Eclectic junk from the four corners of the ‘Net. And pictures too!
Almost a year ago I blogged about these little critters but at the time there was no place in the US that you could buy them. That is not the case any longer! Compact Impact is now selling them for $10 so you too can have a cute pet cactus in your pocket. Just remember to water once in a while and give it some sun, after all it is a living thing.
[via Cool Hunting]
I remember seeing this on an episode of ‘Hey, Spring of Trivia‘ not all that long ago. There is was being used by Japan Rail to wake up their conductors at the station so they wouldn’t miss their shifts. The idea is that when the alarm sounds and air bag inflates and will wake even the most sound of sleeper. When you fist see this you thing it has to be a ‘Chindogu‘, or a an invention that has no real utility. Nope, it’s a real product that you can buy for your loved one or kid that is always late for the bus.
[via Red Ferret]
Researchers have come across a method for producing a flexible braille display that uses about the same power as a cell phone. The display can be refreshed in about one second and could be used to indicate the amount of money left on a prepaid card, household appliances, or even an e-book. It uses a plastic film with organic transistors and plastic actuators that expand when triggered. So far it will display 24 characters but researchers hope to take this up to 576 in a few years. Look for this to be on the market in five or six years.
[ via we-make-money-not-art]
Looks like the problem plagued space probe Hayabusa did make it’s scheduled landing on asteroid Itokawa after all. During a communications glitch, it kind of bumped into the target a few times. Kind of like a drunk saleryman navigating through a crowded train. The probe didn’t fire the pellet that was supposed to kick up dust and secure the one gram to be returned to Earth. If the probe checks out, they might give it another more controlled try in the next few days.
Aluminium insect kits! How cool is that I ask you! These are a big step up from the wooden ones you find in hobby shops, the metal is soft (aluminium) so it can be shaped to look more natural and it has some sort of spring clip deal that might let you pose them slightly. The page says that they are made in Taiwan and as I have a friend that has family there I just might be able to get a hold on one of these sets. The metal mantis would be perfect on my desk at work.
Metal Insect Kits [ translated ]- Photo Gallery [translated]
Another Doraemon story for everyone.
"The Doraemon Shop in ShimoKitaZawa is one of those places, designers would die for to visit if they only knew it existed!
If you ever tried to find something in ShimoKita, you know how hard it is to find your way through this labyrinth of tiny back streets, which probably creates the strongest attributes of this area: adventure, discovery and surprise. In one of windy roads, slightly far from ShimoKita West Exit one can find this funky little shop all stuffed with Japanese dolls, characters, old style Japanese sweets, stickers, batches…. hundrets of boxes that are just waiting to be opened and rummaged out. This is where the Doraemon Uncle lives and he opens his little magic shop every night: from 6PM until 3AM!"
So, when in Japan make sure you take a trian to the north and visit ShimoKita. When your there make sure you see the Doraemon train too, it’s in the neighborhood.
[via core 77]