Aliens vs. a galaxy far, far away
I have no idea what’s going on here I just know I would pay real money to see this on the IMAX.
Manage your projects Mythbusters style
Adam Savage has an interesting piece over at Wired explaining how he manages his projects. It made me happy to see that I use a pretty similar system.
Eventually I’ll create a folder called Adam’s Progress. As I chug along, I take photos with my phone and drop them into this folder for a quick reference of how far I’ve come. These images provide inspiration and momentum. A list of what I’ve already done makes the list of what’s left to do a bit more manageable. And when I’m finished, this folder will be my diary of the entire project. It’s something I’ll keep forever.
Lists help me organize the entire project; from sequencing tasks within the project, to getting materials, to tracking progress. I recently I realized I need enact some media discipline; I can’t have notes in note books, on scrap paper, and in computer files. So I end up emailing myself notes pretty frequently, that way Google owns my ideas they are always saved in my searchable email box.
Do, Fight, Guides, Make » No Comments
Forge yourself a real, working Tesla cannon
Real-world mad science at the Hazard Factory (img by Rob/Hacker Friendly)
The Tesla Gun is a hand-held, battery powered lightning machine. It is a spark gap Tesla coil powered by an 18V drill battery. You pull the trigger, and lightning comes out the front.
I’ve given a few talks about how this project came to be, and it’s a bit of a long story. I could not possibly have built it without the help and expertise of Seattle’s many hackerspaces. Take a look at the basic components, and you’ll see what I mean.
Yeah, I see what he means. He means you need a damn fine, extraordinarily professional garmenter with laser-focused attention to detail when it comes to Faraday underpants.
Actually, I really do wonder how they managed to operate this thing safely. They don’t say. And that doesn’t stop them from shooting their lightning launcher. (more…)
Do, Features, Gear, Guides, Make » No Comments
Use a USB accelerometer to analyze your shooting technique
Over at Hack-a-Day
they’re showing off a gun-mounted accelerometer that logs the movement of the firearm as you handle it. This data can be used to monitor and analyze your shooting technique so you can work out any flaws.And here are some headlines:
- House OKs use of force as Iran option @al Jazeera
- North Korea executes three people found guilty of cannibalism @the Telegraph
- Army’s “Magic Bullet” Will Hang Out in Midair, But Won’t Kill You @Wired
- Religious people are less motivated by compassion than non-believers @Medical Xpress
- In Second Occupy Wall Street Protest Trial, Police Claims Again Rejected @the Village Voice
- Sick From Fracking? Doctors, Patients Seek Answers @NPR.org
- Our real first gay president @Salon.com
Gear, Guides, Know, Make » No Comments
Induction heater = small electric forge
This will never fit in my apartment. (img by tmib_seattle)
My dreams of axe-making are coming closer to fruition… Well, sort of. I’m still not sure I can forge metal in my apartment without anyone noticing.
Still, though, there’s a really cool project on Hack a Day for building a small induction heater so you can do away with pesky charcoal.
If you’ve ever wanted to forge, cast, or smelt metal, this project is right up your alley. It’s a 30 kVA induction heater built by [bwang] over on Instructables. It gets hot enough to melt and forge steel, iron, and aluminum.
Check it out, and let me know if you’ve got garage space near Seattle…
Logic – an animated primer
I think this is cool and informative. You trust my opinion. Therefore, you should watch these great videos illustrating basics of logical thinking. Then you should show them to everyone you know.
What? You don’t trust my opinion? See that cat up there? Your argument is invalid.
It’s like Zero Punctuation but with more punctuation and about important stuff. Watch the rest after the jump. (more…)
