Aug 29 2009 I Would Watch That: Mario Kart, The Movie

This is a pretty awesome trailer for Mario Kart: The Movie. Obviously, the movie isn't actually real but the trailer is 3:40 long so you get to see all the would-be good parts anyway. I especially liked the part at the end where Princess gets all nekkid and dancy at the finish line. I jest. OR DO I? You'll have to watch to find out! Or not, because you know that nudity gets pulled off Youtube. Trust me, I've looked. AND uploaded. HIYO!

Youtube

Thanks to Juan, meeotch and Chris, who always want to play as Yoshi because that little green bastard can drive AND be sexy at the same time. And to Alex, who is actually part of the comedy group (Dr. Coolsex) that made the video. Good lookin', Alex.

Aug 29 2009 Bokeh Filter Turns Light Blurs Into Shapes

The Bokeh filter is a $10 physical filter for your camera that turns out of focus light blurs in the background into shapes like hearts and stars and spirals (separate filter required for each). It works by magic. But not black magic, because you don't want to eff with that shit unless you absolutely have to.

One of the fastest growing fads in modern photography is bokeh shapes. Bokeh shapes are shapes of light in the blurred background of photos. These shapes are achieved by using a bokeh filter over the camera lens. Bokeh is a photography term derived from the Japanese word for blurred. Bokeh refers to the unfocused background in a photo.

The Bokeh Filter is a simple filter that clips onto the end of your lens. This filter blocks out pieces of light that cause the bokeh (blur) in your images to take the shape of the filter.

Neato. Now if they could just create a camera filter that makes my face look like Brad Pitt's, maybe I wouldn't be losing so many Facebook friends. I'M A MONSTER! Truck, monster truck. VROOM VROOM, I AM CRUSHING YOUR CAR!

Hit the jump for a video of the filter in action, directly from a camera.

Continue Reading " Bokeh Filter Turns Light Blurs Into Shapes "

Aug 29 2009 Classy: This Video Game Shopper At Walmart

That's not even a shirt, that's a baby blanket with a hole in the middle. This guy: because Lego Star Wars can't wait for decency.

Walmart Gadget Shoppers Sometime Look Like THIS [gizmodo]

Aug 29 2009 There's An App For That: iPhone Fauxmercial

This is a fake commercial for iPhone apps. I thought it was pretty funny. And not just because stalking ex-girlfriends is funny, because that is only mildy humorous (but mostly sad and creepy). No, I just couldn't get enough of the guy's voice. I must have you on my home answering machine!

LEAKED: New iPhone commercial [adamthinks]

Thanks to The Baroness, who had an iPhone for a day and then dropped it and broke it BECAUSE SHE MEANT TO.

Aug 28 2009 I Could Do Better: LEGO House Construction

Remember the story about the house in Britain that would be constructed entirely out of LEGO blocks? Well this is it, mid-construction. I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed that it has a wooden infrastructure. I thought the whole damn thing was gonna be LEGO, right down to the john.

This two-story Lego palace, which resides in the middle of a vineyard, sports a working bathroom, and is covered inside and out with bricks pieced together by 272 Legos. Over three million bricks were used to build the Lego pad, so doing some quick math here -- that's over 816 million Lego pieces!

I have no idea whether the math in that quote I used is correct or not, the important thing is that it's Friday and I am putting pants on for the first time this week and getting the hell out of here. Town, prepare to be painted red! With vomit. I like fruity drinks!

This Old House: UK Toy Master Builds House From Legos [geekstir] (with a whole gallery of construction pictures)

Thanks to jessica and Rogefgv, who once built a house of K-Nex but it was blown down by the big bad wolf and then he ate them. The end.

Aug 28 2009 Future Farming: Giant Fish-Filled Ocean Balls

According to experts at National Geographic, the future of fish farming (aquaculture) may rely on giant, fish-filled balls floating around in the ocean.

...[A]utomated cages could herald an entirely new form of fish farming.

They might be turned loose to mimic natural systems by following carefully chosen ocean currents. The robotic fish farms could help lead to larger, healthier crops of farmed fish far from crowded coastal areas, where farmed fish both suffer from poor water quality and, by producing waste, add to water woes.

