Modern Man Eater

Doubtless, you are wondering what is missing in your life. Perhaps you are feeling tired, confused, anxious. Your problem is that there's nothing to inspire you. You lack energy and confidence.

Well, have you ever thought about trying cannibalism to solve your problem?

The Ancients knew. Warriors regularly fed themselves upon the Organs of defeated enemies to steal their Strength and Energy. In Pre-History, Families consumed their freshly Dead Ancestors so that their Wisdom and Essence is Preserved and Carried On within the Family.

Modern Man Eater Home Page

But wait, hasn't society evolved beyond such savagery? Indeed, we have. We are not as messy as before. More than that, though, we also have technology. There is no need to feast upon the entrails of dead flesh. Rather, it is much more discreet to dry and distill human beings into vitamins, minerals, and food additives. This is much more sanitary and allows you to eat with peace of mind.

It also works. Quite a few people testify that since they started eating human beings they have become more dynamic and assertive. Perhaps this is the spice you need to add to your life.

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The Self Cleaning Litterbox Robot

This litterbox not cleans enough for four — count them — four cats. After each use, the litterbox is sifted through automatically. That means there's no more scooping. Your hands are therefore free of the trauma of kitty litter.

Take a look at how it works.

When the cat enters the globe-shaped litter chamber, a weight-activated sensor detects the presence of the animal. After seven minutes, a clean cycle starts with the slow rotation of the globe in a counter-clockwise direction. The rotation of the globe sifts and separates clumps from the clean clumping litter and deposits all waste in the large-capacity drawer, which can be lined using any standard kitchen garbage bag. The globe then returns to its home position with a clean, level bed of litter ready for the next use. Reliable and safe, the unit works without rakes or wires that could jam, clog, or break. Its simplicity and durable construction ensure long-lasting performance and easy set up--just add litter to the globe and plug it in. Moreover, the unit works with any clumping litter, and its litter chamber can be submerged for easy cleaning. The litter box measures 24 by 22 by 29 inches and carries an 18-month full warranty.

Amazon.com: Litter Robot LRII Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box, Beige: Kitchen & Housewares

Another cool feature about this robot is that he resembles R2D2. So if you always thought that Star Wars would be even more awesome if a cat every so often jumped into R2D2's faced and crapped in there, this is your drream product. I always thought kitty litter was the ingredient missing from Star Wars and what automatically made Lord of the Rings a much better series of films.

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TV-B-Gone: The Universal Remote for Turning Off Any Television

File this under "I wish I thought of that". TV-B-Gone is an idea so absolutely simple I feel a sense of shame I didn't patent the idea. All you have to do is point it at any television, and it will turn off.

This makes for a stellar prank and I remember a Mr. Steve Wozniak who invented a device similar to this. If my memory proves me correct, I recall he invented it before the advent of the universal remote (which he also pioneered too). Hide one of these puppies in your pocket and which the social chaos that happens.

They do make a good point, though, about why television shouldn't be watched.

Q. Why would one want to live without TV?

A. Because watching TV takes time, and time is precious. There are so many things to do that are fun, healthy, relaxing, and good for your social life! Some people find themselves watching TV when they don't really want to. Have you ever found yourself doing this?

TV-B-Gone is here!

Yeah, there's nothing good to watch on television. When I had more than basic cable, I really enjoyed the Comedy Network and the Discovery Channel, but now I just turn it on so I could have some noise. But I could live without it.

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Coat Hanger Bear is Happy to See You!

Ah, japan. Land of unintentional sexual innuendo. How I love that you give me a constant stream of stuff to write about. Here we have a little character I'd like to affectionately call Coat Hanger Bear.

And he is very happy to see you. Very very happy. You see, Coat Hanger Bear has a smile, his arms are extended for a friendly embrace, and — as I don't have to strongly point out — his hooks are strongly positioned. What better way for a friendly animal pal to help you with your coat.

This product features some brand new technology by 3M, by the way. It's got a re-usable Command adhesive so that you can use it over and over and over again. Just like the little slut that it is.

Via Texyt

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Creating a Mouse Out of a Mouse

A little birdie by the name of Amanda sent me this howto of how to turn a mouse into a computer mouse. That's not a manufactured toy mouse. That's a veritable, 100% deceased mouse that has been turned into a computer mouse with a USB plugin — complete with a working scroll wheel and optical sensor! Rightfully so, it has been dubbed the "mouse mouse".

It's nice to see taxidermy put to new and exciting uses. As you probably know, bear rugs are so passe, and tigers are too rare. Mice, though, are easy to come by and have very short life spans. In short, they are the perfect candidate for stuffing and you can make them into lots of other things besides mice. I'm thinking wallets, cameras, and MP3 players.

To give you a personal anecdote, there's a huge mouse infestation at my job. Today, a mouse crawled into a coworker's purse in order to eat a cookie she had in there. Suffice it to say, there was some high drama. Well, I think this would be the perfect scenario for a mouse mouse. The punishment for making one's way into a lady's purse should be taxidermy.

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Free Microchipping

I don't know what an Oap is, but if you are afraid of losing any old people in your life (even if they are horned), this may be the service for you. There are many advantages to microchipping old people. The first advantage I can think of is that it will force them to become more technologically oriented. Even if they don't learn how to use a mouse, at least they'll be useable with a GPS system.

The other advantage, thankfully, is that after they pass on, the microchips will activate the pituitary gland making their undead bodies controllable through a remote device. What this in effect means is that our old people will then be able to defend our borders &mdash without loss of life. That is, if everything goes as planned.

