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Spice House - An unforgettable gift

2009-06-07T20:00:55Z

Have you ever tried to get a gift for someone who has everything? Or worse yet, for someone you don't know very well. To avoid any awkward gift giving, the Spice House offers a multitude of excellent options, enough to meet the needs of just about anyone. I have used box sets from the Spice House as gifts for weddings, for Father's Day, for anniversaries and birthdays.

If you know someone who loves to grill, get them the barbecue set. If you know someone who loves hot teas, chocolate or coffee, there's a beverage set. You can mix and match, pick your own, or let the company prepackage something for you -- the freshest spices from around the world, shipped to your front door. I've even gotten this as a gift for myself -- and all of my family and friends reap the benefits!

~ starting under $20

Netflix Pix: Wall-E Blu-Ray

2009-03-31T03:26:10Z

Yes, this film's been out for a while. So why is it up here? Well because if you haven't seen Wall-E in high definition Blu-Ray goodness, you haven't seen it. And now's your chance, because guess what recently released at Netflix on Blu-Ray? You got it.

So if you've been thinking about upgrading your account with the Blu-Ray option, now's the time. Not only is Wall-E a singularly incredible piece of filmmaking, it is one of the most important sociological discussions of our time. And it's a KIDS film. Sure, in all likelihood, your kids will laugh and point and smile and do all the other things kids do when watching any animated film. But this film teaches indispensible life lessons that are so unquestionably important for current and future civilizations, that to deny our children these lessons is nothing less than criminal.

And lest you think that this film is not for you, adults, please think again. I promise you this film will make you examine your relationship with the world. And if you already have, it will move you to tears. This is not just a great animated film, it's a great film, make no mistake. So, what about the Blu-Ray?

This film is THE example of why Blu-Ray destroys DVD in terms of quality and sheer movie enjoyment. Yes, all you naysayers, the picture really IS that much better. There are subtle nuances of animation that spring forth into vibrant life, the colors are as face-melting as the hardest metal show you've ever seen, and the depth is like nothing you've ever seen (on your television, at any rate...). People will tell you to see 300 to see the difference. Forget them. Not only is Wall-E a much better film, but the picture is at least as good as 'that other film,' if not markedly better. So ditch the spray-on abs, and pet the robot instead.

The downside? Upgrading your account for Blu-Ray will now cost you a varied amount depending on your plan (from $1/month to $11/month). Yup, Netflix is apparently squeezing us for all they can. So you'll have to decide for yourself if it's worth it. To put it in perspective, it'll cost you $4 to rent just 1 Blu-Ray movie from your local Hollywood Video. So if you plan on renting a ton of Blu-Ray, it's definitely the way to go. If you're so inclined, throw Wall-E in your queue. You won't be disappointed.

[Netflix is cooler than ice in a freezer. Find out why when you click on...]

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Why is Netflix the best source for DVD rentals?
There are so many reasons you really have to sign up to understand. But, here are a few to get you thinking:

Netflix offers plans from $4.99 up to $47.99 per month, letting you rent from as few as 2 movies per month, to an Unlimited number.
You can keep the movies for as long as you like. NO late fees, and no driving to the video store at 10 pm.
You can stream movies online or direct to your TV (with appropriate equipment), and most memberships allowing unlimited streaming.
Just pop the watched DVDs in the mail, and a couple days later you receive the next movie(s) on your list.
Many films are now available in a Blu-Ray option, so you can watch your favorites in stunning High Definition.

If you haven't already jumped on the bandwagon, consider it the next time you plunk down $3.99 for that movie at your local video store. And if someone's birthday is close, consider a gift membership! The 2 Week Trial is a great way to get started. Netflix.com

Skype VOIP Service

2009-03-23T14:20:31Z

Painting a bedroom last weekend, I discovered something peculiar. Scattered throughout our home are all these mysterious little faceplates with incorrectly sized Ethernet jacks in them. Apparently, they are tied to a quaint 19th century technology called "telephones." Remember those? They are just like cell phones and VOIP, except that they do a whole lot less, and ground you to one location.

There are so many reasons NOT to use a landline, I won't waste time listing them. However, backing up your cell phone with a secondary device at home or in the home-office is a must. You'd have to live under a rock not to know that you've got plenty of options. I say this because if you're like me, you get about 4 postcards a week from your cable company trying to sell you on their voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) service. For a roughly comparable cost to a local phone line, it may sound like a good option to simplify your billing. But wait! Hold the phone, and say Hello to Skype.

