Schwippy

Magnetic Fluid Video aka Ferrofluid

If you’re like me, you’ve heard all about ferro fluid but just haven’t seen it in action. Heres a great video of it showing you its real-world properties.

For those of you that don’t know what ferro fluid is, ferro fluid is simply a fluid that is has a ferrous material embedded in it, thus making it magnetic.

Whats going on here is simple. The spiral ‘poles’ you see are connected to an electromagnet underneath and is being controlled with varying amounts of power to get the movement of the fluid.

Head on over to the link to see the project in the video.

Ferrofluid Spiral [Via Boing Boing]

How DreamWorks is Changing the World

According to DreamWorks, in the year 2009, every one of their movies will be produced in 3-D! The technology to make animated movies is nothing new, and in fact you’ve probably even seen a few 3D movies yourself. The reason that DreamWorks says 2009 is for the mere fact that the percentage of theaters that can show 3D digital movies is ub3r small in the U.S.

DreamWorks will not just be making all of their movies in 3D, but doing so exclusively. In other words, there won’t be ANY 2D versions of the films hitting the big screen. Just the DVDs. This is going to do a couple things. For one thing, its going to mean that you wont be able to find any more DreamWorks titles at the smaller movie theaters anymore. This COULD even put them out of business, unless they are able to cough up the costs to upgrade their equipment (which is going to be a pretty big cost). But on the reverse side of the spectrum, that means that all of the larger theaters (Regal, Edwards, etc) are going to upgrade every one of their theaters to hold 2 digital projectors for each screen that will show the 3D movies. Thats why its going to take 2-3 years before they start making exclusive 3D movies.

But along with the ability to display 3D movies, the digital projectors would be able to display a multitude of higher quality movies of all types (Think IMAX).

But heres the drawback… and its a pretty big one, in my opinion… you’re STILL going to have to wear some goofy glasses. Theres just no way around it… not with single screen projection anyways. The positive side of the negative side is the fact that they wont be those retro red and blue glasses… they would be the perpendicular-polarized lens kind (I honestly don’t know what they are called, i just know how they work).

This is the one thing that would keep me away from the theaters. I just don’t really think I would like having to wear uncomfortable glasses for almost 2 hours.

But this COULD be an interesting trend if you think about it. If every one of the theaters are transforming to the 3D projectors, then that means that there will be more productions in 3D that just DreamWorks’. There will actually be an available market for it. Nobody will have to be scared of making a 3D flick in fear of no theaters buying the reel due to the fact that they wouldn’t be able to use it.

If it gains even more popularity, then this will bring another kind of manufacturer into the scene…. yup, you guessed it… polarized glasses makers. You will be able to buy your own 3D glasses for the movies. You would have your own pair that you could leave at home and whenever you want to go watch a movie, you grab your nice comfy glasses that you hand picked yourself. Or hell, theres no reason why regular glasses couldn’t be perpendicularly polarized! You wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference, and they could still block out the sun on those extra bright California days. Go ahead and click the linky linky to see the press report on DreamWorks asking Bank of America for some money to do this with, haha.

DreamWorks Exclusively in 3D [Via Gizmodo]

The BrakeLok

Instead of all the other companies in the anti-theft world that try to create more and more elaborate devices to protect your car every day, Yanko Design has come up with a damn good alternative: just put on the brake!

The BrakeLok fits over your already existing hand brake and covers the button on the end. It will let you press the button still when in normal use. But, at any time, at the end of the BrakeLok is a key, which can be taken out. If the key is not in the BrakeLok, there is no way of pressing the brake release button, or even taking the BrakeLok off, essentially rendering the car immovable.

As with all theft protection devices, a good thief can get around it. And that rule applies to the BrakeLok as well, but still, adding more protection to your $1,500,000 Enzo is never going to hurt.

