Evidence that genius is something that is very rare indeed. There is no way I could even contemplate the thought of thinking about imagining the creative process to produce the idea that I could think something like this up. Mr Maushammer - I am in awe.

@marley9

It's "YOU'RE in business". That one drives me friggin nuts!

I'm on a pedant's crusade with respect to this butchering of the language.

One word..."Developers"

I'm with Takuan. Totally worth it if they're also quality. I'm gettin' a set.

Ridiculous. Invest the money that would be wasted on these overpriced gadgets in some economically (relatively) efficient renewable energy projects and you would get far greater impact. The notion that we can reduce our environmental impact by consuming more is oxymoronic, even with purportedly "green" purchases such as hybrid cars, must be exposed for the feel-good myth that it is. Don't even get me started on carbon offsets to justify flying you and your spawn to Disneyland for vacations. Control of the primate infestation is the planet's only hope.

There's somethong weird 3D effect thing going on with that drawing. Is the blade pointing towards the viewer or away? Looks like slightly "towards"; but wait, look at the hilt. Doesn't it show the back? It's something to do with the gas canister and the way it's been rendered. Are we seeing a half-canister or a full one? It keeps flipping on me. Gotta stop looking now....

errr... @#7 and @#9; this is awesome in the way the "Speed Racer" movie isn't. What something means can, unbelievably perhaps, be more important than how it looks. In this case it is the human achievement that this photo represents that is awesome. The artistic merit of the photo itself is not relevant. (If your comments were intended to be ironic - apologies. I am often found wanting in this area.)

There's a similar Northern dish that I read abut years ago that involves stuffing a seal carcass with little birds and burying it all in the sand for weeks/months to rot/ferment. Yummy. It is described in Jon Turk's "Cold Oceans", I think.

Mixed advice from JZ in my opinion. I was particularly perturbed by the suggestion that it is a bad idea to get advice on cyling from cycling enthusiasts; and the advice against shopping at your local bike store.

There is an ever-wider range of bikestyles available, and a lot of overlap between uses, obviously - but the hybrid/city/cross style of bikes designed to be ridden on all but singletrack and offering a big range of gears but without the drawbacks of the skinny-tired, drop-bar "racing bike" are just great for most people. Don't agonise over it, get good advice and just "get on your bike". There is strength in numbers and every cyclist out there improves the safety for every other cyclist - the statistics (and a casual observation of traffic behaviour in Beijing) confirm it.

Besides, the delight at realising that motorists only hassle bikes because they're secretly jealous is wonderful. It's the "Dear Abbey, I bought all the exercise equipment, but I'm still lazy" argument. Most people "want" to lead more active lifestyles, weigh less, be able to play the piano etc etc but are just to damn lazy to change/do it/learn. Seeing people on bikes getting the exercise, having the fun and saving the money that should rightfully be theirs (if they weren't so fucking lazy) just drives them crazy and its great!

But where's "Awesome-O"?

Any camera/lens can take photos of objects 18 to 32 miles away. I don't get what they're trying to say there.

Could not agree more with #2. What is it with constantly having to be "connected" and "entertained"? Isn't the majesty of the African landscape and the physical challenge of the trek enough?

I see the dad is into real estate development and construction as well as being chairman of the "Natural Resources Defense Council". Does anyone alse see a conflict there? Or is the NRDC ironically named in the same way as a neighbourhood/community "Progress Association".