Sep 9 2009 Steel Velcro: Because Plastic Is For Sissies
This new steel velcro can support up to 35 tons of pressure and looks ultra-badass. So badass I want a belt made out of it. Yeah, and a headband. Wait, is this stainless steel? Cause I can't have no rust juice dripping in my eyes!
Developed by German engineers, this new version of Velcro is dubbed Metaklett, and it can support 35 tons at temperatures up to 1472 degrees. It's made from "perforated steel strips 0.2 millimetres thick, one kind bristling with springy steel brushes and the other sporting jagged spikes."
I have no idea what sort of industrial uses they have planned for this shit, but that's not important. What IS important is this: Velco is actually a name brand. The generic term for this type of closure is 'hook-and-loop fastener'. If you already knew that, congratulations. If not, I hope I just wasted some space behind your face! I'm talking about in your brain.
Thank you for being a friendTravel down the road and back again
your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant
And if you threw a party,
Invited everyone you knew,
You would see the biggest gift would be from me and the card attached would say,
Thank you for being a friend.
Haha, I'm just messing with you now.
Feb 5 2009 Have You Ever Wondered How Much It Would Cost To Build Your Own Death Star? Hint: I Didn't Even Know That Was A Real Number
Let's face it, we all want our own Death Star. But how much would it actually cost to build one, today? Well, a lot. Try 15 septillion dollars. That's $15,602,022,489,829,821,422,840,226! Ladies and gentlemen, we may have to settle for the half-sized model.
(The Death Star has) a volume of 17.16 quadrillion cubic meters. At 1/10 volume, we'll need 1.71 Quadrillion cubic meters of steel, weighing in at 134 quadrillion tonnes. In 2008 steel products, from wire to ingots were selling for an average of $962 per tonne, so our cost of steel alone is $12.95 quintillion.Now, how about getting that into space? According to the numbers I could find on the internet, it costs around $95 million to ship 1 tonne of materials into space, so that means we'll be cutting NASA a cheque for $12.79 septillion. (Remind me to order larger cheques from the bank please.)
Okay, so if we can cut out NASA we can basically save ourselves $13 septillion, dropping the total cost of a Death Star to a paltry $2 septillion. Now I think that's manageable folks -- so you start sending me your money, and I'll start building a strip club the rocketship.
Check out the first link for a much more in-depth look into all the costs associated with the project.
One Death Star for $15 Septillion? What a deal! [rickgold]
via
One Death Star for $15 Septillion?! [starwarsblog]
Thanks to Adam, who the Force is totally with.
Jun 23 2008 MIT Students Make Solar Dish, Melt Steel
Students at MIT have developed a parabolic solar dish capable of melting steel. It consists of an array of 10 inch by 12 foot curved mirrors, and is a crucial step in the race to provide cleaner, cheaper energy.
The MIT team believes that their lightweight, inexpensive device holds the promise of revolutionizing the power industry and providing solar power to even remote regions.
The completed mirror focuses enough solar energy at its focal point to melt solid steel. The energy of typical sunlight is concentrated by a factor of 1,000. This was showcased during a demonstration, in which a team member held up a board, which instantly and violently combusted, when brought within range of the focal point.By directing the dish at a more practical target -- water piped through black tubing -- steam can be flash created, offering instant means of producing energy or providing heating.
Awesome. I just built one myself, and I've got to say, it's pretty damn powerful. I just put a chair in front of it alongside a giant "FREE MAKEUP" sign, and now I'm waiting for my girlfriend to get home.
UPDATE: Success -- single again!
Hit the jump for a picture of the completed dish and a wooden beam catching fire.
Continue Reading " MIT Students Make Solar Dish, Melt Steel "
Jun 3 2008 Crazy Computer Desk Looks Like A Drum Set
We've already seen all sorts of ridiculous computer desks here at Geekologie, and here comes another -- the V1 (V for Vision, not Vagina). It looks like the bastard child of a three-way between a car seat, computer desk, and drum set.
The V1 computer desk is dynamically designed to be the best computer desk system on Earth. Comfort, quality, and customer satisfaction are our primary goals here. Three years of planning and development has brought the V1 computer gaming desk to this certain point. It can now be yours.
They start at $1,700 (sans monitor and speakers) but can be customized with different options all the way up to like a billion dollars. Maybe it's for you, but it's not for me. That thing would take up the whole damn room. Although now that I think about it, diamond-treaded foot rests could come in handy during a particularly volatile porn session.
Hit the jump for a few different setups and a link to the website.
Continue Reading " Crazy Computer Desk Looks Like A Drum Set "
Jan 14 2008 Simple Music Sequencer Uses Ball Bearings
We've seen music sequencers in the past, but nothing that rivals the BeatBearing for simplicity and number of balls. The unit was designed by Peter Bennett during his studies of new techniques people can use to interact with musical instruments.
Sequences are composed by placing the metal orbs in a grid of receptor cups which represent the different rhythm tracks (kick, snare, hi-hat and cowbell) along the vertical axis, and beats along the horizontal.
So it works like any other sequencer, but with balls. And let's face the facts people: balls make everything awesome. I have balls and I'm awesome. Pinball machines, ballpits, and ballgames are all awesome. The balls on that chick from last ni -- oh god no.
A worthwhile video of the thing in action after the cowbell.
Continue Reading " Simple Music Sequencer Uses Ball Bearings "
Nov 7 2007 Glass And Steel Whirlpool Tub Is Luxurious
The Whirlpool Glass Bathtub is a real treat. It's got sixteen jets, can accommodate two people, and is totally see-through. They run $3,199 and are worth every penny. I've had one since they first came out, and I'm 100% happy with the purchase. The only problem is my wife came into the bathroom one day during my bath-time. She asked if I was eating Cheetos in the tub. "Cheetos? Cheetos?!! Woman that's my penis, GET OUT OF HERE!"
Whirlpool Glass Bathtub, That's What I'm Talking About [uberreview]
Oct 31 2007 Smash The Hell Out Of A $6,020 Chair
The Do Hit Chair is ridiculous. It's a 0.04" thick steel cube that costs $6,020. The idea is that you take a sledgehammer or anything else to it and beat it to shit, until you've got something in the shape that you want. If you screw it up you're f'ed. You'll probably end up with something that resembles a sharp metal shiv just itching to tear you a new a-hole. Because that's exactly what it'll be. I just can't believe this thing. The last time I spent $6,000 on furniture it was for my wife's new breasts, and those things are comfortable as hell. This thing just looks painful.
One more of a sweaty man after a job (horribly) well done after the jump.
Aug 9 2007 Japanese Hurt Your Privates Game
This gameshow is part of the reason I'm moving to Japan. It's just way cooler over there. I mean they don't even KICK the contestants in the privates, they built a machine to do it. BRILLIANT! It seems that THIS is closest American equivalent, and it just looks, um, like nothing I would be caught participating in (I don't do elephant walks either). I used to play a game similar to the Japanese version with a friend where we would ask each other trivia questions and if you got it incorrect you got kicked in the you know what. But one day I answered wrong and had to kill my friend. Not that it would have hurt anyways, because, you know, I have privates of steel. That's right ladies - steel. If that's good. If not, then they're the regular material, just huge.
