Unitasker Wednesday: Yonanas

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

The incredibly difficult recipe for making single-ingredient banana “ice cream”:

  1. Put bananas in freezer.
  2. When frozen, take bananas out of freezer.
  3. Peel frozen bananas.
  4. Put frozen bananas in blender and blend until smooth. (Food processors, hand blenders, a fork and knife, and probably a dozen other things you already own can also work.)
  5. Eat.

Oh wait, that isn’t difficult; it’s incredibly easy.

Drats. Now what are you to do with that gigantic $50 Yonanas machine that you thought was the only way you could possibly make single-ingredient banana “ice cream”?

Thanks to all the wonderful people who sent in this unitasker and its infomercial to us this week. This is one of my new favorite unitaskers.

Like this site? Buy Erin Rooney Doland’s Unclutter Your Life in One Week from Amazon.com today.


Gov’t Bodies Backing Creativity, Part 2: Royal College of Art’s Business Incubator Gets NESTA Funding

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It’s the kind of funding design schools and students dream of: The Royal College of Art’s Business Incubator has received a shot in the arm from NESTA, the UK’s National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, to the tune of 450,000 pounds.

The Design London Business Incubator is intended to combine graduates from both the RCA and Imperial College of London in the fields of design, engineering and business with the intent of producing useful, saleable products and technologies. Min Kyu Choi’s foldable plug (above), which was all the blog rage in 2009, is one of the projects the Business Incubator currently has in development. Another is the Robofold (below), a manufacturing process that uses industrial robots to fold sheet metal into complex surfaces.

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What’s holding you back?

We all have hesitations when it comes to change. It’s normal to drag your feet when you don’t know if the change will be an improvement or if it will last or how other people will respond. Fear of change, however, can keep you from achieving the life you desire and you shouldn’t let “what if …” scenarios rule the day.

Try not to let these common fears deter your progress:

What if you end up needing an item you purged? You can buy the item again. You can borrow it from a family member, friend, or neighbor. You can discover an alternative.

What if I miss my stuff even if I don’t need it again? You’ll only miss your stuff if you’re uncluttering for the sake of uncluttering. However, if you unclutter because you wish to pursue the life of your dreams, you won’t have time to miss your stuff because you’ll be doing amazing things (or not doing amazing things if relaxation is one of your goals).

What if my housemates don’t respect the changes I’ve made? Sit down and have a conversation with them outlining your visions for the space and get them on board with your uncluttering and organizing efforts before you start working. Seek out professional help from a family counselor, relationship therapist, or even a professional organizer who can help everyone work together to find common ground.

What if I have to unclutter and organize again? Uncluttering and organizing isn’t a goal, but rather it’s a path to the life you desire. You’ll have regular maintenance tasks as you go forward, but these tasks are usually minimal compared to the first large project. Every day I do something small, like returning items to their proper storage areas. Also, remember that uncluttering and organizing takes practice — the more you do it, the easier it gets. Be prepared to have many bumps in the road as you get started. There isn’t anyone who randomly woke up one day capable of winning an Olympic gold medal. It takes years of practice to create a champion.

Like this site? Buy Erin Rooney Doland’s Unclutter Your Life in One Week from Amazon.com today.


100m Freestyle

Une nouvelle vidéo autour d’un 100m de nage avec Alain Bernard, dirigée par Lionel Hirlé et Grégory Ohrel (Elegangz). Sur la bande son de l’artiste DatA, l’ensemble présente une captation et des prises de vues impressionnantes en Canon 1D Mark IV. A découvrir en vidéo dans la suite.



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Previously on Fubiz

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Adrien Guenette Might Be Onto Something with His Gesture-Controlled Music Player

While I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I have yet to go for a run this year (in my defense, I’ve been biking a lot) despite the pleasant weather lately, Adrien Guenette’s “Beat” might just get me back into the groove.

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The gesture-controlled music player is the graduating senior’s final project towards his degree from Emily Carr University of Art & Design. That’s right, “Beat” is part iPod Nano with Nike+ and part Wiimote, bundled in a wristwatch and ring. Guenette explains:

Current devices on the market are difficult to use while on the go—finding the right button to press without stopping or struggling to use a touchscreen with sweaty hands. Using an innovative gesture interface, Beat seamlessly integrates into the running experience and puts you back in control.

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I wish the video was more a demo than a teaser, but it does the job:

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In Toronto

I haven’t been to Toronto in a very long time. Perhaps it has been over ten years… so long ago that I can’t really remember when. Glen, Finley and I are here on a whirlwind trip; we return home (briefly) and then go Edmonton to spend the weekend at the Royal Bison Craft Fair.

It was great to have dinner with my friend Aaron, from my good ol’ art school and x-files days, and his wife Karen. (Both have written for the magazine. Aaron has an extensive interview with Jeff Rogers in the next issue.)

