Nov 11 2009 Japan Firm Makes Custom Barcode Art
D-Barcode is a Japanese firm that will design your barcode to look cooler than the standard bunch of lines. These are some examples of their work. But it doesn't come cheap! And, despite what you may have read above the urinal, neither do I.
It can be pretty pricey, though: $1,500 for a design, and $200 a year for licensing fees. If you want a code all your own, that can even cost as much as $4,000.
Now I know what you're thinking, "pfft, I could do that". But that's where you're wrong, because you and I both know you couldn't. Remember kindergarten? Remember how you couldn't keep the color inside the lines? Your parents thought you were retarded. Dad still does.
Oct 7 2009 New Giant Ring Discovered Around Saturn
Because space is awesome and full of mysteries (and butt-naked aliens), scientists just recently discovered a freaking huge new ice-and-dust ring around Saturn. I want it for engagement!
Although the ring dust is very cold -- minus 316 degrees Fahrenheit -- it shines with thermal radiation.
No one had looked at its location with an infrared instrument until now, Clavin said.The bulk of the ring material starts about 3.7 million miles from the planet and extends outward about another 7.4 million miles.
The newly found ring is so huge it would take 1 billion Earths to fill it, JPL said.
1 billion earths -- that's a lot! Not as many as you could fit in my stomach, but I've been expanding it with balloons. I'm gonna be a drug mule!
NASA telescope discovers giant ring around Saturn [comcastnews]
Thanks to Calabasa209, who has been to space and knows things. Things you wouldn't even believe. I'm talking wormhole shit. Makes great fertilizer!
Sep 25 2009 Oooh, Pretty!: Conceptual Glass Rubik's Cube
This might be what a Rubik's Cube would look like if it were made out of glass. Except mine would be sharper because I shattered that bitch on my head like an empty beer bottle. WHO'S TOUGH?! Not me, I just drink too much and stop feeling. That said, I feel like no matter what side you're looking at on this thing it's gonna appear brown. Everyone's a winner! Except me. I always lose. My house keys. Call the paramedics, I'm gonna break another window!
Glass Rubik's Cube Looks Groovy! [walyou]
Sep 23 2009 Beautiful Shot Of The Pinwheel Galaxy
The Pinwheel Galaxy (higher res version HERE) got its name because it looks like a pinwheel. Geez, it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure that one out. Or maybe it's cause it loves Little Debbie Pecan Spinwheels so much. Well guess what -- so do I! And Starcrunches? Don't even get me started!!
This new three-color composite image was captured by the Isaac Newton Telescope in La Palma, Spain.
Known more officially as Messier 101 or NGC 5457, this classic spiral galaxy is 27 million light years from Earth in the Ursa Major constellation, also known as the Big Dipper. Its slight asymmetry is thought to be the result of an encounter with another galaxy in the recent (astronomically speaking) past. This event also left many huge clouds of glowing gas and plasma known as H II regions.Though the galaxy, which measures 170,000 light-years across, is visible with the naked eye as a fuzzy spot, large telescopes are needed to see any detail.
You know what I love most about outerspace? I heard it's super quiet. What do you mean, "space is a vacuum"? Those things are loud as shit!
Jul 7 2009 Michael Jackson To Be Buried In Gold Casket
Michael Jackson, donning his last piece of flair (possibly a Bedazzled glove), will be buried in a 14-karat gold coffin only befitting of a king (of pop. Alternatively, Neverland).
The $25,000 container from Batesville Casket Company ("because every family deserves a Batesville") is made of solid bronze, plated with 14-karat gold, and polished to a mirror finish. It's the same model in which James Brown was buried. No question about it, it'll be the fanciest coffin in the graveyard.
You know, when I go I want to be buried in my rocketship. And by buried I mean launched into the sun. And by "when I go" I mean I'm pushing the button now. I'M OUT BITCHES, PEACE!
Michael Jackson to be buried in 14-karat gold coffin [dvice]
Jun 8 2009 Pimp Out Your Bike Wheels With Monkeylectric
Looking to add some flashy flair to your bicycle but already have a sweet horn? How about some LEDs for your wheels? Monkeylectric bike LEDs are capable of producing cool designs, including, and not just limited to: stars and shit.
It's essentially a AA battery-powered 256 RGB system that straps to a bike's spokes and has a sweet spot of between 8 and 20 mph: At 8, you'll just start to see the patterns in the center, and at 20 the light show will have taken over your entire wheel. It's customizable, but only to a point, as you have to use the on-board buttons to alter the patterns rather than loading images via USB or whatever.
A kit costs $60, which really isn't too bad considering all the seizures you'll cause. I just ordered two. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? If you answered, "a pot leaf on the front wheel and skull & crossbones on the back", you're not. I'm going dual mudflap chicks, baby!
Hit the jump for a picture of the device and a worthwhile video of them in action.
