between Dracula and Carmilla, Stoker had once intended to include a more distinct “nod” to his predecessor’s work in the final presentation of his own vampire novel. We know this today, thanks to an odd addendum to the Dracula narrative that was later published by Stoker, but which seems to have initially been intended for inclusion as part of the original Dracula narrative, rather than merely as a standalone short story. 

The bizarre affair of Dracula’s “lost chapter” began in 1914, with the posthumous publication of a collection of Stoker’s short stories by his widow, Florence, under the title Dracula’s Guest and Other Weird Stories. In the volume, Florence wrote of the volume’s title story:

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“I have added an hitherto unpublished episode from Dracula. It was originally excised owing to the length of the book, and may prove of interest to the many readers of what is considered my husband’s most remarkable work.”

This indeed seems to rather explicitly suggest that the short story called “Dracula’s Guest” was omitted from the original work. However, it was difficult to make anything conclusive of this determination, due to the fact that early drafts of Stoker’s novel were missing for many years.

During the 1980s, a remarkable discovery turned up in, of all places, a barn in Northwestern Pennsylvania: an original typescript of Stoker’s novel, numbering 541 pages in length. Numerous changes and edits had been made to the text, most notably the handwritten title on the cover page, which read simply, “THE UN-DEAD.” This is generally interpreted as having been Stoker’s original title for the book, which was invariably changed to that of the famous name of the story’s nemesis prior to publication.

Preceding the 2008 publication of The New Annotated Dracula, editor Leslie S. Klinger was given access to Stoker’s original manuscript. Studying the various changes to the text revealed a number of tantalizing clues, not least of them being protagonist Jonathan Harker complaining at one point about his throat being “still sore from the licking of the gray wolf’s file-like tongue.”

Within the context of the published narrative in Dracula we are familiar with today, this would have made very little sense; at what point would Harker have been “licked” by a wolf? Was he hallucinating?

The sentence, as Klinger notes, was later removed from the final version of the manuscript, though its inclusion in early drafts provides the key to understanding the mystery of Dracula’s “lost chapter”. Returning to the short story “Dracula’s Guest”, in it we find an unnamed protagonist (taken to have been none other than Harker) who visits Munich on Walpurgis night, while en route to Transylvania. Traveling alone while a storm lingers in the distance, Harker eventually takes cover in a cypress grove, wherein he finds a cemetery. As hailstones begin to fall, Harker discovers a large tomb, which he attempts to enter. Opening the bronze door, he finds a beautiful woman who appears to be resting inside; at this moment, a powerful lightning strike sends him flying backward, and upon awakening, he opens his eyes to see a massive, wolf-like creature licking his neck. Harker is soon rescued from the eerie affair with the arrival of a group of horsemen, who say that the beast they were pursuing was “a wolf – and yet not a wolf”, noting of Harker’s condition that “the wolf has been lying on him and keeping his blood warm.”

In light of the redacted sentence from the earlier Dracula manuscript, it seems clear that the affair involving the strange cemetery and its beastly attendant had been intended as part of the original Dracula narrative. This also explains why the early manuscript’s first chapter is labeled “ii”, as though beginning with the omission of a first chapter altogether.

There is more that we find within this “lost chapter”, however. Within the marble tomb, where Jonathan Harker initially begins to seek refuge, he was able to see a “beautiful woman” moments before a lightning strike destroys the structure under rather melodramatic circumstances:

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“As I leaned against the door, it moved slightly and opened inwards. The shelter of even a tomb was welcome in that pitiless tempest and I was about to enter it when there came a flash of forked lightning that lit up the whole expanse of the heavens. In the instant, as I am a living man, I saw, as my my eyes turned into the darkness of the tomb, a beautiful woman with rounded cheeks and red lips, seemingly sleeping on a bier. As the thunder broke overhead, I was grasped as by the hand of a giant and hurled out into the storm. The whole thing was so sudden that, before I could realize the shock, moral as well as physical, I found the hailstones beating me down. At the same time I had a strange, dominating feeling that I was not alone. I looked towards the tomb. Just then there came another blinding flash which seemed to strike the iron stake that surmounted the tomb and to pour through to the earth, blasting and crumbling the marble, as in a burst of flame. The dead woman rose for a moment of agony while she was lapped in the flame, and her bitter scream of pain was drowned in the thundercrash.”

