Celebrate Your Geekdom
from KoldCast TV:
Looking to achieve balance in a technologically connected world.
A new web series about technologically dependent people who must learn to coexist in a world that is dominated by emails, status updates, and tweets. Throw personal and familial relationships into the mix, and you have a series with a refreshing take on the growing addiction to be constantly connected.
New Episodes Every Tuesday
Sintel is an independently produced short film, initiated by the Blender Foundation as a means to further improve and validate the free/open source 3D creation suite Blender. With initial funding provided by 1000s of donations via the internet community, it has again proven to be a viable development model for both open 3D technology as for independent animation film.
This 15 minute film has been realized in the studio of the Amsterdam Blender Institute, by an international team of artists and developers. In addition to that, several crucial technical and creative targets have been realized online, by developers and artists and teams all over the world.
from Squishable:
Hello Folks!
If you were jumping up and down on your bed (past your bedtime and against your parents wishes, no less!), then you wouldn’t want that mattress to be stuffed with hard cement-like news! No! You’d want your gleeful disobedience in the form of bouncy, jumpy Squishy News! And here it is!
New Squishables — oh my gosh yes yes yes! You voted for them last year, and it’s taken them a while to make the long journey, but here’s the first round!
Squishable Owl — Who wouldn’t gladly sacrifice an occasional small squeaky mammal for something this cuddly? I know I would. Perfect for hours of “Hoo’s on first” puns.
Squishable Platypus — Yes they look ridiculous — but hey, think how you must look to them, you weird hairless biped! Cuddle an evolutionary cul-de-sac!
Squishable Cthulhu — A horrific elder god to snuggle with! Freakish monstrosities from the dawn of time give the best hugs. Incidentally, if you don’t know what a Cthulhu is then go read up on your Lovecraft. Right now!
Back-in-stock Squishables! These are totally back in stock and waiting with bated breath to discover their final destination! A playful office cubical? A bright bedspread? The stomach of your family dog? Don’t keep them in suspense! Hedgehog, Penguin, Octopus, and Snail Squishables are all back and good to go!
It’s been a charity kinda month!
First off, thanks to everyone who bid on the Squishable Dragon auction! Way to raise a chunk of cash for Child’s Play — some kids in hospitals who didn’t have toys… will now!
Second of all, thanks to everyone who sent in pictures over the last few months to help support GirlStart for empowering girls in math, science and tech! Techy, sciency girls are awesome, not that I’m biased or anything (says the CS major).
And for the next little while, for every image you send us of you and your Squishy, we’ll donate a dollar to Studio in a School to support art in public schools! How cool? Very! (Up to $250)
Oh, and… the Fuzzy Five are coming.
Thanks folks!
Zoe and Aaron
Squishable.com
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from VIZ Media:
NEW PEOPLE, in cooperation with Tokyo Kawaii Magazine, are proud to present the official North American debut of virtual idol Hatsune Miku as part of the J-Pop Summit Festival 2010, taking place in San Francisco’s Japantown. In her first-ever appearance outside Japan, Hatsune Miku “performs” in a special film concert at VIZ Cinema at NEW PEOPLE on Saturday, September 18th at 3:00pm. Tickets for the screening are $20.00 and are available now at vizcinema.com.
Miku Hatsune is a virtual pop idol that has taken Japan by storm. She was born as the premiere product in the Vocaloid2 Character Vocal Series developed by Crypton Future Media. The technology, originally designed for professional musicians, enables users to synthesize singing by inputting lyrics and a melody. In Japan, Vocaloid singers have become the hottest new trend in the pop culture landscape. Miku Hatsune features a singing voice based on samples of voice actress Saki Fujita.
This VIZ Cinema premiere will present a recorded live performance with stunning THX audio that was originally held in Tokyo on March 9th, 2010. The concert featured Miku Hatsune backed by a “live” band called the 39S Members. She performed 39 songs while being projected on a transparent screen set up on the stage, making her look like a living-sized hologram playing with a live band. More information on Miku Hatsune is available at: newpeopleworld.com/films/films-9-2010/#miku.
