Nov 16 2009 Gnarly: Two Kite Surfers Jump British Pier
Two extreme sporters used particularly gusty winds today to fulfill their live's dreams: to jump Worthing Pier in West Sussex, England, on kite-boards. It's time to dream bigger, brahs!
Jake Scrace, 25, and Lewis Crathern, 24, had been planning Monday morning's jump for three years but had to wait for perfect weather conditions.
They took off from Goring to the west side of Worthing in gusts of wind that were more than 40mph, and had two helpers on the beach. The pair said the jump was quite hazardous and should not be attempted by amateurs.Mr Crathern said the jump was "epic".
"It was everything I've lived for - amazing," he said.
Everything you've lived for, nice. And here I've been living to destroy my body with booze and die young. But, you know, jumping over a pier with a kite, that's something too. *snicker* Pussies.
Two kite surfers jump over pier [bbcnews]
Thanks to And and 2MechanicalArms, one of which may or may not be a robot.
Jul 7 2009 There Can Be Only One: Train Vs. Tornado
In a no-holds barred, knock out, drag out cage track fight, we've got the much anticipated Train vs. Tornado matchup! In the red corner, weighing in at a couple trees, a really confused cow and a bunch of rain, THE TOOOOOORNADO! And in the blue corner, weighing in at more tons than I can count or even fathom with my animal brain, THOOOOOMAS. THE. TAAAAAANK ENGINE!
So, who will win?
Hint: Dora, I've the feeling we're not in Kansas anymore. That's right folks, WE ARE OUT EXPLORING UNCHARTED TERRITORY. CHOO CHOO!
Youtube (fight starts at 1:00)
Thanks to Red, who, together with blue, makes purple. And love.
Jun 12 2009 Stormchasers Capture Inside Of Tornado
This is a video of some stormchasers in Goshen county, Wyoming driving into a tornado (the good stuff starts around 2:20). I've got to admit, it's a pretty ballsy move -- but I've done it on foot. And yes, I was transported to Oz. Don't believe me? Then where'd I get these Munchkin panties?
Holy Crap, Storm Chasers Captured Footage Inside a Tornado [gizmodo]
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 18 2009 Anybody Seen My Foil Helmet?: UFO Destroys Wind Turbine, Aliens Make Off With A Piece
The alien apocalypse is upon us! Those other-worldly asslovers have already started sabotaging our power systems, starting with most crippling -- yes, the wind turbines.
The facts: The turbine suffered a catastrophic failure at night around the same time many locals reported "glowing spheres" in the sky. The manufacturer says the turbine was built to withstand extreme conditions. And the blade that snapped off still hasn't been found.
That's right folks, we can finally add destruction of property and theft to the long list of rectal crimes aliens have committed here on Earth. Apparently the little wonk-eyed bastards hate renewable energy and just all around jerks and litter bugs. Which, honestly, I've been trying to tell you all for years. Remember the time I woke up with a burger wrapper and Styrofoam cup in my ass? Exactly.
Breaking: Aliens hate wind power [dvice]
Jan 15 2009 Another Day, Another Zelda Theme Song
Remember the Zelda theme played by the guy with the hats? Well this isn't him, it's some other Zelda fan (who, it goes without saying, isn't as big a fan, or asshole, as yours truly) playing the theme to Wind Waker on a guitar, accordion, some glasses, a baking pan, a little drum, two different kinds of skinflute, and maybe some other stuff. And in even more exciting news, this article, according to my latest tally, makes two Zelda-themed posts today! *alarm going off* Oh, you know what that sound means -- one of you lucky readers wins a prize! And today's prize is....getting to call 911 -- my apartment's on fire.
Thanks to Tony, a one-man band with more groupies than you can shake a drum stick at. Or a thigh.
Sep 29 2008 Fly High With The Cursor Kite!
Fall is here and you know what that means: kite season. I don't actually know if that's true or not, but I'm saying it is. And this is a kite that looks like a cursor. Most importantly, do you see that chick? I'd click it.
Cursor Kite for the geekiest [slipperybrick]
Thanks to high-flying Azghul, who Benjamin Franklin totally stole that key on a kite thing from.
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 "
Mar 7 2008 World's Largest Air Vortex Cannon Blows Out Birthday Candles From 180 Feet
Erbert and Gerbert, the delicious sandwich making company, decided to celebrate their 20th birthday in the most traditional way possible -- by building the world's largest air vortex cannon to blow out birthday candles from 180 feet. They even use a smoke machine in conjunction with the cannon so you can see the awesome rings as they travel. Certainly seems way cooler than the way I spent my last birthday. I thought everyone had forgotten about it, and so I went out the bars and got tyrannosaurus wrecked by myself. But when I came home all my friends and family where there! Awesome right? Wrong. It was an intervention.
Worthwhile video of the cannon in action after the jump.
Continue Reading " World's Largest Air Vortex Cannon Blows Out Birthday Candles From 180 Feet "
Feb 25 2008 Wind Turbine Can't Handle The Storm, Goes Out With Flying Blades Of Fury
I'm from the school where you'd think more wind for a wind turbine would just mean more energy. Well, as this video proves, that is not always the case. Storm winds for this turbine spelled awesome disaster (although they spelled it awsum disastur, storm winds can't really spell) and a chance for super-sweet slow-motion replays. Poor turbine, just out there trying to produce some green energy, and next thing you know "BA-DOOOSH!" it's in a million pieces and generating no energy whatsoever. Sad, but fun to watch -- like a narcoleptic wiener dog (video of him after the jump).
UPDATE: Narcoleptic wiener dog video updated to much cooler one, thanks to Super Frank, my brother.
Continue Reading " Wind Turbine Can't Handle The Storm, Goes Out With Flying Blades Of Fury "
Feb 15 2008 Fan Art Exhitbit Blows, Literally. HAHA AH!
Don't worry, I punched myself in the groin for the post title. Scott Snibble's exihbit Blow Up is a neat little POA (piece of art). Basically a person sits at the table and blows into the small fans. Then the large fans across the room replicate the user's breathing patterns. That pattern will be played in a loop until somebody else makes a different one. While certainly cool (!) it's not nearly as awesome as my Punch Up art exhibit. Basically a regular person punches a punching bag, and then a giant amplifies that punch and applies it to your face. It was a huge hit (!) until my giant ran away.
Another picture and a video of the art in action after the jump.
Continue Reading " Fan Art Exhitbit Blows, Literally. HAHA AH! "
Dec 14 2007 Interactive Cooling Fan Art Exhibit Is Neat
Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde has created a piece of art that would give the guy responsible for this thing a raging boner. The piece is entitled Flow 5.0.
Flow 5.0 is an interactive landscape made out of hundreds of fans which reacts to your sound and motion. By walking and interacting the visitor creates an illusive landscape of transparencies and artificial wind.
Basically the fans adjust their direction and speed based on your movements around them, making for a very cool experience (!). It's on display until January 3rd in Ljubljana, Slovenia at the Kapelica Gallery. If anyone goes or has seen it, feel free to let us know how it is. I won't be able to make it, so I'll just have to settle for my own fan art, which are pictures of me that my adoring fans have sent in. Like this one, from Shirley Stevenson, age 8, of Dayton, OH. It's a crayon picture of she and I hanging out on the playground. Very well done Shirley, but from the look of your drawing, you could afford to lose some weight. Get to the gym and draw me another picture in 10 years, when you're not such a little piglet.
Two more pictures and a cool (!, I did it again) video after the breeze.
Continue Reading " Interactive Cooling Fan Art Exhibit Is Neat "