Cages might even generate their own electricity by harnessing solar energy, wave energy, or other forms of renewable power.

This reminds me of middle school. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? You are if you answered "cafeteria fish sticks"! Loved those sticks. One time I even had a fish rock! I chipped a tooth and lost it in my corn. Chocolate milk, whee!!!

The Future of Fish Farming Is Giant Autonomous Roaming Robotic Cages [eatmedaily]

Thanks to Resa, who fishes the old fashioned way: with her bare hands (and dynamite).

Aug 28 2009 Kitty Noises, Autotune Used To Make Song

This is song made using videos of kitty sounds that have been auto-tuned (think Kanye West, but with less bitching and whining) to produce some funky fresh beats. Yes, I am hip to your jive. I'm a cool cat, you dig? I jest, I am a warm dog. And speaking of which -- in college I lived in a house with five other guys, and we had this one roommate who would always boil hotdogs in the same pot of water and then lid the pot and save the water for next time. Dude got mad pissed if you even joked about touched his hotdog water. And that pot would sit there on the stove for sometimes a week between boilings. He was convinced it gave each subsequent batch of dogs more flavor. We were convinced it gave us dysentery.

Youtube

Thanks to Tom and Edd, who once made a song with their voices synthesized to sound like Chipmunks but then deleted it when they realized that shit's not cool.

Aug 28 2009 Perfect With A Lead Vest: The X-Ray Umbrella

The x-ray umbrella is an umbrella with x-rays all over the damn place. It does NOT allow you to see through a woman's shirt. Unless she's wearing white and it's pouring out, in which case, yes, it does do that. And I've got to tell you: as a guy who's broken his arm twice in the same place and now has a plate and a bunch of screws in there (I am NOT a robot, just a man with an advanced biomechanical arm), I'm no stranger to x-rays. Or those gamma joints. You hear that, Hulk? I will arm wrestle the shit out of you!

X-ray umbrella makes the rain not seem so bad [dvice]

Aug 28 2009 I'd Sleep Under That: Mega Man 2 Chain Mail

From the same maker as last week's chain mail chess set comes this awesome Mega Man 2 chain mail blanket/wall hanging. I know this little picture doesn't do it justice so click HERE to see a higher res version. Then, click HERE to discover life's greatest secrets. Oh, sorry, hyperlink must be broken (tricked you!).

After one and a half years, the Megaman II Project is finally finished. The dimensions are 38" x 45", as it hangs on the wall, and its total weight is over 16 pounds.

Ring Count: 63,608

Can you imagine crimping 63,000 little rings together? Because I can't. And not just because I'd probably swallow a half dozen for every ten I got together, but I would. I LIKE TO PUT THINGS IN MY MOUTH, OKAY? Just saying, good thing I can type without looking. Those consonants -- delicioso!

Project Page [chainmailbasket]

Thanks to NES--still-the-best, who won't even talk to you about playing Genesis.

Aug 28 2009 Paper Art: Toilet Paper Roll Face Sculptures

Junior Fritz Jacquet is an artist that loves working with paper and has created a series of small masks by bending and folding empty toilet paper rolls. Good looking, Junior (we named the dog Indiana). I really think this is testament to the creativity of the human mind. It's amazing, you know? Junior here sees an empty toilet paper roll and thinks art. Me? I think, "damnit -- what hand's it gonna be this time?"

Hit the jump for a whole gallery of faces.

Continue Reading " Paper Art: Toilet Paper Roll Face Sculptures "

Aug 28 2009 Real Life Mario Kart Go-Kart Is Super Scary

This is a video of a go-kart with a Honda CBR 900RR motorcycle engine in it. It's the closest thing to a real Mario Kart I've ever seen. I love how the guy driving doesn't even bother wearing a helmet. Because, honestly, heads are overrated, especially when you're drifting into a curve at a billion miles an hour. I guess what I'm trying to say is this: I would have turbo-boosted through those turns, nancy boy!

900RR Go Kart is pure awesome [videosift]

Thanks deadbodyman -- say, you mind helping me get rid of this thing in my trunk?

