A reader posted a comment today on where one might obtain a copy of the users manual for the retro niche video camera of artists, the Fisher-Price PXL2000. Now, if your into the indy avaunt guard art movie scene you know what this is. If not it was a video camera marketed to kid that recorded a cropped blocky black and white image onto a standard audio tape. Wild eh? I’ve owned a few (I did the A/V mod on at least one thank you) and they are a blast to play with. I even removed the IR filter in hopes I could make a night vision scope for playing paintball. Eh, I was young…
Author: John
Air Wells, Dew Ponds and Fog Fences
My friend Greg sent this to me the other day. It’s a great read if your into water, which I can safely say we all are. The article is quite through on the many aspects of gathering the moisture in the air and even inducing precipitation (although I don’t think I’d bet the farm on the Orgone methods).
Air Wells, Dew Ponds and Fog Fences: Methods to Condense Atmospheric Humidity
The Rolamite
I think I’ve seen something a bit like these in tape drives and floppy drives, but then again maybe not. A Rolamite is a metal tape and a set of rollers that have some simply fascinating properties, like almost no friction and a natural tendency to store energy. A fine example of a practical use is this letter scale. I wonder if this might have a use in robotics…
[via Boing Boing]
T-Rex Super Car
Aya-carumba! This is quite the car, er, motorcycle.. Something like that. Looks to be deadly fast whatever it is.
Features a Kawasaki motor with 152 horses as power – just like some sport models on BMW motorcycles
Acceleration performance as good as a Porsche 911 Turbo S
Top speed is 150mph (approximately 225kph)
The 2 seats are adjustable, and so is the foot pedal box
[via Coolest Gadgets]
Dr. Who Sonic Screwdriver Toy
I noticed that th BBC is selling a nifty toy from the latest Doctor Who series.
Authentic replica of the Doctor’s trusty Sonic Device. Activate in closed or open mode. Pressing the button on the Slide control activates the LED and AFX. Remove the hilt cap of the Screwdriver to write secret messages in Dalek/Gallifreyan codes. Use the UV Emitter to reveal hidden coded messages from your friends…and enemies. Codebook included.
Features: Replica Sonic Screwdriver
Slide-Out Sonic Wave Emmitter
Button activated Lights and Sound FX
Hidden UV Pen in handle
UV Light in Tip
Switchable UV Pen & Black Ink Pen both included.
3 LR44 batteries required, but NOT included
It even makes noise.
BBC Shop – Doctor Who: Electronic Sonic Screwdriver (With SFX & UV writer)
CamPole – Just in Time For Christmas!
My brother sent me this today:
"So, how do you take a picture of a large family at a table and get all of them in the picture? Well, you could shoot a digital panoramic and have a long, wide image with everyone at the table, Or you could shoot from the corner and get everyone at a triangle shaped table with the people closest to the camera being washed out from the flash, or you could hover above the table where everyone is the same distance from the camera, and the table actually looks square, and nobody suffers from wide angle distortion. Difficult you say? Well not if you have the amazing, the astounding, Kitco CamPole! Yes, with the Kitco CamPole, you too can get those amazing shots from ABOVE the action! Now you too can share in a godlike perspective! Fully featured with remote air release, wireless video viewfinder, and fully automatic exposure. Buy your CamPole today! Only at authorized Kitco dealers!"
Receiver and LCD television at base of pole.
Camera head assembly. Head is at a 45 degree angle.
Shutter release. The bulb release is screwed into a nut that is brazed onto a flat washer. Whole assembly held by gaffer’s tape to camera. Bulb release pushes the shutter release button on camera. (more pictures of that soon -John)
Video camera/transmitter taped to viewfinder. The viewfinder frame is about %50 smaller than a normal 35mm camera viewfinder, so the video camera has no problem ‘seeing’ the whole frame.
Video camera/transmitter setup again.
Entire Assembly
Christmas tree pic- top down view taken from floor level.
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I’m looking forward to seeing more photos from this rig. Maybe if I prod him a bit he will add a tilt ajustment to it.