Continue Reading " Pimp Out Your Bike Wheels With Monkeylectric "
Feb 13 2009 Where's The Gold?: The End Of A Rainbow
This is the end of a rainbow as captured by Jason Erdkamp on his iPhone while traveling down Highway 241 in Orange County, California. Are the leprechauns in the back of that SUV?
But Jason, from the Los Angeles suburb of Lake Forest, said: "There was no pot of gold, but I did win $25 that night on a lottery ticket."
What do you mean "no pot of gold?" How the hell is there no gold? Clearly, it's buried. I'm gonna rent a backhoe and uproot that road. I wanna know where the gold at. I want the gold. Give me the gold. I want the gold.
Photographer captures the end of the rainbow on his iPhone - amazing picture [mirror]
Thanks to Richie-Con-Carnie, who drew the amateur sketch.
Feb 11 2009 'Invisible' Treehouse Hotel Is Hard To Find
Let's face it, we all want to live in treehouses. Unfortunately, I purchased all the remaining trees on earth, so it looks like you suckers are out of luck. Hey, there's always telephone poles. Also, I will be selling acorns for $1,000 a pop. Anyway, this is a treehouse hotel constructed of mirrored glass by Swedish architectural firm Tham & Videgard Hansson Arkitekter.
It is an old architectural trick used since the invention of mirrored glass: covering buildings with the reflective material and declaring that they blend in with the surroundings. Most architects use it to convince wary citizens that it is OK if their building is tall because it will reflect the sky and nature. The rendering always makes the building disappear, and the reality is always a big clunky mirrored box.
I like it. And not just because I was conceived in a treehouse. Because I wasn't -- I was conceived in the trunk of an Oldsmobile after a drug deal gone horribly wrong. Oh, I'm sorry -- was that too romantic to tell this close to Valentine's?
Hit the jump for schematics of what the inside looks like.
Continue Reading " 'Invisible' Treehouse Hotel Is Hard To Find "
Feb 2 2009 What, Why?: A See-Through Glass Pool Table
I don't get it -- I don't need to see my feet while I'm shooting pool. But if you have a foot fetish and some serious coin ($25,150), you can pick up a G1 Glass Top Pool Table. It's freaking glass covered in some patented (and likely cancerous) material called Vitrik that allegedly plays like felt. I don't believe a word of it, but there's a video after the jump so you can draw your own conclusions. And, while you're at it, how about a unicorn for yours truly?
Hit the jump for several more pictures and the video.
Continue Reading " What, Why?: A See-Through Glass Pool Table "
Dec 11 2008 LED And Time: A Photographic Gallery
I don't have much more info on these pictures except they were made by Picasa user magnus mouse using LEDs and lasers with a really long exposure. Just like they used to do in the olden days except with a flashlight or a sparkler. So yeah, a laser + long exposure = cool effect. But a laser + my penis = an even cooler effect. PEW PEW! Oh, careful -- don't wanna blind you.
Hit it for a bunch more and a link to the gallery.
Nov 13 2008 Light Up And Wall Out: Fiber Optic Wallpaper
We've seen light-emitting wallpaper in the past, but that was just conceptual. This fiber optic wallpaper is actually available. Like today, if you have $231 to blow on a roll. There are several color options, but it looks like you're limited to flowers as far as the design goes. Not that anybody even uses wallpaper anymore. Except me. Now call me old fashioned but, WHAT THE....my typewriter screen just went out.
Hit the jump for another picture with blue/white light.
Continue Reading " Light Up And Wall Out: Fiber Optic Wallpaper "
Oct 22 2008 Lookin' Good!: Hand Made Gamer Jewelry
Alright, some more gaming jewelry, woo! All handmade by Etsy seller The Clay Collection, all this gaming-related jewelry promises to satisfy even the most demanding gamer's tastes. They've got everything from XBox controller earrings to NES cartridge cufflinks to everything else you could imagine. I just put the Zelda cuffLinks (!) up because they're my favorite. And as my 5th grade math teacher told us in class one day, "there's nothing wrong with a little Zelda on your shirt. Or my mustache -- HIYO!" He's not allowed to teach anymore.
Hit the jump for a couple more of my favorites, including a non-gaming related Tom Servo and Crow.
Oct 17 2008 Cosplay Friday!: Street Fighter's Chun Li
Ah, cosplay. I love it. And furplay, that's cool too. I think. So anyway, Francesca Dani is trying to give Jenni Källberg (aka the love of my life) a run for her cosplay money. And here she is as Chun-Li from Street Fighter. Looking good! Oh man, this reminds me -- remember when Street Fighter II came out for home consoles and you could do Chun Li's Spinning Bird Kick (the one where she spins around upside down like a helicopter) and pause the game to see her underwear? Yeah, I never did that either.
Hit the jump for a few more and a link to Francesca's cosplay page.
Alright folks, I'm off to New Orleans, wish me luck. And boobs. I'll see you all bright and early Monday morning, with bells on and puke in my shoes.
