If everyone in the world simultaneously made a list of the top ten most likely places for the works of Vincent van Gogh to turn up, odds are no one’s list would have included Valve’s Counter-Strike, and we would have all been wrong.
In a surreal mashup of FPS action and dreamy art, this mod thrusts would-be terrorists or counter-terrorists into the twisted mind of Vincent Van Gogh. Examples of the artist’s work can be seen on the walls, and outside, the beauty of his famous Starry Night hangs heavy in the sky.
Click to View Embedded Video Clip
Counter-Strike players may want to download this one for themselves, but just watching the video (for hours and hours) may be enough to satisfy you. The visuals are addictive.
[Nipper Maps via Offworld]
Written by alisha k. on December 3rd, 2008 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Technology and art and counter-strike and custom and fps and hacks-mods and map and post-impressionist and starry night and strange and wonderful and valve and video games and vincent van gogh.
“Houston, we have a problem.”
Eagle this is Houston, what’s poppin? Over?
“Yeah, so.. I float over to where the cooler’s supposed to be, but in it’s place there’s this…I’m looking at this machine labeled “Urine Recycler”. Over.”
Don’t tell me it’s broken again! Dammit Timmy, I thought I told you to fix the Urine Recycler on the Endeavour!
“Houston, Houston: I don’t think it’s broken.”
What? So what’s the problem?
“The concept is the problem Houston. I have a problem with the whole freaking concept behind this machine.”
Eagle we spent $154 million on the Urine Recycler –
“And I spent half of my life training to do what? Drink my own — Jeebus Houston! How much does Gatorade cost nowadays?! How much for tap water?! What is this, Jackass? Am I being Punk’d or something?”
Eagle it’s not always urine; it also recycles moisture and sweat–
“I’m crashing the ISS on your ass in 3-2-1 you sadists.”
[via Scientific American]
Written by lambert v. on November 30th, 2008 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Science and Space and Technology and astronaut and future tech and nasa and recycling and strange and wonderful and urine and water.
If you remember the NES game M.U.S.C.L.E. as one of the worst (and silliest) timewasters in all of history, then these tiny USB wrestlers are just the thing you want exercising suggestively on your desk.
In Japan, these fellows are well-known figures from the Kinnikuman manga. Elsewhere, they would probably be more recognizable if they were made of rubbery pink PVC (or NES-era pixels).
They look like flash drives, yes? No, that would be useful, and we can’t have that. Instead, these guys exist only to hump your actual USB devices into oblivion. Alternatively, if you’re looking for any excuse to put off doing anything productive while sitting at your computer, you can stage tiny, awkwardly-positioned wrestling matches.
[Geek Stuff 4 U via Boing Boing Gadgets]
Written by alisha k. on November 30th, 2008 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Accessories and Gadgets and Toys and USB and computing and hub and just plain fun and kinnikuman and muscle and nes and retro and strange and wonderful.
In what is dubbed as a “heroic computational effort”, a group of French, German and Hungarian physicists plus the supercomputer equivalent of the Avengers teamed up to verify an equation which Einstein came up with using a pen and a piece - more like three pieces- of paper.
Einstein’s formula for the equivalence of mass and energy states that anything that has mass possesses a certain amount of energy whether or not it’s at rest. Meanwhile, as mentioned in the article, particle physics says that protons and neutrons - from which atoms are made of - are made up of quarks, which are bound together by gluons. What is strange is that gluons have zero mass, while quarks account for just 5% of an atom’s mass, which leaves 95%, or practically all of it, unaccounted for. The physicists discovered that the rest of the mass is actually the energy arising out of the “movement and interaction of quarks and gluons.” In other words, mass is equivalent to energy. Which is what Einstein said. In 1905. Tsk. Ye of little faith.
So what did we learn today? That Einstein’s brain is larger than France, Germany and Hungary plus a bunch of Michael Phelps/LeBron James class of supercomputers put together. His hair was probably made up of brain cells for all we know. Yup. One smart dude.
***Crickets***
In other news, Brock Lesnar won me $8 by beating Randy Couture.
[via The Age via Slashdot]
Written by lambert on November 23rd, 2008 with no comments.