I LOVE Skype. It's easy, a fraction of the cost of the competition, provides exceptional service, great voice quality, and they've recently implemented some impressive new plans/features that anyone trying to simplify their lives (and budgets) can appreciate:

(see them after the jump)

]]> What's Terifik about Skype:

~$40 per year unlimited calls in the US/Canada (yes, $40 PER YEAR)
FREE calls to anyone else using Skype (worldwide)
Get a LOCAL number in your area code with Skype-In
Your number, voicemail, and other Skype services are active wherever you have an internet connection. Take your home phone on vacation with you, or check your Skype Voicemail from that Internet cafe in Cannes, it's that easy.
CHEAP Int'l rates and plans for the "I have to call Mumbai" business types et al.
Forward your Skype-In phone number to another line (say your cell phone) in a snap
Connect with any computer, a headset, or a host of other equipment that requires no computer at all
Use Skype-To-Go to call anywhere in the world from any phone (including cells) with low Skype Rates
Fancy tricks that would scare Mr. Watson into a coma: chat / video conference / file transfer / direct-to-voicemail.
Reliability and Reach- our friends across the pond have been at it since 2003, you'll be surprised at the number of people using Skype

I've been using Skype for over a year now. In that time, it's saved me thousands of cell phone minutes and thousands of dinnertime tele-marketer interruptions. Caveat Emptor: Skype is a great add-on service, but it can't be used for calling 911 services. Keep your cell phone charged, or get a hand-crank charger (review coming soon).

If you have a broadband internet connection and the need for a second phone line, there is no better way to go. Oh, and did I mention that it's CHEAP. As a replacement phone line: a price of less than $40 per year has got your local phone company's CEO quaking in his $6,000 boots.

Get Skype here

Netflix Pix: Ben X

2009-03-17T19:39:53Z

So if this is where it has to happen, then this is where it has to happen: I play World of Warcraft, more affectionately known in the gamer community as WoW, or even Warcrack. If you've been alive for the last 4 years, odds are you've played, are playing, or know someone who plays or has played WoW. After all, 11 million people can't be wrong. Or can they?

Ben X is the story of one such mmog (massively multiplayer online game) player, a mildly autistic young Belgian man named Ben. Ben is severely lacking in the social skills department (as are many in the mmog community), though his autism forces on him a particular type of social disconnection; one that can only be understood by the girl with whom he plays.

Ben X is a film that shoots for the both the heart and mind in its quest to explore the possibilities/effects/challenges, not only of being autistic in the modern world, but of severe social detachment on the whole. The journey we take with Ben is merely a snapshot of life at a particular moment in time, which can be frustrating in its claustrophobia. But then, in utilizing that feeling, first time director Nic Balthazar forces us into a world we can't escape, which makes our eventual vindication (the form of which shall remain for you to witness) all the sweeter. Added bonus: the performance from Greg Timmermans (Ben) is bloody fabulous. This week's Netflix pick.

[What the heck is all the fuss about Netflix? Find out after the jump!]

]]> Why is Netflix the best source for DVD rentals?
There are so many reasons you really have to sign up to understand. But, here are a few to get you thinking:

Netflix offers plans from $4.99 up to $47.99 per month, letting you rent from as few as 2 movies per month, to an Unlimited number.
You can keep the movies for as long as you like. NO late fees, and no driving to the video store at 10 pm.
You can stream movies online or direct to your TV (with appropriate equipment), and most memberships allowing unlimited streaming.
Just pop the watched DVDs in the mail, and a couple days later you receive the next movie(s) on your list.
Many films are now available in a Blu-Ray option, so you can watch your favorites in stunning High Definition.

FORLIFE Curve Teapot

2009-03-16T12:50:35Z

We drink a lot of tea and we own a lot of teapots. I have a warm place in my heart for each: my Tetsubin, Yi Xing, English China, and so on. A few months ago we added the 45 oz. CURVE teapot from FORLIFE to the fold. It's now my favorite.

Function first, this is a champ of a teapot. It doesn't drip, holds a camel's ration, and seals tight enough to keep your brew piping hot for a lengthy tea party. The 45 oz. model is ideal for American-sized cupping and entertaining. And, it boasts the tightest mesh strainer of our collection - giving us infusion options that are impossible with other styles.

While I write this, I'm sipping a cup of spiced Chai ground to perfection with a mortar and pestle; brewed to perfection in this simple, elegant, and impeccably designed workhorse of a teapot.

At $20-40, you should buy the FORLIFE CURVE in more than one size.

Netflix Pix: Changeling

2009-03-14T01:37:20Z

True stories are a dime a dozen in film. Often, it seems as though production companies think they can make a film sound meaningful and profound, simply by throwing "Based on a True Story" at the end of a preview. Problem is, most of the time they're right, whether the film is any good or not, and people flock to the theater to watch all the (often awful) melodramatics play out on screen. And even if the film stinks, there's still bound to be a gaggle of weepy filmgoers exiting the theater.

