Author: John

Micro Maxx Paper Rockets!

A few years ago I messed around with those super small rockets called Micro Maxx from Quest. They were ok, but the low altitude (25 foot) flights didn’t make much of an impression on me. However, some people have gone farther than launching them in their back yards and have decided to build their own. Some of the designs are pretty darn cool.

Bic Pen Rocket

Quest Micro Maxx fan site

Micro Maxx paper kits, print them out!

FlisKits – Micro Maxx kits 

If your looking for an easy and fun project for the weekend and your not in an area that has large fields (like a crowded city) this is perfect fo you. I’m going to pick up some parts and start building some.

 

An Archive of Canned Coffee

BOSS Coffee

One of my favorite things about Japan was the canned coffee. Not only could you find it in a vending machine every few meters but it’s served to you nice and hot. The perfect thing on a chilly night walking around Yokohama.

Canned coffee is more than a drink. It’s a whole fidgety, jacked-up subculture that bonds young punks, middle-aged office workers, fatigued students and even old guys in polo shirts. Enter the world, join the addiction and shop for caffeine-inspired art that would make Balzac proud.

 This site reviews many of the flavors that you can find on the streets. Some are good, some are.. well, unique… Read on…

Canned Coffee – Can Archives

Astronomical Toilet Paper

Astro TP

 

 

 

In an attempt to make astronomy more popular, a Japanese company has come out with toilet paper that is printed with astronomical information. So far you can get either ‘The life of a star’ or ‘Beyond the zodiac’. ‘The life of a star’ tells the story of solar evolution, from a molecular cloud up to a planetary nebula. A translation can be found here. The second set, ‘Beyond the zodiac’, as they say, "… we represent the signs of zodiac and some astronomical objects toward these constellations. You can feel the depth of the universe with this ATP." I’d hope that you would feel the softness of the paper and not the universe but that’s another story.
As a teaching tool it will probably go a long way in increasing the awareness of astronomy among those who read while doing their business.

[via Ektopia] 

Astronomical Toilet Paper