Mavis Staples: If All I Was Was Black

The title track from Mavis Staples’ forthcoming album (out 17 November), “If All I Was Was Black” confronts not only racism the singer faced in her eight decades of performing, but also the violence she witnesses today in racial conflict. Written in collaboration with longtime friend and Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, the track (and the album’s other songs) aims to “bring us all together as …

Lensabl’s Quality Prescription Lenses For Any Frames

An inexpensive, easy way to get replacement lenses online

Eliminating the need for one of the most painstaking, time-consuming and relatively expensive processes, Lensabl makes lenses for any pair of glasses you own. Unlike other online spectacle and sunglasses retailers, there are no frames for sale here. This isn’t a style company—it’s a technologically-driven organization aimed at meeting a need for convenience. Buyers provide their own frames—ones they’ve loved for years but perhaps have …

Traktor’s Multifunctional Magnetic Wood Blocks

A hand-carved cube for helping with organization

The simplest design items can lead to organizational clarity at home or in the office. That’s exactly what Jan Van Look, founder of Antwerp-based design studio Kabinet Van Look, is offering with his TRAKTOR magnetized wood cubes, funding on Kickstarter now. These hand-carved blocks have a magnetic core, strong enough to grasp everything from large kitchen knives to heavy dog leashes. Further, they come in …