Why Isn't Everything Made of... Kangaroo Leather

Now before discussing Kangaroo leather, let us establish something; Kangaroos are not very nice. In fact, they are quite mean. They punch people and cause car accidents. Observe:




















Now then. Kangaroo leather is so dank because of its strength. It is much more resistant to tearing and abrasion than calf. It is also much more supple and comfortable because it breaks in faster than calf. These properties have led it to be used in sports applications, such as motorcycle suits.
















The thinness and abrasion resistance makes it suitable for protecting riders as they fall at speeds they shouldn't be going at anyways. Everything should be so safe as kangaroo leather. Roo leather is also used to make the most iconic football boot of all time, the Adidas Copa Mundial.





















I can't really explain why football boots need to be made of Kangaroo leather, but people can't really explain why these boots are the best ever, either. So, I have no choice, but to assume the Kangaroo leather has something to do with it. People comment on the Copa Mundial's comfort and suppleness as parts of its greatness. These attributes are definitely due to the use of Kangaroo leather.

Kangaroo is also starting to be used to non-sporting applications. RM Williams makes some of the world's best Chelsea boots. They make them in Kangaroo leather, too. Many reviews note the comfort, toughness, and beauty of the Kangaroo model.




















Well now, can you say Kangaroo leather is not dank? I thought not. I'll bet for at least 3 minutes you'll be thinking, "Why isn't everything made of Kangaroo leather?".

Sony MDR-V6 Headphones

The Sony MDR-V6 headphones are bomb because they are:

• Cheap
• Sound good
• Comfortable
• Durable / Time-Proven

These bad boys have been around since the 80's. Unlike most headphones today, the enclosures are made of metal, not plastic. Their durability shows in 20+ year old examples with no degradation in sound quality.

They also are really comfortable and isolate pretty well. I needed a new pair after I lost my old DJ.ing headphones, leaving me with only a set of Grado's. While Grado headphones sound great, they get pretty uncomfortable after a while and it is difficult to appreciate their output because they do not block any other noise.

While the MDR-V6 was originally intended for studio monitoring, they can also do double duty for DJ.ing. They are pretty loud and the ear cups swivel. Also, that ugly "For Digital" sticker comes off easily, leaving you with a very handsome set of headphones.

If you're looking for a pair, Sony recently renamed them the MDR-7506 to be mean and confuse people. You can find them online for about a $100 or less.

Why Isn't Everything Made of... Titanium

In case you didn't know, titanium is pretty pretty sweet. It's probably tied with gold for my favorite metal.

• Resistant to corrosion
• Highest strength-weight ratio of any metal
• Non-magnetic
• Biocompatible; non-toxic, not rejected by the body.

Titanium saw its first major applications in the military. Russia made submarines with titanium alloy hulls during the Cold War. These submarines were the deepest diving and fastest of their day. However, most people don't get to ride around in submarines. They do break bones though.














Titanium lets your grandma get a brand new hip. Cuz her body is chill with having titanium in it. The biocompatibility of titanium also makes it useful for jewelery, specifically piercings. I don't really like Frank Gehry, but he can't be all bad. He uses titaniums for buildings.










So, obviously, titanium is used for many things. And most of those things are very popular and good. While correlation is not causation, it's something to consider. Since by now you must think titanium is awesome, you must be wondering. "What other useful applications have been found for titanium?"

• Hikers' cookware
• Eyeglasses
• Golf clubs
• Bicycles
• Armour plating
• Airplanes
• Watches
• Pens
• Car parts

With so many things already blessed by the glory of titanium, why stop there? Why isn't everything made of titanium?

Theremin

The theremin is the world's first electronic musical instrument. It was invented in Russia, practiced by Lenin, and was Bob Moog's introduction to the world of electronic music.

The theremin is played by positioning each hand relative to the two antennae. One antennae controls volume, the other controls pitch.

Theremins have a very unique sound, similar to the human voice. For that reason, it has generally been used by soloists. It has mostly been forgotten, which is unfortunate, considering its impact on Moog and music in general.

The theremin was first produced in the USA by RCA, but they no longer produce them. However, Moog Music still sells theremins.

For a good example of theremin music, watch this video. With enough practice; you, too, could become one of the coolest old people I have ever witnessed.

Cast-Iron Cookware

Cast-iron cookware is a great tool in the kitchen. It has several strengths:

• High heat retention
• Even heat distribution
• Naturally non-stick
• Cheap
• Adds iron to the diet

The heat distribution and retention make cast-iron a great option for anything from frying eggs to baking cornbread. Cast-iron can be used on a stovetop, in the oven, or even over a grill.

The non-stick properties of cast-iron come from 'seasoning'. Seasoning cast-iron involves bonding fats to the surface the cookware. This can be intentionally to speed up the process or it also does it all by itself with regular use. To maintain seasoning, wash cast-iron while it still hot with nothing but a brush and water.

The last bullet is not a joke. Cast-iron cookware actually leaches small amounts of iron into your food. This can be a benefit for those with low levels of iron.

Lodge Cookware is an American company founded in 1896 that still makes cast-iron cookware. They are still family owned and produce their bare cast-iron cookware in the USA.

So, next time you order a breakfast skillet at 3:00am, stop to appreciate the magic of cast iron cookware.

Vac-pot Coffee

The first cup of coffee I ever drank was brewed in a vacuum pot. I was very young and it gave me a very bad stomach ache. But now I am a grown up.

Vacuum brewing is a method that was popular back in the day, but fell out of popularity when home drip brewers were introduced to the market. They have had a small resurgence among coffee aficionados. The ten thousand dollar coffee brewers used at Intelligentsia are basically high-tech vacuum brewers.

The coffee they produce has less sediment than a french press, but retains all the oils important to flavor. The brewing process also helps to ensure optimal temperatures.

Combined with fresh ground coffee, a vac-pot could the best way to brew coffee at home. Also, it looks bad ass.

Pilot Precise V7

The Pilot Precise series of pens are my favorite note-taking pens.

• Opaque gel ink
• Quicker drying than the G2
• More consistent stroke than the G2

Basically, makes the G2 look bad.