Many of us are thankful for programs like Word and email that allow us to avoid using our penmanship at all costs. For those individuals skilled enough to actually cross their t’s and dot their i’s comes Fontcapture. Their system allows users to create a personalized font from their own handwriting. If you have a printer and scanner, you simply fill-in the provided template with your personal ABCs, scan and upload the sheet to their Web site, then download your unique script. The fonts are compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems and it’s free. To save yourself some trouble when writing out this season’s greeting cards, try it out at http://www.fontcapture.com/.  Who knows - your chicken scratch could become the next Helvetica!

School is fully back in session and iPhone-using students will be pleased to know there are many cool, useful Apps to help keep lives organized.  For example, “Periodic” serves as a reference to the periodic table of elements and “iHomework” allows one to organize and keep track of assignments and grades, while “Mental Case” allows one to create their own flash cards.  Whether you’re studying for French 101 or the GMAT, there are several Apps to aid in test prep and the “Calculator App,” which comes built into the iPhone, arithmetically crunches numbers and doubles as a scientific calculator upon rotation.  To learn more, visit www.apple.com.

While we were in San Francisco for the Fancy Food Show, our Director of Sales introduced DRY’s HQ team to Beard Papa’s Fresh ‘n Natural Cream Puffs.  Upon our return home, we were thrilled to find a Beard Papa’s in Seattle’s International District.  We still don’t know exactly how they do it, but their light, airy confections are to-die-for.  Founder Yuji Hirota first sold his all-natural, fresh puffs in Osaka, Japan in 1999.  Since then, Beard Papa’s stores have sprouted up throughout Asia, Australia and the USA.  Puff flavor options include delights like the original vanilla, chocolate, pumpkin, earl grey tea, and strawberry. The company’s mission is simple: serve a unique cream puff to happy people.  Now we just need to get them to serve DRY!  To find a local location, visit www.beardpapa.com and be happy!

Sharing your photos in real time just got much easier. The sleek new COOLPIX S1000pj camera by Nikon is the world’s first camera with an ultra-small, built-in projector that allows you to broadcast your pictures to an audience anytime and anywhere.  Complete with 12.1 Megapixels and a 5x Wide-angle Zoom-NIKKOR glass lens, this toy can produce beautiful prints as large as 16 x 20 inches and has an impressive zoom range.  The camera will start around $429.95 and hits store shelves in November. To learn more and view a full list of authorized Nikon dealers, visit www.nikonusa.com.

Although this card has no affiliation with a popular networking Web site of a related name, it does aim to attract a similar crowd. The Facecard combines the benefits of prepaid gift cards, debit cards and cash, then adds perks and extra security into the mix. The cards must be pre-loaded with money, but the balance can be spent anywhere Mastercard is accepted. Furthermore, it does not require activation or monthly maintenance fees. Parents can load their kids’ Facecards with dollars, then track their purchases so they know if little Jenny is really buying school books with the money she received last week.  If the card’s balance is too low to buy a given item, it is simply declined (no penalty fees).  The future of the allowance lies here: www.facecard.com. 

After hearing the horror stories of animals being lost in commercial airline luggage compartments, we are thankful our beloved pets will finally have a happier, safer air travel option.  Founded in 2005 in Delray Beach, Florida, Pet Airways treats pets as “pawsengers”, not packages, and humans are the only restricted animals.  The carrier plans to begin transporting dogs and cats (and other animals soon after) on July 14th, 2009. Pets will fly in the main cabin under the care of trained Pet Attendants.  The airline will serve five major-city destinations in the U.S. including New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles, with plans to begin operations in twenty additional cities within a couple of years.  For more information, and to avoid wearing that guilty look as you place your pet on the baggage conveyor belt, check into www.petairways.com next time you travel.

  

Are you tired of the unlimited number of depressing news stories constantly circulating mainstream media? They seem almost inescapable, which is why we take often refuge with Operation NICE.  Creator, Melissa Morris Ivonne, decided one day that she wanted to spread some love to combat all the negativity out there. Realizing a blog could be the best place to begin, Melissa started using her own experiences to “encourage individuals to be proactively nice.”  Additionally, her site invites readers to share uplifting stories, news, and products, and even highlights a NICE person of the week.  We all need a little more nice in our lives, so pay a visit to www.operationnice.com.

Many said it couldn’t and shouldn’t be done - that instant coffee would never be comparable in taste to true brew.  But after today, we sincerely beg to differ.  A lucky few of us here at DRY HQ had the opportunity to try Starbucks VIA Ready Brew and were surprisingly impressed.  The coffee boasts a full flavor that is great alone, but is also wonderful with a bit of half-and-half… or a splash of Kahlua, as we soon found out.  Remembering the times we’ve visited friends in Europe where no one has a personal coffee maker, thinking of cold coffee-less mornings while camping, and watching stewardesses wrestle with trays and carafes of coffee on airplanes makes us realize just how necessary this product is!  Don’t be surprised if you find us drinking it in the office either…  www.starbucks.com.

Mom always told us (and “Myth Busters” later confirmed) that you can’t catch a bullet in your teeth, but now we can prove them both wrong!  The AK 47 Ice Tray creates bullets of ice that are perfect for making a killer drink.  Fill the bottom of the clip-shaped tray with water, press the top down, freeze, and voila - icy H2O ammo!  Appealing to the more daring side of our personalities, we think Rhubarb DRY + Whisky over bullets would be quite rugged.  Drink up, feel dangerous, but please play safe.  Find it several places, including charlesandmarie.com. 

 We realize fireworks are actually illegal in many communities in the states, but you can still be a law-abiding citizen and enjoy some sparks now and again.  Look to Chuao Chocolatier’s latest hit - Firecracker Chocolate - for some high quality pop and spice.   Crackling candy and chipotle pepper are mixed into Chuao’s own dark Venezuelan chocolate, creating a finished product that is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.  The playful candy reminds us of our Pop-Rocks days, while the elegant chocolate and hint of heat offer a grand finale that’s not to be missed.  We had the chance to try Chuao’s chocolate at the Fancy Food Show last week and have been hooked ever since!  Grab some for yourself from Whole Foods, Crate & Barrel or www.chuaochocolatier.com.