Hemispheres Magazine
A Chip Off the Old Block
The Rubik’s cube outdoes itself
Author Jacqueline Detwiler Photography Claire Benoist
Image – Claire Benoist
Hungarian sculptor Ernö Rubik was almost certainly not the devil, but that’s hardly comforting to the millions of people who have been flummoxed by his diabolical cube since it was released as a toy in 1980. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, the new Rubik’s Mirror Blocks Cube—an asymmetrical, single-color brain-boggler you (attempt to) solve by returning it to its original cubic shape—promises at least another three decades of befuddlement. Thankfully, it’s still small enough not to damage your wall when you resort to throwing it.
OUTSIDE THE BOX Rubik’s Mirror Blocks Cube
$18 / www.thinkgeek.com
MADE IN THE SHADE
Nobody had cool like Steve McQueen. Wear Persol’s replica of his folding sunglasses and maybe you’ll catch it. $360 / www.sunglasshut.com
BOLSHE-CLICK
Stick it to photorealism with Lomography’s Russian Lubitel 166+ camera, which takes whimsical photos. $350 / www.lomography.com
THE OLD SONG AND DANCE
Despite the 1960s-era exterior, the Crosley iSolo is young at heart: It has surround-sound capability and an iPod dock on top. $150 / www.crosleyradio.com
HOLD THE PHONES
The wood finish isn’t the only nostalgic touch on Ultrasone’s Edition 10 headphones. They’re also as hi-fi as it gets. $2,700 / www.edition-10.com