Aug 28 2009 You Better Not Push Me Down The Stairs: Wheelchair Of The Future

The Veda International Robot Research and Development Centre (in Japan, of course) is hard at work developing a wheelchair for all the aging fogies in the country. And this is it, the Rodem. It's being touted as the wheelchair of the future. Pfft, I'll believe it when my grandpa has one. Isn't that right, gramps? I SAID, "ISN'T THAT RIGHT, GRAMPS?!"

Right now Rodem isn't much of a robot, but the people at Veda still want to add more features to the not-wheelchair; for example, Tmsuk president Yoichi Takamoto said, "...we could add a new function so it comes to your bedside when you call."

Hmm, I'm not sure how I feel about a wheelchair with robotic features. Yes I do -- I don't like it. No, the only improvements of the current wheelchair we need are an air horn and naked lady mudflaps. Now those would really put the whee in wheelchair -- am I right, gramps? I'm over here, you're talking to a chair. Now drink your juicebox and tell me where you buried the money.

Hit the jump for a shot of some poor bastard with a broken leg toting his own hospital bed around with the thing.

Continue Reading " You Better Not Push Me Down The Stairs: Wheelchair Of The Future "

Aug 27 2009 Why Didn't I Think Of That?: Banana Phone

The Banana Cellfoam is a $10 piece of foam rubber that molds around your mobile phone, making it appear as though you're taking calls with a banana. Which I think we can all agree is pretty genius. Plus, you can turn your phone on vibrate and tell a friend to call for an instant sex toy! Kidding, that's icky. Holsters for the banana phone are also available, or you can just keep it in your pocket and save $8 while gaining some much needed respect from the ladies. You know, because they won't think it's a banana -- they'll think it's a gun! And firearms, dear reader, should be respected at all times.

Official Site

Thanks to Matt, who once tried to impress the ladies with a whole pocketful of bananas but ended up getting beat within an inch of his life by a monkey that escaped the circus riding a tiger.

Aug 27 2009 100 Years Of Movie Special Effects In 5:00

This is a little video montage of notable special effects from movies in the past 100 years all packed into a five minute clip. And as you'll see, we haven't come very far. I want to be able to feeeeeel the movies. I read Brave New World in high school! Also, almost half of a Shakespeare play. Now it's all comic books and cereal boxes.

100 Years of Special Effects [collegehumor]

Thanks to Paul, who once got specially infected by the government and now has the power of three men.

Aug 27 2009 Sure He's Happy?: Enterprise Dog Costume

This is a custom canine USS Enterprise costume made out of cardboard and Bud Light cans. And I have to admit, Bud Light was a smart choice because of its superior drinkability. I'm serious, those things are so drinkable one time I guzzled a whole cooler full of them. There must have been at least 20. This was like an hour ago. Then I started cutting up this box and....holy shit that's my dog!

This dog goes where no dog has gone before [scifiwire]

Thanks to FDSY who made a Millennium Falcon costume for his cat but the cat ran away.

Aug 27 2009 I'm Proud Of You: Geekologie Reader Makes House Of Cards On Amusement Park Ride

Geekologie Reader Fitz and his friends, inspired by the post we did a while back about playing chess on roller coasters, decided to put a different spin on the pastime and make a house of cards on a coaster. This is the resulting shot.

We went to the amusement park yesterday, but we wanted to make it a special day, and after seeing your post with the checkers trick in a roller coaster, we though we could do something even more awesome.

I really hope you'll enjoy it, we putted a lot of effort into it (building a card castle in a water coaster, even with tape is freaking hard!). Plus my friends would be really happy to be on the Internet :P

Good lookin', Fitz. Of course, it would be even better looking if that little Asian girl in the front was puking all over you. What can I say, I like action shots.

Picture (high res)

Thanks Fitz, now how about a game of Risk next time?

Aug 27 2009 Is This Nessie Spotted On Google Earth?

I'm not even sure what I'm looking at. It looks like a snake chasing a giant squid. But according to some security guard who was busy surfing Google Earth instead of patrolling his beat, it's the Loch Ness Monster (love you, Nessie).

Jason Cooke told The Sun he spotted "Nessie" while browsing the website's satellite photos. Mr Cooke, 25, of Nottingham, said: "I couldn't believe it. It's just like the descriptions of Nessie."