The J-Pop Summit Festival 2010 will present a variety of fun Japanese pop-inspired attractions including fashion shows, a theatrical film premiere, live art performances, and mini-concerts by some of Japan’s hottest bands. The celebration is complemented by innovative artists and companies from the Bay area and Japan that will join in with an array of products for sale in open air displays on both sides of Post Street and a food court highlighting Japanese cuisine will further complement the celebration. More details are available at: J-Pop.com.
VIZ Cinema is the nation’s first movie theatre devoted exclusively to Japanese film and anime. The 143-seat subterranean theatre is located in the basement of the NEW PEOPLE building and features plush seating, digital as well as 35mm projection, and a THX-certified sound system.
About Tokyo Kawaii Magazine:
Tokyo Kawaii Magazine is a digital magazine app for iPhone. It provides the latest news of Japanese pop culture from Tokyo known as the holy place of Kawaii to the world. Tokyo Kawaii Magazine has not only the latest news on Japanese animation and manga but also Kawaii stuff such as Lolita fashion, street fashion, cosplay, costumes, games, Japanese food, idols, visual-kei bands and internet culture, and popular districts such as Akihabara, Harajuku or Shibuya are also included in every issue. More info at: tkmag.jp.
About NEW PEOPLE:
NEW PEOPLE offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan and is the creative vision of the J-Pop Center Project and VIZ Pictures, a distributor and producer of Japanese live action film. Located at 1746 Post Street, the 20,000 square foot structure features a striking 3-floor transparent glass facade that frames a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination into the 21st Century. A dedicated web site is also now available at: NewPeopleWorld.com.
from CuteCircuit:
Make an amazing video or photos of yourself wearing a Twirkle T-Shirt (or Twirkle dress or Twirkle mini-dress) and submit it before the 5th of November. The best photo or video will win a CuteStore Gift Card and be showcased on the CuteCircuit website!
Imagine what sparkling videos and photos you can take with light up Twirkle clothing!
Submit your photos or videos to the following e-mail address with “Twirkle Competition” in the subject line:
cute@cutecircuit.com
The body of the e-mail must contain the following information:
1. Your name
2. Age
3. Title of the submission and location
Attach your file and you are all set!
Deadline: November 5th 2010.
Good luck! May the cutest win!
Guidelines:
1. This competition is open to all the residents of planet Earth.
2. You must be 18 years of age or older in order to be able to participate.
3. The video or images submitted cannot exceed 5Mb in size, video format .mov, image format .jpg
4. You can submit mutliple entries.
5. Only one prize can be given per household, no cash alternative.
6. The winner will receive a £100 GiftCard to redeem on the CuteStore, valid for one year.
7. By submitting your media you confirm that all the images or videos are created by you and that you own the copyright.
8. We’d love to be able to tell people who has won and may ask for you to let us use your name in our website, but would only do so with your consent.
9. By entering your wonderful photos and videos, you give permission to CuteCircuit to publish them on the website in perpetuity and use them in the future for promotional purposes in connection with this competition. We will give full credit to the author.
10. Be creative! Have fun! Rock it!
from UFO X FEST:
The UFO X FEST is becoming the premier UFO Film Fest and Conference in the world. The UFO X FEST 2010 has gathered some of the world’s greatest researchers and experts in their respective fields of science. Technology, Philosophy, Spirituality, UFO’s, Aliens, Ancient Mysteries, 2012, Signs & Symbols, and so much more. This event is a Northern California Mufon Fundraiser. The UFO X FEST is September 18th & 19th from 10:00am to 11:00pm.
Confirmed Special Guests & Lecture Speakers, more speakers to be announced
George Noory — Author & Radio Host of Coast to Coast AM & History Channel’s Ancient Aliens Series Star
Ruben Uriarte — Author, International Researcher for Mufon
Rob Simone — Author, Radio Host, International Ufology Researcher
James Fox — Director, I Know What I Saw
Servando Gonzalez — Author, Researcher, Riddle of the Ancient Swastika
Dan Dillman — Ancient Civilization Researcher, 3rd Generation Treasure Hunter
John Rhodes — Cryptozoologist
Lester Velez — UFO Investigator
Olav Phillips — The Anomalies Network, Researcher
Mr. Lobo — Innovative Horror & Sci-fi TV Host
Brian William Hall — Researcher, Conspiracy Con Founder
Confirmed Films
Films are subject to change or be replaced by another movie or speaker, the final schedule is almost completed.
