OK, maybe ‘rob’ is a bit strong, in fact lies, damn lies, but these smart pooches have been trained to operate ATMs and, since I've seen Babe, I also know they can all speak too so the plot is thickening and Animal Revolution Day is closer than we think. Or, they could be just smart dogs trained to help their disabled owners get cash out.
Trained by charity Canine Partners, which trains around 30 dogs a year, the money mutts can insert and withdraw the cards and receipts for wheelchair users, who often can’t reach the slot themselves.
Thankfully, the dogs haven’t yet figured out how to enter the PIN numbers or that there is a direct link between cash and unlimited amounts of Pedigree Chum. Great photo though.-Martin Lynch
[Metro]
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The only problem with living in the sticks is that to get to the pub you need to drive, or walk, eight miles. The latter is manageable while sober but a whole other story when trolleyed, and the risk of Death-By-Bog rises with every swerving step home.
What you really need is your own pub, especially one you can store in the shed when you’re finished. UK company, Amber Iris, is offering you the chance to buy the world’s first inflatable pub, The Hogsmead. It looks like a pub, measures 13.3 x 4.6m on the inside, comes with a fully working bar but has the advantage that when you trip into a wall, you just bounce off, unscathed. It comes with two air blowers and takes an hour to inflate. It costs £16,500 though so cheap, it is not.
This has been around for a little while, I’ll admit, but the company has since added some new additions, namely the smaller and less expensive, The Barrel (£11,750), The Kilderkin (£5,450) and The Firkin (£4,379). There’s even a Polynesian themed pub up for grabs. Go here for more.-Martin Lynch
[Neatorama]
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I generally hate alarm clocks but there are some exceptions. The flying alarm clock is certainly a new take on the genre, as is the elegant-looking Voco clock, designed to make you feel like lord of the manor, thanks to the soothing tones of Stephen Fry.
In full-on Jeeves the butler mode, there are 50 messages from your manservant to greet you each day and even the beeping tone is posh and understated. There’s also a soothing 90-second, Sleep pep talk, and a dozen messages to make you feel good about knocking the alarm off. Compare the high-pitched beeping clamour of most digital alarm clocks with this:
“If you are feeling fragile, may I pass on my grandfather’s advice: ‘Nothing very bad can happen to you if your shoes are properly polished’.”
OR
“The world has been very anxious to hear from you for the last eight hours. Shall I inform the news agencies you’re about to rise, sir?”
The clock measures 11 x 11 x 8.5cm and costs a shade under £30, including P&P. I’m hoping to have one for review soon so will let you how entering the world like a king feels. Check out some audio clips here. -Martin Lynch
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Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
Contributor | Tamlin Magee
