FiredUp

Laptop Cosy

  We're big knitters at Firebox. There, we admitted it. There's just something about it which appeals to us. We've even been known to knit at lunchtimes, which is especially handy on Fondue Tuesdays. This, however is another matter entirely. Need privacy on the commute? No problem! This laptop sockerama will ensure no-one wants to sit next to you. But that's not all, how about a Cell Phone Ski Mask?

  No? OK then, a ... Ski Mask for Eating a Sandwich? Useful, right? Well, once the sandwich is in there.

These creations are actually the brainchild of Bekathwia over on Flickr, and they have some deeper thinking behind them:

"They're supposed to be a fun commentary on how attached and concentrated on technology we are, and to highlight the lack of movement that happens when we're engrossed in our laptops, keyboards, PDAs, etc."

 
View more Body-Technology Interface pictures here.

Oh, you want the instructions? Sure thing, Instructables has you covered. You'll need 3 different kinds of knitting needles, wool and a sense of humour.

Laptop sock found via Geek Gem

"Its only purpose is to be awesome."

A quick office opinion poll reported the following:

"OK Go make the best videos." *

The latest offering is no exception, with This Too Shall Pass pushing the boundaries of how much fun you should be able to have making a single video. “Its only purpose is to be awesome,” Damian Kulash said of the video. "This isn’t Optimus Prime, but it’s cooler.”

“Thinking of 700 different objects for a five-minute video has fried my brain,” he said. “The whole time I was telling the team, ‘No, this is too good. You have to theoretically be able to build this at home.’” [L.A. Times]

We use a similar mechanism to switch on the kettle, of course, but haven't yet managed to set it to music.

Click through for behind the scenes video. "It's going to be spectaculous. It's going to be... ri-donkeykong."

*From a survey consisting of Firebox Ben.

Spread a Little Love

  

In need of spreading the warm fuzzies after all this February weather, Firebox joined up with The Kindness Offensive for Pancake Day last week at Ed's Diner in Leicester Square. This excellent group of people were giving away free pancakes to show a bit of loving on Shrove Tuesday and we added to the fun with piles of Firebox goodies. They seemed to go down a treat with the kids...

All the jolliness brought on by pancakes and presents was in a good cause: the whole event was in support of the NSPCC, ChildLine and the Child’s Voice Appeal, so click on through to find out more, show your support and maybe get inspired to practice some random kindness of your own.

Dr. Love will see you now...

For Valentine's we put a page on Firebox inviting people to anonymously submit their love and gift dilemmas to our resident Dr. Love. We got lots of questions, proving that you lot are a pretty confused bunch. Weird too: some of the questions were frankly unprintable.

Dr. Love's surgery is now closed to new patients, but here are a few of our favourite diagnoses. You can check out the full list here.

Hi, when I'm older how do I get my girlfriend to wear the Naughty Knot and not seem like a bit of a loser?

Hide all of her clothes when she’s not looking / in the shower/ making you a corned beef sandwich. Upon her return, act as equally flabbergasted as she, and then come to her rescue like the knight in shining armour that you are with the red ribbon. She will love you forever and may even have your babies.

Help. No one will ever match up to my first love, Craig David. How do I get my bo selecta back?

It very much depends on whether he wants you back. Sometimes I think the same thoughts about Dr. Peter Venkman. But at least you have this.

Me and my boyfriend are both in a screamo/rock band and I don't know what to get him.

Maybe some fans would do the trick. Not real ones, mind - that would be too hard; I’m not a miracle worker. How about the uber cool, Tengu? He’s just come out in black and will sing along to your screamo, no matter how hard you rock out.

Why won't my potato eat my cereal?

I'm gonna refer you to a Nutritionist.

Ask More From Your Table

"The Daily Shelter is a table inspired by my grandfather Sigvald Andreas Brandth. He was an inventive designer who based many of his ideas on excitement, humor and secrets." Ingrid Brandth

Last line of defence against zombies. Maybe. Or just a table. You choose.