Earlier in the story, we find that upon reaching the tomb, Harker sees its inscription:

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I approached the sepulchre to see what it was and why such a thing stood alone in such a place.I walked around it and read, over the Doric door, in German–
COUNTESS DOLINGEN OF GRATZ
IN STYRIA
SOUGHT AND FOUND DEATH
1801

This will be of significance to fans of Carmilla, who will note that the story’s setting had also been a castle in Styria; thus, it seems likely that the evocation of a female vampire from this rather specific region had likely been intended by Stoker as a nod to Le Fanu’s earlier work.

Though Stoker’s publisher likely moved for the omission of the first chapter merely for space considerations, its inclusion, in retrospect, could have made more apparent such similarities, as well as their intention as a sort of homage by Stoker to one of his predecessors.

Arguably, either of these classics would still rank among the better stories of vampires in literature today. For those who may care to read versions of the stories online, “Dracula’s Guest” can be found here, and the full text of Carmilla, divided into its separate chapters, can be read here.

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English Archaeologists Unearth ‘Cursed’ Medieval Well

Archaeologists in the United Kingdom believe they have found a supposedly “cursed” well dating back to the Medieval era. The well was found on privately-owned land and has been found surprisingly intact. Local legends recorded by nearby monasteries state that St. Anne, grandmother of Jesus Christ, once bathed in the well and imbued the waters with magical healing powers.

The 2 meter (~6 foot) square well has a series of sandstone steps leading down into its pool, where pilgrims would bathe themselves in order to heal various conditions or be blessed by its magical waters. Jamie Quartermaine, an archaeologist working on behalf of the British preservation society Historic England, told Seeker that the well is believed to have been constructed by followers of the cult of St. Anne:

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This well was probably a late Medieval foundation as the cult of St. Anne did not become widespread in England until after the end of the 14th century. This well in particular would have seen pilgrims stepping into a pool of spring water roughly 1.2 metres (4 feet) deep, where they could wash away sins or attempt to be healed through divine powers

The well fell into disrepair and was forgotten, however, after Henry VIII took the English throne in 1509 and began a campaign of eradicating monasteries and holy shrines.

While the well began as a healing site, it is believed to have been cursed at some point in the sixteenth century. According to an 1877 article in the St. Helens Reader newspaper, a land dispute between the monastery and one of its neighbors led to one of the monks casting what appeared to be a curse on the well. The monk threatened the neighbor and immediately after fell over dead; the neighbor shortly after lost his son to disease, fell into poverty, and was eventually found next to the well with his head smashed in. No amount of magic water can fix that, it seems.

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Two French Brothers Are Retracing Magellan’s Voyage to Bring Clean Water to the World

Like the best hare-brained schemes, it germinated while the brothers were drunk.

Romain, a 30-year-old former businessman who'd spent his professional life working for a chemical company and "making money for stakeholders who were already rich," had just finished a book on Magellan. His brother Nicolas, 26, craved adventure.

Inspired by the Waves For Water initiative, set up by surf company Hurley, their idea was to circumnavigate the globe retracing the route of Portuguese explorer Magellan, installing easy-to-use water filtration devices everywhere they went.

"We wanted to do something we loved and help along the way, but it is difficult to make people believe that in France," says Nicolas. "They don't believe that if you want to help you have to be in the dirt," he says.

There was just one problem. Neither of them knew much about seafaring. Their cousin Thomas did, however. He'd just finished a marine engineering degree and was a seasoned sailor. So they waited until Christmas, got him drunk, and slipped him the proposition.

"I thought about it. Two minutes later I say, 'okay, we go" he recalls, adding, "I was living the dream; no job, no girlfriend, no attachment, nothing holding me back. So why not?"

