Eclectic junk from the four corners of the ‘Net. And pictures too!
1st Ave Machine is a CGI VFX group from New York that specializes in high end design work that looks, well cool.
This is a video that looks at a strange future where hybrid creatures linve in nature. I like the snails the best I think…
Sixes Last Video
Main site for 1st Ave Machine
I just witnessed an amazing sight! I looked to the west and and saw the unburned exhaust of a Minotaur rocket launching from Vandenberg AFB. Now, I’ve seen these before and I still get stunned when I see them, but this time was even better. I got to see the actual vehicle during it’s burn! The photo snapped by Uncle Jerry shows a bright object in the right hand side of the frame, that’s the exhaust plume. At first I thought it was a helicopter flying through a cloud but that didn’t make any sense as it was clear out. Then I realized that it must be the rocket making its ascent. How darn cool is that! Well anyway, I have thrown together a few links about the event.
This is some info on the Minotaur Space Launch System, some info on the Vandenberg Dusk Launch today, and here is some info on how you can keep up with them from Space Archive. If your in the southwest you should have a look here, its the how to on viewing Vandenberg AFB Launches.
And another taken from Kingman Az.
The ocean is a potential source of low cost renewable energy that needs to be explored in the near future. The University of Manchester has a machine called the Bobber, that it hopes will tap into the limitless potential of what covers 3/4 of out planet. Nothing like tapping the energy of the waves to solve the energy crunch.
On a hacking note, I think these work about the same way that those magnetic coil flashlights do. The waves cause a float with a magnet in it to move in and out of a coil (solenoid) and you get electrical power. That’s a pretty simple explanation but it should give you a good idea on how it works. The only big difference, and what makes it an improvement, is that there is a clutch system that converts the wave motion into a single direction and then goes into the generator.
“…The Bobber’s output of 5MW is the mean power output, with the potential for much more depending on sea conditions.”
Pretty good for just chilling in the North Sea…
You have to read the tech specs on this monster! Here’s a sample:
What makes the Dolmette unique in engineering terms is its 24-cylinder 2-stroke power plant. Nothing quite like it has been seen before. The combined power of 24 DOLMAR chainsaw engines is fed into to a 5-speed Harley-Davidson transmission by a series of twelve toothed belts.
These are… odd…
I quote:
Weird Foreign Guy cards are 5″ x 5″ printed on glossy, varnished paper and come with matching white envelopes.
There, you now have a gift for they guy with everything.
Have too many coasters? Need a way to pitch CDs at people? Just want to have some fun around the office? The ‘FlyaDISC’ is for you!
It’s a plastic ring that you pop around a normal CD (VCD, DVD, whatever) that adds a bit of mass a a soft bumper that can be thrown into crowds of your adoring fans (or any old riot that you happen to come across). They look cool, now aI have another reason to attend trade shows, I want a few of these.