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10 Most Expensive Books of This Season.

2012-11-25T13:25:00.001+05:30

10) On This Earth, A Shadow Falls by Nick Brandt ($130, Abrams)

The $130 list price tag is for the autographed edition, and the book features cloth binding and a tipped-in plate on the front. It is available on Amazon for $95.33

9) Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, and Jose Vouillamoz ($175, Ecco)

Weighing in at 7 pounds and 1,200 pages, Wine Grapes has details on all 1,368 vine varieties currently making wine in commercial circulation. Amazon Hardcover ~~$175~~ / $110.25

8) Dolce & Gabbana Campioni by Domenico Dolce ($200, Rizzoli)

560 pages, 450 black and white photos, 12 pounds. Proceeds go to AriSLA, the Italian Research Foundation for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Amazon Hardcover ~~$200~~ / $174

7) 20th-Century World Architecture: The Phaidon Atlas by The Phaidon Editors

A coffee table book that could double as its own coffee table. Amazon Hardcover ~~$200~~ / $116.51

6) The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design by The Phaidon Editors

3,000 color illustrations and 300 black and white illustrations across 1,000 pages. Compiled and researched by experts, and illustrated with up to six images per entry, including rarely seen historical and contextual material, The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design is the ultimate reference guide for the design professional and enthusiast alike. Designed with exceptional production details and rich with information, this book also becomes an object that appeals to the creativity and imagination of the reader. {Via} Amazon Hardcover ~~$235~~ / $148.05

5) Nineteenth-Century European Painting: From Barbizon to Belle Epoque by William Rau ($250, M.S. Rau Antiques)

“THE quintessential resource of 19th-Century European Painting,”

4)Robert Motherwell Paintings and Collages: A Catalogue Raisonne, 1941-1951 by Jack Flam, Katy Rogers, and Tim Clifford

1,209 paintings across 1,712 pages, as well as extensive information about each work. The first volume (there are three included) presents an overview of Motherwell’s career, as well as discussing key topics related to the abstract expressionist’s career. Amazon Hardcover ~~$300~~ / $189

3) Star Wars: A Galactic Pop-up Adventure (Limited Edition)

Put “Star Wars” and “Limited Edition” together and you have a recipe for something pricey. While the regular edition retails for $36.99, the $300 limited edition comes signed and numbered, and has a special slipcase. Amazon Hardcover Special Price ~~$300~~ / $235.59

2) Taking My Time by Joel Meyerowitz ($750, Phaidon Press)

What you get for the price tag for the book: a two-volume edtion (688 pages, 580 photographs), a signed print, a DVD of Meyerowitz’s film Pop, a “graphic novel” insert, and a second insert for Meyerowitz’s lesson in color versus black and white photography. Amazon Hardcover ~~$750~~ / $681.90

1) Marilyn & Me by Lawrence Schiller ($2,000, Taschen)

According to Taschen’s site, there are still copies left of the $1,000 edition and even more limited $2,000 edition. For the extra grand, you get a signed image of Marilyn, in addition to the standard features of custom woven duchesse silk, translation booklet, and four foldouts. Amazon Hardcover $1000

Note: Special features may not be available on Amazon.com

The Incredible Book Eating Boy.

2012-11-25T10:54:00.000+05:30

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In The Land Of Invented Languages.

2012-11-17T13:47:00.003+05:30

Just about everyone has heard of Esperanto, which was nothing less than one man’s attempt to bring about world peace by means of linguistic solidarity. And every Star Trek fan knows about Klingon, which was nothing more than a television show’s attempt to create a tough-sounding language befitting a warrior race with ridged foreheads. But few people have heard of Babm, Blissymbolics, and the nearly nine hundred other invented languages that represent the hard work, high hopes, and full-blown delusions of so many misguided souls over the centuries.

In In The Land of Invented Languages, author Arika Okrent tells the fascinating and highly entertaining history of man’s enduring quest to build a better language. Peopled with charming eccentrics and exasperating megalomaniacs, the land of invented languages is a place where you can recite the Lord’s Prayer in John Wilkins’s Philosophical Language, say your wedding vows in Loglan, and read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in Lojban.

A truly original new addition to the booming category of language books, In The Land of Invented Languages will be a must-have on the shelves of all word freaks, grammar geeks, and plain old language lovers.

