Jun 24 2009 I Invented That!: Fan Powered Rocket Board
I'm pretty sure this is every five-year old boy's first invention. Of course, few have the technical know-how to make it happen. And even fewer are allowed to play with power tools. But grownup Ray Bavetta kept the dream alive and slapped a 3.7HP model airplane engine on a skateboard and misnamed it Rocket Board. Do you know what a rocket is, Ray? There's usually fire coming out of the back. Not streamers.
Rocket Board makes skateboarding a bit more interesting [dvice]
Thanks to FDSY, who is fairly certain this is how he'll die.
Nov 21 2008 Bridge Constructed By Shooting Cable-Carrying Rockets Across Huge Valley
Just look at that bridge. I was almost tempted to call it Photoshopped, but then I remembered I'm not a stupid idiot. The Siduhe Grand Bridge has been in construction for over 4 years and stands 2,132 feet above the ground below. Holy shit! One of the initial problems with building the bridge was how to get the 3,200ft long cables across the valley. The answer? Attach them to rockets and blast them across.
so you've erected the enormous towers on each side of the deep valley, deeper than any valley previously bridged. how do you get a pilot cable from one tower to the next? previous solutions have included: attaching the cable to a kite and flying it over (e.g. niagara falls suspension bridge), carrying one end by helicopter (e.g. akashi kaikyo bridge) and floating one end on a boat (e.g. brooklyn bridge). the brains behind the siduhe bridge decided to ignore all those options and break another record instead. they attached the 3200ft cables to rockets and accurately fired them over the valley, becoming the first people to do so.
Hell yes! Ah, ingenuity at its finest. And also, rocket power. PSSSSSHOOOW! But seriously, for a case of beer I'll let you shoot me out of a cannon. Two cases and I'll even wear a paper hat.
Hit the jump for several pictures of the actual rocket firings. Pretty cool stuff.
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Sep 11 2008 "Now That's What I Call Easter!" Volume 26
Chios, Greece doesn't celebrate Easter with dyed eggs and a big chocolate bunny. No sir, they do it up right -- with two churches firing thousands of fireworks at one another. The tradition dates back to 1889 (OLD!), when Ottoman forces confiscated the islander's cannons and the locals were forced to fight back with homemade rockets. Awesome! Though in retrospect, I'm thankful my church didn't do this when I was growing up. Because then I would have been an altar boy -- and we all know what happened to them...they stole sacramental wine and grew up to be drunkards. Just kidding, they got their asses touched. So yeah, thanks for the grope-free ass, Church of No Fireworks!
Fireworks War, Greek Town Celebrates Easter With a Rocket War Against Its Neighbor [uberreview]
Mar 17 2008 Astronauts Like iPods, Take Them Into Space
This is close-up picture of the Space Shuttle Endeavor orbiting earth. And what is that in the window? An iPod! Astronauts listen to iPods in space (or at least throw them on the dash of the shuttle to look cool)! You know, I'm really glad this picture came out because it's just what I needed to prove my latest scientific theory: even astronauts download music illegally. record players don't work in space. NASA is too cheap to spring for Sirius. the moon landing was a hoax. the Discman is dead.
A zoom-out shot of the shuttle after the jump.
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