Aug 7 2009 WTF Was That?!?: A Highly Questionable Piece Of Exercise Equipment For Women
I've gotten this tip like a thousand times and have been trying to avoid posting it because, damnit, I'm just too classy for this kind of thing (yes, this is a monocle). I mean, it goes against all the theological and geometrical principles I hold dear. Then I realized I was lying to myself and this is the shit I live for. Enjoy!
Thanks to everyone who sent this in. I'd try to find all your emails but I'd hate to leave anybody out, so, yeah. Send more tips!
Apr 5 2009 Let Me Guess, Robots Invented These Too: Little Batteries Powered By Human Blood
It may look like the world's smallest golden wallet, but it's actually a cyborg battery. You see, in the future robots will harvest humans to provide the blood they need to recharge their batteries. Well, happy Sunday to you too!
A small colony of yeast lives inside each battery, and this living core of the fuel cell can draw energy from glucose (sugar) in blood flowing around it. According to New Scientist:
The yeast-based fuel cell produces around 40 nanowatts of power, compared to the microwatt a typical wristwatch battery might produce, Chaio says. That might be enough power for some devices if it were coupled with a capacitor to allow energy to be stored. The yeast could also be genetically engineered to boost its power output.
Great news. No really, that's just wonderful. Currently, scientists are considering the cyborg battery for use in pacemakers and other implantable devices, while robots are considering how much blood they need to power chainsaws and laser blasters. But I'll tell you one thing -- ain't no robotic vampire drilling this neck. Eat oak, Dracu-bot! *tink* Oh shit.
Batteries That Feed on Blood [io9]
Thanks to David, Jon and Jamie, who refuse to donate blood to a damn robot.
Feb 3 2009 Wrong #: Cell Phone Explodes, Killing Man
We reported on a 'death by cell phone explosion' last year, but that one turned out to be some guy trying to cover up accidentally killing a coworker. Maybe this one's real. Or maybe somebody else pushed the wrong lever.
A man has died after his mobile phone exploded, severing a major artery in his neck, according to reports.
The man, thought to be a shop assistant in his twenties at a computer shop in Guangzhou, China, died after he put a new battery in his phone. It was believed that he may have just finished charging the battery and had put the phone in his breast pocket when it exploded.According to the local Chinese daily Shin Min Daily News, the accident happened on January 30 at 7.30pm. An employee at the shop told Chinese media that she heard a loud bang and saw her colleague lying on the floor of the shop in a pool of blood. The employee said the victim had recently changed the battery in his mobile phone.
Jesus, I'm never charging my phone again. So if you want to talk to me, you better call quick, because yesterday was my last charge. Yep, I'm only yelling from here on out. YOU HEAR ME? HONEY, I'M GOING TO BE LATE FOR DINNER!
Man killed by 'exploding mobile phone' [timesonline]
Thanks to Richie-con-carnie, who once cooked a delicious meal on the heat of a burning cellphone.
NOTE: Picture is not related to story. Except it's a picture of a cell phone that exploded. And caught fire.
Nov 5 2008 Mice Killing Has Never Been Easier, More Disturbing, Electrocution-y, Efficient
Have a mouse problem? Stop leaving cheese out yo. But if you want to get rid of them and feel like a sadistic bastard in one fell swoop, look into the Victor Multi-Kill Electronic Mouse Trap. Basically a mouse walks in, up some stairs, gets his electrocution on in the Shock N' Drop chamber, smells like burnt fur, and then falls into a box (which can hold up to ten!). My parents just got one, but mostly because it's safe for kids and pets. Speaking of which -- mom, have you seen Hammy?
NEW! Multi-Kill Electronic Mouse Trap from Victor, The Power Tool of Rodent Control [prweb]
Thanks to Richthegringo and Mike, who kill rats the old fashioned way, with cement shoes. Now they sleep with the fishes.
Oct 14 2008 No Vroom Vroom?: An Electric Porsche
German Porsche modder RUF Automobile GmbH went and dropped a 204hp electric motor into a 911. It's powered by 96 lithium ion batteries, can hit 60 in less than 7 seconds, tops out at 160 , and has a 180-mile range. All in all, not too shabby. Who'd have thunk it -- an electric Porsche! What's next, electric golf carts? Ha, that'll be the day.
Hit the jump for a bunch more pictures, including a couple of the battery arrays.
Oct 3 2008 Magic Hat Makes You Smarter, Look Stupid
This thinking cap promises to make its wearer smarter. How?Using a magnetic coil to send juice to portions of the left side of the brain, researchers claim that they can turn anyone into a savant, improving memory and creativity by incredible amounts.
Being a skeptic, I went ahead and rigged up my own cap on their design. I made it out of aluminum foil, a bunch of refrigerator magnets, and a car battery. Here goes nothing!
UPDATE: I smell toast.
Sep 9 2008 New Esquire Magazine With E-Ink Cover
Did you pick up a copy of the 75th anniversary Esquire magazine yesterday to keep abreast of men's fashion? No? Well how about for the "first e-ink cover in history"? No? Well don't fret, because this is a video of the thing. As you can see, it's a magazine with a little e-ink panel. So what does this mean for magazines of the future? They're gonna consume more power.