It's now a year and a half later. Sitting across from me in a bar in Bali, the trio look like they've been at sea for 17 months—but in the best way possible. Bearded, bronzed and covered in weird knick knacks and beads from obscure Pacific and Melanesian islands, they are rock solid in friendship and ready for the most perilous leg of their journey so far—a 41 day crossing of the turbulent Indian Ocean to Africa, beginning November 6th.

But it could have looked very different had they succumbed to the emotional stress and constant friction that has dogged the journey so far.

The first shock to the system came early on. After setting out from Toulon they travelled down the north-west coast of Africa, via Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal and the forgotten African island of Cape Verde. They managed an Atlantic Crossing without incident arriving in disaster-ravaged Haiti to the shock of their lives.

The 2010 earthquake that killed an estimated 300,000 across the country created an endless shanti town covering most of the nation. It's housing that cannot stand up to the constant tropical storms that strike the region. Just days before we spoke Hurricane Matthew pummelled Haiti killing 1,000, resulting in large scale outbreaks of Cholera.

Compounding the obvious dangers, the country has become overly dependent on foreign aid, which has hamstrung its ability to stand on its own two feet.

"When we arrive in Haiti we see something weird," says Nicolas. "All the NGOs that stayed after the earthquake in 2010, they were doing emergency in 2010 but in 2015 they were still doing emergency. They were supposed to change between emergency and development."

Demonstrating the filtration devices at a community in Haiti

According to Nicolas this failure to transition has seen the country bogged in a reactive, short-sighted way of doing things, and the people are losing out.

"It is un-motivating," he says. "The big NGOs are just waiting for another catastrophe to occur to move away and have some income and have some fundraising and have some new work in new places."

The experience made them skeptical of the way many aid agencies operate, often competing for funding and good press.

"We were having drinks and certain people who were part of this NGO start to tell us we were coming on their land, we were doing something that was not good for them because they were trying to do it for a long time and us we just arrive and we do our thing directly," says Nicolas.

"We could have worked together but they wanted to block us. We were like what the fuck, man! It was really bizarre," he says.

After Haiti it was Nicaragua, which had disaster written on it from the get-go. For starters, the buoys at the entrance to the harbour were back to front, meaning they sailed straight into rocks. It was 11pm on a moonless night and they had two hours before the tide left them dry-docked. Romain was tasked with pushing them off while Nicolas towed in the dinghy and Thomas steered the ship.

With Nicaragua entering the final stages of a federal election, the government was quick to send a message that this town was only big enough for one do-gooder, and that was the President of Nicaragua. When several of his men showed up on the doorstep of the American doctor-fixer they'd been staying with, demanding the water filtration equipment so they could install themselves, they weren't gonna argue.

They left it all behind, got their passports stamped and were out of there the next day bound for Costa Rica where they would get the repairs done. Then it was onto the island paradise home to the Kuna, Panama's native people. Six years ago the Kuna still had no words in their language for "money" or "time." Then a highway to the island was built, leading to an influx of consumer goods but still no investment in water infrastructure.

"Okay, so you have a big flatscreen and speakers, but no clean water? Can we talk about your priorities," laughs Nicolas.

Earthquake damage in Ecuador

With the filters installed and demonstrations done, news of an earthquake in Ecuador broke. They decided to depart immediately. Thus began Sail For Water's first emergency mission. They arrived to a disaster zone with many areas completely cut off from water. Once again, government officials refused to let them help, demanding they hand over the filtration equipment so they could install them. This time the men said no. Instead they concealed the tanks in trucks and travelled the country by night conducting their aid work in secret.

Now for the Pacific leg; 31 straight days on one of the world's most beautiful and treacherous oceans. The biggest test, however, would prove to be each other. With no wind and giant, methodical swells rocking the boat, nerves frayed quickly.

"You see everything he does, you see how he does it. If it irritates you, you will have some tension inside you until you talk with him. So, on the boat you have to talk but it's not easy, even you are brother and cousin," says Thomas.