The image can be seen by entering coordinates Latitude 57°12'52.13"N, Longitude 4°34'14.16"W in Google Earth (or playing with the map above).

Earlier this year it was reported that climate change may have killed the Loch Ness Monster. There have been "no "credible sightings" of Nessie for over a year.

Veteran American monster hunter Bob Rines thinks environmental conditions in the Highland loch have changed and can no longer sustain the elusive reptile.

Gary Campbell, of the monster's official fan club, said: "I'm concerned. There have been none of the normal sightings that verify that Nessie and her family are still alive and well."

Haha, these people actually think the Loch Ness Monster is real. That's great (bless their special little hearts). You know, these are the same people that keep asking for government grants to go hunt for Bigfoot. Which, SPOILER ALERT: bitch was delish!

Is the Loch Ness monster on Google Earth? [telegraph]

Thanks to Asbo and Praveen, who only hunt for dragons because dragons are real and sit on mountains of treasure.

Aug 27 2009 Freaky: Three Frames Of A Movie At A Time

Three Frames is a website that chooses three frames out of a different movie every day and plays them, looping. It almost gave me a seizure. No, it DID give me a seizure. djla; wl;qwa a la;kaeoee wwpw ww ;llala. Get it? Because I'm shaking so bad! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go back over myself in the face.

Three Frames (slightly NSFW, there's a tasteful boob on the first page)

Aug 27 2009 Cry Baby: Play Him Off, Keyboard Cat (R.I.P.)

NOTE: Video possibly NSFW due to cussing (GD) a couple times.

This post originally started as a tribute to Keyboard Cat, who I just found out passed away earlier this year (around May). But then I saw the play him off video featured above of a kid crying about a hockey game and filming it for his Youtube channel when his dad walks in and yells at him for being such an idiot moron. It is amazing. Not that I'd know anything about filming myself crying because sex tapes don't count, right? There was something in my eye!

Hit the jump for another classic play him off from Walker, Texas Ranger (it's even more f'ed up).

Continue Reading " Cry Baby: Play Him Off, Keyboard Cat (R.I.P.) "

Aug 27 2009 Stripteas Teabags Aren't What You Think

Unless you thought they were teabags that cling to the side of your teacup via paper stripper, in which case, congratulations, you were correct. Unfortunately, unlike those novelty pens that showcase a naked women when you turn them upside down, you don't get to see any privates. Which is actually fine with me CAUSE I DON'T WANT NO MAN'S JUNK IN MY TEA ANYWAYS. Except you, Earl Grey.

Super sexy tea bags [newlaunches]

Thanks to Tim and sergei, who never miss tea time because they like to put on their big hats and be dainty.

Aug 26 2009 Do Want: Dinosaur Shaped Sandwich Cutter

SILF? SILF!

Picture

Thanks to boo, who actually took the picture but didn't bother buying me the cutter. Damnit, boo.

Aug 26 2009 I Can't Ever Get Enough: Kitty Om Nom Noms

We've already seen a video of a kitty literally OM NOM NOMing it's food, but guess what? I love kitties (I even heart hairless cats, it's true) so here comes another. Plus, as an added bonus, there are two, count them, TWO kitties in this video. And two times five is ten. And ten, my friends, is one hell of a threesome.

Youtube

Thanks to josh, who collects little porcelain cats on the window sill in the kitchen because he's your grandma.

Aug 26 2009 I Would Hit That Like Vending Machine With A Stuck Bag Of Chips: XBox Controller Bento

This is a bento box made by Laura Bento (that would be like me being named Charles Blog!) for her husband's lunch. It looks pretty delicious. And I'm not just saying that because the only thing I've had to eat was a stale biscuit for lunch yesterday, but I am starting to see mirages.

The controller itself is obviously mostly comprised of rice, but the D-Pad was constructed from naturally grey Konnyaku (Japanese yam cake), while lemon peel, green apple peel, red pepper and dyed blue egg white make up the four colorful buttons.

Geez, look at all that SPAM. I sure hope Laura's husband works in a toilet testing factory. Get it? Because I heard he likes to eat on the john! Hey, me too!

Xbox 360 Bento Box Puts Real Xbox 360 to Shame [gizmodo]

Thanks to Heather, who once bento boxed a Sumo wrestler and won in the first round.

