Jul 13 2007 Super Mario Bros. Papercraft
This guy recreated World 7-3 from Super Mario Bros using Papercraft. Wait, did I say "guy"? I mean nerd. Big nerd. But a big nerd that's won a place in my heart.
Jul 13 2007 Tallest man meets shortest
Bao Xishun - the world's tallest man - was taken to meet He Pingping - the world's shortest. Bao stands 7.9 feet tall while He stands only 2.4 feet tall. And me? I stand a whopping 20 feet. Around that is. I'm fat.
Jul 13 2007 Transformers' Bumblebee '77 Chevy Camaro for sale
The original Bumblebee '77 Chevy Camaro from the new Transformers movie is up for sale on eBay. It started at $10.00 but has already climbed to $60,101.00. If you want to save some money, just buy a regular '77 Camaro for $500 and then bang it up a bit with a hammer. And maybe write "Bumblebee" along the side and attach a Post-It note that says "Not A Fake."
EDIT: The starting price was $10.00, not $14.98 like I originally said. $14.98 is the shipping price. Sigh, I'm an idiot.
Jul 12 2007 Handsoap
Is your regular hand soap just not creepy enough? Then get a bag of Handsoap, which is hand soap shaped into little baby hands. Each 'hand' is hand made out of goat’s milk glycerin and has a light scent. You can get a bag for $12 but, I mean, why?
Jul 12 2007 Bridge
From the London Design Festival 2006:
Bridge, by Michael Cross, is a series of steps that rise out of the water as you walk across them, as if walking on water. On entering the exhibition the visitor is met by an empty expanse of water with one step at its edge: stepping on to it forces it...
You mean this guy needs steps to walk on water? I bet he can't turn water into wine either. Ha, what a loser!
Thanks to the ridiculously good looking Duke for the tip.
Jul 12 2007 Man gets egg legs
Doctors at the China Rehabilitation Research Centre in Beijing have developed an egg cup-like casing for a miracle survivor who was cut in half in a freak accident back in 1995. It took 20 doctors to save his life and nobody thought he'd be able to do anything again, but when doctors at the China Rehabilitation Research Centre heard about his case they created these robotic legs for him. It's always neat when technology is used for good. And even neater when it's used for destruction. Like this robotic bear-shark I'm working on. The world is mine!
Jul 12 2007 Girl knits herself a Ferrari
Art graduate Lauren Porter knitted herself a Ferrari for her honors degree at Bath Spa University. Ananova reports:
The classic red bodywork consists of 250 squares of garter stitch made by Lauren and 20 family members and friends. The windows are V-shaped stocking stitch, while the details are crochet and the badge is embroidered. It's all supported by a steel frame which Lauren, 22, of Greatham, Hants, welded herself.
I don't know what Bath Spa University is, but if they take a knitted Ferrari as a final project then they're okay in my book.
NOTE: If you want to be taken seriously as a university, nothing says "we're credible" like naming yourselves Bath Spa University.
Jul 12 2007 Sideways Bike
Inventor Michael Killian has designed the Sideways Bike, which is exactly what it sounds like: a bike you ride sideways. The Sideways Bike uses Front to Back balance rather than the traditional Left to Right balance used in regular bikes, creating the sensation of surfing down the road. Sort of like tying a surfboard to the back of a car and "hanging ten." Although that sensation is less like surfing, and more like falling off a surfboard and being dragged on pavement for 100 meters.
Jul 12 2007 Avatar Machine
Avatar Machine is a custom rig designed so the wearer can see themselves in the third person, as if they were playing an online game.
The virtual communities created by online games have provided us with a new medium for social interaction and communication. Avatar Machine is a system which replicates the aesthetics and visuals of third person gaming, allowing the user to view themselves as a virtual character in real space via a head mounted interface. The system potentially allows for a diminished sense of social responsibility, and could lead the user to demonstrate behaviors normally reserved for the gaming environment.
This is hilarious and sad on so many levels. But mostly hilarious. Check out the video after the jump.
Jul 11 2007 Pixel Mario cake made from cupcake squares
This is a Mario pixel cake made from little cupcake squares. It was for some guy's wedding, which I can't decide is either the coolest wedding cake ever or the worst. No, the worst would definitely be the one I baked out of used condoms. Everybody kept telling me it was a bad idea, but I just didn't listen. Oh man, I should've listened.
Jul 11 2007 Darth Vader Supreme Edition Costume
If you've got $850 to spare, you can get this Darth Vader Supreme Edition Costume which was actually made using the original Darth Vader molds. Pretty much everything is included, including all the body parts, the helmet, and even a breathing sound device. Although I can't tell if this is supposed to be displayed or actually worn. Wait, what am I talking about? It's for super nerds, so clearly it's for making love to!
Jul 11 2007 Perl Scripting With Microsoft Vista Speech Recognition
Windows Vista's Speech Recognition is almost too good. I'm not even sure why we still have keyboards.
NOTE: I can't tell if this is real. I know Vista's Speech Recognition isn't super amazing, but this is ridiculous. Ridiculously funny that is.
Jul 11 2007 Philippe Starck's Veiled Watch
Designer Philippe Starck put together the Veiled Watch which hides the face behind a specially electroplated crystal to mimic the breaks in the bracelet. The design creates the effect that the watch is just a continuous metal band. You can the watch for $150 off Fossil which they describe as:
The crystal is specially electroplated to mimic the breaks in the bracelet, and the sides of the case continue the effect with carefully etched details for design continuity. The crown is a case-back pusher to continue the uncluttered elegance of this style. The shiny stainless steel bracelet is designed to remain thin and comfortable wtih hidden links.
It's a neat concept, but if people can't tell you're wearing a watch they'll think you're wearing a bracelet. A giant silver bracelet. Which is cool for chicks, but should I also invest in some high heels and a skirt?
