Hasta La Ideas

“Mr. Sunday Movies” takes a look at some of the easter eggs, references, and other things you may have missed in the just-released second trailer for Spider-Man: Homecoming…(Read…)

Chen Zhitong has a unique talent: he’s a claw machine master. Yeah, those stuffed-animal-stuffed glass boxes at kid-friendly restaurants and amusement parks, THOSE rage-inducing claw machines. Last year alone, Chen won *15,000* toys from claw machines. He told us how—and why—he’s made claw machine mastery his vocation…(Read…)

Order a copy today of ​Never Too Busy to Cure Clutter​ by Unclutterer’s Editor-in-Chief Erin Rooney Doland.

Unclutterer reader Jackie (great name by the way) wrote in to ask:

What does one do with old pictures of actors, and Broadway programs and playbills?

This is a great question and it also encompasses programs and photos from other cultural events such as posters from special museum exhibits, sporting event programs, and photos from themed conventions (e.g., Comic-Con, etc.).

The first question to ask yourself is, “Do I still want to keep these items?” If you decide that you want to part with some or all of these items, then here are a few ways to do that.

• Friends/family: Pass items along to friends or family members who show an interest. Include a brief description of the item’s history; how you got it and why you kept it.
• Aficionados: If you belong to a group of theatre-goers or a fan-club, other members of the group may be interested in your items. If you’re not a member of a fan group, you could contact a local club and let them know what items you have to sell or donate. Some businesses might be interested too. For example, a small café near your local theatre might wish to use Broadway programs as part of their décor.
• Local theatre, historical group, or archives: Photos, pictures, and playbills from a local theatre may be of value to your community archives. Consider contacting these groups to make a donation.
• Online selling: Using online auctions sites (eBay) or classified ads sites (Craigslist, kijiji, Gumtree, etc.) will allow you to find buyers from outside your local area.
• Disposal: Paper items whose condition is too poor to sell can be recycled. Photos, posters, and other non-recyclables could be donated to a community group to be dismantled for a craft project or placed directly into the garbage.

For those items you wish to keep, here are some ways to organize and conserve them.

An archival 3-Ring Binder Box with heavy-weight, archival sheet protectors would be ideal to store and organize programs and playbills. You could slip a little acid-free index card in the pocket to record the date you saw the show, with whom you saw it, and a brief review. Labelled tabbed dividers can help further organize your playbills into subcategories. You could subdivide by year or by genre – whatever makes the most sense to you.

Dirt and oils on your fingers can degrade paper and photos, so always handle the items carefully with clean, dry hands. When you’re organizing, avoid areas with food and drinks. If the kitchen or dining table is your only organizational space, cover the table with a clean cotton cloth before you start to protect your collection while you work.

If your materials contain staples, remove them carefully and replace them with archival thread. However, closures such as sealing wax, ribbons, stitches, and unusual metal fasteners may enhance the value so when in doubt, leave these items in place.

Temperature, humidity, and light will affect items in storage. Ensure that you store your collection in a suitable climate. Archivists recommend no higher than 21°C (70°F) and a relative humidity between 30% and 50%.

You may decide to frame some posters or photos that have great meaning to you. We suggest that you use acid-free materials and UV-resistant glass when mounting your items. Hang your work out of direct sunlight to ensure it retains its beauty.

Good luck with your collection Jackie. For more information on conserving these types of documents, check out the Northeast Document Conservation Center website.

Post written by Jacki Hollywood Brown

La photographe espagnole Paloma Rincon, s’amuse à combiner différents arts dans ses oeuvres. Dans le cadre d’un partenariat entre le concessionaire Nissan et Fubiz pour le lancement de la nouvelle Micra, sa créativité a été une nouvelle fois mis à l’épreuve. L’artiste a dans un premier temps réalisé des découpes de la citadine Nissan, qu’elle a posé sur un fond mélangeant eau et peintures. Un processus méticuleux permettant de jouer avec les couleurs et les formes. La finalité dégage ainsi une beauté presque magique.

IKEA has introduced smart functionality into its new Trådfri lighting range, as it takes its first major step into the Internet of Things.

The range consists of bulbs, LED panels and cabinet doors that can be controlled using a remote or app. Sensors are an optional extra, allowing the lights to switch on and off automatically when someone enters or leaves a room.

As well as turning the lights off and on, users can select their optimal brightness and warmth, and using the app, create presets for different times of day.

Trådfri is the second release to come out of the IKEA Home Smart programme after its wireless phone charging products, and the first to allow users to make use of the Internet of Things to remotely control or automate their household appliances.

The Swedish furniture giant is particularly targeting customers who may be put off by the complexity of other smart-home gadgets.

Basic kits start from just £15, and IKEA recommends users start with the remote control. If they’re interested in more advanced technology, they can integrate the app and sensors.

“I would say Smart lighting is very IKEA, because it allows more of the many people to have better light – at an affordable price,” said Björn Block, business leader for IKEA Home Smart.

“Think of the Trådfri kits as an entry-level light that you can build upon, that hopefully inspires and encourages you to start experimenting with your light at home.”

Trådfri is designed to be plug-and-play, so the bulbs can be used in any lamp with standard socket sizes.

In addition to the bulbs, the release includes the Surte and Jormlien light doors, and the Floalt LED panels – all designed for rooms that lack natural daylight.

The series isn’t compatible with Amazon Echo or Google Home, but it is compatible with smart-home hubs that connect using ZigBee technology.

IKEA plans to roll out updates to the technology in the future. This will include an Away from Home feature in the app, allowing users to remotely set their lights on timers, and check whether they turned lights off.

The number-one ranking brand in Dezeen Hot List, IKEA has recently dabbled in a number of new product areas after finding the market may have reached “peak home furnishings”.

Last year saw them launch bikes and hydroponic indoor gardens.

Trådfri is expected in stores in April.

The post IKEA ventures into smart home products with Trådfri lighting series appeared first on Dezeen.