Today, in the restaurant, the dynamic is noticeably passive. They can finish each other's sentences, but try not to. Their default setting is one where, even if opinions and recollections do not align, they can calmly and freely correct each other with stone cold confidence there will be no blow-ups.

French Polynesia was a blast. The weather was beautiful, the waves were pumping, and the poisson cru delicious. The Waves For Water/Sail For Water philosophy of doing what you love and helping along the way had come to full fruition.

Leaving Tahiti and heading further west they weaved through the many islands of Melanesia, starting with Fiji, where they were welcomed like family. Seven hour kava sessions left them stoned as fish while Romain was asked at random to deliver a sermon at the local church.

"I have never spoken at a church in my life but ah, they ask, so I do," he says.

Heading further west it was the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and finally Bali. Here, despite all the trappings of western culture and affluence, the island continues to suffer a drastic lack of waste disposal infrastructure, resulting in rivers clogged with plastic and undrinkable water, particularly in the drier regions of the north.

And now, just days before they set out on their most harrowing leg yet—a 41 day Indian Ocean crossing finishing at Madagascar—the big question is: have they changed?

"We thought at the beginning we are going to be completely changed, different people," begins Romain. "But finally you don't change so much. I think people don't change, they just evolve in a good or bad way."

"In their way," adds Thomas. "It's just about vocabulary, either you change or you evolve."

Nicolas finishes the stream: "I think when I go back my girlfriend will recognise me. If she's still waiting for me..."

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2017 HONDA CIVIC TYPE R

Stock Honda vehicles are not typically thought of as being highly lusted after, at least in the U.S. The brand appears more focused on giving a car that’s reliable in the long-term, rather than offering us any of the fun ones we see across the pond. So you can imagine their surprise when Honda Motor Co. revealed a prototype of something that, until now, has never graced American shores in a production release: Honda’s Civic Type R.

The newly introduced sporty sedan has a much more aggressive silhouette than its basic brethren, resembling something you might actually see racing alongside a Subaru WRX STI – maybe even with Vin Diesel behind the wheel. The exterior, which has been modified from previous models to be more “muscular” and aerodynamic, is wrapped with a highly-reflective, finely-grained, brushed aluminum finish that is unique to this model. Other features include a carbon fiber splitter and side skirts, diamond-mesh air intake inserts, 20-inch wheels with 245-section performance tires, and triple functional tailpipes. No word yet on the equipment beneath the hood, but if it matches the exterior, we are in for a seriously savage machine.

 

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ADIDAS X PARLEY ULTRABOOST UNCAGED

Despite years of trying, we can’t seem to keep our oceans, our national parks, or even our own towns and cities free of trash. But it looks like there still may be hope. Environmental group Parley and Adidas are coming together to try and do their part with the Adidas x Parley UltraBOOST Uncaged.

Later this month the athletic apparel giant will be selling 7,000 pairs of a special edition of their UltraBOOST with an upper made entirely of recycled ocean plastic and polyester – effectively turning the trash that is plaguing our oceans into a resource from which they can build new shoes. Other than the change in sourcing of materials and the ocean-like weave of the back heel counter – the sneakers will remain unchanged. It still features a soft sock-like feel to it and sits on a Boost midsole with the Continental natural rubber Stretchweb outsole and Torsion bar for all of your running and walking comfort. If all goes according to plan, you can get your hands on a pair of these starting mid November. Prices are expected to sit above $100.

 

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CB2 Stacked Decanter and Rocks Glass Set

CB2 managed to simplify your entire bar setup at home or at the office by combining the storage and cups into this stacked decanter and rocks glass set. The nesting set includes two rocks glasses and a simple, stylish decanter that are all made of lead crystal glass in the Czech Republic. The decanter holds 8.5oz of the good stuff, and the entire set measures a little under 13” tall, which won’t be too unmanageable on the desk or bar cart. All the pieces are hand wash only, but that’s to be expected with any cocktail gear of this quality.