Continue Reading " Cosplay Friday!: Street Fighter's Chun Li "
Aug 18 2008 Eye Candy: More High Speed Photography
It's been a while since we've featured some delicious high-speed photography here on Geekologie, but at long last the wait is over, and I'm proud to announce: I am NOT THE FATHER! *high fives* Anyway, yeah, high-speed photos of shit getting shot up. There's a couple more after the jump, including a perfectly good can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Which, while saddening, led me to the development of an awesome new product. Bulletproof koozies, bitches -- I'm gonna be rich!
Hit it for three more and a link to a much larger Flickr gallery.
May 28 2008 Steampunk USB Drive Looks Pretty, Shiny
This is a steampunkified USB drive that comes to us all the way from Russia. As you can see it's got all the typical steampunk necessities, namely brass and copper. No actual steam though, that would be ridiculous (and dangerous to carry around in your pocket). Say, have I ever told you the one about the time my girlfriend "steampunked" the computer for my birthday? Yep, she actually steamcleaned all the components. You know, because she's an idiot. Despite her incredible ignorance and the monumental loss of porn, I did appreciate the gesture. Just kidding, I let her pay for my birthday dinner and then broke up and slept with her roommate.
A couple more pictures after the jump.
Continue Reading " Steampunk USB Drive Looks Pretty, Shiny "
May 16 2008 Stop Motion Wall Painting Is Pretty Impressive
This is an artistic stop motion video made entirely of wall paintings. It's pretty damn impressive. It made me kind of motion sick, but that was a small price to pay for the incredible awesomeness. A freaking ton of time, effort and ability went into this piece. Almost as much as my last artistic venture, which was a can of orange juice concentrate I glued popsicle sticks to and wrote on in puffy paint. I gave it to my mom for Mother's Day. I tried calling her to see if she liked it, but I think she's blocked my number.
MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU [vimeo]
Thanks to Nathan, Saul, Heather, Meg, and Pork Musket, who should all come hang out so we can paint the town red
Apr 18 2008 Wirepod: A Sexy Looking Surge Protector
Here at Geekologie we've seen several different products that address wiring, but nothing as wrought iron looking as this thing. The Wirepod is a bendable surge protector that adds a touch of class to an otherwise hideous device. Pretty sexy looking right? It sure is. Well, until it's got five ugly-ass power cords trailing off in different directions. Then it looks like shit.
More pictures after the jump, including one with something plugged in.
Continue Reading " Wirepod: A Sexy Looking Surge Protector "
Apr 11 2008 Sony Making Picture Frame-Looking TV's
Sony's new line of E4000 LCD's were designed with wall aesthetics in mind.
Sony's pushing its new Picture Frame Mode and four "blend in frame colors" hard as its looks to differentiate the 32- and 40-inch Full HD LCDs (and a wee 26 inch of unspecified, sub-1080p resolution) from the competition. As such, the TVs will display one of six, pre-installed images like Van Gogh's Wheatfield with Cypresses.
Or if pre-loaded pictures aren't your scene you can upload whatever you want. So yeah, pretty looking televisions that blend into the background. Awesome. Just look at the picture, you hardly even notice the TV, right? Actually, where is it? Oh shit -- spotted it. There on the left, next to that chair. Woody looking, nice design.
Sony's Bravia E4000 series is pretty as a picture [engadget]
Mar 14 2008 Life Isn't So Bad After All: The Rainbow Book
Rainbow in Your Hand is a little book designed by Masashi Kawamura. When you flip the pages like a flipbook a little rainbow appears. How beautiful is that? You know, this makes me think that there still is some good left in the world and everyone isn't just a bunch of a-holes. Ah, I'm really feeling some inner-peace here. What the -- some dude is letting his dog crap in my yard. "HEY YOU! YES YOU, IDIOT -- THE ONLY ONE WHOSE DOG IS SHITTING IN MY YARD! PICK THAT UP OR YOU'RE DEAD. WHOA WHOA WHOA WHERE'D THE MACHINE GUN COME FROM? Fine, I'm going back inside." Life sucks, I hate everything.
Reading Rainbow [albotas]
Mar 13 2008 Sugar Jewelry Is Way Sweet (!) (Kill Me Now)
Greetje van Helmond likes making jewelry. She also likes making candy. And now she's making both at the same time! OMGOOGLE! Using what appear to be a number of scientific looking bongs she grows sugar crystals around strings, forming beautiful candy jewelry. I actually remember having eaten some of these before, but I got it at an amusement park and it came on a wooden stick. It was great until the sugar rush kicked in and I tried to jump out of a roller coaster. Still, I'll give the jewelry model a go. I just ordered a necklace, I'll let you know how glamorous I look.
UPDATE: I woke up in the middle of the night being attacked by a vampire. Luckily I managed to drive a stake through its heart before I got bitten. And yes -- you guessed it! -- it turned out to be my candy-loving wife trying to eat the necklace.
Thanks to Dru, who I wish taught cool lessons because I could learn a thing or two from HER, for the tip
