Category: Science & Technology

Japanese “Star Wars” Lightsaber USB ThumbDrive

from ThinkGeek:

Star Wars Lightsaber USB ThumbDrive
The choice of chibiform droids and Jawa Jedis. Use the Force… to store data!

Save $10, Fight the OS War
Vote for your favorite computer giant with these $5 off $25 or $10 off $40 coupon codes: IMAPC to vote for PC birthday boy Michael Dell (2/23/65), IMAMAC to vote for Apple’s Steve Jobs (2/24/55), and even though his birthday isn’t until December, TUXFTW is a vote for Linus Torvalds. Pledge your allegiance to the man you love best!

Find more What’s New items at ThinkGeek!

Favorite Toys Make a Better You!

from Milky Way and the Galaxy Girls:

We all have a favorite toy. Whether still in our possession or one we remember fondly, a favorite toy will always have a special place in our hearts. We develop a very personal relationship with these toys and, according to MIT psychologist Sherry Turkle, these objects do have an impact on the kind of person we will eventually become.

Click on this link to find out how a plush My Little Pony doll helped little Christine Alvarado develop math skills that would help her later in life as a computer scientist.

Over and Out!

Mother Earth (Lauren Faust)

iBoo

iBoo

Boo! Scared you. Leave behind the ordinary iPod docks with this supernatural speaker system, boasting 15 spooky watts of sound and a universal iPod dock. Play and charge most docking iPods, enjoy the use of external audio devices with a 3.5-mm auxiliary input, and revel in room-filling music in a small package. Available in red, white, and blue, the iBoo is a great way to enjoy your iPod in any room.

Great Design
Enjoy both form and function with this audio player and fun decorative piece. The distinctive smiley mouth acts as sensor for receiving remote control commands, and the eyes are two speakers (mid- and high-range). The subwoofer is hidden below for downward firing. The included rubberized feet prevent rattling while the subwoofer is powered.

On-Board Navigation
Patented humanized touch volume control and music navigation appear on the ghost’s “head” for convenient control.

High-Quality Sound
Three speakers, a built-in subwoofer, and 15 watts of overall power mean you get full sound in a small, spooky package.

Extensive Compatibility
Play and charge most docking iPod models with the included dock inserts, or use the standard auxiliary 3.5-mm input jack to amplify most portable and non-portable audio players, from the iPod shuffle to gaming consoles, mobile gaming devices, cellular phones, televisions, desktop PCs, laptops, and more.

Environmentally Friendly
As a green and RoHS product, the iBoo efficiently utilizes minimal energy and is designed using environmentally friendly components and non-hazardous materials.

Remote Control
The included remote boasts audio controls as well as iPod menu functionality.

Warranty
The one-year manufacturer’s warranty gives you added peace of mind.

What’s in the Box
Speakal iBoo, remote control, AC adapter, 3.5-mm auxiliary cable, dock adapters.

Order now at Amazon.com:
Speakal iBoo 2.1 Stereo iPod Docking Station with 3 Speakers (White)
Speakal iBoo 2.1 Stereo iPod Docking Station with 3 Speakers (Blue)
Speakal iBoo 2.1 Stereo iPod Docking Station with 3 Speakers (Red)

Or order directly through the Speakal/Lanchiya Technology website.

Make Your Own Digital Mix Tape

from Rhino Entertainment:

Remember when love was as simple as a tape full of slow jams and a six-pack? The long lost days of making a mix for your baby are back again and they’ve been upgraded. Pick up our groovy cassette* USB in black, blue, purple or pink, and we’ll help you fill it up with 20% off your choice of our digital collection**.

*Free Ground Shipping offer valid through 11:59pm, February 10, 2010 for U.S. Addresses only. **20% off Digital Tracks valid only in the same cart and purchase as the USB Cassette. You must add your digital tracks to the same cart and purchase as the USB Cassette to receive the discount, which is automatic at checkout. Rhino reserves the right to extend, modify, or discontinue these offers any time without notice.

Dr. Romanelli X Hello Kitty “Anatomy” Figures

from Mimoco:

We’re happy to announce the latest and greatest addition to Stuff We Like!

Dr. Romanelli has gotten together with Sanrio for a special collaboration produced by MEDICOM TOY. The inspiration for the collection stems from the good doctor’s fascination with medical science.

Also… don’t forget about our very own Hello Kitty X MIMOBOT series — available in 5 styles!