Hence, there are no drawbacks to microchipping our old people. Plans should start immediately.

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Beautiful Robotic Insects

I think there is a time when we must move away from the technology of simple "gee whiz" consumerism, and this would be it. There is a time when you must step back and know that what you are viewing is art. What this essentially means is that laboratories are not just built to move along the progress of humanity but to also etch into our psyches some aspect of permanence.

And what better way to create permanence than through the means of antique watch parts? Well, let's walk into the world of Mike Libby.

Insect Lab is an artist operated studio that customizes real insects with antique watch parts and electronic components. Offering a variety of specimens that come in many shapes, sizes and colors; each specimen is individually designed and hand- assembled, each is one of a kind and unique.

Mike Libby - Insect Lab

Mike Libby goes beyond simple construction of insects and you can tell he put a lot of care about the beauty of his works. This isn't about simple modelling. This is about the appreciation of insects as a life form. he does an incredible job of it and each insect in his collection is rendered with as much craftsmanship as the next.

After looking through Mr. Libby's robotic insects, I'm sure you'll fall in love.

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Physicists on Stamps From Around the World

I thought I'd start off with an obvious one. This one is obvious an Einstein stamp made in the British Virgin Islands in 2001. A handsome, younger Einstein was one I decided to showcase rather than the older post-WWII Einstein sometimes writing on chalkboards or sticking out his tongue. Einstein, of course, is one of the more popular physicists shown on stamps. He is shown from such diverse places as Zaire, Monaco, Zaire. The good old USA also throws their hat in the ring.

But what about other physicists? I thought I'd share with you five more of my favourites that have been immortalized through postage.

Nicholas Copernicas (1473-1543), USSR, 1975


Julius Robert Oppenheimer (1904-1967), Belgium, 2001


Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), France, 1962


Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922), Israel, 1997


Hideki Yukawa (1907-1981), Japan, 2000

Source: Physicists on Stamps

A Photographic History of the Light Bulb

Catherine Warner has amassed a huge collection of light bulbs throughout history:

While in residence at the Baltimore Museum of Industry during the last two years, Catherine Wagner was given access to their 50,000+ collection of historic light bulbs, one of the premier collections of vintage and antique light bulbs in the United States, with lights dating from the early 19th century. The resulting series of photographs titled A Narrative History of the Light Bulb embodies both sculptural installation and photography. Wagner creates arrangements of bulbs that she then photographs with an 8 by 10 view camera in order to record the glass enclosures and the delicate filaments in stunning detail.

Stephen Wirtz Gallery

For your enjoyment, I've posted a few more of these light bulb pictures.

Carbon Lamps, pre 1900


Utopia

Energy Efficient Experiment, 1980's

Green Energy

Magnesium Flash

In 1920, the First Music Download Service Was Created

It was called the Acoustograph. To say it was ahead of its time is an understatement. It had features one would recognize as prophetic. Music was sent over wire (telegraph to be exact). Multiple songs could be stored — up to three. Every month, new compositions could be downloaded.

From what I ascertain, one could request a new song through morse code. Then an operator would send back morse that would in turn puncture a paper roll. In this respect, it was quite similar to a player piano. If you wanted to listen to a different song, you would press down on one of the buttons on the top of the Acoustograph.

It was brilliant technology for its time. So why did it disappear into obscurity? There were a couple factors, I believe. The phonograph disc was more durable than paper and hence was seen as more permanent. There were less telegraphs to be found in the common home than telephones (for obvious reasons). Finally, buying a record outright for a one time fee was more satisfactory to the average consumer than paying monthly for a new song.

So while the Acoustograph was the precursor to iTunes, the RIAA should take take note. Customers would rather buy music they see as permanent. iTunes will be successful only inasmuch as customers feel it can be used on multiple devices. And while Apple has instituted FairPlay, they still made each song burnable to a CD. This is an important point. Customers don't want songs that are usable only on one device and unusable after a few listens (Zune, I'm looking at you).

To see more pictures of the Acoustograph, and watch an old commercial, took a look at the Museum of Lost Interactions page on it.

A Device That Creates Music Out of Noise

An completely innovative invention is rare. A student out of MIT has come up with one such device. The Ambient Addition, as the video explains, is a device that not only changes the way you listen to music, but how you look at the world. It is completely interactive and it is insanely creative. Noah Vawter further explains the purpose behind his invention and how it works:

Ambient Addition is a Walkman with binaural microphones. A tiny Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chip analyzes the microphone's sound and superimposes a layer of harmony and rhythm on top of the listener's world. In the new context, some surprising behaviors take place. Listeners tend to play with objects around them, sing to themselves, and wander toward tempting sound sources. With Ambient Addition, I'm hoping to make people think twice about the sounds they initiate as well as loosen up some inhibitions.

Noah Vawter: Ambient Ambition

Ever since Brian Eno, ambient music has grown in popularity with each coming year. However, it has long been considered "background" music. What this device aims to do is systematically make you interact with each ambient sound your come across. Music, thus, is simply not something to passively listen to. In a sense, one is altering the Walkmen into a musical instrument. This is similar to what hip hop did to the turn table.

Now, I cannot wait till this device is mass produced. I'm not even sure if mass production is planned, but one thing is true: I want one. Hence, I believe it is the duty of every man, woman, and child who reads this blog to contact Mr. Vawter and tell him that there is a market for him.

Oh, and if you are interested in the further logistics of the Ambient Addition, you can read Mr. Vawter's thesis. Mayybe if you are more mechanically inclined than I am you can figure out how to build one yourself.