All Entries in the "Latest" Category
Brodmann Blades Turns The Ping Pong Paddle Into A Glove
Sure, it’s not the kind of sport that earns you multi-million dollar pro contracts and a bevy of groupies knocking at your hotel door, but ping pong’s a fun game all the same. There’s word on the street that the game is back with a vengeance, though, so you may want to look at improving your table tennis prowess.
The easiest way to trash your opponents? If you’re good at pissing people off, I suggest teasing them that their life will continue to amount to nothing even if they win. Barring that, you can arm yourself with the Brodmann Blades, a new ping pong paddle that wears on your hand like a glove.
Hailed (by the manufacturer, most likely) as the first major innovation in table tennis in a long time, the Blades could make table tennis just a tad more exciting. Since the hand-worn paddle facilitates improved ergonomics, heightened comfort and [...]
Snake With Clawed Foot Found In China, The Horror!
It looks like China, with all the ridiculous pollution from its many factories, will be the site of future mutants. Want proof? Check out that freaky-looking snake that somehow managed to grow a limb – a single foot with claws!
Recovered in Southwest China by 66-year old Duan Qiongxiu, the snake was said to be clinging to a wall in her bedroom using its bird-like talons one night. Out of fear and surprise, she grabbed a shoe and pummeled it to death. Realizing the uniqueness of the creature she just killed, she threw it in a jar of alcohol to preserve.
According to reports, the snake measures 16 inches long and is as thick as a little finger. It supposedly looks like a regular snake, with nothing but the astray clawed foot to differentiate it from its brood. The Life Sciences Department at the West Normal University in Nanchang, China now has [...]
Fashion Recycling: Starter Jackets Converted Into Unique Finisher Bags
Say you’ve got a couple closets full of vintage starter jackets. I’m not sure what the market for that is, but I guess it’s not too lucrative. After all, the No Mas team was compulsively collecting them with no idea what they will do with the stockpile. That is, until Dee & Ricky saw the heap and suggested recycling the set.
The result is a very impressive new line of starter jackets sewn into something entirely new: mini-duffles that go by the name of Finisher Bags. Unique gym sacks you can’t find anywhere else, they’ve been fashioned using nothing but the jackets, coupled with a pair of straps.
Preserving as much of the original jacket’s patterns as they can, the short coats are creatively handsewn into very impressive designs. The bulk of the material became the Finisher’s body, with the snaps removed for repurposing as the bag’s closure. Bag ends were made [...]
Halo Sniper Rifle Replica Alarms Civilians, Police Swarm Bungie Offices
Way to go, geeks. Cops reportedly swarmed the offices of Bungie Studios yesterday afternoon, after a concerned citizen phoned in the sighting of a man toting an AK-47. When they got to the location of the erstwhile makers of Halo, it turned out to not be an AK-47 at all. Instead, it was a large sniper rifle. A stupidly excessive and ridiculously large one, in fact – the kind you build as a life-size version of what the soldiers use in the game.
The suspect, as it turned out, is a deputy editor at Bungie, who was walking around carrying a replica of the sniper rifles used in the series by the UNSC forces. It was originally built as a prop for the live action video shorts from several years ago and he was bringing it to the office for added flair as they played Halo: ODST. Yes, it was a [...]
Robotic Rodeo Held This Week, Still No Robocop
Want to see the latest in autonomous robot systems? Well, you missed your chance. The Robotic Rodeo was just held this past week, showcasing the latest in life-saving battlefield technology.
Don’t let the name mislead you. There weren’t any cowboys riding motorized bulls or android robot clowns during the show, which was a bit disappointing. There were no galloping robot horses, either – just machines that help carry out military tasks in the battlefield.
The first of its kind, the Rodeo was jointly hosted by the US Army Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and the Fort Hood III Corps in Texas beginning last Wednesday. Lines of war machines showed up for the occasion, each one toting a variety of talents and abilities, most of which were scrutinized for their potential to join the roster of the US Army’s stable of robot soldiers.
Notable robots that took the floor include R-Gator (who [...]
Life Gems: Cool Or Not, I’ll Leave It Up To You
I have yet to decide whether Life Gems are cool or just plain creepy. One look at their website and the spectacular jewelry takes your breath away. Beautiful lab created diamonds, in all colors of the rainbow, cut in all kinds of intricate shapes and mounted on rings, necklaces and bracelets.