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Nope, this wild glowy sphere isn’t some sort of newfangled plasma weapon. Actually, what you’re looking at is a combination speaker/light show that’s perfect for your next big dance party.
Inside the transparent red plastic orb of the Zumreed Flash Beat is a downward-firing speaker, surrounded by a rapidly spinning pink light. As your tunes kick in, the light reacts instantaneously to the beat of the music.
And even though it’s under 9-inches tall, it’s powerful enough to fill a large room according to the product description (Caveat Emptor, of course). Just connect the speaker to your iPod or even a video game system, and you’ll have yourself a self-contained audiovisual extravaganza.
Originally available only in Japan, the guys over at Audiocubes have brought in a limited number of these for you to enjoy stateside for $189.99 each.
Written by technabob on November 17th, 2008 with no comments.
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Stuffed animal lovers, here’s a new portable audio setup that’s perfect for you - assuming that your animal of choice happens to be a faceless shiny bear, that is.
Made by Hirokawa Japan, Tuned Bear is a complete sound system for your media player, stuffed inside a teddy bear. Sound comes from a pair of stereo speakers hidden in the bear’s feet (and powered by a battery pack in his butt).
To turn on the bear, press his left ear. And to adjust the volume, simple grab the appropriately marked paw. Luckily this bear won’t rip your face off you when you squeeze his nubby appendages.
For the moment, Tuned Bears are only available in Japan (the same nation where you can also find this). If you happen to speak Japanese, you can find them over at Rakuten’s Plywood store for ¥3780 (appx. $39 USD).
I can pretty much guarantee you won’t find one of these at your local Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Written by technabob on November 17th, 2008 with no comments.
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Back in the late 1980s, a sensation swept the streets of Asia called the “Flower Rock”. The desktop gadget did one thing, and one thing only — it danced to any music that you played near it. Flower Rock 2.0 commemorates the 20th anniversary of the original Flower Rock, giving it a thoroughly modern makeover.
Takara Tomy and Sanyo put their heads together to create the Flower Rock 2.0, which takes the original concept and infuses it with a new look. Sure, the 2.0 version will dance to your tunes, but it also puts on a light show, thanks to colored LEDs in each of its leaves and petals.
Click to View Embedded Video Clip
Just plug the Flower Rock 2.0 into your iPod or other music source, and it’ll get to dancing and grooving. There’s also a built-in 1-watt amp and speaker, so you can listen to your tunes as it gets its funk on.
Click to View Embedded Video Clip
Initially available only in Japan, the guys over at Japan Trend Shop are now shipping them worldwide for $77 US each. Sure, that’s a whole lot to pay for a dancing flower that you’ll probably find annoying after a couple of hours, but I know you still want one.
[Flower Rock 2.0]
Written by technabob on November 11th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on 1980s and Gadgets and Music and Sanyo and dancing and flower and japan and led and strange and wonderful and takaratomy.
I’ve seen all sorts of musical instruments running on the iPhone, but this is the first one I’ve come across that might involve getting a little spit on your screen.
Smule’s new iPhone app, Ocarina turns your iPhone into a fully-functional musical wind instrument. This amazing little application works very much like the real deal, combining touch, tilt, gestures and human breath to create ethereal sounds which bring out your inner Zelda.
Just place your fingers over four virtual “holes” on the multi-touch screen, and blow into your iPhone’s microphone. What’s really cool about the software is that none of the sounds are pre-generated, rather they’re built in real-time based on your exact gestures and movements.
Check out the performance videos below to see and hear Ocarina in action. First, a solo:
Click to View Embedded Video Clip
Now, a full orchestra of iPhone Ocarinas playing a little Led Zeppelin:
Click to View Embedded Video Clip
As you play, you can share your performances live with other Ocarina users across the globe (and let them rate your musicianship), thanks to Smule’s Sonic Network technology. Smule has even provided a nifty online score generator which makes it easy to play just about any tune you want.
Sound cool? What are you waiting for? You can get Ocarina today over at the iTunes App Store for just 99 cents.
Written by technabob on November 7th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on App Store and Audio and Media Players and Music and iPhone and instrument and interactive and ocarina and sound and strange and wonderful and wind.
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