Nov 16 2009 The Sky Is Falling!: Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight/Early Tommorrow Morning
For those of you that like to get high and lie in the middle of a field staring up, the Leonid meteor shower is supposed to reach its peak tonight from 1AM to dawn. Great, I'll be hiding in the back of the hallway closet waiting for the apocalypse. It, uh, is 2012, right?
The best seats are in Asia, but North American observers should be treated to an above average performance of the Leonid meteor shower, weather permitting. The trick for all observers is to head outside in the wee hours of the morning - between 1 a.m. and dawn - regardless where you live.
"We're predicting 20 to 30 meteors per hour over the Americas, and as many as 200 to 300 per hour over Asia," said Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. Other astronomers who work in the nascent field of meteor shower prediction have put out similar forecasts.
Listen, I've been disappointed by these things before. Those NASA Meteoroidoligists are almost as bad as the cloud and rain ones. Still, I recommend everyone that hasn't seen the Leonid Shower to get out there and check it out. Me? I'm holding out for the Girl's Locker Room Shower.
Strong Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Early Tuesday Morning [yahoonews]
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Feb 27 2009 Coooool!: All Glass House Has Sliding Exterior
The Sliding House is an all glass house built by Ross Russell and his wife in Suffolk, England. Its exterior walls and roof are all one piece that can be rolled off of the glass shell via a system of wheels and motors, exposing the entire house to sunlight. I want one. And not just because I'm an exhibitionist, but because HEY, LOOKIE HERE! Haha, yeah, because I'm an exhibitionist.
Thanks to Dan and Joemo, whose houses don't just slide, they electric slide.
Feb 17 2009 Screw It, I'm Tired Of Living: Crane Pull Ups
This is a video of some joker doing pull ups hanging from a crane that is way up high in the sky. Like a bird, except metal and painted red. Okay, like Bubo, the owl in Clash of the Titans, except he was silver and gold and had beady little eyes. Whatever, I am the Analogy King! Anyway, every time the dude goes back down after a pull up I thought he was going to fall. But he didn't, and that made me very sad.
Thanks to The Jerk, who once did two thousand crunches in a row and then puked.
Jan 2 2009 I Believe I Can Fly: Plane Mail Postcards
The Postcard Aeroplane is a $7 balsa wood postcard from suckUK that you can send to a friend or former lover. Then, when they receive it, they can punch out the plane parts and fly your message to the moooooooon. One time my grandpa mailed a coconut. To Saturn! Can you tell I've been huffing? I have. I made resolutions! I broke them!
Balsa wood postcard transforms into flying model glider [dvice]
Dec 16 2008 NSFW!: Advertisers Take Note -- Now This Is How You Sell A Damn Washing Machine!
VIDEO IS NSFW
Well, after that last post I need a little pick-me-up. And what picks up the Geekologie Writer? Haha, you all know me too well, NSFW boobs (read: bare ones). This is a European Siemens commercial for a $900 washing machine that features a bunch of bare-breasted women skydiving from a plane. Because, just like Jesus dictated to his secretary in Psalm 49: Large boobs sell large appliances. Amen to that. I just ordered sixty of them, and I don't even wear clothes! I'm a blogger, folks, and the official uniform of the blogger is a single pair of stained boxers. And I'm not even wearing those right now! Now guess what I'm going to use to type the period at the end of this sentence. If you guessed my right ring finger, you are correct. Pfft, I know how to type!
WOW, NSFW Commercial [phillyd]
Thanks to pirhan, who delivers the goods when I need them most.
Dec 8 2008 Eye Candy: Aurora Borealis From Space
This is a time-lapse video made of still images by astronaut Don Pettit aboard the International Space Station. It shows the Aurora Borealis in all its auroral beauty -- from space. And while it's not THE most beautiful thing I've ever seen, it's second only to the boobs I saw yesterday.
Thanks to Larry, who apologizes for saying Dan stinks but will still see him on the hike tomorrow rain or shine. Just be careful guys, and don't get f***ed by any bears.
Nov 25 2008 Man Crosses Gorge With Jetpack, No Lasers
Eric Scott sped across the 1,500-foot-wide Royal Gorge in southern Colorado at a speed of 75 mph. With a jetpack. It took him 21 seconds and the bastard didn't even have a parachute because he's a stupid idiot. Also, this feat isn't very impressive. Anybody can jetpack over a gorge, but who can skateboard over one? Because one time I ollied over a recycling bin in my driveway. And broke my arm. True story. I have a titanium plate and a bunch of screws in there now. Oh my god -- I'm a freaking robot! Quick, off with the arm! We're running out of time -- just kill me! Softly, with your love. *wink*
Hit the jump for a video of the spectacle, which I found slightly disappointing (and I LOVE jetpacks).