Another highlight was finally getting to visit the workroom in person. We profiled owner Karyn Valino in the  first issue of UPPERCASE and she and her sewing shop have been very supportive of the magazine. What a great space! Oh, the fabrics. I’ve lusted after them via her flickr stream, but to see and feel them in person was a treat. I bought a stack of fat quarters, just because. (Who am I kidding? I never have time to sew!) Karyn interviewed Sian Keegan for Issue #10, out in July.

(by the way, the workroom has backissues of 6 and 7 in case you’re looking for those.)

Dezeen Screen: interview with Nick Regan of Laikingland

Nick Regan of Laikingland

Dezeen Screen: this movie filmed by Dezeen in Milan features Nick Regan, one of the co-founders of kinetic object company Laikingland, presenting their recent work at Ventura Lambrate. Watch the movie »

Beer Craft

A compact illustrated guide to mastering at-home brewing
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Any excitable amateur who dreams of making their own bathtub brew knows there’s a plethora of literature serving up more opinions, instructions and methods than any one determined brewmeister could ever sift through. That’s why Beer Craft, written by two actual amateur beer enthusiasts, makes a refreshing take on the endlessly fascinating culture.

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William Bostwick and Jessi Rymill deliver all the info needed to get started making your own pints, from the mash to the boil to the bottle. There are chapters on personal branding, food pairings and an encyclopedic breakdown of most every type of beer imaginable. All of this is supplemented by Fantastic infographics to help visualize goals and make you the hottest hop-head on the block. Interviews with powerhouse microbrewers from all over the U.S. include start-up stories, specialty beers and useful insight into today’s large-scale independent beer breweries.

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One of the greatest aspects of Beer Craft is the attention to detail and promotion of experimentation. The field guides to hops, malts and grain give extensive explanations of the functions of these ingredients, their ranges, uses and the effects they have on flavoring brews. Using these sections as guidelines, you can work to develop a truly unique taste; the authors encourage tinkering to help achieve your product — because after all, good beer is science.

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Beer Craft is available on Amazon or Indiebound, and be sure to check out the website for great supplemental materials including links to local brewing suppliers.


AMA House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Every room of this house in Japan by local architects Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates is contained in a separate block, connected by sliding doors.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

This allows the rooms of Small House to each have unique proportions suited to their interior functions, as well as different material finishes.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

The clustered arrangement of blocks creates two defined courtyards that form a garden and a parking area.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

More Japanese houses on Dezeen »

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Photography is by Toshiyuki Yano.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Here are some more details from the architects:


Small House

As the site is surrounded by rice fields, we planned “a small house” that the idyllic atmosphere and landscape.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

The entire volume of the house was first divided into individual rooms, their each concept were finally linked together taking account of factors such as connection of garden and room, entrance of light, ventilation, flow line of daily activities, etc.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Also, to meet with the demand for a guest parking lot and family garden, we laid out the rooms across the site to secure two exterior spaces.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Multiple Viewpoint

Each room has different volume, finish, and openings.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

These differences were made to enhance deeper experience with elements by presenting more than one viewpoint on each element; for example, when the light enters from wide opening, it gives you different impression from the thin ray of light in a dark place.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

These elements can be trees in the garden, wind, internal openness, nuance of shadows, and communications between family members.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Connected Air

When opening the door, these rooms become “One single room with connections”.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Although, unlike a general single room, it can not get a view of whole room, one room is visually connected with some and also connected with others beyond by air.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Communication is prompted among the viewable rooms by the strong connection of visual element, and with the rooms out of sight by the senses other than visual sense.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Subsequently, the light and wind streaming into a room, as well as the act and the sign of the family there are transmitted to the adjacent rooms, and are extended beyond.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Supplementary Architecture

The rooms expanded in the site functions as a house without being isolated functionally and spatially.  The important thing is that the rooms are connected.  The “connection” is formed by the persons and nature, and is not limited within the structure and the diagram of architecture.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

I think that the architecture is something that acts as a supplement of the “connected air “.

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Project detail informations

Project data

Location: Aichi, Japan
Site Area: 464.0m2
Built Area: 85.92m2
Total Floor Area: 85.92m2
Type of Construction: Wooden
Exterior Materials: Metal finish
Interior Materials: Lauan board 、paint finish
Year of completion: April, 2011
Design team: Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates
Structure company  /  g2plan
Construction company / Sunshow industries ltd

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Click above for larger image

Small House by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Click above for larger image


See also:

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Ogaki House
by Katsutoshi Sasaki
Tsumuji+Hako
by UID Architects
House in Buzen
by Suppose Design Office

Thule Organization Solutions is Seeking a Softgoods Designer in Boulder, CO

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Softgoods Designer
Thule Organization Solutions

Boulder, CO

The Thule Organization Solutions design department has a dual brand focus: Case Logic and Thule, both are brands we focus on within the Thule Group. Designers will work on both brand and ensure Case Logic & Thule’s brand DNA remains at the center of new product development.

We are seeking an experienced soft-goods designer to join our team. The International Product Designer is a critical member of the creative product design team providing an international perspective, charged with developing innovative design concepts that have a marked sensitivity to design influences in the global marketplace.

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The best design jobs and portfolios hang out at Coroflot.

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