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DOGFISH HEAD BEER FOR BREAKFAST STOUT

While they aren't the first brewer to introduce the idea of beer for breakfast, Dogfish Head Beer For Breakfast Stout does break the mold with their choice of ingredients. This 7.4% stout includes coffee, brown sugar, maple syrup, and the Mid-Atlantic breakfast staple, scrapple. Made from cornmeal, spices, and pork scraps, scrapple adds a unique element to this stout that is great with the most important meal of the day — or any meal for that matter.

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BLACK BOWMORE 50 YEAR OLD WHISKY

The liquid used to create Black Bowmore is so special, it's been slowly trickling out to market since 1993. Distilled in 1964, this release of Black Bowmore 50 Year Old Whisky is the final drops of a legendary dram. It was first bottled in 1993 and most recently in 2007, and now, for its final curtain call 159 bottles are available internationally. Each one is presented in a case made of Scottish oak, featuring silver inlays modelled on tree rings. $19,600.00

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That An American Werewolf in London Remake Is Actually Happening Now

After “categorically denying” that he was working on a remake of An American Werewolf in London back in August, it looks like Max Landis (son of the original film’s writer-director, John Landis) has revised his position. Deadline just reported that the film is officially a go, and the younger Landis will write it.

Also involved, and upping the horror quotient exponentially: The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and his co-executive producer on the show, David Alpert, who will produce through their production company for Universal. John Landis will also be among the remake’s executive producers. No word yet on who’ll step up to the plate for the werewolf-transformation special effects, so impressive on the 1981 film that they won the now-legendary Rick Baker his first Oscar.

As for Max Landis, his current project is Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency; his previous writing credits include Chronicle, American Ultra, Victor Frankenstein, and the upcoming Bright. He also clearly has a sense of humor about that whole denial a few months back, tweeting just after the news broke today:

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Surprise!

*ducks behind protective barrier*https://t.co/VhuCaZ6T1d

— Max Landis (@Uptomyknees) November 8, 2016

 

 

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THE GLENLIVET VINTAGE 1966 WINCHESTER COLLECTION

In case you were ever curious how half a century of aged perfection tastes then take a closer look at this 50-year-vintage from The Glenlivet distillery, based in the village of Ballindalloch on the River Spey in Scotland. The Scotch is a tribute to George Smith – who created the first single malt – and has rested in an ex-sherry cask ever since 1966.

Previously laid down by The Glenlivet’s Master Distiller Robert Arthur, this batch has been carefully monitored for 50 years, up until current Master Distiller Alan Winchester poured off only 100 bottles worth of the liquid gold for a handful of lucky individuals. And after such a long and delicate aging process, each dram is now filled with subtle fruit and sweet treacle flavors, cleverly hidden within its rich and dark amber hue. The Winchester Collection Vintage 1966 is also housed within a hand-blown decanter and encased within a handmade sealed wooden box, making this highly coveted Speyside single malt a timeless relic in and of itself. No word on a release date just yet but an individual bottle is expected to cost around $25,000. [Purchase]

 

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CMRA Apple Watch Camera

CMRA is a new device that adds a camera to your Apple Watch band, and lets you snap pics from the wrist. The smart band attaches to your Apple Watch like any other, but features two cameras: an 8MP front facing camera and a 2MP one that stares up at you from the strap for selfies. It can also record HD videos, has 8GB of memory to store it all, has all-day battery life, allows for video conferencing (using Glide’s watchOS app), comes with a charging dock, and is available in four colors that should match any wardrobe. 

 

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Martis-Dunsmuir House

The Martis-Dunsmuir House is a spectacular residence located near Lake Tahoe, California. Developed by Sagemodern, the rustic contemporary home is designed for comfort, privacy and flexibility, with enough room to handle large groups of visitors. The family retreat is also designed for easy indoor and outdoor living, opening out to a greater flowing creek that provides a serene setting to relax and enjoy the fresh mountain air. The 1,600 square-foot outdoor living area provides year-around shelter with a protected grill area that is accessible during winter, it has a gas fire pit, a built-in BBQ, covered dining and a covered integrated six-person hot tub that provides shelter and privacy.