Continue Reading " Man Crosses Gorge With Jetpack, No Lasers "
Nov 21 2008 God's Facebook: Genesis Edition
This is God's Facebook page from the time of Genesis. Unfortunately, I only have screenshots of it because the dude won't accept my friendship request. You sell your soul to the devil for a blogging job ONE TIME....
Hit it for the rest, which I thought was pretty clever.
Oct 15 2008 Another Day, Another Flying Car
Another day, another flying car. Although the good people over at Terrafugia aren't actually calling it a flying car. They're calling it a "roadable aircraft" because they're a bunch of asshats. Anyway, it's a flying freaking car.
The vehicle, set to go on sale next year, will cruise smoothly on the road and through the sky. It will have four wheels, Formula One-style suspension, and a pair of 10-foot-wide wings that fold up when it switches from air to asphalt.
The Transition will run on gas, have a flight range of 460 miles, and is expected to sell at right around $194,000. Tests are still being completed, and the first Transition will take to the skies in November, with customers that put deposits down seeing their vehicles in late 2009. And, for those of us that didn't put deposits down, we can expect to hear about the first crash around the same time.
Jun 25 2008 Sky Ceilings: Like Sky Lights, But Depressing
Sky Ceilings are probably an old as hell idea. So old. Your mommy probably read you a news story about them when you were a child. Yet, here they are -- weird. Sky Ceilings were designed to mimic daylight and change with the time of day from sun up to sun down. They're for people like me that work in Cubeville and don't see the light of day unless they sneak up to the roof and contemplate jumping. Which I do frequently. The sidewalk just looks so appetizing from up here. Oh -- here comes The Superficial Writer, late as always and trying to sneak in the side door. *hooccckkkkkkkk*
Sky Ceilings make you feel like you're outside even when you're not [dvice]
Jun 25 2008 Rotating Skyscraper To Be Built In Dubai
A rotating skyscraper is slated to be built in, wait for it -- Dubai! The structure, designed by Italian architect David Fisher, has floors that can each rotate independently of one another. Allegedly the building will be powered entirely by wind and solar energy via outer solar panels and wind turbines between the floors. I'm curious to see how that works out. I'm also curious how you and your neighbors decide who gets the ocean view and when. I'm guessing it involves threats and/or a good amount of weapon brandishing. Condos are currently going for about $3,000 per square foot but don't bother calling to ask -- I already did and the bastards aren't selling 1' x 1's.
Hit the jump for a VIDEO including some computer animations of the buildng and an interview with the architect.
Continue Reading " Rotating Skyscraper To Be Built In Dubai "
Apr 21 2008 Nothing Good: What Happens When You Fly An F-111 Fighter Into A Pelican At 340 MPH
This F-111 hit a pelican in New South Wales, Australia while doing over 340 MPH. As you can see, it's not looking so hot. "The plane was flying at around 3,000 feet during a test bombing raid when a pelican collided with the fiberglass nosecone and was then sucked into one of the engines." Even with a hole in a wing and an engine failure, the pilots were still able to safely land the aircraft. No word on how the pelican is doing, but if I had to guess I'd say seriously freaking not good.*
*Dead
F-111 Fighers And Pelicans Don't Mix [ohgizmo]
Apr 3 2008 This Flying Lawnmower Is The Awesomest Thing I've Seen All Morning Besides My Roommate Running Through The Screen Door
Maybe you've seen this video before, because it's been around for awhile. But you know what? Suck it! *Does that stupid wrestling thing where you X your hands over your genitals* So, yeah, I didn't mean that. Anyway, this lawnmower has a secret. And that secret is the power of flight! It can't cut grass for shit, but I think we can all agree that's a small price to pay for such radical awesomeness. I was so inspired I wrote a poem about it.
Look at the lawnmower fly
High, high up in the sky
It may not cut grass
But that's okay with me
I don't cut the grass anyway
That's why I bought a goat.
*fingers snapping* Thank you, thank you. Honestly though, this thing is sweet. What could be cooler? Nothing. Well, except maybe a flying ride-on mower.
Thanks to Matthew, who doesn't need a lawnmower to fly because he was born with a jetpack, for the tip
Feb 27 2008 Star Watches Let You Know What's Up (!)
These Celestial Watches from Citizen let you know what's going on up in the heavens at any given time. They're a limited edition of 200 yellow ones and 500 blue, and run $585 for the large size and $449 for the smaller one. Basically the face rotates around in real time giving you an exact picture of the night sky that's currently visible. Then using the various dials you can, um, do other stuff that is way over my head because I'm a stupid a-hole. All I'm hoping is that it comes with an alarm that warns of an impending alien visit and subsequent probing. This alarm will be known as Uranus alarm, because it helps protects it from experimentation.
Celestial Watches [popgadget]
Feb 20 2008 Tonight's The Night For Sky Watching
There's a total lunar eclipse tonight that you should probably step outside and take a look at later. "The moon will be completely within the shadow of the Earth as of 10pm EST, and won’t start to come out again until 10:50pm. During that time it’ll turn a lovely reddish-orange, thanks to the sunrises and sunsets refracting light past the limbs of the Earth."