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The Biographical Dictionary of Popular Music: From Adele to Ziggy, the Real A to Z of Rock and Pop

2012-11-11T14:27:00.001+05:30

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Creative ideas: FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVERYTHING.

2012-11-10T17:17:00.003+05:30

TRANSPARENT TOASTER

You love toast, but you always burn it? Then, this invention is for you. This transparent toaster allows you to see the bread while it is toasting so you just have to take it out when the color is right. This idea is based on a transparent heating glass technology.

The concept is being developed by the Inventables Concept Studio. Under R&D.

BUTTER CUTTER

One Click Butter Cutter controls your portion as an important part of staying healthy. This ingenious butter cutter delivers one standard pat with each click of the handle.

ADD TO CART - Amazon

DAY CLOCK

What day is today? You don't know? Then you need a Day Clock. It's uniquely designed to keep track of weekly events like your golf day, card night, movie night, and so much more. It's ideal for vacations and cruises when it's easy to lose track of the day.

ADD TO CART - Amazon

LASER SCISSORS

Laser Scissors Cutting a straight line has never been easier. Just aim the pin-point laser and follow the line. The scissor blades are stainless steel and cut very clean with a micro edge.

ADD TO CART - Amazon

TOILET SEAT LIFTER

'Who left the Toilet Seat up?' The Peace Maker will end the battle of the toilet seat. Merely step on the pedal to activate the lifting mechanism. When finished, remove your foot from the pedal and the seat gently comes to a rest where it started.

Currently Unavailable - Amazon

ILLUMINATING CAR SLIPPERS

Do you get up at night to drink water, go to the toilet... Do you wish you could see in the dark? Remarkably bright LED lights are triggered by your footsteps and light up the floor 30 feet in front of you; ultra-soft plush style are extra comfortable and cozy warm.

'THE THING' - INFANT PILLOW

The Zany is an ergonomic infant pillow designed by a mum to mimic the size, weight, touch, and feel of her hand and forearm to help her baby with comfort, support, protection, and development. The Zany can help calm your baby and help your baby sleep better through the night.

Product Page

Darth Vader and Son

2012-10-28T12:01:00.001+05:30

Darth Vader and Son, A Star Wars Childrens Book by Jeffrey Brown

In this hilarious and sweet comic reimagining, Darth Vader is a dad like any other—except with all the baggage of being the Dark Lord of the Sith. Celebrated artist Jeffrey Brown’s delightful illustrations give classic Star Wars® moments a fresh twist, presenting the trials and joys of parenting through the lens of a galaxy far, far away. Life lessons include lightsaber batting practice, using the Force to raid the cookie jar, Take Your Child to Work Day on the Death Star (“Er, he looks just like you, Lord Vader!”), and the special bond shared between any father and son.

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End of Message

2012-10-26T16:33:00.001+05:30

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Britain At War Stamp & Coin Collection

2012-10-23T11:10:00.000+05:30

A beautifully arranged display of artifacts that capture Britain at war, this collection features seven vintage postage stamps: St. Paul's during the blitz; the Spitfire; D-Day; Winston Churchill; the birth of the United Nations; the Lancaster bomber, plus soldiers and civilians celebrating at the end of the war. Minted during the war, the four coins include a penny, threepence, halfpenny and farthing. Framed and matted, this collection measures 15¼" x 11¾".

CollectablesDirect.com ~ Shop the Holiday Boutique.

The Rocket Book

2012-10-23T11:06:00.001+05:30

"The upward progress of a rocket,lit in the basement by the janitor's son,causes some strange situations as itpasses through 20 floors of apartments!"American artist and author, Peter Newell (1862-1924), established his credentials providing humorous illustrations for famous magazines and newspapers in the last two decades of the 19th century.Newell also illustrated popular books by other authors (Twain and Carroll, for instance) and wrote and illustrated a series of his own children's books....

Buy The Rocket Book

Silhouettes From Pop Culture

2012-10-23T10:56:00.002+05:30

Winchester, UK illustrator Olly Moss created the book Silhouettes From Pop Culture published by Titan Books that is filled with classically styled paper cut silhouettes of his favorite pop culture icons, which he spent many months creating. The book will be released on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 and is available to pre-order at Amazon.

Drawing from the City

2012-10-16T20:37:00.000+05:30

The Visionary Indian Indie Publisher Tara Books has been churning out beautifully crafted books celebrating Indian Folk Art traditions for nearly two decades, giving voice to marginalized art and literature. They are out with their latest Gem, Drawing from the City, by artist Tejubehan.