Jun 5 2008 Self-Stirring Coffee Mug For The Fingerless
Are you a lazy bastard or a shop teacher that's had ten accidents? If so, this self stirring mug may be for you. The mugs are made by Gevalia, a company best known for convincing me to sign up for their coffee of the month club through the use of a well placed late-night infomercial featuring a sexy saleswoman with a sultry voice. Anyway, the $19 mug features a special base that runs on two AAA batteries and promises "to gently stir your beverage at the push of a button". Now call me crazy, but what kind of gentle stir creates a freaking whirlpool in your beverage? That picture looks like a blender set on the highest setting. You'd have hot beverage in your lap quicker than you could say "I'm suing you McDonalds because I'm a stupid asshole and the coffee you served me was hot." Still, I'm buying one. Mostly because, unlike that pussy James Bond, I like my martinis stirred -- and served in 12-ounce mugs. Suck it Bond, you couldn't even spy on your own girlfriend in the shower.
Stir Mug Does All Of The Work For You [ohgizmo]
May 30 2008 Battery Powered Robot Climbs Grand Canyon
The Evolta Robot is the mascot for Panasonic's new Evolta batteries. He's cute, has a wonky eye, and can climb.
The company says the new battery cell -- called Evolta, combining "evolution" and "voltage" -- can keep gadgets running 20 percent longer than offerings from rivals Duracell and Energizer.
Guinness World Records certified Evolta as "the longest-lasting AA alkaline battery cell," based on testing under guidelines set by the industry's International Electrotechnical Commission this year.
To prove the long-lastingness of his batteries, the 5-ounce, 7-inch robot climbed a rope dangling in the Grand Canyon for as long as he could. When his batteries finally crapped out, he had climbed 1,740 feet over the span of 6 hours, 46 minutes. I watched the whole thing and I've gotta say -- it was freaking boring.
Battery-Powered Robot Climbs Rope for 7 Hours in Grand Canyon, Sets Guinness World Record [foxnews]
Thanks Shawn and Dan, now one of you yank his batteries, I'm not going anywhere near that deceptively cute deathbot
Mar 4 2008 UV Light Kills Germs, Chance Of Being Normal
This handheld UV scanner costs $30 and runs on 4 AAA batteries. You wave it over an object you're going to touch and it kills 99.9% of germs. But I've got news for you -- it's that 0.01% of germs that'll kill you. No, seriously -- those are the ones that are so tough nothing can faze them. It's actually funny that I found this online because an ex-neighbor of mine had one of these and swore by it. He wouldn't touch anything without blasting it with UV first. So you know what I did? I coughed all over the back of the handle when he was out of the room. And then you know what he did? He died. Yeah, apparently he had some sort of disease that made regular germs fatal. Oops. I feel really bad too because the couple that bought his house are a-holes who I can't stand and they don't even keep the yard looking nice.
Handheld Disinfecting UV Scanner [ohgizmo]
Jan 30 2008 Cord Isn't The Only Thing Lacking From Nyko's New Wireless Wii Nunchuck
Personally I've never had a problem with the cord attaching the Wii's nunchuk to the Wiimote, but I guess some people just can't stand having any cords. So if you don't want to wait for the wireless nunchuk that actually replaces your existing one you can get this mammoth. It's a wireless base you place the chuk in and wrap the cord around. It also has the added benefit of taking 2 AAA batteries. It costs $20 and I can't believe they actually decided to make it. I mean it's awful. Almost as awful as the hangover I'm nursing from last night's karaoke binge, but with less puking and swearing I'll never drink again.
Jan 17 2008 Lightsaber Lamp Gets Knocked Over Easily
Star Wars Lightsaber Lamps are made by NCSX and cost $23. They stand 16" tall, come in green or red and run off AAA batteries. You know what else they run off? Your girlfriend, because she won't stick around long if you start decorating your pad with these things. Actually, that might not be entirely true. If you keep one as a bedside lamp, you may be able to introduce her to the pleasure of the dark side. If you catch my drift. Did you catch it? No? I'm saying use it as a dildo.
lightsaber lamps for true star wars geeks [technabob]
Dec 14 2007 USB Batteries Are USB Rechargeable
We posted about the USBCELL batteries before, and now they're available for purchase. USBCELL is a product line by Moxia Energy that features USB rechargeable batteries. Right now the company only has AAs for sale, but 9Vs are coming soon, along with cell phone and device batteries. The AAs are $17.49 for a two pack, or $160 for twenty. Pretty expensive, but I like the idea. I want some, but I'm going to hold out until they're a bit cheaper. I just don't have $18 to spend on batteries right now -- I already owe my parents $60 in rent. Which is pretty f***ed up, charging your own son rent. So what if I'm 30, I'm still trying to find myself. Say, maybe I'm in this bong. *bubble, bubble, hack, cough* Nope, not there. "WHAT DO YOU WANT MOM? NO I'M NOT SMOKING IN THE HOUSE. SHUT UP! I RENT THIS DAMN ATTIC, I CAN DO WHAT I WANT! I KNOW I'M LATE ON RENT, IT'S COMING. LEAVE ME ALONE!"
thanks to Anexio, who needs no recharging to pleasure the ladies, for the tip