BrakeLok [Via Gizmodo]

Stupid 7-11

Well apparently, 7-11 has made some kind of deal with The Simpsons crew. 11 of the stores are going to be transformed into, you guessed it… the Kwik-E-Mart. All to promote The Simpsons Movie

I’ll admit it, thats gonna be pretty funny. But Ill also tell you straight out that Im not that excited about the movie. Im just as much of a Simpsons fan-freak that can recite every episode from the first 6 seasons as the next, so I think I have the right to say that the quality of The Simpsons has gone way way down over the past 5 years. But anyways, back to 7-11.

Besides just changing the name to the Kwik-E-Mart, they are going to change a few select items to coincide with the cult hit. Such as the Squishy (What flavor did you get? Blue), Buzz Cola (Twice the sugar, twice the caffeine!), and Krusty-O’s (Now with flesh-eating bacteria in every box!). Unfortunately, theres no confirmed word about offering Duff (Duff-man does not approve!).

Along with the changes, there will also be the usual store-wide sponsored ads (Think ‘MMMM… donuts’).

Seeing as how there are more than 4,700 stores nation-wide, and only 11 are getting the new clothes, unfortunately it seems that not many people will get to see the changes. The locations haven’t even been released yet.

Ya know what would be great though? If Wal*Mart started the same thing. At least if they did it, you KNOW you would finally be able to go buy yourself an authentic Li’l Bastard Clock-Tampering Kit.

Real Kwik-E-Marts [Via Boing-Boing]

Socialistic Behavior of the American Hot Dog

Original Report Date: 08/31/2004
After years of research, trial and error, and many paper towels, I have finally come to understand the nature and personality of the American Hotdog.

Although it may seem simplistic to most, the American Hotdog is a very intricate and unique breed of hotdog. It acts as a mere standalone relying on other species, such as humans to help its pollination. Although modern science has yet to explain exactly how it attracts the eye, the American Hotdog does quite a good job at luring the unsuspecting person to it with a watering mouth.

In its simple form, the American Hotdog can be quite a treat, but some carnivores (mainly the humans) like to prepare the hotdog even further. This of course, does not please the hotdog.
When the now turned predator tries to engulf the friendly hotdog in flames, perhaps next to its distant cousin the beef patty, the hotdog uses its last measures of self defense. To ward off anything it can, our friend the American Hotdog uses a method unique to its own species and none other in the world as we know it. Upon the desecration of its kind, the hotdog tends to bulge out at either or both ends and depending on the severity of the attack, can split open, or with the harshest attacks, can even perform an extremely gruesome kamikaze-like ritual and explode. This ensures that the predators will no longer desire the once friendly and delicious treat.

As the ages has advanced in time, humans have tried many times to stop the defensive actions of the American Hotdog. One of the more favored attempts involve fornicating the hotdog with a wooden stick, and then dipping the entire thing in a golden batter.

Although this may sound completely inhumane, to the hotdog, it causes little discomfort……. until a predator desires to raise the temperature of the corn-batter encased hotdog, or “reheat” it. This, yet again, causes the American Hotdog to go into its natural defense mode.

And yet again, to be frank, the American Hotdog will live on in our hearts for years to come.

As long as we keep the microwave on for under 2 minutes, that is.

-Brian Gaut

For the legophile in everybody

If youve got a thing for legos, then Its probably time you took it to the next level.

Its a 4-component sofa setup, But the interesting thing about it is the fact that you can reconfigure it in anyway you want without having to worry about everything not fitting together.

The complete set, dubbed Bekky, is made of rubber and foam (which actually sounds kinda comfy), and all pieces fit into each other, essentially making an endless amount of configuration possibilities for you to rest your rump on while you play Star Wars and drink your ice cold Bawls, you ninja, you. The 4-piece set will set you back $466. But im sure you would agree with me when I say its totally worth that just so you can match your lego wallpaper colors.

Bekky Lego Sofa Set [Via Gizmodo]

Jot that crap down!

Well, more appropriately speaking… Jot on that crap.

The website address alone is enough to make your curiosity get the best of you.