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Electron Wheel

Convert your traditional bike into a electric bike in seconds with the Electron Wheel. This unique, practical and brilliant design makes cycling easy and effortless, it contains a powerful motor, smart sensors, and an efficient battery that deliver plenty of kick to your ride. Simply remove the front wheel off your current bike and throw on the Electron Wheel, no tools, no hassle, its that simple. Then, just use your bike like you always have, but enjoy the ease of a pedal assist experience, and commute without breaking a sweat. An app is also included displaying distance and speed tracking, battery life readouts, assist levels, and ride mapping. 

 

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Remarkable: Brain Implant Allows Paralysed Monkey To Walk Again

For the first time ever, a neural device has been used to restore locomotion in paralysed primates. It may be years before clinical trials can begin for humans, but this latest breakthrough marks an important step in that direction.

A new study published in the science journal Nature describes a new neuroprosthetic interface that acts as a wireless bridge between the brain and the spine, bypassing the injury. Called the "brain-spine interface", the system restored movement in the paralysed right legs of two rhesus monkeys. The system was developed by neuroscientist Grégoire Courtine and his colleagues at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, along with help from researchers at the University of Bordeaux, Motac Neuroscience and the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV).

Back in 2012, Courtine used a chemical cocktail to "re-awaken" the damaged spinal cord of paraplegic rats, allowing them to walk, run and evade obstacles. For the latest experiment, Courtine's team chose a different route, one involving implants in the brain and in the area of the spinal injury. It marks the first time that a neuroprosthetic device has been used to restore locomotion in primates, and the scientists are optimistic the system can be adapted to humans.

Paralysis happens when a spinal cord lesion prevents brain signals from the motor cortex (the part of the brain responsible for movement) from reaching neurons that activate muscles. Regrettably, the nerves of the spinal cord do not heal spontaneously after injury, and scientists haven't had much luck using various pharmacological and regenerative techniques. The World Health Organisation estimates that somewhere between 250,000 to 500,000 people suffer a spinal cord injury each year worldwide, highlighting the extent of the problem.

The brain-spine interface overcomes a damaged connection by bridging the spinal cord injury — and it does so in real-time and via wireless technology. The neuroprosthetic device implanted in the monkey's brain correctly interprets activity generated by the motor cortex, and relays this information to a system of electrodes placed over the surface of the spinal cord, just below the injury. A burst of just a few volts, delivered at the right location, triggers specific muscles in the legs. Monkeys implanted with the device were able to walk within six days of the spinal cord injury.

In experiments, the device allowed monkeys to walk and behave freely, and without having to be hooked up to a tangled web of wires and electronics. The monkeys, who had partial lesions inflicted to their spinal cords, showed immediate progress, and were able to spontaneously regain full mobility after three months.

"The primate was able to walk immediately once the brain-spine interface was activated," said study co-author Erwan Bezard of Bordeaux in a statement. "No physiotherapy or training was necessary."

The scientists are hopeful that the device will work for more serious spinal injuries, though according toNewcastle University scientist Andrew Jackson, who wrote a Nature News and Views article on the research, this will likely happen with the help of other interventions, such as chemical and electrical stimulation. Excitingly, the new system might be able to leverage the power of the brain's plasticity; connections between two neurons are given a boost when both are active at the same time. It's possible that this device could strengthen surviving motor pathways, further contributing to rehabilitation.

Looking ahead, the researchers say a similar system could be adapted to humans, but more work is need to address locomotion issues such as balance, steering and obstacle avoidance — motor skills which were not addressed in the current study. On the plus side, many of the components used in the brain-spine interface have already been approved for humans. If all goes well, human trials could start in just a few years.

"For the first time, I can imagine a completely paralysed patient able to move their legs through this brain-spine interface," noted Jocelyne Bloch, the lead neurosurgeon on the project.