12X Blu-Ray “Star Trek” Phaser — Featured on HacknMod.com

320mA’s – 465mW’s…

Star Trek Phaser Mod Tutorial by jayrob

Heatsink and other parts available here.

Diode source: Pioneer BDR-205 12X writer. (405nm)

Hack N Mod article (tutorial): “DIY Laser Build: 12X Blu-ray Star Trek Phaser!”

See Also: 140mW Green Star Trek Phaser — Balloon Pop

Merry Christmas from your friends at Weta!

from Weta:

What a year we’ve had!

District 9, Avatar, Under the Mountain and The Lovely Bones all saw the flicker of projector lights in 2009.

A new website. We can’t thank you enough for making this a success and for being so patient with us while we iron out the kinks.

Weta started design on The Hobbit and welcomed Guillermo del Toro, John Howe, Alan Lee and many other old friends back in the workshop.

A new forum, run so professionally and enthusiastically by Charles and our great friends at the Shadow and Flame.

Greg Broadmore wrote and published his second book, VICTORY!

The Weta Cave will at the end of the year have seen over 100,000 visitors.

Reepicheep and the other Prince Caspian statues saw the light of day.

The Exceptional Exhibition reached Chengdu and helped support Sichuan Earthquake victims.

We returned to Middle-earth with a bang. Peter Lyon swords, environments, Gollum.

Weta’s Mermaid Tail sparked imagination all over the world.

The WotWots took the world’s pre-school children by storm.

Dr. Grordbort’s travelled to Oamaru.

John Howe chose Weta to sculpt and release his Middle-earth sculpture range.

Grorbort Industries released 3 miniatures, one light-weight, one NEW full size gun (today) and 13 one-of-a-kind custom rayguns. And the first Venusian insect specimen! Today!

Our Doctor Who statues and helmets arrived in the warehouses and have been enjoyed by fans the world over.

To summarise — We have all had a blast and we’re looking forward to 2010 like you wouldn’t believe. There will be exciting announcements, new licenses, new products and much much more! Until then, we will be taking a break. There will be people here for urgent queries and web orders, but please bear with us for the next few weeks.

Season’s Greetings from the Weta team

Anna, Susan, Darren, Tim, Magnus, Greg, Dave, Daniel, Steve, Carlos, Emily, Sophie and Mark + Richard and the whole crew at Weta Workshop!

Eugene Roddenberry, Jr. Dares San Diego to the “$100,000 Challenge for the Oceans”

from San Diego Oceans Foundation:

The “$100,000 Challenge for the Oceans” is the San Diego Oceans Foundation’s (SDOF) holiday fundraiser, initiated by major donor Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, Jr. Roddenberry is motivating his neighbors to support this local charity during this difficult economic climate with a donation matching system. By the end of the year, he is seeking 500 people to contribute $20 each, which he will match dollar for dollar, resulting in a $10,000 contribution. He is also challenging environmentally conscious companies to show their support by matching this $10,000 donation. With the commitment of nine corporations and 500 residents, the San Diego Oceans Foundation can succeed in reaching their $100,000 Challenge.

Son of Gene Roddenberry, who created the Star Trek television and film series, Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, Jr. is a passionate advocate for the oceans. Roddenberry has even started his own Roddenberry Dive Team (roddenberrydiveteam.com) in an effort to share his appreciation of our oceans with others. “The Roddenberry Dive Team takes the optimism inspired by my father’s philosophy and brings it to a very real and actionable place,” says Roddenberry. Roddenberry Dive Team members explore the underwater universe and attend innovative educational events aimed at understanding ocean life. Roddenberry’s love of the oceans began in college, and his philanthropy extends beyond financial contributions. He also volunteers his time with the San Diego Oceans Foundation as an Ocean in Motion Marine Science Education and Snorkeling Program volunteer.

San Diego Oceans Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded in 1984 and has built a legacy of grassroots volunteer programs that increase the understanding of marine animals, protect ecosystems, and provide solutions to environmental challenges. Through their programs, they encourage community members of all ages and backgrounds to engage in meaningful, hands-on volunteer work and help spread their message of ocean stewardship. For more information on San Diego Oceans Foundation visit sdoceans.org.

Geeky Goodness, Gadgets and Great Gift Ideas

Trying to figure out what the perfect gift will be for your favorite geek? Check out some of these awesome gift ideas.

