GeekSugar

Love It or Leave It? Ballpoint Pen With USB Drive

GeekSugar — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:00:11 PDT

Pens are prime targets when it comes to built-in devices like spycams or flashlights. Now Digix from Korea is incorporating USB functionality into the standard ballpoint pen. Showcased on Geek Alerts, these pens come with a 1GB USB memory drive for all your on-the-go storage needs. Use as an actual pen or pop off the top cap to use the USB plug. Available in black, blue, red, and silver. Prices not released yet. I like the concept but the pens aren't exactly what I'd classify as glamorous. If they had a sleeker body I'd be all for them. What are your thoughts?

The 5 Worst Habits That Damage Your Immune System

Prevention — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 04:19:31 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Kick these surprising habits to keep colds, flu and other bugs at bay.
By The Editors of Prevention.com

Staying healthy isn't just about using hand sanitizer and avoiding coughing co-workers. It turns out some pretty surprising daily habits - like how you fight with your husband or whether you stay up late for Letterman - can impact how well your body fends off colds, flu and other pesky bugs. Here's a list of science-backed tips to add to your stay-healthy arsenal today.

1. You Avoid the Water Cooler
Friendship may be Miracle-Gro for your immune system. Research shows that the fewer human connections we have at home, at work, and in the community, the likelier we are to get sick, flood our brains with anxiety-causing chemicals, and live shorter lives than our more sociable peers. In one study, researchers who monitored 276 people between the ages of 18 and 55 found that those who had six or more connections were four times better at fighting off the viruses that cause colds than those with fewer friends.

What to do: Don't let a jam-packed workday or hectic schedule get in the way of your friendships. Stop by a co-worker's office for a quick Monday morning catch-up, or e-mail/text your friends at night to stay in touch when you're too busy for phone calls.

7 Ways to Work Out at The Office

2. You Often Feel Tired
Scrimping on sleep has a powerfully detrimental effect on immunity. The perfect example: college students who get sick after pulling all-nighters cramming for exams. Poor sleep is associated with lower immune system function and reduced numbers of killer cells that fight germs. In fact, University of Chicago researchers found that men who had slept only four hours a night for one week produced half the amount of flu-fighting antibodies in their blood (jump-started by a flu shot) compared with those who slept 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 hours.

Keep reading to learn how to keep your immune system strong after the break.

Manicure Monday: Get These Cute Lava Lamp Nails

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 06:09:00 PDT

Making this adorable "lava lamp" nail art might look tricky, but it's actually exceedingly simple if you know a couple of tricks. All you'll need is a small, point-tipped object (like a pencil, ballpoint pen, or orange stick), plus your preferred nail polish shades and topcoat. To see how even the least manicure savvy among us can create this look without a hassle, just keep reading.

Which Gadget Changed the World?

GeekSugar — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:57:59 PDT

Popular Mechanics, a favorite newsstand option for the straightforward blend of science and technology, recently declared the "101 Gadgets That Changed the World." Most of these objects are so ubiquitous in our everyday lives that it's hard to imagine a time when they didn't exist: radios, telephones, ballpoint pens, calculators, and zippers to name a few.

The following are the top 10 gadgets and inventions deemed by the magazine to have most drastically changed the world, with the smartphone taking the top spot. We're inclined to agree with the editors that life would be pretty different without a miniature computer smartphone, but can you imagine getting to work without an alarm clock buzzing you awake? Of the 10 gadgets on the list, which do you think has had the biggest global impact?

Sources: Flickr User Boniface Plymouth and Flickr User Ivyfield

You Know You Want to Design This Fragrance Bottle. . .

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:00:22 PST

Perfumer Bond No. 9 makes fragrances that capture the essence of New York's distinct neighborhoods. And last month, this Big Apple-loving company announced that its latest fragrance, Brooklyn, would be encased in a glass bottle with graffiti-style, "street" artwork. They received many strong opinions on what the bottle could look like, so they took it to heart, deciding to offer more options by means of a fun, oh-so-artsy, contest.

Two winners will be chosen in the "Brooklyn Bottle Design Competition," and not only will their designs go into production, but their names will be displayed on the bottles, and each winner will receive one bottle of Brooklyn per month for a full year. Not too shabby. See the rules when you

Create the design to fit within the outline of the Bond No. 9 superstar flacon and to include the circular “token” logo, downloadable on the Bond No. 9 website.
Any style, whether abstract or figurative, will do.
Inspiration should come from any concept or anywhere in Brooklyn.
Any medium is fine, whether watercolor, acrylic, makeup, ballpoint pen, etc.
The contest goes throughout the month of March. Finished designs should be submitted by March 31, 2009 to: contactus@bondno9.com or Bond No. 9, 9 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012. Have fun, and good luck!