A lot of people have been talking about Salvia, a controversial plant that some claim can give you a good high.  Salvia hasn't been classified at the national level as an illegal drug but many states have outlawed it.  Salvia is in the mint family and produces a very pretty flower: Salvia tripping Could Salvia be the modern day solution to kids and losers wanting to get high without having to traffic narcotics?  Maybe so.  There are several videos on Youtube that claim to show Salvia trips but its hard to tell what the real effects are since its just high school kids screwing around. If you're feeling adventerous you can head on over to eBay where some sellers have listings for Salvia Kratom and Salvia Divinorum, two extracts from the Salvia plant.  Prices are very affordable too - under $10 including shipping!

The Ford Fiesta ECOnetic is a 65 mpg car that runs on a 1.6 liter, four cylinder, 89 hp, turbo diesel engine. Unfortunately, the car is only for sale in the United Kingdom now, and there are no plans to bring it to the United States. So you’re telling us there’s a very well-designed, fuel-efficient car (and it’s made by Ford), but it won’t be available in the US? WHY? BusinessWeek says this is because consumers in the US have been conditioned to believe that Diesel is a dirty fuel, since many heavy trucks use it. A few other limiting factors are that diesel is heavily taxed at the state level, and we have limited capability to refine this type of fuel. Hopefully people are smart enough to realize that diesel doesn't deserve a bad reputation, especially if it is clean and helps with our fuel efficiency. What do you think?

The Chevy Volt could turn out to be a really revolutionary vehicle as consumers now demand more fuel-efficient and environmentally conscious vehicles.  The skyrocketing cost of gas at the pump and of course our confusing and unsettling foreign affairs with the Middle East have more and more people looking for alternative forms of energy for everyday life.  Transportation with hybrid cars, biodiesel and electric cars like the Chevy Volt totally fit the bill. Just Today, new pictures of the Chevrolet Volt were leaked unexpectedly.  These photos show a never before seen glimpse at what could be the hottest car soon. You'll have to excuse the handsom GM execs in the way but here are the exclusive pics This is an exciting time for us consumers. Don't fail us now, GM.   I really think that GM is going through a positive turn. If they can get the Volt price to around $ 26000 which will be a success. I would like to see a significant tax deduction for the purchase that would be a great way for the U.S. government to support the national automotive industry. Look at how fast GM is finally getting on the hybrid train.   They do have that and ...

This isn't necessarily related to design (though it is is an interesting new way to pop popcorn). Check out this video of some people who use their cell phones to make popcorn kernels pop. At first I thought it was fake but after watching it, it doesn't look like it to me. The people in the video line their cell phones up in a square, with a few kernels of unpopped popcorn in the middle. Then, they use other phones to call these phones. I'm guessing some kind of radiation waves is what is making the corn kernels pop, but I'm not sure. What do you think? Real or fake? Pop Corn téléphone portable micro-ondesUploaded by sassiere

Fishing from a helicoper video from The ITM Fishing Show in Australia The grainy video shows a guy jump directly from a helicoper and land on a blue marlin, riding him like a horse.  Whay do you think, is this real or fake?  Dangerous? video can be seen here

The Taccia table lamp is a very high end lamp designed by Flos. Flos has created high end, great quality lamps from the beginning.  Flos has won numerous awards for their designs.  Their lamps are often seen in many museums around the world.  Flos designed lamps are works of art, and this is why we have featured this lamp on Bachelor Design. The Taccia Table lamp looks like something that came right out of the Batman movie.  It is extremely stylish and provides directional up lighting.  The light is a general ambient light.  The lamp features a concave spun aluminum reflector and a white matte finish. The lamp can be adjusted using the blown glass diffuser.  The base is extruded aluminum in matte black or sandblasted finish.  One 75 watt reflector flood halogen lamp is included. The lamp was designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1962, and is now made in Italy with the highest possible standards of quality. Flos designed lamps are very high end and are not cheap.  They are so unique in design that they are often displayed in museums as works of art.  If you are looking for that special lamp that will accent your furnishings ...

