A razor has a blade and thus can be turned into a weapon. So how do you make a razor that can't be turned into a shank? You make it bright orange so that it's very visible and build in 8 fragile points which break apart if you apply pressure. It can't be opened, so there's no way to hide contraband inside.

Rain Noe of Core77 perused the online store of Bob Barker, a company that sells products made specifically for prison and jail environments. There are many adaptations that you might never think of, such as soft silicone chess pieces (so they can't be used as weapons), transparent toothpaste tubes, and transparent wind-up radios.

Cheryl Lee Myers, an artist in Cape Coral, Florida, makes a variety of uniquely surreal sculptures. I'm especially taken with her dioramas set inside split coconuts. What does this mysterious apothecary offer you from his laboratory?

-via So Super Awesome

Kitty wants to join you at work, but your office furniture isn't always designed with cats' needs in mind. That's where designer Dan Devine comes in. His Ascend Desk makes it easy for cats to climb up to your level and lounge around.

To make the desk more comfortable, you can add carpeting. And there's even a built-in cat bed! The only feature that is missing is a litter pan.

-via Toxel

Just in case the purpose of helicopter skids is unclear, this HH-60G Pave Hawk in the US Air National Guard has footprints painted on its feet. This chopper is engaged in search and rescue training. Let us hope that the feet make it more visible to people in need of rescue.

-via Super Punch | Photo: Senior Airman Kelly Willett

Redditor Ranzant7 made these amazing dumplings that look like they're ready to swim happily in your stomach. Another redditor correctly comments:

I made standard round dumplings for the first time on Thursday and I realized dumpling making is an art and I am no artist. You my friend are an artist.

Indeed. Getting a dumpling correctly shaped even before steaming is tricky work that requires a lot of practice.

It's cold and snowy in Washington, D.C., with all of the advantages and disadvantages such weather brings. If you have to go out of your home, it's a nuisance. But these pandas at the National Zoo are telecommuting, so it's nothing but good times for them. The Smithsonian reports that Mei Xiang and Tian Tian spent time joyfully playing in the snow that fell inside their habitat.

-via Laughing Squid

Nike has developed the GO FlyEase, a new shoe that permits someone to put them on without using hands. The premise of this novel design is the hinge in front of the ankle that snaps in and out of place with a flexible strap that wraps around the outside of the shoe.

The design team originally focused on the needs of people with physical limitations, but realized that many people could enjoy shoes that don't require handling.

-via Gizmodo | Image: Nike

Sienna is 18 years old. That's very elderly for a dog. She's blind, but still eager to move around. How did owner Chad Lalande prevent Sienna from bumping her head into things? He designed and 3D printed this hoop.

Yes, there are headhoops for blind dogs on the market. But they're far too big for the little Pomeranian and Sienna is intolerant of anything that mounts on her head. So Lalande designed one that fits Sienna's little size and rests on a harness. Gizmodo reports:

In his design, your pet’s head goes through the center hoop, which is surrounded by a larger hoop held in place by an arm that goes over the top. The rest of the device fits over the back of your pet and has three slots to slide harness straps through to attach it.

Sienna mostly approves, too:

The finished product successfully protects her from bumping into things while still allowing her to prance about as she pleases. The only downside is that it works a little too well—she can’t get to her food or water bowl with the safety hoop on, so it needs to be periodically taken off throughout the day, Lalande said. Oh, and the jury is still out as far as Sienna herself is concerned.

“Sienna is still getting used to wearing it, but she complains less about it now,” Lalande said. “She’s 18 years old so she may not be around much longer, but if I can make her more comfortable in the time she has, all the better.”

Photos: Chad Lalande

Korakuen is a chain of ramen restaurants in Japan. Last year, the company offered customers bowls of chocolatey ramen noodles for Valentine's Day. It plans to do so again this year. In addition to traditional chocolate, it will also offer a white chocolate ramen, both of which are from the famous Lotte candy company. Sora News 24 reports that each bowl will cost about $6.20 and broth refills will cost about $0.96.

Photo: PR Times

Tim Storms holds Guinness World Records for the lowest vocal note by a man and the greatest vocal range of a man. That's 10 octaves from G -7 to G/G#5!

His singing voice is unearthly beautiful. In this recording, he sings the Gospel classic "I've Got to Walk that Lonesome Road" by J.D. Summer.

This interview about Storms's work demonstrates how that low singing voice plays into conversation. Storms also does voiceover work, in which he offers renditions of Tony the Tiger, Tigger, Winnie the Pooh, and Darth Vader.

-via Twisted Sifter

Johann David Steingruber (1702-1787) was an architect in what is now Germany. In 1773, he published this alphabet book which used letters as outlines for building shapes. Although some letters, such as T, turn into buildings very easily, others, such as P, R, and Z, look delightfully eccentric.

A more fanciful architectural alphabet from 1753 can be found here. Perhaps the two approaches could be combined into single buildings.

-via Kottke

Do you need to put our a candle flame? Throw a knife at it. That's what this master thrower does. I suspect he's equally skilled at flipping light switches, changing diapers, or creating pivot tables in Excel from 23 feet away. Just give him a well-balanced knife.

-via Born in Space

It's a classy and elegant look that shows your houseguests or new romantic partners what they're getting into. Etsy seller Jack Lebond of Austin makes these 18 and 24 inch tall tables out of plywood. They're unfinished, so you can paint them however you like. I suggest bright pastels for the children's bedrooms.

-via The Awesomer

i put eyes on the cat’s bed and could not be happier with the result pic.twitter.com/0D72nyc0aq

— towler (@HeyitsTowler) January 25, 2021

Twitter user Towler's cat uses a clamshell bed. To make it more amusing and ominous, he added eyes so that it consumes its feline prey. What was hidden in the mouth of this bed that so cunningly lured in the cat?

-via Richard Eisenbeis

That's 5.56 full extension punches every second.

Russian boxer and biological punching machine Pavel Trusov secured a Guinness World Record at a gym in Slovakia last year in this amazing display.

I notice that for the first half of the event, he appears to be breathing entirely through his nose. I wonder why. Would mouth breathing be slower even though it would take in more air?