The Thing, Roswell UFO Cover Up, Out of the Blue, Forbidden Planet, It Has Begun, I Know What I Saw, Moon Rising, Capricorn One
Buy Tickets Now
Weekend Special, $149 both days or $89 per day. The UFO X FEST will be a once in a lifetime experience, filled with two entertaining days of knowledgeable speakers, films and special guests all sharing their latest research of facts and undeniable evidence with the world.
The UFO X FEST transforms at night into an entertainment hotspot with live music, magic and comedy inside the bay area’s Historic Bal Theatre located at 14808 East 14th Street in San Leandro, California 94578.
The UFO X FEST is sure to attract thousands of visitors and attendees every year. The UFO X FEST will become one of the world’s leading forums and authority in “Cosmic Research”, everything under the sun and well beyond. If you are interested in UFO’s, Science, Technology, 2012, Signs & Symbols, Conspiracies, Earth Changes, Crash Retrievals, Ancient Civilizations, Reptoids, Crop Circles, Space, Time, Conciseness, GOD and Existence, then join us on our quest through the Star Gate on the path to truth, light and knowledge.
Dan Dillman, executive producer of the UFO X FEST, states this year’s UFO X FEST is without a doubt lining up to be the most exciting UFO X FEST imaginable. I believe the UFO X FEST will be the most enlightening event a family, couples, friends or individuals should and could be attending this year for wisdom, truth and great entertainment. The UFO X FEST is conveniently located in the San Francisco Bay Area’s East Bay region in San Leandro, California inside the Historic Bal Theatre.
It’s pronounced mee-mo-bot.
Refresh. Enjoy. MIMOBOT!
Flash drives, while extremely useful, aren’t generally the most exciting looking pieces of technology. They’re usually just little lozenges of plastic in a limited selection of solid colours. In 2005, Mimoco changed the face of flash drives forever by introducing MIMOBOT, a line of designer USB flash drives. Inspired by pop culture, and borrowing from the idea of collectible toys, Mimoco turned flash drives from merely practical devices into a means of artistic expression.
MIMOBOT come in three categories: original characters created in-house by Mimoco, a series of collaborations with popular artists, and licensed brands. Currently, these categories include Mimoco’s Core Series, Artist Crossovers (such as FriendsWithYou and tokidoki), Community-Designed ‘bots contributed by talented MIMOBOT fans, and the hugely popular Licensed Crossovers, or “Artist Series”, that includes Hello Kitty and Mimoco’s most well-known output, the Star Wars MIMOBOT Series. There’s even a line of keychain “outfits”, called protoHoodies, that clip MIMOBOTs to bags or clothing while preventing wear to their painted cases.
As if having a beautiful computer accessory wasn’t enough, every MIMOBOT is preloaded with exclusive avatars, icons, wallpapers, screensavers, sound bytes, and other multimedia goodies, including the latest issue of Mimoco’s video publication, mimoZine. Since MIMOBOTs are compatible with Mac and Windows, their bonus contents come in formats for both systems. All drives are available in 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB sizes, and feature a tail light that flashes when the MIMOBOT is plugged in.
Aside from their unique appearance, the most interesting thing about MIMOBOTs is that they have a back-story, which claims that the flash drives are sentient creatures who hail from Planet Blõôh. The MIMOBOT designs are merely identities that they adopt on Earth to better enable them to infiltrate human society. One set of these disguises is provided by tokidoki.
Renowned Italian artist Simone Legno’s tokidoki brand is crossing over to the consumer tech world with the introduction of the tokidoki for MIMOBOT collection of designer USB flash drives, another entry in the MIMOBOT Artist Series. tokidoki, which means “sometimes” in Japanese, was named such because of Simone’s love for Japanese culture and his belief that “everyone waits for moments that change one’s destiny.” After his destiny-changing moment arrived in 2003, he went from being an artist who used his website to promote his freelance work to an artist who successfully built tokidoki into a world-famous international brand!