Aug 26 2009 Genius: Booze Light Helps Prevents Spillage

The ElectraPour LED bottle top was designed to light up the stream of fire-water pouring from a bottle so that when you're home alone drinking in the dark you don't miss your glass (read: man up and drink from the bottle like a normal damn person). Each top will set you back $7.30 or you can pick up one short of a baker's dozen for $81. Alternatively, only drink liquor over 150 proof and always light it on fire. But if you do, remember these important words: stop, drop and pop & lock. Now you're breakdancing on fire!

Hit the jump for a video of the light in action.

Continue Reading " Genius: Booze Light Helps Prevents Spillage "

Aug 26 2009 Another Literal Music Video: Beck's 'Loser'

I know half of you love these literal music videos, and the other half wishes they'd fall in a volcano and die a quick, lava-y death (and not return from the ashes like a Phoenix). So for you literal video lovers out there, here's Beck's 'Loser', which just so happened to be one of my anthems in middle school. Not that I was a loser though, because I totally wasn't. I SAT BY MYSELF AT LUNCH BECAUSE I WANTED TO!

Loser: Literal Video Version [funnyordie]

Thanks to Aaron, who wasn't a real loser either, the man just loved wedgies.

Aug 26 2009 Smoke Bud: Another Hacked Roadsign

Another day, another hacked roadsign, this time in Raleigh, NC outside North Carolina State University. Honestly, I have no idea what this bud is of which the sign speaks (you hear that, mom -- no idea!), but if it's anything like banana peels and grape leaves, you count me in. Whee, I see stars! I mean it -- I'm passing out somebody catch me.

Tampered sign promotes pot [abc]

Thanks to Milkman, who better stop using the backdoor.

Aug 26 2009 I Love Science: Scientist Plan to 'Reverse-Engineer' Dinosaurs From Modern Chickens

In the best news I've heard in a while, a scientist at McGill University in Montreal (I love you, Canada) is attempting to reverse engineer a dinosaur from a chicken "by altering chicken genes known to have evolved since the Cretaceous."

Needless to say, there are many problems with the very concept of making a dinosaur out of a chicken. For one, dinosaurs, as a group, are defined by only a few characteristics: a hole in their hip socket, some limb bone flanges, and other minor anatomical features. Changing chicken DNA won't produce those traits, because chickens already have them. A chicken, like all birds, is already a dinosaur. Getting rid of its feathers or giving it teeth won't make it more of a dinosaur than it already is.

What in the -- chickens ARE dinosaurs? To the colonel's farm, STAT -- I'm gonna roll myself in corn and die happy!

Scientist Vows To Reverse-Engineer Dinosaur From Chicken [popsci]

Thanks to James, Alexander the Viking, Mr. Robbot, Adam, Dustin, Erik, Myriapode, Tigerh8r, Pepe la PEWPEW, Dominik and Caroline, who will never look at a drumstick the same.

Aug 26 2009 Microsoft's Questionable Photoshop Job

These pictures come from Microsoft's Business Productivity websites. The top picture is from the US version, and the bottom is from Poland's. Apparently Poland isn't as hip to diversity as other parts of the world. Which reminds me, how many Polish people it takes to Photoshop a black man into a white one? Poles using computers -- BWAHAHAHAHA!

US Website
and
Polish Website

Thanks to Curtis, Norman, Lewis, Chrissy Poopy Pants McBacon Lover, draw and jawn, who once Photoshopped themselves into a picture of Dora the Explorer and Bob the Builder so they could pretend they have celebrity friends.

Aug 25 2009 You're Doing It Wrong!: Bacon Oakleys

Bacon, as you may well know, is supposed to go in your mouth or be worn like a coat. It is NOT supposed to be worn like a pair of sunglasses. That is ridiculous. But DQM and Oakley went ahead and teamed up to make a limited run of 50 pairs of bacon goggles anyways, which went on sale today for an undisclosed amount of fatback. Did I buy a pair? No. Did I lick a pair? Maybe.

DQM x Oakley Frogskins "Bacon" [hypebeast]

Thanks to Chris, who rocks a meatball necklace because the man knows fashion.

