keyboard porn

while perusing the news feed on the facebook page for this blog, I was struck by a post from Colossal about the custom-built, walnut keyboard above, and caught myself going, "ooooh!"  it's lovely, isn't it?  it's made by French design company Oree, and I think it would be divine to type on.  I don't love computer keyboards, and often I miss the clunkity-clack of my beastly old typewriters, but that is a finely-crafted instrument, and it is 2012 - one needs a means to an end.  so I thought I'd share a few of the things that have caught my breath while perusing the collective electronic mind, and see if anyone shares my interest.

because I love my typewriters more than I like computer keyboards, I nearly peed myself when a woman whose exploits I vaguely follow posted about the 'USB Typewriter' - look at the wonderful device below!  just as I was wishing there was some way to hook my old typewriter up to my computer, I learn that there is!  it's pretty freaking pricey, but if I had the $$$...there's a kit to retrofit your own antique typewriter for under $80 dollars (which I would not attempt to do), or you can buy one ready made for under $1000.  prices are approximate, click on the image of the typewriter to take you to their website if you want specifics - and check out the sweet machines they have for sale.

I didn't know what steampunk was until the last few years, but to be fair, I don't think that particular style had a name too much before then...which isn't to say it didn't exist, but maybe wasn't fully realized enough in the alternative-mainstream to bear labeling past 'science-fiction', or 'Victorian'.  either way, some of the designs are stunning, and definitely the sort of thing that makes my shopping instinct kick in.  is there such a thing as a shopping instinct?  I suppose it would be more an arousal of desire, or an attraction towards beauty, on a base level.  I mean, look at the skilled work below - is that not an example of inspired design?  sure, it costs more than my whole desktop setup put together, but this is art, and fine work deserves generous compensation.  the keyboard below is the work of the good people at Datamancer.





this one doesn't get me hot and bothered, but it's a nifty toy/gadget, so I felt like giving the wireless laser keyboard a nod - it projects the keyboard on a surface, and makes cool clicking noises as you type.  just type 'wireless laser keyboard' into your search bar, it'll come up...





and last but not least, the Happy Hacking keyboard, hand-lacquered in red and sprinkled with gold dust, only runs about $4,500 - but oh, those Japanese!  they know how to do things, don't they?  I can imagine the nasty things I'd shake out of my fingertips while stroking those deliciously wicked red keys, said to be painted with brushes made from the hair of virgins...I wonder how hard it is to type while bent over?  this keyboard makes me want to smoke opium with a swarthy gentleman in the captain's cabin of a merchant's galley from back in the day - surrounded by cushions of silks and brocades, velvets and furs, while the glow of candles from behind colored glass illuminated our bare flesh at our feast... 

well, I hope you've enjoyed this trip through the trivial and I believe I've wasted a sufficient amount of time procrastinating over what sort of keyboard would make me want to type my thesis more, but the truth is, the trouble isn't in the writing.  it's in the reading.  I don't want to do the necessary research.  I don't want to go into the ugly places and pull out the rot and stench that is festering there because it means having to do real work, and not bullshit my way through with finely-crafted prose that circles back on itself and says nothing.  but if I ignore the work much longer, the result will be disastrous - I can't afford that kind of blow to my confidence, I need to figure out a way to get this done.  there's too much on my plate as it is, and I'm feeling the need to simplify - tasks as simple as a healthy breakfast are falling by the wayside and sabotaging me before I even get out the gate.

hmm.  seems I've been talking about food a lot lately, maybe it's time to re-evaluate that relationship (again), now that winter will be coming on.  and did I mention that the hideous rash/scar on my right ankle is mostly gone, with barely a sign of it's passing (much like what happened with my elbows, about 20 years ago)?  I really think managing to finally graduate from college went a long way in healing that wound, and also the bear grease I anointed it with in the sweat lodge back in May.  much to think about, much to do and more.  must attend to the Quickening, my darlings, or there'll be no feet up by the fire with my cup of cocoa when the snows come, and I do so love the crisping of the air...

♥