The tokidoki MIMOBOT collection was launched by a pair of tokidoki x MIMOBOT characters, Adios and Ciao Ciao, with the slogan Love is… in the Air:
As legend has it, Adios spent 500 years in fire and brimstone before the devil discovered his good-natured ways and kicked him out of hell. Too mischievous for heaven, Adios was condemned to live forever on earth, in his modern grave-loft with his girlfriend Ciao Ciao. Together, Adios and Ciao Ciao wander the world, sharing with others how to make the most out of this life… A perfect love story for fashion-tech lovers everywhere.
This gothic-anime duo, in a matching “his-and-hers” style for the tech crowd, ensures that couples won’t accidentally grab each other’s data. They make great little gifts for any romantically geeky occasion, and, like true love, will also withstand the test of time — MIMOBOT flash drive cases are made of a thick, sturdy, molded plastic, and the caps, while easy to remove, snap on firmly. The boldly coloured designs are cleanly applied, with no paint overlap or bleed, and Adios and Ciao Ciao’s silver and gold caps offer a hint of metallic flair. Bellissimo!
Transfer Rate: Hi-Speed USB 2.0 (backwards compatible with USB 1.1).
Mimoco encourages the recycling of their packaging and products, so check out the GreenBot USB Recycling Program (GURP). It offers discounts on future MIMOBOT purchases when you send in your old flash drives… assuming that you can bear to part with them. Even non-functional MIMOBOTs still have value as tiny works of art. This collectibility is really the only downside to MIMOBOTs, as soon you’ll have so many, you won’t know where to display them all. Then again, can a techno geek ever really have too many flash drives?
Order now at Amazon.com:
MIMOBOT
Or order directly through the Mimoco website.
MIMOBOTs and protoHoodies are distributed by Mimoco. For more information on tokidoki, please visit the official tokidoki website.
from RiffTrax:
Buy your tickets early for a chance to win this iPad!
We’ll pick one winner from anyone who has purchased advance tickets (either online or at the box office)! The person we choose will get this exclusive, one-of-a-kind iPad engraved with art, specially drawn for us by Ethan Nicolle, co-creator of Axe Cop!
To enter: simply buy your tickets BEFORE the day of the show. (We need to choose a winner before the guys go onstage!) Then email us some kind of proof — a picture of you with the ticket, or a confirmation email from Movietickets.com (or Fandango) to ipad@rifftrax.com. You must do so by 11:59pm Pacific Time on 8/18 (the day before the live show) in order to be eligible.
For more information, visit here.
from J!NX:
The New StarCraft Collection Has Arrived!
At last! An eagerly anticipated spacecraft hailing from a distant part of the Milky Way system has docked and unloaded a slew of new StarCraft Designs! Whether you’re Terran, Protoss or Zerg, we’ve got you covered. If t-shirts aren’t your thing, we’ve added a ton of patches, pins, keychains and stickers also. Well… what are you waiting for? Rush on over and check ’em out!
J!NX Quests: Win an iPad Presented by Aion
J!NX and Aion have teamed up to bring you another Quest to win an iPad! Entry is easy, and the instructions are right here. Complete just three simple tasks, and comment up to once a day for additional entries. Good Luck!
Sometimes science is gross. It doesn’t have to be, though, especially when it comes to science-based toys. GIANTmicrobes, “stuffed animals that look like tiny microbes — only a million times actual size!”, are more intellectually stimulating than a teddy bear, but still just as cute.