Aug 25 2009 Wrong, Just Plain Wrong: Two Robots Kissing

Listen, as long as you're human I firmly believe you should be able to kiss and have relations and relationships with whoever you want (provided they feel the same about you). I don't care if you're black, brown, yellow, blue, red, white, clear, striped, dotted, Canadian, from Australia, have food allergies, are bi, straight, gay or super gay, I say go for it. Robots, not so much. Robots should all burn in a fire.

Video: The first (televised) kiss between robots [engadget]

Thanks to Xavier, Mr. Robbot, Peterman, Joe Mamma, 3d, Kenneth and Captain Awesome, who swear they've never tried kissing themselves in the mirror and are all terrible liars.

Aug 25 2009 How Not To Private Message On Facebook

This is 41-year old idiot moron Tracy T-something trying to send lover Michael a Facebook message expressing how much she loved him recently railing her but instead posting the note ON HER OWN WALL (admit it, we've been there). Wow, Tracy, what are you doing with this Michael character anyway if you're engaged? And what the hell is a permanent invitation to "the-love-cave-between-my-legs?" Don't get me wrong, I love camping with bears as much as the next guy, BUT I'M NOT MOVING INTO THE CAVE. I would, however, start a fire in there and grill some mammoth.

Picture [buzzfeed]

Thanks to Lee and Lisa, who understand the internet is magic but can still send a message where they mean to.

Aug 25 2009 For Your Car: Web Programming Stickers

Want to let commuters know what you're favorite web programming language is? Well now you can thanks to this 5-pack of CODE Stickers by John Freeborn. $5 takes home all five and I think they're worlds better than the stupid Outer Banks (OBX) stickers I see around here. So you like the beach, WHO DOESN'T? I mean, besides redheads and vampires.

web coder bumper stickers: honk if you love to write code! [technabob]

Aug 25 2009 Don't Smoke It!: Lighter Looks Like Cigarette

This $1.50 lighter from DealExtreme is in form factor of a regular sized cigarette and can set stuff on fire. Including, but limited to: cigarettes, spliffs, joints, hair, your sister's Barbies, cologne, fireworks and witches. I jest, there's no such thing as witches. Isn't that right, sorceress? Also, is it true what they say about a sorceress's nipples -- they can shoot flames?

Cigarette-shaped lighter blends in with its surroundings [dvice]

Aug 25 2009 Never Pick Up After Your Dog Again!

If you don't like picking up after your dog but are cool strapping a plastic bag to its ass, you're in luck. All thanks to the revolutionary Pootrap (I would have gone with Shitbag)!

An amazing new device that picks up after your dog without any hassles. Dog feces is extremely dangerous to people even if you pick it up. A residue is left over and can cause blindness, liver damage and death. The Pootrap solves these problems once and for all.

Are you serious? I mean, are you serious? They should at least be advertising how you don't have to bend over and not sensationalizing how dangerous dog waste is. And to prove a point (don't ask me what), I'm gonna pick up after my dog this afternoon with my bare hand.

Product Site

Thanks to Gargamel, who huffs Smurfs like nobody's business. Because it's not, so stop asking questions.

Aug 25 2009 "Don't Be Afraid" He Murmured, His Velvet Voice Unintentionally Seductive

That's right folks, now there's a Twilight/vampire themed sex toy. It's a sparkly dildo and marks the coming of the apocalypse.

Updated by popular request... Yes the The Vamp retains hot and cold temperature. Toss it in the fridge for that authentic experience (OR A FIRE!).

JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN! Who doesn't love those dark and mysterious vamps on the screen and in the books we all thumb through lustfully? That's what we thought. For those of us who fantasize about being spellbound and tantalized by the forbidden comes The Vamp. We promise this vamp won't be the only thing coming for you in the night.

The Vamp is a realistic form based appropriately on our Sire's design but with a deathly pale flesh tone reminiscent of the new moon's glow. Since it's a Tantus toy, The Vamp is made from Tantus' own unique blend of 100% Ultra-Premium Silicone. Don't be surprised if this toy seduces you, its long sleek shaft and deliciously ridged head calling to you in the twilight. But don't save this for just nocturnal escapades, try taking our Vamp out in the sunlight and watch him sparkle.