This stylish sawhorse desk by Ballard Designs is simplicity at its finest.  Have you ever been at a friend’s house and seen a piece of furniture and just fell in love with it.  That is the reaction everyone has when they first see this desk. Many have tried to duplicate the sawhorse desk and failed.  Ballard Designs has created a simple, but yet very versatile desk with the sawhorse design.  Each piece is handcrafted and made with solid pine.  They are designed with flexibility in mind. The sawhorse desk works well in any room.  They are stylish at home or the office.  Many people even use them for their flat screen TV’s.  Ballard Designs also makes other bookshelves and corner pieces to match the stylish sawhorse desk. The desk's dimensions are: 28 ¾” H x 64” W x 36 “ D It comes in Rubbed Black, Rubbed White, and Rubbed Chestnut finishes. Ballard Designs was founded by Helen Ballard Weeks in 1982.  She founded the company after she won the Southern Region Metropolitan Home contest.  She sold the condo and started Ballard Designs.  The rest is history.  Today, Ballard Designs sells some of the most unique and stylish furniture available in the United States. The unique ...

Get Your TRIKKE On! So what is a Trikke you say?  A Trikke (pronounced trike), is a three-wheeled cambering vehicle used for recreation and exercise.  The Trikke is the only vehicle of its kind.  It allows the rider to propel forward without the use of a chain, or putting their foot to the ground. The design of the Trikke is very simple.  The thing is designed in a triangular 3-point platform frame.  All three wheels of the Trikke remain on the ground at all times.  The rider leans from side to side to propel the Trikke forward.  With practice, a rider can reach speeds over 17 miles per hour when on flat ground.  An experienced rider can climb steep hills and travel 50 miles in one day. The Trikke is unique and allows the rider to use their entire body while riding.  Your legs are used to help balance and absorb the road, and your arms help give you control and power.  Riding a Trikke is a unique experience.  It is a completely different type of ride than any other.  It really allows you to feel and see the road. The Trikke uses the physics principle known as “the Conservation of Angular Momentum”.   In ...

We're starting a new series/category of posts called "Atmosphere Design." What I mean by atmosphere design is how a restaurant, shop, or office utilizes its space in a way that is aesthetically pleasing and suited to the place that it represents. The first place I'd like to discuss for this series is Panera Bread, a bakery/sandwich chain that I visit a few times per week. Panera Bread does a good job at appealing to the senses of its patrons. When you first walk into the place, you immediately notices two things. It smells really damn good in here - fresh breads, coffee and cinnamon smells stand out. The jazz music is very relaxin What I really like about Panera Bread (besides the cinnamon bagels and French Onion soup) is that it's a good place to get some work done. There's plenty of seating (at least at the location at North Hills Raleigh), and you can choose between a booth or a table. Or you can sit in more comfortable chairs in front of a gas fireplace. And there's outside seating. The only thing I'd change is for there to be more electrical outlets for people to plug their laptops into. Besides appealing to your sense of ...

This is my review of the Islander Crocs Shoes. So the other day I was messing around on our boat at the beach (it's a 21 foot Parker). I had my Reef sandals on and was going to take the bow line and jump off to help my dad dock the boat. To do this I have to step over the guard rail on the bow with one foot first, and then the other. This is fine, but I have to be extra careful so my sandals don't fall off into the water. Yeah, I could do this barefoot, but when you jump onto a hot dock with nothing to protect your feet and feel like the skin on the bottom of your feet is melting off, you'll understand why I usually wear sandals. Even if they are a little annoying here. When I got home I decided that there had to be a better, more comfortable footwear solution. I've seen boat shoes but I don't really like their design (and the fact that all the fratastic dudes wear them, even if they've never been on a boat in their life). In my search for a better boat shoe, I discovered ...