Thursday, July 31, 2003
This one quite startled me; a crow, when confronted with food that is out of reach down a pipe, bends a piece of wire into a hook and uses that to retrieve the food. There is a small (1.3Mb) quicktime movie of the bird doing this, and it really is worth the download. Charlie the parrot is coming to stay again next week, and I find myself wondering what might happen if I show him a sketch of the shelves I want on the wall behind my desk then let him loose on my toolbox . . .
posted by Mark 3:33 AM
Everyone likes playing with kittens, right? Thanks to the wonders of the interweb you don't even need a real kitten anymore! This little cutie kept me amused for hours.
posted by Mark 3:21 AM
Aha! Finally, my dream is close to coming true . . .
From the very first time I ever watched Steven Spielberg's film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, I wanted the wrinkly little bastard's head on a stick. Now all I need is a loan for $4000 and a stick.
posted by Mark 2:52 AM
Monday, July 28, 2003
Over at Critical Mess Dan Miner is collecting the most scathing quotes around from film critics and mixing 'em all up with the film's original poster. Very funny stuff indeed; and it has the extra benefit of steering you clear of some really terrible films. Have a giggle and save money, all at once. Bravo that man.
posted by Mark 4:42 PM
Saturday, July 26, 2003
Electric cars; heavy, inconvenient and hugely expensive, yes? Commuter Cars have come up with the Tango, which is none of those three. This little honey can do 0-60 in under 4 seconds and has a top speed of 130mph, and is rather cute. Unfortunately, it is still hugely expensive (for the moment) but if nothing else it's contributing towards the ever-growing momentum of zero-emission car culture. Maybe one day we really will be able to drive with a clear conscience... Oh, and there is an interesting article about the car and it's designers here.
posted by Mark 1:16 PM
I have no idea why or how a site like this one might come about (the japanese text makes it tricky to even guess) but who cares! A gallery of wide-angle puppy photographs is an idea who's time has come.
posted by Mark 1:43 AM
Just imagine the looks on your neighbors faces when you rumble into the midst of their barbecue in a 1/5 Scale Sherman Tank and paste the beer cooler with your 37mm potato cannon.
posted by Mark 1:38 AM
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
Newseum is an organisation dedicated to the history of news, and among their many interesting exhibits is another of those delightful "couldn't do it without the internet" projects - they have the current front-pages of a whopping 245 newspapers from all over the world available for your browsing pleasure. The images are available in a couple of decent sizes, and all the papers are updated every morning! A marvellous idea, one that for an info junkie like me is another Instant Classic.
posted by Mark 6:17 AM
File this one under pointless but fascinating - a real-time hand drawn clock.
[You'll need a Flash Player installed]
posted by Mark 5:56 AM
Had a bad day? Boss getting on your nerves? For some good old-fashioned 21st century revenge, why not try a bit of Digital Voodoo to get it all off your chest? Go on, curse all your friends, relatives, and co-workers. You know you want to, and I promise you'll feel better afterwards. No, really, you will.
posted by Mark 5:53 AM
If you have a lot of tools sitting about doing nothing, how about attempting to make your own wooden clocks? These mechanisms are beautiful, and the plans are free, but I can't quite see me making one somehow. Still, I'm sure you're a lot more intrepid than I am; it can't be that hard, can it?
posted by Mark 5:27 AM