Electronic Gadgets:

The Kindle Wireless Reading Device is presently the #1 Bestselling, #1 most wished for and #1 most gifted item on Amazon.com. At just over 1/3 of an inch thick it’s thinner than most magazines and weighs less then a paperback book. With wireless 3G technology, you can download your new books digitally in under 60 seconds from anywhere in the world! It reads like real paper without a glare (even in strong sunlight) and holds up to 1,500 books at a time. With over 360,000 books now available for download, Kindle will keep any book lover happy for years to come!

This 8 GB MP4/MP3 Player from Pyrus Electronics includes an FM radio, camera, voice recorder and features a 2.8 inch touchscreen. They also have a 4 GB version and for under $10 you can get an MP3 FM Transmitter (with remote) that plugs right into your cigarette lighter and transmits your favorite MP3s to your radio. It uses an SD card so your only limit is how big the card memory is.

The Electronic Lab 130-in-One Project is a fun way to learn about electronics and study the wonders of science. This kit will give you a jump-start on a great hobby with no prior electronics knowledge needed. Project components are assembled on a built-in breadboard by connection to spring terminals — no soldering needed — and use safe, low-voltage batteries. Comes with built-in speaker, 7-segment LED digital display, integrated circuits, rotary controls and clearly written instructions with schematics/diagrams.

The Genius PenSketch is a brilliant drawing and graphic editing tool. I’ve owned the previous model of this 9×12 tablet for almost three years and it’s been incredibly helpful and easy to use with any artistic project I’ve worked on. It has a USB connection and includes a wireless mouse, rubber-coated pen and software. This handy tablet includes lots of customizable features that I haven’t even begun to explore yet. While everyone dreams of having the massive, professional graphic tablets, Genius has provided an affordable, high-quality product that will help you master your digital graphic arts skills before spending the really big bucks on a professional set-up.

DVD Goodies:

Farscape: The Complete Series
Probably the best news I’ve had in years, Farscape is finally out on DVD at an incredible low price. Remember when IF you were lucky enough to find it at your local store, it had a hefty $120 per season price tag? Even online sources like eBay charged an average of $80 per season. Now, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and A&E Home Video have partnered to bring you the complete series for under $100! Tack on Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars and you’ve got a complete set! Still need more Farscape? Check out the books and comics that complete the back-story and fill us in on events since The Peacekeeper Wars.

Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: The Definitive Collection
One of Jim Henson’s finest works is The Storyteller series, originally airing on HBO in 1987. The Definitive Collection includes 13 stories, 9 based on European fables, and 4 slightly grittier takes on Greek myths.

Jim Henson’s Fantasy Film Collection includes three of Henson’s best fantasy films: Labyrinth, MirrorMask and The Dark Crystal, all for one great, low price.

Pushing Daisies: The Complete First and Second Seasons is a MUST-have for anyone who loved other Bryan Fuller productions such as Wonderfalls and Dead Like Me.

Other great film ideas:

V: The Original TV Miniseries and V: The Complete Series
See where it all started with the original series!

Ultimate Sci-Fi Collection
This 20-disc set includes: Escape From NY, Mad Max, Rollerball, The Abyss, Alien, Aliens, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Fantastic Voyage, The Fly, Independence Day, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Neptune Factor, Planet of the Apes (1968), and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

Babylon 5: The Complete Television Series and the follow-up Crusade: The Complete Series.

Sanctuary: The Complete First Season
The little web series that could! Sanctuary made its jump from the web to television. This 4-disc set includes the entire first season plus many extras, including the original web series.

Earth 2: The Complete Series
A great show that ended too soon. Definitely worth adding to your sci-fi collection.

The Ray Bradbury Theater: Complete Series includes all 65 episodes of this wonderful show.

Some of my other all-time favorites that your favorite geek might like: Krull, Tin Man, Willow, The Philadelphia Experiment, The Final Countdown, Time After Time, Stargate SG-1: The Complete Series Collection and Young Frankenstein.

Board and Card Games:

Fluxx 4.0
Looney Labs produces lots of great games that are fun to play. One of their most popular, Fluxx, has been updated with a new release and new art work, but the same great fun. Additional versions of Fluxx include: Martian Fluxx, Monty Python Fluxx, Zombie Fluxx, EcoFluxx and Family Fluxx.

Battlestar Galactica, based on the hugely popular recent series, is a semi-cooperative board game for 3-6 players.

The Dread Pirate Bookshelf Game is played on a wonderfully illustrated and aged treasure map with cast metal playing pieces, replica doubloons, wooden dice, treasure bags and pirate treasure. This attractive Bookshelf Edition comes packaged in an aged wooden book that will look great displayed in any room of the house.