Fortunately for us more critical types, there are films like Changeling, which tells one of the most fascinating historically-based tales I've come across. Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie, who is absolutely devastating in an Oscar-nominated role) comes home one day to find her son missing. What at first looks to be a simple story of a woman's emotional journey through hardship is dosed with dark malevolence when the LA Police (a then vastly corrupt organization) try to foist someone else's child on her. What ensues is an almost unbelievable chain of events, kept in motion by the absolute power of the police and their desire to hide the fact that the boy they found is actually not Christine Collins' son.

The emotional power of this film is astounding, much of which is due to Jolie's searing performance as a mother dealing with incomprehensible and uncontrollable circumstances. John Malkovich (who can go either way, really) also turns in an understated yet powerful performance as a reverend who has made it his life's goal to expose the LAPD. But the real heart of the film lies in the amazing story it tells and the lessons society can learn from it. Our Netflix pick.

[Why is Netflix fabulous? Find out and try it free for 2 weeks, after the jump]

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Why is Netflix the best source for DVD rentals?

There are so many reasons you really have to sign up to understand. But, here are a few to get you thinking:

Netflix offers plans from $4.99 up to $47.99 per month, letting you rent from as few as 2 movies per month, to an Unlimited number.
You can keep the movies for as long as you like. NO late fees, and no driving to the video store at 10 pm.
You can stream movies online or direct to your TV (with appropriate equipment), and most memberships allowing unlimited streaming.
Just pop the watched DVDs in the mail, and a couple days later you receive the next movie(s) on your list.
Many films are now available in a Blu-Ray option, so you can watch your favorites in stunning High Definition.

Calf and Half - by Fred Studio

2009-03-10T12:57:29Z

Possibly the prettiest creamer ever made, the Calf & Half sports a distinctly shaped, double-walled design that recalls its content's origin.

Having been raised in the rurals of America's dairy state, this charming vessel holds a lot of appeal for me. I'm also a fan of paying conscious consideration and respect for the origin of one's food. The Calf and Half has completely won me over.

Designed by Liz Goulet Dubois at Rhode Island-based Fred Studio, it's available through Charles & Marie; $20. www.charlesandmarie.com

Netflix Pix: Horton Hears a Who

2009-03-05T01:38:56Z

We've been heavy on the documentary side of things, so it's nice to grab hold of a film that's just plain fun to watch. Recently out at Netflix is Horton Hears a Who, the animated adaptation of one of our favorite Dr. Seuss tales of the same name.

Horton Hears a Who is the simple and lovable story of... well... Horton; a nice, well-meaning elephant who one day is woken from his complacency by the sound of a tiny voice, emanating from a tiny speck floating by. All the other jungle animals think he's crazy (and wouldn't we all), and thus is Horton publicly excommunicated. Not to be dissuaded, Horton sets off on a journey to find a safe home for the speck, upon which lives a community of tiny people called Who's. Needless to say, much hijinks ensue; some perilous and some funny, but all entertaining.

This is a great family film that teaches wonderful morals to kids (and perhaps parents alike) about the value of creativity and individuality. The animation, while not off to win any awards, is still pretty good and the colors are absolutely vibrant (especially if you're lucky enough to watch the blu-ray version). The voice acting from Jim Carrey and Steve Carell is predictably fabulous, although I'm not sure if I was laughing more because Steve Carell was doing a great job or because every time I heard his voice I couldn't help but picture Michael Scott. Either way, it's hilarious.

So stay home with the family one night with some popcorn and Horton. Our Netflix Pick.

[Find out why Netflix is great and try it for 2 weeks free, after the jump]

]]> Why is Netflix the best source for DVD rentals?
There are so many reasons you really have to sign up to understand. But, here are a few to get you thinking:

Netflix offers plans from $4.99 up to $47.99 per month, letting you rent from as few as 2 movies per month, to an Unlimited number.
You can keep the movies for as long as you like. NO late fees, and no driving to the video store at 10 pm.
You can stream movies online or direct to your TV (with appropriate equipment), and most memberships allowing unlimited streaming.
Just pop the watched DVDs in the mail, and a couple days later you receive the next movie(s) on your list.
Many films are now available in a Blu-Ray option, so you can watch your favorites in stunning High Definition.

iPhone camera fun with LiquidPics

2009-03-03T05:06:24Z

New for Terifik Apps this week is another brilliant iPhone photo app from Takayuki Fulatsu, one of our favorite App Elves.

