Rwanda is a tiny African country surrounded by volcanoes and gorilla habitats. The bicycle is a symbol of progress for Rwanda, yet only 1 out of 40 can afford a bike, so they make them out of wood. These wooden bikes allow the growers to haul several hundred pounds of coffee cherries to the finishing stations quickly. This efficiency increases the premium they receive for fresh delivery. The bicycle is the perfect tool for this transport because of its lower maintenance technology and it allows growers to manage their own transport infrastructure without overly large investments. Hope for a better world shines through the smiles of each Rwandan; the heart of its people is what makes Rwanda so beautiful, a true “Land of a Thousand Hills.” And the Rwandan Rusenyi coffee bean makes distinctly rich and delicious coffee.
To learn more about Wooden Bike Coffee, visit the website: http://www.woodenbikecoffee.com/
Cotton-snow, originally uploaded by elliottzone.
This review is kind of a weird one… I’m not really sure if this should be a Gear Review or a Design review, which is why it’s going to appear in both categories. 
As a gadget / tool / thingamajigie nut, I always oogle cool looking wallets with neat features (tiny pens, small knifes or screwdrivers, lots of pockets, etc.) This time, however, I took the “simple is better” approach and bought an ALL-ETT, “the world’s thinnest wallet”.
Even after transferring everything I had in my previous wallet, the ALL-ETT is still thinner than the now-empty old one. It’s also significantly more comfortable, and the simple design makes it very easy to organize and access cards and cash.
I have to admit, when I opened the (very thin) envelope it arrived it, my first impression was, “ewww…” After a few days, however, I came to appreciate its simplicity and comfort. Now, I can’t imagine carrying around a big bulky wallet.
Right now, I have 15 cards in it, several receipts and (as usual) no cash. With all of that, it measures in at just under 1/4″ thick. My old wallet was easily pushing 3/4″ thick.
Check them out at: http://www.all-ett.com/
If you ever get to the point where you think you’ve mastered dovetail joints, think again…
Kintaro Yazawa is a woodworker in Japan. The furniture he builds is both functional and beautiful, but it’s the detail he puts into his joinery that makes his furniture a work of art.
Visit Kintaro’s website to see some of his work.
Here’s a little trick to help make sure wood doesn’t split or crack when you’re nailing it. This trick doesn’t need special nails or equipment, and seems to work well with big nails or small nails.
Ready? Here we go.
- Step 1: Take a nail, turn it upside down
- Step 2: Tap the nail’s pointy end with your hammer
That’s it… Exciting, hey? You might, however, be pretty surprised at the difference that little trick makes.
Why does it work so well? With the slightly flattened end, the nail tears through the wood’s fibers rather then forcing them apart.
You can flatten each nail as you use them or, if you have kids, give them a whole box and a little hammer — hours of endless fun. Really.
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