Jul 10 2007 Phonofone Earphone Amplification Device
The Phonofone is an audio amplification device which will play back music from earphones. You simply place earphones on it and it uses the properties of horn acoustics to play it back up to 55 decibles.
Through passive amplification alone, These unique pieces instantly transform any personal music player + earbuds into a sculptural audio console. Without the use of external power or batteries, the Phonofone inventively exploits the virtues of horn acoustics to boost the audio output of standard earphones to up to 55 decibles* (or roughly the maximum volume of laptop speakers) Upon connecting active earphones to the Phonofone their trebly buzzing is instantly and profoundly transformed into a warm, rich and resonant sound.
It's a neat idea, but why not just buy some speakers? They might not look as cool, but then you wouldn't have to carry around a ceramic phonograph all day. Plus this thing costs $830 so, you know, you'll probably have to sell your first born child to afford them.
Jul 10 2007 How to hand somebody a business card
Want to look like a douchebag when handing somebody your business card? Here's a video tutorial.
Jul 10 2007 Runaway Wrecking Ball
A 1,500 pound wrecking ball broke loose and ran out of control down a hill for nearly a mile before plowing into things and ending up in the trunk of a student's car.
“The cable just snapped,” Meadville police officer Brian Joseph said. “It just so happened that it snapped at a point and time when the ball was outside the wall.”The out of control ball hit parked cars and even bounced off the curb, before it rolled into the trunk of a student's car, ramming it into cars in front of it.
Could've been a lot worse. The wrecking ball could've been, say, a locomotive! I don't even know what I'm saying anymore.
Jul 10 2007 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII Rolling Door Concept Car
The 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII Rolling Door Concept Car was designed back in 1993 but never made it to the market because, well, it's ridiculous. Basically instead of opening, the door just disappears into the car. There's an eBay sale of it going on (right now at $19,000) and according to their description:
"Lincoln executives were concerned about the heavy and wide doors on the Mark VIII in the early 1990's especially in large cities with tight parking spots. They were toying with the idea of a Mark VIII that had doors that disappeared beneath the car which would require no additional space for the doors to swing open in order to allow the occupant to exit or enter. Back in the day, the major auto makers would sub-contract their concept designs to other engineering firms who specialiazed in auto concepts and executions. In this particular case, this Lincoln Mark VIII was shipped over to Joalto Design Inc. near Detroit...who created this amazing, one of a kind concept car and shipped it back to Lincoln for executive approval...Unfortunately, the Ford Motor Company executives did not like the design and ordered the car (and the concept) to be sent to the junkyard and destroyed. The current owner had been tracking this car for nearly 20 years and finally convinced the previous owner to part with it."
Check out the video of the car in action after the jump. It will blow your mind.
Continue Reading " 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII Rolling Door Concept Car "
Jul 10 2007 Musipen MP3 Player
Chris Williams has put together a unique concept design for an MP3 player which is controlled by twisting and sliding the edge of the player. The Musipen (music and pen, get it?) moves away from current players and offers up an original but still highly usable interface. Although not nearly as original and usable as the MP3 player I designed. It's made out of fruit and you control it with your mind. I lost the prototype, but trust me, it was awesome.
Jul 9 2007 Nimbus 20-inch Ultimate Wheel
Nimbus has put together the ultimate minimalist unicycle which they're calling the Ultimate Wheel. It's basically a 20 inch wheel with pedals attached. And that's it. The only way you could simplify a unicycle any more would be to remove the pedals and just have a wheel. Which is what I ride around when I'm not driving my paper car. I'm poor. =(
Jul 9 2007 Orvis Stainless Steel Huge Flask
If you've ever thought to yourself, "Hey, I really need one gallon of whiskey to carry around" then this huge flask from Orvis is for you. It's exactly what it sounds like, a huge stainless steel flask that carries one gallon of liquid. It costs $198, but that's a bargain considering how inadequate it'll make all your other alcoholic friends feel.
Jul 9 2007 Papercraft T-Rex automata eats caveman
Flying Pig has created this amazing T-Rex papercraft automata which they describe as:
A super fun animated paper model for you to pop out and make. Turn the handle on the terrible T.Rex and he reaches down and bites! The T.Rex catches any object placed beneath his might jaws with the power of paper. Awesome! Includes free anachronistic cave man for your T.Rex to eat. Follow the fully illustrated instructions and, with an evening or two of your time and a tube of PVA glue you can have this delightful model for your collection.
It's even more impressive that it's completely constructed from paper and glue. Sort of like my car. My horribly depressing car.
Jul 9 2007 Nixon Lodown LCD Tide Watch
Nixon's Lodown digital watch is pre-programmed with tide charts for 200 beaches around the world for the next 15 years. It uses a backlit LCD screen which shows a pixel graph of the current surf height. It's made from reinforced polycarbonate, is water resistant up to 100 meters, and costs about $90. Although I don't understand how they managed to pre-program tides for the next 15 years. Isn't it just a bunch of wild guessing at that point?
Jul 9 2007 Guy catches .50 BMG ricochet to the head
That's why I only shoot guns at people. Just kidding, kids. Murder is wrong.
Jul 9 2007 GPNC 70" LCD PC
Korean company GPNC has put together a 70 inch all-in-one PC, making it the world's largest. The monitor is meant for commercial use and will come in both touch-screen and standard LCD models. Although the manufacturer didn't even bother taking a product shot without an XP error message in it, so who knows what kind of effort they're putting into this thing. If you open up the monitor it's probably just filled with styrofoam peanuts instead of actual electronics.
Jul 9 2007 4th of July Man Cannon
It's Fourth of July. You're drunk. Why wouldn't you set off 73 roman candles?