It's important to point out that Courtine and his colleagues deliberately damaged the spinal column of the two rhesus monkeys, causing paralysis in the right leg. Given increasing public pressure to move away from this type of animal testing, particularly in Europe, the scientists were more comfortable doing their research in China. Jackson explains:

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[The] use of monkeys for neuroscience experiments continues to be questioned in the media, and animal-rights groups are making concerted efforts to ensure that restrictions on such work are tightened in both the United States and Europe. It is notable that, although [the researchers] are based in Europe and their research conformed to the current regulations of the European Union, the experiments were conducted in China. Grégoire Courtine, the lead researcher on this study, has in the past described the challenges involved in performing such experiments abroad, and other scientists might lack the time, energy or resources to pursue their research so far from home. There is thus a real danger that the development of treatments for debilitating neurological conditions will be delayed if high-quality, well-regulated research in monkeys cannot be performed in Europe and America owing to increasingly tight regulations. Equally, as more primate neuroscience moves to Asia, it will be important for researchers to remain committed to refining techniques and improving welfare standards for experimental animals worldwide.

Jackson is right to point out that more ethical standards need to be implemented in Asia, but the scientific community should most certainly be moving away from primate experimental models. Rather than fleeing to countries with less stringent animals testing protocols, researchers should try and find alternative ways of testing their theories and systems, whether it be through computer models or recruiting human test subjects. Indeed, it's possible that some paraplegics and quadriplegics would welcome the opportunity to participate in this sort of research, regardless of the risks.

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Ancient Egyptian Boat Found In 3,800 Year-Old Royal Tomb

Archaeologists digging near one of Egypt’s oldest cities have unearthed a rare and exciting find. While excavating the tomb of the 12th-dynasty pharaoh Senwosret III near Abydos, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania unearthed the ruins of a massive “boat tomb” typical of royal burials at the time. The shape of the tomb and several heavily decomposed pieces of wood found at the site suggest that the ruler’s own ship might have been buried at the site, but is believed to have been looted for its lumber sometime in the distant past. Current estimates put the date of the tomb’s construction to around 1250 B.C.

The boats within the tomb are thought to have been constructed during Egypt’s 12th dynasty, a time when fleets of Egyptian ships traversed waters throughout the region. Echoing this reliance on naval technology, the walls of the tomb surrounding the boat were painted with hundreds of images of ships, fleets, and various maritime activity.

In an article published in The International Journal of Maritime Archaeology, lead researcher Joseph Wagner writes that these drawings are quite diverse and offer a unique glimpse into Royal Egyptian maritime culture at the time:

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The boat images range significantly in size and complexity. At the upper end of the variation are large, well-rendered boats depicted with masts, sails, rigging, deckhouses/cabins, rudders, oars, and in some cases rowers. At the lower end of the range are highly simplified boats, schematically rendered as one or two curving lines depicting a hull, surmounted by a schematized rectangular deckhouse, but devoid of other details.

The tomb also contains a fleet of smaller boats arranged just outside of the pharaoh’s burial chamber. The boats were likely used in Senwosret III’s funeral procession, bringing his body down the Nile before being entombed along with him in his final resting place.

It is believed that this type of burial rite was performed to ensure that deceased royals would have a fleet capable of ferrying them on their journey into the afterlife.

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WRENSILVA STANDARD ONE HIFI STEREO

With the vinyl revival still in full swing, if you haven’t already picked up a turntable at your local brick and mortar record store or your neighborhood audio store, then check out this all-in-one package from Wrensilva – a setup consisting of speakers, amplifier, and turntable all held within a handsome handmade wooden design.

Dubbed the Standard One, each entertainment system is outfitted with a belt-driven turntable, a set of Wrensilva C80M 8-inch 2-way speakers, and a 300 watt Wrensilva amplifier for impressive power. Additionally, each piece comes compatible with Bluetooth technology and an optional WiFi streaming SONOS CONNECT receiver, a 3.5mm audio jack in the top deck along with three additional inputs for a digital cable box or even a vintage cassette deck. And to top it all off, each American-made built-to-order Standard One comes finished in either walnut or rift white oak. Oh, and it comes with a handy record storage pocket as well in order to easily access your favorite tunes at a moment’s notice. Available now for $6,950. [Purchase]