Now make note of that phrase, lab created. It is perfectly possible to replicate real diamonds in a laboratory; GE perfected the practice way back in the 1950’s. Life Gems use a special extra ingredient though, the carbon remains of a deceased loved one.
Now on one hand, this is very nice. A lasting memorial of your eternal bond (or that’s what the Life Gems website says anyway) and for those who want a memento of a lost loved one it may indeed be a great comfort. Life Gems will even work with the cremains of a cherished pet. On the [...]
Capital Fringe Festival – Washington DC
There are 84 ‘fringe festivals’ held annually, around 20 of which take place in the USA. Capital Fringe takes place, well, in the capital. Make sense, I suppose! This year’s festival will be held in 11 different locations around Washington DC over 17 days and will comprise of some spectacularly creative and outlandish, eccentric events.
There will be one act plays, musical performances, stand up comedy shows, poetry, dance, improvisation, clowns, mime, jazz, hip-hop and then a whole other category of performance that is so off the wall that they’re referring to it as ‘unclassified’.
All the festival venues are in downtown Washington DC this year and the performers and artists are local, national and international. This is not a free event, with tickets starting at $15. And if you do not already have a ‘fringe button’ (which it is mandatory to wear at ANY fringe venue or event) you must buy [...]
Concerts in the Park – Sacramento
Entertainment in summer 2009 promises to be cheap and easy in Sacramento. No, that isn’t an offensive sexual innuendo. It is in fact a genuine observation. In an initiative that began on at the beginning of summer and will end on August 14th 2009, every Friday will see cost free concerts held outdoors in California’s state capital.
The event is somewhat unoriginally called, ‘Friday Night Concerts in the Park,’ and is an idea that has been brought to fruition by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. The concerts will each feature a headlining artist plus a couple of different supporting artists or groups and will run from 5pm until 9pm every single Friday until mid-August. The venue is Cesar Chavez Plaza.
The schedule has already kicked off, but don’t worry if you have yet to catch one. There are still few Fridays ahead. Headliners yet to perform include Kate Gaffney, The Snobs, Baby Grand, [...]
Bandai Micro Water Pets: Creepy Robot Tamagotchis That Swim
Want a toy that you can drop in the toilet to make whoever looks down there scream in horror? The same guys that brought us classic virtual pets like the Tamagotchi and Digimon just came out with a new set of critters and they swim like creatures of the sea. Released under the Micro Pets line, they bring the perfect dose of cute and creepy, along with some nifty underwater talents.
Designed to look cute in a strange-sea-creature sort of way, the toys are made from ABS plastic, with thin strips of tentacles. There are three water creatures to choose from – a white jellyfish, a blue squid and a red octopus. Of course, they all look the same, save for the different set of eyes (along with a special nose for the octopus). Intended for placement in water bottles, the critters will swim up and down all on their own, [...]
Look Like Your Favorite Action Hero With ‘Ardman Vests
Still wearing the same plain old wifebeaters? Add a little flair to your everyday style with ‘Ardman Vests, which dons your sleveless tees the same way they looked back in your favorite action movies.
Remember Bruce Willis in the original “Die Hard” with a gun holster and an NYPD badge around his neck, all while dressed in the fashion classic? How about John Rambo (nee Sly Stallone) with that never-depleting bullet sash as he pranced around in his sleveless whites from “First Blood”? Perhaps you still have an image of Bruce Lee wearing that white vest, replete with claw marks from “Enter The Dragon”?
‘Ardman shirts, which sport those unforgettable looks, all rock 100% white cotton – the way wifebeaters are supposed to be. Sadly, they ome in only one size, which means the puny among you will have to outfit themselves with the same vest that the potbellied are going to. [...]
Art Edition Makes The Split Screen Binary Watch Look Cool
Split Screen watches from 01THEONE (formerly Binary Watch) have never appealed that much to me (or anyone I know, for that matter). There’s just something lame about these edge-paneled models that don’t afford them the same wearability as the rest of their line (regardless of how geeky you consider yourself). The new Art Edition Split Screen fashion watches, however, turns the appeal of these timepieces a full 180 degrees.
While the Split Screen isn’t necessarily a bad-looking watch, the odd slab of empty metal in the middle is just plain unsightly. In the Art Edition, that blank stainless steel center panel is wisely put to good use, employed as the main canvas for the catchy Romero Britto-inspired designs that set the watches apart.
