molds

Recalibrate your expectations of how good an in-ear headphone can sound

I've been listening to Jerry Harvey's custom-molded in-ear headphones for years. The very first one, the UE10, was a game changer; in 2006 it was the best sounding in-ear headphone I'd heard. Now with his new Freqphase JH13 and JH16 in-ears, Harvey's done it again. The performance gains in clarity, detail, resolution, and stereo imaging are huge -- the adrenaline-pumping sound of the music you love over a set of Harvey's headphones can't be matched by any other in-ear 'phones.

Years before he made headphones, Harvey mixed stage monitor sound for Kiss, Van Halen, … Read more

Introducing our dirtiest public objects

Poor mail carriers. Not only do they have to put up with threatening dogs and foul weather, but they spend their days touching what may be one of our dirtiest everyday objects: mailbox handles.

The only worse offender? Gas pump handles.

So says a new study by researchers at hygiene solutions firm Kimberly-Clark Professional, who took more than 350 swabs from a variety of everyday objects in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and Philadelphia to measure ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) levels commonly used to detect contamination.

While they did not distinguish between contamination types (i.e. molds versus bacteria), they … Read more

Handmade technology: The Ultimate Ears 4 Pro in-ear headphones

I've reviewed and thoroughly enjoyed some of the very best custom in-ear headphones on the market, including the JH Audio 13 Pro headphones and the Ultimate Ears Reference Monitors, so I thought it was about time to check out an entry-level custom in-ear. The Ultimate Ears UE 4 Pro model retails for $399, and looks much like the company's other custom models. No surprise there; they all come from impressions made from the customer's ear canals, hence the "custom" part of custom in-ear headphones, from UE or other manufacturers. Each one is a unique, hand-built … Read more

Take rice up a notch

Plain white rice makes its way into plenty of meals, but it isn't exactly an exciting dish. The Inomata Sushi Mold Rice Ball Maker can change your opinion of that bowl of rice, though. By filling the mold with rice, placing the cover on top and pushing, you can create rice balls that look like hearts, stars or even bears. The options for what you can do with such adorably formed rice are endless: they can be decorated for bento boxes, filled for something a little more unusual than the average rice ball or even put a piece of … Read more

Finding room for more pie

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so it's time to talk turkey, or in this case, pie. While you aren't going to want to skip straight to dessert on the biggest food holiday of the year, it doesn't hurt to do a little planning. After the turkey and mashed potatoes have settled, there are still the apple and pumpkin pies to enjoy. When it's time to choose between apple and pumpkin pie, there can really only be one response: yes.

The Apple and Pumpkin Pocket Pie Molds from Williams-Sonoma are nifty little all-in-one portable pocket pie … Read more

Complete your table with an (easy) ice sculpture

Admit it. Go on, admit it. You always wanted an ice sculpture centerpiece. I know I have. I'm not ashamed to admit it. An ice sculpture may be cheesy or fancy depending on your perspective (not to mention the sculpture), but there is no denying there is something just kind of neat about watching an ice sculpture slowly melt before your eyes. With little or no work, you can now have your very own ice sculpture (over and over again).

These Ice Sculpture Molds, available in Penguin or Angelfish, may not be the high art ice sculpture you would … Read more

Say "I love you" with something sweet

Nothing says, "I love you" like a home-cooked meal, and nothing tops off a delicious dinner like homemade dessert. Just in time for Valentine's Day, you can get your hands on these silicon heart-shaped molds by Fauchon and make a dessert that's both tasty and festive.

Silicone molds have become popular vessels for baking. They store easily, allow for painless food removal, are dishwasher safe, and prevent the burned-on residue that shows up so frequently on metal pans. Since the heart is an odd shape, using a silicone mold means that your cake will come out … Read more

Work in the mold--the Jello-O mold

Some people never outgrow the wonderful taste of Jell-O, and why should they? Every potluck seems to have a Jell-O mold. Whether it be speckled with marshmallows or odd bits of fruit, a Jell-O mold seems to always show up. Love it or hate it, it is one thing you can count on. Now, you can take that mold with you to work, without adding any calories to your diet.

The Jelly Box by David Hingamp takes cubicle lifestyle to a whole new level. The workspace was designed as part of the recent Urbantine Project in London. The theme of … Read more