The smartphone-enabled couples’ sex device.

2012-09-28T14:41:00.002+05:30

Whats LovePalz

A long expected revolution in love technology is here!

LovePalz is a brand new concept of motion sensing technology that aims to create physical feelings as real as possible in virtual sex experience. It can simulate your actions and cause physical contact over internet in real time. Through our service, you and your lover each hold one device and as long as you remain connected to the internet, the device automatically senses your actions and conveys them to your partner's toy! In short, how you use it is simultaneously reflected on your lover's toy, physically! bringing you and your lover together even when you are miles apart.

Just like being together, distance will no longer be an issue

The best addition to spice up your love life

Directly control your partner's device to physically display your love Product design

The looks - the most innovative design of this nature

The device has a truly unique design. Its minimalist appearance along with its streamlined shape and the metallic silver finish of the top mean that as well as being a functional product. No device of this nature has ever looked so stylish! When not in use the top can be covered to avoid getting dirty.

The unibody design - Aluminum-magnesium alloy

It is made of high quality aluminum-magnesium alloy which makes it non-toxic, light, durable, and last but not the least, very fashionable. Even if your hands sweat, it will not slip away, and it is very easy to wash if it gets dirty. The device's fully water proof design allows it to function perfectly in water.

Body care material - Anti hypersensitive silicone

The inner part of the body is made of medical silicone which provides a soft touching feeling that is comfortable and avoids hypersensitive reaction. Moreover, it is easily washable and can last for a long period of time.

Functions - unbelievable control: Motion sensing technology sense your motions and immediately send them rel-time to your lover via internet connection.

Besides its extraordinarily stylish and unique appearance, the device also uses new technology to function in a way never before achieved. It is great source of pride for us that this product takes love interaction to a whole new level that totally surpasses all that has come before. Starting now, toys will no longer be for single use by one person, but a fun tool you and your lover can use together. The specially designed sensors will sense you or your partner's actions/reactions and transmit them to each other's device, all in real time!

How the toys work - MOTION SENSING!

The speed sensor in Zeus will detect the speed of male action and send to the Hera, the female toy. Hera will reflect and match Zeus's speed automatically. Hera on her part, will sense the pressure inside the toy based on the female's reaction and then send that information to Zeus. Zeus's air pump will configure its tightness automatically based on the received signal.

LovePalz App - Supporting iphone, Android, Windows phone, Blackberry and Websites

the greatest app and accessories helping to bring lovers closer together

Our app is designed to connect you and your lover's devices. Through this app your devices can be connected via internet and your partner's toy will simulate your action automatically based on your movement.

It's very simple to use,

1. Download LovePalz app in the app store.

2. Set up your account.

3. Add your partner to your friend list

4. Start your video conference and turn on the devices.

The functions in this app include:

Video conference

Device connection and interaction

Finding your lover

{Via}

The World Atlas of Beer

2012-09-25T21:27:00.001+05:30

Maybe it should be considered more of an encyclopedia than atlas. The World Atlas of Beer: The Essential Guide to the Beers of the World ($20) is filled to the brim with brewski knowledge — the history of beer, brewing methods, and info on countries that brew the best. This hardcover also gives you a thorough overview of a little more than 500 of the top beers from around the world. {More}

For the Audiophiles

2012-09-22T19:35:00.004+05:30

Cambridge Audio amplifier (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Chances are, your sound system isn't very good at math. It would sound a lot better if you could make it a little smarter, and you can.

Cambridge Audio's DacMagic 100 digital to analogue converter. You see, music travels to the ear as a smooth wave of sound. But digital music - CDs or MP3s on a music player - stores only bits of information taken at intervals along those sound waves.

Later, your sound system will play a sophisticated game of connect-the-dots to turn that choppy data back into a wave. That takes math. How authentic the playback sounds depends largely on how well the system turns digital dots back into the original wave.

That de-digitizing is done by a computer chip and software combination called a digital-to-analog converter (or DAC) - and here is a little secret of the audio industry - to keep prices down, manufacturers often scrimp on that part. That means mediocre math.

But you can upgrade your processor to make your music sound much more as if it were live, and it doesn't take any soldering. Just plug an undistinguished box called an outboard DAC between your digital music player (like an iPod, CD player or computer) and an amplifier. (The devices use a USB, optical, 30-pin or coaxial cable or RCA connector cable.) It does better math to make better sound.