GIANTmicrobes are available in Original (5-7″), Petri Dish (3 Minis), and GIGANTICmicrobes (15-20″) sizes, with each strain of GIANTmicrobe having regular and miniature versions, and the most popular styles mutating into GIGANTICmicrobes*. (GIGANTICmicrobes, aside from being huge, huggable stuffed toys, are suitable as decorative throw pillows, so if you have a science-themed room in need of whimsy, these jumbo microbes fit the doctor’s bill.) New GIANTmicrobes are spawned regularly, at a rate that makes action figure lines seem like relatively small outbreaks. The complete catalogue of specimens, to date, is as follows:
The GIANTmicrobes’ low-pile plush fabric is soft and brightly coloured — a pile of the toys looks like a spilled box of Crayola 64-pack crayons — and accent materials like shiny plastic eyes, embroidery, fringe, cord, felt, and shimmery metallic cloth add tactile detail that make GIANTmicrobes so invitingly touchable. Hang-tag booklets and other packaging on the GIANTmicrobes provide pictures and scientific bios of the real lifeforms they caricature, humorously written in the manner of Bill Nye the Science Guy, allowing GIANTmicrobes to be both educational and fun. Parents and teachers can use them to introduce their little scientists to the world of microorganisms, while school health classes and medical professionals will want to employ them as props in discussions with young people about sensitive topics, such as pregnancy and STDs. Or, you can skip the real-life science lessons and just play. Gather a group of friends to recreate the infection process on a grand scale by throwing GIANTmicrobes at one another and yelling things like “I just gave you kissing disease!” (This game is great exercise, as you’ll need to run and dodge to avoid being “infected” back.)
Perhaps the most entertaining of the GIANTmicrobe toys are the petri dishes. Three mini microbes are sealed in a plastic “petri dish”, a heavy, clear plastic container subtly embossed with the GIANTmicrobes logo on the lid. The paper labels are all loosely attached with bits of transparent tape, so they’re easily removed to give you a fairly realistic looking petri dish. Mad scientists-in-training can amuse themselves for hours, combining the contents of petri dishes to see what “results” they get. The more petri dish selections in the “lab”, the more interesting the “science experiments”! Bookworm + Brain Cell = Smart Bug. Martian Life + Swine Flu = Pigs in Space? Amoeba + Flesh Eating Disease + Rabies = Microscopic Zombie. Yikes!
If you work in a doctor’s office or science lab, and want to add a touch of humour to your formal wear, GIANTmicrobes are printed on stylish neckties in three eye-catching designs. For informal settings, there are t-shirts and hats. Other GIANTmicrobes-related items tailored to your workspace are coffee mugs, keychains, and, for anyone wanting to apply fake cooties to their skin, temporary tattoos.
The GIANTmicrobes brand even has a line of medical supplies. There’s a liquid soap dispenser shaped like a common cold bug, moist wipes, and a digital thermometer. The bright orange and white thermometer is less clinical in appearance than a regular thermometer, and has an adorable picture of a sad cold bug on the handle, a teensy GIANTmicrobes thermometer stuck in its mouth. The digital thermometer comes in a protective clear case, and, being electronic, contains no toxic mercury — seriously, why stick poison in your mouth when you’re already sick? Since the device is American-made, it displays degrees in Fahrenheit, so converting the results will be a necessary inconvenience in other countries, where Celsius is standard. The thermometer only takes about a minute to spit out an accurate reading, however, and its tip is flexible for a comfortable fit under the tongue. A beep indicates when the temperature readout is ready, and a fever alarm lets you know when a visit to the doctor is in order. An auto-off feature conserves battery life, which lasts around 200 hours.
Germs are tenacious little beasts, and frequent hand-washing only controls them for so long. As a last line of defense, you may need to bring in the big guns to keep your playful GIANTmicrobes in order:
Marshmallow Shooters, recommended for ages 8 to 88, are similar to Nerf guns, except that instead of shooting foamy, marshmallow-like projectiles, they use real marshmallows as ammunition. Depending on which Marshmallow Shooter you choose, mini or full-sized marshmallows are loaded up and launched, and if you prefer a firearm that’s more medieval issue than a pistol or bazooka, the extensive range of Marshmallow Shooters includes bows and crossbows. Weapons aren’t usually described as Earth-friendly, but these toy shooters hold that unique distinction. Unlike foam pellets, the “biodegradable payload” used by Marshmallow Shooters simply melts away, leaving no trace behind, aside from a few diabetic squirrels who get to the treats before the next rain shower. Everyone knows that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, so blast those microbes into submission with a barrage of sugary sweet marshmallows!