World of Warcraft: The Adventure Game
Can’t talk your friends into playing World of Warcraft online with you? Maybe they’ll enjoy an exciting and fast-paced journey through the world of Azeroth with this awesome board game based on the popular online game.

Starcraft: The Board Game
Whether you choose to lead the versatile Terran, mysterious Protoss, or voracious Zerg, in Starcraft: The Board Game you’ll command an army like no other in the universe. Based on the popular computer game, here’s a fun way to get your friends hooked on another game classic!

Music:

Battlestar Galactica: Season One, Season Two, Season Three and Season Four soundtracks feature the mesmerizing music of Bear McCreary.

Requiem for Delinquency: Hob’s End is a great electronica album in the vein of Delerium and Enigma, with hints of Dead Can Dance.

The Best of Delerium features some classic cuts from one of my all-time favorite groups.

Pure Chill Out is a collection of chill, electronica and ambient music. This is another CD that is always in my CD wallet when I travel.

Café del Mar, Vol. 15 is the latest entry from this great music anthology. It’s perfect for playing games online, drawing or whatever else you find yourself geeking out with.

Final Fantasy XI Premium Box features 7 discs of the beautiful in-game music from the Final Fantasy series.

What would be on your wishlist? Feel free to comment!

Message in a Bottle, and My Crop Circle

Message in a Bottle

Oceanography is given a playful spin with Message in a Bottle, a kit that will appeal to science geeks who still appreciate the art of sending and receiving handwritten letters on fancy stationary via snail mail.

The kit’s recycled glass bottle can be tracked by registering it at the official Message in a Bottle website. Mark your location on the enclosed laminated map with the included waterproof pen, then turn the map over and fill in the logbook with your bottle’s registered name and launch data. A greeting message, saying hello in several languages, is printed on this page along with an URL, so when someone discovers your bottle they can look it up at wheresmybottle.com and let you know where it washed to shore. The finder then adds their location to your map and updates the logbook before sending the bottle on its way again.

Part of the fun of sending a message in a bottle is personalizing the contents. A small memento representing your hometown makes your bottled message more meaningful to its recipients, as will something that reflects your personality and interests. Write your message in the form of a poem, paste a photobooth picture of yourself to the inside of the bottle or, if you’re a sci-fi fan, incorporate the Vulcan IDIC symbol to spread some universal peace. You’ll  have a greater chance of a response if your bottle is easy to spot in the water, so decorate with lots of bright colours. Filling the bottle with neon pink and orange pom-pons, or shiny items that reflect the sun, is sure to attract attention. Once you’re done, pop the cork into the bottle, seal it with wax, and toss it into a current that will carry it out to sea.

While waiting for a reply, learn more about the conditions your bottle will be experiencing by reading the kit’s accompanying Message in a Bottle book. This 71-page pocket guide details the history of how people have used and studied water over the ages, shares real-life stories of message bottles, and offers a few other water experiments to try. Philip Richardson, a leading oceanographer from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, contributes explanations of currents, tides, and water-related weather in understandable scientific terms, and offers tips for a successful bottle launch. He also suggests ways to help raise environmental issues and conserve the world’s watery ecosystems. If the aliens of V are willing to travel across the universe to try to steal Earth’s water supply, then it’s surely a resource worth protecting.

My Crop Circle

If you prefer a little more paranormal in your science, then a close encounter with the My Crop Circle kit will really set off your PKE meter.

Create Your Own Natural Phenomenons
Plant It. Water It. Witness It.

My Crop Circle works much like a Chia Pet. You just moisten the dirt-free mat of “alien growing matter”, place it in the desktop growing tray, and evenly sprinkle the packet of grass seed over the surface. Wait a few days for the grass to sprout (while remembering to keep watering daily), then press one of the five included crop circle templates onto the growth. In addition to providing entertaining information on the history, science, and pop culture relevance of crop circles, the 64-page Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Crop Circles guide book has several photos that you can copy patterns from instead, or you can get creative and design your own extraterrestrial templates. Let the grass grow up around the template’s edges, then remove the stencil to reveal your very own miniature crop circle. “…You can be first in your office to cause a controversy, garner widespread curiosity, and freak out your colleagues just a little bit.”

Recommended Reading Level: Ages 10 and older.

Order now at Amazon.com:
Message in a Bottle
My Crop Circle

Message in a Bottle and My Crop Circle are distributed by Applesauce Press and Cider Mill Press Book Publishers, independent publishers distributed by Simon & Schuster.