They can cost more than $15,000, though some are only $100.

But spending a lot of money won't necessarily guarantee better sound. Any sound system is only as good as its weakest link, so a $500 DAC isn't likely to improve a really rudimentary receiver. And because of variances when you mix audio components, a specific DAC may sound very different in your system than in your buddy's.

Despite all those caveats, it's not hopeless. After hours of testing several DACs on my 30-year-old home hi-fi and many more hours in a modern high-end system at Soundscape, an audio store in Baltimore, a rotating listening panel of employees and customers came to as close as a consensus as you'll find among audio buffs. We listened to a stereo wired so we could switch between an $1,800 CD player and a computer playing the same song using a DAC. We also listened to the song on the computer without the DAC. The listeners didn't know which they were hearing.

Though we mostly listened to a variety of music converted to the Apple lossless format, which makes files smaller but preserves fidelity, we also tried out some MP3 files, which are lower fidelity but take up less space in a player.

We had previously tested low-priced DACs and were disappointed. We found that several costing around $350 provided the best value.

MUSIC HALL DAC15.2 $300

Audiophiles like a big "soundstage" - their term for the impression that the instruments in the recording are spread apart, like a large orchestra on a wide, deep stage of a concert hall. The Music Hall seemed to increase the feeling of width, though not depth.

The most marked characteristic was the brightness it added to instruments in the higher ranges, which is what the company was going for. "If you can separate the instruments, especially in the higher register, you are doing something right," said Roy Hall, Music Hall's founder.

SCHIIT BIFROST $350 without USB, $450 with USB

The crowd favorite, it has something rarely found in a $350 DAC: a 32-bit analog processing chip. That helps the converter reconstruct those sound waves better. The Bifrost can also be upgraded, so if USB or processor technology changes, Schiit can install an update.

The outstanding difference was that the Bifrost reliably made the soundstage larger in each dimension. Ed Dorsey, co-owner of Soundscape, said that switching from the DAC while listening to a CD of "All Right Now," a classic rock song by Free, "was like going from stereo to mono."

"Wow," he added.

HRT MUSIC STREAMER II+ $350

The HRT, the smallest DAC tested and the one with the sleekest case, is the only one powered by a USB cable, not an outside power supply. The company said that this helped eliminate noise from a power supply, but I suspect you'd have to have a sensitive sound system (and sensitive ears) to hear it.

Of the DACs, it sounded closest to the original CD versions. "My approach is to create a product that doesn't editorialize the sound," said Kevin Halverson, the company's chief technical officer. Over all, listeners preferred the bigger sound from the HRT DAC over the CD.

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO DACMAGIC 100 $370

This was an odd case. It did better on orchestral music than rock songs, more so than the other DACs. But that is in line with the company's goals. "We have, at Cambridge, always used live unamplified acoustic music as what we design for," said John Bevier, national sales and product manager at Cambridge Audio. Those tend to be the recordings that audiophiles are most interested in, he said. Rock doesn't do as well, he said, because its sound is engineered for the lower fidelity systems it is most likely to be played on.

NUFORCE ICON HDP $450

This demonstrates why audio is so subjective. No single aspect of the NuForce stood out as the best, yet the listeners gave it high marks.

Audiophiles use an exasperatingly ambiguous word, "involving." It basically denotes how much the sound draws you in. After hearing "All Right Now" countless times over five hours, I found myself unconsciously tapping my foot. That would qualify as involving.

One customer, James Rosenthal, said the soundstage was wider, but less deep than that of the CD player, but he also thought the instruments sounded livelier. A worthwhile trade-off, he said. We agreed that it added some of the smooth richness of tube equipment.

At any listening party with audiophiles, be prepared for an argument. These guys nearly come to fisticuffs arguing over the best method of wiring a DAC. Certainly tweaks can optimize performance, like setting the computer to play at the appropriate bit rate to your DAC ($10 software called BitPerfect automates the process for Macs; it can be set manually on some PCs).