Order now at Amazon.com:
GIANTmicrobes
GIGANTICmicrobes
Marshmallow Shooters
Or order GIANTmicrobes directly through the Giantmicrobes website. Order Marshmallow Shooters directly through the Marshmallow Fun Company website. GIANTmicrobes and Marshmallow Shooters are also available through ThinkGeek.
GIANTmicrobes, GIGANTICmicrobes, and GIANTmicrobes in a Petri Dish are distributed by Giantmicrobes (US) and Stortz & Associates (Canada). Marshmallow Shooters are distributed by Marshmallow Fun Company (US) and Stortz & Associates (Canada).
from Squishable:
Hey Folks!
If you were running through a journalism rainstorm, well you wouldn’t want that precipitation to be made of hard, scary news. No, indeed. You’d want your weather in the form of soft, splashy, Squishy News! And here it is!
Take Your Squishy to Work Day… for the Gulf! Since it seems like no one knows what to do about the oily mess down in the Gulf, your Squishable is taking matters into his own hands! This Thursday, July 22nd, bring a Squishable into your office, classroom, or underground secret lair. For each image you submit of your Squishable exploring the perils and excitement of your workplace, we’ll donate a dollar to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation for the Environment of the Gulf Fund! And to thank you for caring about the environment, we’ll also give everyone at your office a 10% off coupon to use during the following week.
Warn your coworkers! Tell that cute girl or guy who lives down the road! Check out the official Take Your Squishy to Work 2010 page for all the details, including how to submit pictures and get your coupon. And check back on the 22nd when we’ll be updating the site with your #gulfsquishy Tweets all day! This is some seriously good karma stuff, folks!
New Understudies! We’ve got some!
Squirrel Understudy — How cool are squirrels? Very! They can live just about anywhere including under your bed, where not even your mom dares to venture! Hug a squirrel!
Hedgehog — This fuzzy, squishy hedgehog is recursive! That means it’s a hedgehog that itself helps other hedgehogs. Every one of these Hedgehogs helps to finances the rescue, rehabilitation and eventual release of orphaned wild animals. Which is great!
Summer Camp Care Packages — Ohhhh summer camp, time of marshmallows, campfires, and bug spray. You know what would make it even more awesome-er? A Squishable! Unlike those candy bars you stored in your bunk, Squishables rarely get eaten by raccoons. Send a Squishable Summer Camp Care Package!
New gallery pictures — Aaaaand there are new pictures of Squishables and their very attractive humans up in the Gallery! Wanna kill some time? We’ve got you covered.
Thanks folks!
Zoe and Aaron
squishable.com
from Split Reason:
E3 is over and it was a hell of a show. Laughs and gasps were in abundance amidst a barrage of announcements, hands-on demo’s, and doctored presentations. Microsoft tried to show the pinnacle of digital river rafting with controller-less Kinect, Sony gave us a Black Wii with an illuminated tumor, and Nintendo dropped a 3D bombshell sending DS fans into rabid obsession. (Soon to be camping outside their nearest video game retailer with a bag of rupees.) In a nutshell, the event was an interactive game of paper-rock-scissors after a case of Bawls and a few shots of espresso; a sight to behold and cherish, as the competition is what drives innovation so we can play awesome new games in awesome new ways, forever, and ever.
Extra Life is creeping closer by the day, don’t forget to play a few games and heal the kids! It takes place on October 16th, 2010. The event aims to raise money and awareness for Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals. To date Extra Life has raised more than $300,000 dollars to help kids live long happy lives by providing hospitals with much needed funding for equipment and programs. 100% of the money raised stays where it is raised. In the gamers LOCAL CMN Hospital. Read more…
This month, we’re happy to announce the launch of the Co-Optimus Store @ Splitreason.com. Co-Optimus is a website dedicated to Co-Op games. Their job is to bring you the most comprehensive list of games that support co-op play, and give you all the details you need to stay up to date. Stop by their site to check out the latest in co-op gaming and don’t forget to stop by the store for a new t-shirt!
If anyone is looking to save a few bucks, we’re running a promo for the next few weeks offering 10% off. Just enter the promo code REDRING at check-out. Stayed glued to our Twitter and Facebook page for more savings, contests, and give-a-ways! Now, on to our new products for the month of June…