LiquidPics
available from the iTunes App Store, for $1.99
by: Takayuki Fukatsu

For under 2 bucks, this is one of the most fascinating apps available for the iPhone. Liquid Pics is an incredibly fun photo distorting reality-warping machine. You can pour your photos across the screen like warm syrup, or push ripples into them with true multitouch functionality.

With thousands of apps out there competing for your attention, it can be nearly impossible to decide where to spend your hard earned dollars. Liquid Pics is simple, fun, and totally enthralling. It could easily find its way out of the photo section of the app store and into the entertainment section. For $2, you won't be disappointed.

Klean Kanteen Stainless Water Bottles

2009-03-01T18:29:18Z

I've been an avid fan of that other bottle manufacturer for years. Those polycarbonate bottles have taken some real abuse over the years and keep chugging along. Replacing them was like losing an old friend. But here's why I love the sleek new stainless steel water bottles from Kleen Kanteen:

No risk of BPA (or other plastics leaching into your body)
fully recyclable
fits in the bottle cage
just big enough for ice, but small enough to be lip worthy
dishwasher can't kill it

Simple, elegant, durable, safe. Klean Kanteen is a winner for grab and go hydration. You can get them in a growing variety of colors, but I like the standard silver bullet.

*don't toss your old bottles yet: consider using them for non-potable fluids, Fido's water, in the shop/garage, and road trip bladder emergencies*

buy it from Amazon HERE

Netflix Pix: Religulous

2009-02-21T06:16:31Z

As a general rule, you
either love Bill Maher or you hate him. I'm probably one of the fingernail-sized minority who is of two minds about the man. In one breath, he can be as smart, witty and hilarious as anyone on the planet, and in another he can sink to the level of a 12-year-old twerp with an ego the size of Montana.

But whatever you think of the man, there's no denying the powerful insanity of Religulous. While Bill Maher is no Socrates, his biting satirical wit is the sorrowfully perfect foil for religious zealotry as he scours the globe for monotheists to grill.

Do we really need to get rid of religion or face the dire consequences, up to and including the death of humanity? Maher will certainly make you seriously consider that question. While his litany of pointedly opinionated sarcasm can grow tiresome, and you can't help but feel for some of the poor souls he interviews, you also can't help but feel as though they're lost as well. And as the documentary moves quickly toward Maher's final soliloquy, his final assault, you find yourself wondering just how much of his self-aggrandizing, however egoistic, actually leads to a true statement about religious choices and their impact on society.

The bottom line is, no matter what your personal faith alignments may be, we all owe it to ourselves to question that which makes us take the actions we do, and more importantly, exactly what the consequences of those actions may be. Religulous. Our Netflix Pick.

[Learn the virtues of Netflix and try it free for two weeks, after the jump]

]]> Why is Netflix the best source for DVD rentals?
There are so many reasons you really have to sign up to understand. But, here are a few to get you thinking:

Netflix offers plans from $4.99 up to $47.99 per month, letting you rent from as few as 2 movies per month, to an Unlimited number.
You can keep the movies for as long as you like. NO late fees, and no driving to the video store at 10 pm.
You can stream movies online or direct to your TV (with appropriate equipment), and most memberships allowing unlimited streaming.
Just pop the watched DVDs in the mail, and a couple days later you receive the next movie(s) on your list.
Many films are now available in a Blu-Ray option, so you can watch your favorites in stunning High Definition.

Pandora.com - Smart Internet Radio

2009-02-18T03:55:08Z

Pandora, the Greek equivalent of Eve, was constructed collectively by all of the gods on Mount Olympus, who each gave her a gift. Hermes, ever the innovator, bestowed upon her the Internet. Thus Pandora Internet Radio was born.

It's a glorious manifestation of the Music Genome Project, which has set out to mathematize songs with the use of over 400 musical attributes. All you do is enter a band or song name into Pandora, then some sort of scientific wizardry happens behind the scenes, and out come songs from bands with similar sounds. For free.

It works remarkably well, which seems to legitimize math for me. For instance, create a station based on Led Zeppelin and you'll get some Pearl Jam and The Rolling Stones. Or if Barbra Streisand is more of your cup of tea, you'll get The Carpenters and Melissa Manchester (yeah I'm not sure who that is either).

If you don't like a song that pops up, click on the down-turned thumb (a nearly universal sign of displeasure) and the song is skipped. Give the same artist this treatment twice and they won't appear again. Conversely, a thumbs-up will make it a bit more likely that future songs will have even closer musical traits to the current song.

