Yard Work
[mood  | tired]
[music | John Mayer - No Such Thing]

The weather was really nice this morning so my dad decided to do some yard work. I helped trim bushes and rake some leaves. Nothing too fancy, just busy work. The only complaint I had was when the sun would occasionally beat down on us. Shit was K-R-S Z hot! As promised, here are some pictures taken by my little sister Kathy and kid brother Timothy.

Future Thomas says: WOW… look how skinny I was LOL! Rockin’ the v-neck back in 2002!!!

Starting today, I will dig deep into the blog archives of Phantom and surface some posts from way back in the days (LIVEJOURNAL, XANGA, BLOGGER). It will be an ongoing weekly blog feature that I’m calling “FlashBack Fridays” (yes, name inspired by ABC’s FlashForward… you gotta read the post dates in the same tv intro voice too).

UNEDITED. UNCENSORED. BLOGS GONE WILD!

Enjoy.

1. Apple Wireless Keyboard

For reasons unknown, my Apple keyboard has died forcing me to use the keyboard on my MBP (which I believe should only be used in mobile situations). For daily desk work, the MBP should be elevated for air circulation purposes… on a laptop stand which I have not used in months! This gift would benefit both myself and my MBP.

2. Magic Mouse

Even though I’ve fixed my Mighty Mouse scroll ball problem, it would be a hassle to crack it open and perform surgery every time the scroll ball decides to stop working. The Magic Mouse would be a welcome addition to the workspace.

3. Western Digital External storage – 500GB/1TB

The more gigabytes, the better! I’m a media junkie so I’ll always need space for my music, movies, TV shows, programs, backups. Preferably Western Digital (their products have never let me down… *knocks on wood*). Firewire connectivity is a huge plus.

4. TV Wall Mount

This would be PERFECT for my bedroom. The Samsung is ready for mounting. Sidenote: Monoprice.com is the best place to get anything A/V accessory related. Never buy HDMI cables (or any cable for that matter) anywhere else but here! (Except for my next item…)

5. Apple AV Component Cable

With these cables, I can stream my movies from my external hard drive to my TV using my iPhone. I will never have to transfer them to my PS3 using a USB drive ever again! So in a sense, my iPhone = Blockbuster.

6. Kensington Windshield/Vent Car Mount

Currently, my iPhone sits on my lap while I’m driving and it would be nice to have a designated spot for it during trips. The cool thing about this kit is it includes both windshield and vent mounts. This would turn my iPhone into a proper navigation system.

Definitely a “gadget geek” wishlist.

I love Darryl from The Office! This looks hilarious…

Source: Gizmodo

Dragon Search definitely beats out Google’s voice-activated search app. Speak when prompted and it will present you with results not only from Google but Wikipedia, Twitter, YouTube, and even the iTunes Music Store. Just swipe across the top bar to go between search results… very handy.

Download it now in the AppStore while its FREE.

Here are some sample screenshots from my iPhone…

Dragon Search (AppStore, FREE)
PROS: search different outlets at once
CONS: none really
Verdict: GO GET IT!

Not quite familiar with the brand Isoara but they definitely caught my attention with their A/W 2009 launch video…

Conceptualized and executed with the help of Attack, ISAORA present their 2009 fall/winter collection in an interesting light with the following collection video. With a unmistakable technical approach that is necessitated by the snowboard apparel and fashion, the video highlights the technical properties of ISAORA’s collection albeit in an unorthodox form. The video was directed by Shinichi Maruyama and edited by Jamie Carreiro with music provided by MNDR.

If your curiosity has been piqued… check out their equally awesome website: www.isoara.com.

Source: Hypebeast

This digital magazine reader concept by Bonnier R&D is amazing. Check out the video below for in-depth concept explanations. I can’t wait to see what Apple has up their sleeves…

The digital magazine battle royale has gone up a notch today, with the publishers of Popular Science magazine creating this beautifully graceful concept. Game on, Wired and Sports Illustrated, game on.

Publisher Bonnier has worked with design agency BERG to come up with the Mag+ tablet, which has the magazine pages run vertically, rather than on the next screen like we’ve always seen so far. It actually replicates the experience of reading a magazine really well, as pages can be flipped like you would with a normal magazine, and when you encounter an article you’d like to read, you scroll down to view it.

If this is the future for the magazine industry, suddenly I feel a lot more hopeful.

Source: Gizmodo

Since we’re getting close to the time frame seen in the movie Demolition Man, you might want to start shopping for a car that can prepare you for Stallone and Snipes blasting it out in the streets. Irish tuning house Onyx could have what you seek with its new 2010 Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Vogue conversions. Inside are buffalo hides and carbon fiber, and outside are a ring of bluff skirting, along with LEDs on the Vogue and, naturally, 22-inch TPM wheels.

Some under-the-hood work has also been done, adding an impressive 80 horsepower to the already very quick Supercharged model’s 517 horsepower. You can read about the Onyx Rovers in the press release after the jump and check them out in the gallery of high-res photos below. And feel free to also enjoy the musical riff on this post’s title – it’s most likely the kind of soundtrack you’ll hear coming from one of these, anyway…

Source: Autoblog

Stop it already, Vans. I’m serious!

Available April/May 2010.

Source: Highsnobiety

Some really nice outerwear from NY-based, 3Sixteen. Loving it.

Source: RxFresh