PoopooPaper.com has done the unthinkably gross and taken elephant crap and manufactured it into something useful. Great. All the paper and covers are made out of re-recycled materials.

Elephants crap a lot. Enough to make 10 books every time they do. That’s a lot of bullshit. Literally.

We can make about 25 large sheets of paper from a single piece (or turd) of elephant poo poo!!! That translates into about 10 standard sized journals including the front and back covers! Neat, huh!?!?!?

The site says that the paper doesn’t smell like anything but paper. Maybe, maybe not. But there’s always one thing that’s going to sit in the back of your mind. You’re writing on poo, dude.

PoopooPaper [Via Boingboing]

Beatbots: Mutant Dancing Peeps?

Looking at it, would you say Im full of it if I said it can totally out-dance you and most of the people you know?

The robot, Keepon, has no arms or legs, but still manages to look damn good on the dance floor.

Using its two squishy semi-spheres, it bounces, twists, turns, and stretches its way around while listening to any music it can detect a beat from. Once it detects a beat, it matches its movements to the timing of the song perfectly. It actually looks so good you would think it was preprogrammed. And not to mention its so cute it makes you wanna puke, ha.

Go to the page and play the video, making sure you watch the ‘Keepon dancing to Spoon‘ video. (Its one of 2 buttons at the bottom of the video player)

But theres still one question. If you put it in the microwave, would it do the same thing the peeps do?

BeatBots [Via Engadget]

The Invisible Bookshelf

This is definitely the most unique bookshelf ive ever seen…. or, err… haven’t seen.

Ha! The bottom book it attached to the wall. Its a super simple idea, but its just one of those awesome things that are gonna make visitors just stand there for a few minutes staring at it with a look of confusion on their faces.

Invisible Bookshelf [Via Make Magazine]

Get rid of Coinstar’s Commission

If you’ve ever walked into a supermarket within the past 10 years or so, you’ve probably seen a Coinstar change counter.

They are the devices that let you take a jar full of change, dump it all in there, get a receipt, then take that receipt up to a register and trade it in for some cold cash. So far so good, right? Well, now step in evil corporations.

According to Coinstar, they need to charge you a percentage of your cash just to be able to dump it into a machine. Last time I checked, it was free to do this in any casino in Las Vegas.

In my area, Coinstar charges you 8.5% of however much change you have. Thats not cool with me.

And apparently, it wasnt cool with other people either. It seems that Coinstar heard about the fact that they are evil, so they tried changing some things around. They now give the coin holder the option to either get cash with the percentage taken out the same way they have been, or they can choose to completely bypass that percentage commission and elect to instead receive a gift card. If you select a gift card, the machine will ask you where you want the gift card to be used at. You actually get some good choices here too. Places like iTunes online store, Amazon.com, Target, and many others.

The whole gift card idea made me have an entirely different opinion on the evil Coinstar company (Yes, I still think they are evil).

Recently I read about a way to totally confuse the Coinstar machine and pretty much combine the two methods of monetary trade. Basically what it lets you do, is get cash with no commission taken out!

YES! Best of both worlds right there.

Its a very simple way of doing it, but it makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Heres the steps of getting your cash without paying the percentage for it.

1. Start the Coinstar machine.
2. Tell it you want to trade coins for a gift card.
3. Select a gift card. It doesnt matter what one, you wont be getting it anyways.
4. Give it your hard earned couch coins.
5. Discretely go around back and unplug the telephone wire
6. Wait a few minutes while it keeps trying to dial, then finally gives up.
7. Watch it give you a receipt to bring to the register and get cash.

What we effectively did here was disable all communication the machine has with its central servers. This makes it unable to put funds into a new gift card for you.

After it decides that the connection just wont work, it gives you the cash receipt. Since you never selected that you wanted cash, it never had a chance to ask you if you agreed to the condition that it charges you a percentage!

Without your consent, the machine cant take anything out of your money.

Now go cash in that receipt and buy some baseball cards….. or whatever it is you kids are spending your money on these days.

[Via Zedomax]