The level of control is empowering, and advertisements are rare, making the experience far more enjoyable than broadcast radio. And though the Pandora of Greek myth unleashed evil into this world (aside from opening that box, she was apparently a very pleasant woman), Pandora Radio is a jackpot in this chaotic cyberspace of ours.

Want more? Check out our review on the Pandora iPhone app.

More Better iPhotos: QuadCamera & ToyCamera

2009-02-16T04:50:38Z

This week's Terifik Apps highlights two powerfully simple photo apps for you iPhone. QuadCamera and ToyCamera, developed by Takayuki Fukatsu, combine limited options and simplistic controls to create a duo of apps that not only turn your mediochre IPhotos into save-worthy pics, but do it in such a delightfully simple way that you may actually use them.

QuadCamera
available from the iTunes App store, for $1.99
by: Takayuki Fukatsu

QuadCamera simulates a multi-lens camera cum time-lapse video camera. It renders a single image from multiple exposures delayed by a iser-adjustable timer. The final image can be a grid or strip of up to 8 images. You can also choose to tweak the colors from standard to b/w, vivid, or high contrast. It's a blast, and well employed for action sequences and/or moving subjects.

ToyCamera
available from the iTunes App store for $1.99
by: Takayuki Fukatsu

Toy Camera is an equally fun image app surpassing QuadCamera in its simplicity. ToyCamera creates ethereal, funky, romantic images from your everyday photos by emulating the look of toy cameras. With point and shoot control, the app transforms your iPhone's digital snap into a light-leaking, bad film, low-grade construction, art school masterpiece. The effects are random, and controls art limited, giving a very realistic rendition of the toy camera experience. Here is a sequence of images taken moments apart:

Netflix Pix: Planet B-Boy

2009-02-12T22:40:39Z

What is art? One could define the term any number of ways. Is it merely self-expression? The insight of the human mind into the natural world in which we live? The very human spirit that compels us to progress; to be more than who we are? All of these things, and so much more, can be and are represented through art. And breakdancing, or b-boying, I believe falls into the category no matter what your definition.

The b-boy culture has at this point evolved to such a point that to refer to it as anything less than a vastly progressive, emotionally profound artistic endeavor on the cutting edge of human/body understanding would be a lie. The limits to which human imagination, creativity, and physicality are stretched through breakdancing are at once mind-boggling and infinitely beautiful. In so many ways, b-boying represents the struggle of the world at present, perhaps even throughout its history, and is a way of storytelling and human interaction like no other.

Planet B-Boy strives to represent this underground culture with respect, by showcasing the best b-boy teams in the world and helping you understand their personal struggles to continue the art form they love. Starting you off at a frenetic pace, with graffiti-like graphics scrawled across the screen, Planet B-Boy trickles down into the truly remarkable stories of 5 b-boy crews from different parts of the world. The documentary recounts the amazing history of b-boying, poignantly illustrating the struggle of its adherents to make it the art form it is today. It strives not only to show us the crew's journeys to become the best, but how 'the best' is not a singular notion, but a space reserved only for those crews who truly understand cooperation, self-sacrifice, and love.

Perhaps the most touching understanding of the film springs from the realization that the b-boys don't even seem to realize the groundbreaking (pun intended) progression of what they are doing, the masterful monument to humanity's artistic potential... they just do it because they love it. And in many ways, that's the most artistic expression of all. Planet B-Boy. Our Netflix Pick.

[Why should you try Netflix free for 2 weeks? Find out after the jump]

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So try Netflix today!

Sakura SumoGrip Mechanical Pencil

2009-02-11T13:18:39Z

I have an attraction to mechanical pencils. At first, it was the consistent quality of line they produce. Then suddenly, I had lost the need to track down pencil sharpeners - and gone were the lead streaks in the pockets of my bags. I appreciate their clean construction: replaceable leads, erasers, the consistent amount of lead released per click. I'd often find myself comparing one brand to the other, noting how closely they all followed the design of click pens. Then I found the SumoGrip, and the competition faded into the background.

This is one serious mechanical pencil. The ergonomic fat diameter fits comfortably in my hand; while the soft textured rubber on the grip ensures slip-free drawing sessions. When I miss the mark, the SumoGrip has the largest eraser I've ever seen on a mechanical. If you've ever worn down your eraser with plenty of leads left rattling inside the chamber, then you may understand the special love I have for this design.

These days I keep a few in my bag loaded with different lead colors and weights for making edits on notes or thumbnail sketches that need work. Sakura offers these pencils in 0.5, 0.7, and monster 0.9 mm thicknesses (my favorite). If you've never sketched up with a mechanical, it's worth a try. You might be surprised by just how expressive you can get with one in your hand.

You can pick up a SumoGrip online through Amazon for under three bucks.