Like the rest of the company’s creations, this special run uses a binary time-telling system using colored LED lights. Each piece sports one color scheme (blue, red or [...]
Win A Millionaire’s Life For £20
Tired of your life? How about replacing it with English banker Andrew Paul’s, who lives in a £1.1 million five-bedroom abode, drives a £160,000 Aston Martin DBS and spends weekends on a £200,000 Sealine 35 Sport motor boat? That’s what you’ll get a chance of doing if you end up with the first prize on Win A New Life, a raffle that the millionaire is putting together to get his luxury belongings off the market.
For the price of a £20 ticket, you’ll be entered in a draw with 200,000 entries, the winner of which will get all of the above plus £85,000 to cover legal fees and insurance for the car and the boat. In case you’d rather not live such a lavish lifestyle, you can also opt for just £1 million in cash instead.
Recently divorced, savvy businessman Andrew Paul is hoping to get rid of the aforementioned assets because [...]
Bagel-Shaped Loop Pointer Controls Your TV Like A Wiimote
Souped-up remote controls and wireless mouse peripherals be forewarned. The bagel-shaped Loop pointer is out to take your place in HTPCs the world over and making fun of itself while doing it (check out the official site for a few more funny pictures like above).
First unveiled to a positive media response back in January of 2007, it only took Hillcrest Labs two and a half years (yep, I’m being sarcastic) to bring their “air mouse” device to the market. Surprisingly, it debuts with nary a competition in the same odd-shape category, although it’s bound to go head-to-head with other 3D mouse devices.
What it does, in a nutshell, is act as a more convenient accessory for controlling the on-screen pointer (along with other mouse-controlled actions) on PC-based home theater systems, allowing you to go through menus and options by merely flicking your wrist while holding it in your hand (it does [...]
Barbiefoot Is Cute, Pink And Creepy As Only A Barbie Foosball Table Can Be
We know you like foosball – everybody loves that game. Now, we also know you either like or hate Barbie. Throw in the two together and you get the Barbiefoot, an otherwise regular “table football” setup with one twist: the non-descript armless plastic characters have been replaced by Barbie dolls with missing upper limbs. Oh yeah, it’s pink.
If you’ve been seeing a rather discomforting upsurge in Barbie stuff the past few months, don’t be afraid. The year just happens to be the doll’s 50th anniversary on the planet, which makes it acceptable to fashion everything imaginable into having some form of tie-in with the Mattel product. In my opinion, this game table has been the best Barbie-branded contraption we’ve seen all year, the type that can make you feel delight and displeasure at the very same time.
The delightful part is obvious as it’s Barbie on an 80-year old tabletop game [...]
L@p Chair: The Laptop Lounger
Looking for a lounge chair your guests can actually work in? Try the unusually-sculptured L@p Chair, an eyecatching single-seater that comes with sweeping lines and a utilitarian desk for hoisting laptops onto.
Shaped like a quote (or maybe an apostrophe), it comes as a single unified piece, with a comfortable backrest and ample tablespace along the left hand side. It actually looks like it was based off of those classroom chairs with an attached armrest and a table. Ergonomically, it appears a tad suspicious, looking like it’s bound to give you an uncomfortable time, though I’ll reserve my judgment till I actually sit in one.
To manage the unusual shape, the L@p Chair uses a sculpted metal frame, reinforced with poly-urethane foam decked in wads of fiber to provide a firm, comfortable surface. The seats stand on a revolving base, finished in either steel satin or chrome. Rossin says it can work [...]
Pee Without Noise Stool Lets You Kneel By The Toilet For No-Sound Relief
Ever peed so loud it embarrassed you to death? Never? Yeah, same here. As such, it’s taking me a long time to wrap my head around this questionable contraption that claims to help you relieve a common bodily function quietly. Called the Pee Without Noise Stool, it’s meant to let you take a whizz without making a sound.
If they invented a toilet with volume controls, I would have jumped with glee. Not because I think it’s necessary, but a dirt-bowl with noise canceling technology is just too rad to resist. Instead, this is what we get – a kneeling stool that lets you put your pecker closer to the target.
Not that the Pee Without Noise is without its merits. For instance, it totally eliminates sprinkled toilet water and poor targeting mess, apart from letting you inch nearer to the bowl in case you need to throw up – very [...]