Yes, out in the sunlight. Because a public park is the perfect place to vamp yourself. Also, to rollerblade. Don't forget your pads and helmet!

NSFW Product Site (with video!)

Thanks to Shannon, LisaMarie, Joemo, Cloie, Ashley, sham, Evy, rya and anyone else I may have forgotten, for all chipping in and ordering me one. You did order me one, right guys?

Aug 25 2009 Geekologie Reader's DIY Cell Phone Charger

Proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that you all are the most cunning, clever and best looking blog readers out there, Geekologie Reader Magnus recently fashioned himself a cell phone desk charger MacGyver style.

As my new phone came with no desk charger I had to make one. The desk charger was fashioned from my old N95 which did not survive the 40degree wash (thanks for that Jo), the better part of an eraser, a broken cigarette lighter and about 30 Royal Mail elastic bands.

Plus, it looks better than anything you could buy. I still think it could use some more rubber bands though. And maybe a stapler.

Photos

Thanks Magnus, now how about a docking station for my pager? I know it takes regular batteries, I just want one!

Aug 24 2009 Finally!: Heart And Star Shaped Cucumbers

In Japan's unending quest to grow edibles shaped like other things comes these heart and star shaped cucumbers.

These cucumbers represent the cumulative efforts of an agricultural coop determined to make food preparation a little bit more exciting. Comprised of nine women in Chiba, a suburb of Tokyo, this grass roots organization cleverly uses plastic molds affixed to the stem of the plant, with which they can create heart and star shapes when the cucumber is sliced cross-wise.

These romantic cucumbers are selling at fancy supermarkets in Tokyo and as specially ordered wedding gifts at ceremonies throughout Japan. They cost 300 yen each (about $2.50).

Nice try, growers, but Lucky Charms has been growing marshmallows in different shapes for years. Anybody ever picked through a whole box to make a bowl of nothing but marshmallows? Well I hope you washed your hands first.

Hit the jump for what the vegetables look like ON A SALAD.

Continue Reading " Finally!: Heart And Star Shaped Cucumbers "

Aug 24 2009 Eye Candy: Beautiful Dancing Smoke Video

This is a video created by Esteban Diácono to the music of Olafur Arnalds' Ljósið using "Adobe After Effects, particular v2, soundkeys and a little starglow". It's basically a bunch of smoke dancing around. But not like that shit in Lost!

i first imported the audio and set up 2 sounkeys layers, one for the piano and one for the strings. Then i worked the particles and the particle subsystem and linked things like the emission, the turbulence, the velocity, the spin amplitude and the strenght of the fields to the soundkeys outputs. Then i set up the colors with 2 different palettes, and well, after that there was a lot of trial and error in order to achieve what i was looking for. There's a lot of randomness involved in here, so there was also a lot of luck, of course.

I don't really understand any of that, but what's new? The important thing is that you just got paid for watching a three and a half minute video at work. High five!

The most amazing, beautiful and realistic piece of computer art I have ever seen [thenextweb]

Thanks to Andrew, who once inhaled some of that smoke and got all high as a kite and forgot to catch the bus.

Aug 24 2009 Questionable: A Shocking Beer Bottle Opener

This is a cheap $3.50 bottle opener that shocks any idiot moron foolish enough to ignore the giant 'Shock Can Opener' graphic on the front. Plus, hopefully their hand will be wet so they really get it. Me? I wouldn't care. You could hook a car battery to my nips every time I opened a beer and I'd still drink a whole case CAUSE I AM A THIRSTY DUDE.

Product Site
via
electric shock bottle opener gives you a buzz before your booze does [technabob]

Aug 24 2009 Wow, That's Ridiculous: This Pizza Cutter

Because rich people sometimes struggle to find new things to blow their money on, Frankie Flood makes custom, one-of-a-kind pizza cutters. No word on price or if they're dishwasher safe, but from the looks of this one, no. That thing will kill every dish in the washer and then start eying your cupboard. Look out, little Indian!

The most intense-looking pizza cutters ever? [dvice]

Thanks to Dan, who cuts pizza the way nature intended: with a rusty battle axe.