While deliberating details, Mr. Dorsey reminded everyone of a crucial fact. "The bigger point here," he said, "is these things made your computer sound as good as an $1,800 CD player." {Via}

Clockwork Angels

2012-09-02T01:57:00.001+05:30

Rush drummer Neil Peart crafted such an epic story for the band's new LP, Clockwork Angels, a mere rock album can't tell the whole thing - so early in the process, he teamed with science fiction novelist Kevin J. Anderson to help him turn it into a book. "Kevin did the heavy lifting on the prose-writing," says Peart. "But I was involved all the way in review and suggestions and the general shape and mood of it." {Read on}

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Soon to be a Collector's item.

2012-07-26T19:24:00.000+05:30

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Things I have learned in my life so far

2012-06-16T20:03:00.001+05:30

This book began as a list designer Stefan Sagmeister made in his diary under the title Things I have learned in my life so far, which includes statements such as "Worrying solves nothing" and "Trying to look good limits my life." The list reveals something that is profoundly true: Although human beings have been pursuing happiness for countless generations, it is not so easily achieved. And we need constant reminders to keep us on the right path.

Get it on Amazon

Making Ideas Happen

2012-06-03T21:15:00.005+05:30

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Inboxace. Free Download

2012-03-19T19:41:00.002+05:30

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Buy More, Save More on Busted Tees

2012-03-12T21:43:00.000+05:30

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How to Install Siri on an Older iPhone...

2012-02-23T09:40:00.001+05:30

An older iPhone Without iPhone 4S Certificates [Cydia]

The quest for the perfect Siri port to older iOS devices continues, and after Spire, AssistantConnect, H1Siri and a host of other attempts, SiriPort has now become the latest addition to the list of methods which you can use to get Siri on iDevices other than iPhone 4S. Most Siri ports for older iPhone, iPad or iPod touch devices require complicated setting up of proxy servers, or provision of a certificate from an actual iPhone 4S. With SiriPort, however, there are no such needs. You just need to download the package from Cydia and after a few simple steps you are good to go. The latest Siri port is available for free at the Cydia Store.

Here are the steps you need to follow in order to get SiriPort working, but before you do anything, make sure that you uninstall any other non-functioning packages related to Siri, like Spire. Once you have cleansed your iDevice of such packages, you are good to go.

Instructions:

Go to the Cydia store, and in the Manage tab, go to Sources.
Add the following new source URL repo.siriport.ru
After the repository has finished loading the packages, search for a tweak titled SiriPort.
Make sure that you are on a good Wi-Fi connection, and install the searched tweak. It is more than 250MB in size, so be prepared for a long wait while everything is downloaded and installed to your iPhone.
Your device will reboot when the package has been installed successfully.
Now from your web browser go to the following link, and download the file found there (titled 1.cert)
siriport.ru/1.cert
Now email the file you have just downloaded to yourself, and open the attachment from the stock Mail app.
You will be taken to an installation page, hit the Install button, followed by Done.
Reboot your device.
When your device comes back on, long-press the Home button to launch Siri, and then say "Hi Siri".
After that, Siri will be activated and you can enjoy a lovely chat with the talking assistant. In case it fails to activate, reboot the device, and then try step 10 once again. You have to keep repeating until Siri responds to your Hi. SiriPort hasn't worked for every user who has tried it, but still, it's worth a shot. Do let us know in the comments section if using SiriPort finally gave you Siri on your older iDevice.

{Via}

A Wrinkle in Time: 50th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

2012-02-12T15:26:00.000+05:30

The Pros: Mature storyline. Interesting sci-fi concepts. One of the better books in the trilogy.

The Cons: The first book needs to be read first. Confusing as hell for a young audience.

A Wrinkle In Time was written by Madeleine L'Engle between 1959 and 1960. The book was rejected by 26 publishers before being accepted, ironically going on to win numerous awards including the Newbery Medal, Sequoyah Book Award, and Lewis Carroll Shelf Award.

This is the best price ($15.02). The next best price ($15.21) is at Ebay.com

Can't Wait For This

International Shipping with MyUS.com

2012-01-22T21:02:00.001+05:30

Get your own U.S. address in America

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If you would like magazines, letters and catalogs from the U.S. the Premium+Mail service is for you.

All paths are the same, leading nowhere. Therefore, pick a path with heart! ~ Carlos Castaneda

2011-12-18T19:21:00.002+05:30

More Carlos Castaneda

"I sometimes wish I were suffering in a good cause, or risking my life for the good of others, instead of just being a gravely endangered patient." ~ Christopher Hitchens

2011-12-16T22:18:00.000+05:30