Also during that time the US is going to try to shoot down the spy satellite we've been hearing so much about lately. They're going to use a modified SM-3 missile launched from sea near Hawaii and I'm totally going to go pick up the pieces which are expected to land in central Canada. They've got to be worth something right? It's like when I was a kid and dug up baby dinosaur bones in the backyard. I was so excited I tried to sell them to a museum. That's when my parents broke it to me that they were the remains of Nibbles, my guinea pig. Those assholes had told me he was on vacation.
Spacewatch: Wednesday Is A Big Night [ohgizmo]
Jan 14 2008 Sky Commuter Flying Car Sells On eBay
Want you get your hands on a flying vehicle? Well you may have to settle for a Moller craft, because by the time this gets posted an auction for the last Sky Commuter Prototype test craft that remains in existence today will be over. And I apologize for that in case you were going to bid, but let's be honest, you weren't. There was a lot of activity in the last half hour of the auction though, with a bidder raising the price from $60,000 to $131,700. I was skeptical because that bidder had 0 feedback. Then I realized it was me.
The development of this advanced technology and project started back in the mid 1980's. Design and engineering was created by Boeing engineer's in Arlington Washington. Some 60 investors and well over $6,000.000.00 in R&D and production yielded only (3) concept test ships before the plant was shut down for reasons not listed here. The sad end was all and anything that was in the hangar was taken and or destroyed. This sole example of this technology, Advancements and investments are present and was saved in this single craft. The ship was not at the base location at the time or it to would have been destroyed.
Damn that's f'ed up, destroying flying vehicles. What in the hell is the matter with these people? I'd eat my own right arm for a flying car, and there are people out there just trashing them. That makes me sick. And so does this cereal I'm eating. Well it's not so much cereal as pasta shells and bourbon, but I figured it'd still be good. It's definitely not.
Hit the jump for a bunch more pictures and a link to the (now over) auction.
Dec 6 2007 World's Highest Commercial Bungee Jump
The world's highest commercial bungee jump is at the Macau Tower in China. You leap from 233 meters (764 feet, or about 61 floors). It looks pretty high up if you ask me. As much as I do love extreme sports (Counterstrike, eating contests, sex without protection) I don't think I could do it. But not because I'm scared of heights. Because I'm not. It's because I heard a guy jumped off and then bounced back into the stratosphere and got sucked into a jet engine. Yep, and I don't want that to happen to me. The height has nothing to do with it.
Video action after the jump (!)
Oct 19 2007 New Vampire 2 Wingsuit For Skydiving
It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's just some dildo in a Vampire 2 Wingsuit from Phoenix-Fly. The suit was designed to slow your free-fall from 111-139 mph to 37-59 mph thanks to the lift created -- allowing you to fly around and enjoy the view longer. It costs $1,250. Now I've been jumping out of planes for awhile now, and I've never worn one of these. They're lacking in style. And I'm all about jumping in style. Which is why I sport a Superman cape. I'm practically the Man of Steel. Sure I'm lacking the superpowers, good looks, and pretty much everything else, but I've got the cape. And the cape, my friends, is a good start.
A picture of a scary looking man who has clearly shit the suit and a video after the jump.
UPDATE: Another video added (thanks Skroonk) that shows some idiot in one of these things trying to touch a mountain while flying around.
Oct 15 2007 Sky Puter Case Mod Provides Good Airflow
The Sky Puter is one of the sweetest case mods (or lack thereof) I've seen in a long time. Sure there have been some pretty sweet cases in the past, but I think it's safe to say this one takes the cake. All pieces of the computer are suspended from cat5 or cat3 cable. Add a 20-inch box fan and your piece will be running at near sub-zero temperatures. Did I mention I actually think it looks like crap? I actually think it looks like crap. Novel concept though. I'll give it that. I like the coat hangers and speaker.
A couple more after the jump.
Continue Reading " Sky Puter Case Mod Provides Good Airflow "
Oct 8 2007 UPDATE: Life Size X-Wing Flight Video
Andy Woerner and his friends built a life size X-Wing Fighter and are going to set that bitch off on in California on October 10th. It's 21-feet long and has a 19-foot wingspan. It's powered by four Class M rocket engines (on the wings), which produce a red glow, just like the original. It will be launched in a fashion similar to traditional model rockets, but after liftoff the wings are going to open to attack position, through the use of a motor the team installed. They hope to recover the X-Wing in one piece after it's flight (via 3 parachutes). I wish these guys the best, and hopefully they'll have some sweet video available afterwards. Oh, and Andy if you're reading this, I'll happily be strapped to it for it's maiden voyage. Sure it'll kill me, but it'll be a far better death than the slow, painful one my marriage provides.
A couple more of the ship after blast-off.
UPDATE: VIDEO ADDED. Note: It is sad. The guy in the video says it best.