Aug 24 2009 Sadness: Father Leaves Copy Of Call Of Duty: World At War For Fallen Soldier Son

So yeah, this is sad. Private Richard Hunt, the 200th U.K. soldier to die in Afghanistan, was buried over the weekend. He would have been 22 yesterday.

His father Phillip, enjoyed playing Call of Duty: World at War with his son. He left a copy of the game at his grave.

"Happy Birthday 'Hunty'. Play you again one day. Dad."

Wow, that tore me up.

Dad's Tribute: Call of Duty on Soldier Son's Grave [kotaku]

Thanks to Solozaur, whose single tear splattered F10.

Aug 24 2009 1,500 Hours Of LEGO Photography In 3:49

This is a short video entitled 8-Bit Trip that is a tribute to 8-bit video games made entirely out of LEGO blocks. Personally, I would have gone with a 16-Bit Trip, but I like good visuals (one time I saw the face of Loki from Super Ghouls n' Ghosts come out of a brick wall and try to lick me). A brief explanation of the video:

1500 hours of moving legobricks and take photos of them.

You'd think think with 1,500 hours to kill the maker could have afforded a couple hours of grammar lessons. I jest. But seriously: He who casts the first stone should always aim for the face.

Youtube

Thanks to Aisha, matt, Towhee Monster and deebo, who went on a 64-bit trip and nearly lost their minds.

Aug 24 2009 Do Want: This Human Ingredients T-Shirt

This is $20 t-shirt listing the ingredients of human bodies in percentage order from largest to smallest. Did you know we're 0.25% sulfur? Because maybe that's why you smell so bad. Or maybe it's just your upper lip! BUUUUUUUURN. Your momma wears army boots and dresses you funny!

Product Site

Thanks to Towhee Monster, who is actually 100% awesome.

Aug 24 2009 Sure, Why Not?: A Tetris Haircut Design

This is a guy with a Tetris themed shaving in the side of his head. The rest of his hair has got kind of a rainbow motif. I suspect he's French. And, not unlike that toast of theirs, delicious. Syrup me!

Hit the jump for a couple more.

Continue Reading " Sure, Why Not?: A Tetris Haircut Design "

Aug 23 2009 Video: The New Super Mario Brothers For Wii

This is a video preview of the new Super Mario Bros. coming out for the Wii. It looks promising and I really like how it's a nice throwback to the original. So you know what that means -- I'm gonna beat my brother in the head with the controller if his turn takes too long! (Frank, buy a helmet)

Youtube

Thanks to Jason and nommer, who have never assaulted a family member over a video game. YET.

Aug 23 2009 It Buuuuuurns!: Scientists Invent Mug That Keeps Beverages At Perfect Temperature

Physicists have invented a coffee mug to keep your beverage at the ideal temperature for 30 minutes. What is the ideal temperature? Allegedly 58 degrees Celsius (136.4 degrees Fahrenheit). I beg to differ.

The key for this magic trick is physics and PCM--phase change material--an extraordinary substance used in construction and winter clothing. PCM is capable of storing and releasing heat or cold.

The perfect mug follows the same principle: It is made of hollow ceramics. Inside there's an aluminum structure--as you can see in the image above--which gets filled with PCM. When you pour in your hot coffee, the heat gets absorbed reaching your personal optimum level based on the amount of PCM in the cup's interior. According to Klaus Sedlbauer, head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, you can customize this on manufacturing.

You want to know the ideal temperature of my beverage? It's called ICE COLD BEER. But I will drink it hot if I have to. Last summer I drank a case of beer that had been in the trunk of my car for a week. I peed fire, true story.

Physicists Create Perfect Coffee Mug That Keeps Perfect Temperature [gizmodo]

Aug 23 2009 They're Coming: Space Invaders Lamp Shade

This Space Invaders lamp shade is available from meninos in both ceiling and table varieties for 60 bones. Each side of the cube features a different invader from the game and is sure to scare the crap out of you on your way to the kitchen in the middle of the night. Just sayin', I used to have a Frogger lamp in the dining room and some of the shit on the walls is so high I can't even reach it. Dinner anyone?

Product Site

Thanks to Tizer, who knows the only acceptable lamp shade comes in dinosaur form.