Entries from November 2007 ↓

Square America, a site devoted to collecting vintage snapshots, has a very interesting gallery of snapshots that have been colored. Basically they have been partially painted to enhance a particular feature of the photograph.

Some of the images are really incredible. Adding color to the old pictures really makes them stand out.

Check out the site for a lot more pictures.
The Painted World

Johannes Hjorth of Sweden played a prank on his colleague when he went away for a conference. He replaced his colleagues keyboard with a new one that had watercress planted in it. Then he watered it every day until his friend came back.
Talk about a great prank to play. Then he documented the entire process on his website. Click through to see the whole thing, including instructions on how he did it.
Can you grow cress in a keyboard?

Jared von Hindman has created this great alphabet list reminiscent of the Edward Gorey’s Gashlycrumb Tinies alphabet of death. Check out the entire thing here.

Via Neatorama: The Geek ABCs

Valerie Beetle from Ukraine has created this incredible case modification. The case looks like it came right out of the Doom game. I think I would be actually scared to have this in my office.
The entire case is made of wood and has been hand carved. It really is a work of art.

Via GizmoWatch: Mod technology surrounded by artistic imagination

The video above is of Ghyslain Raza, better known as the Starwars Kid. According to the Webby Awards, its one of the 12 most influential videos of the Internet. Other videos in the list are, All your base are belong to us and JibJab - This land.

Every video on the list is one that spread across the Internet and generated enormous amounts of traffic and buzz. So check out the list for yourself.

The amount of detail on this laptop case mod is truly incredible. Datamancer took a Hewlett-Packard ZT1000 laptop as the base for his creation. Built a hand carved and decorated wooden box to place it in, and then replaced all the buttons and fittings on the laptop with brass cutouts and buttons.

The laptop just looks so cool. I wish I had that kind of talent.
Check out his site for more pictures and even a video tutorial. Datamancer’s Steampunk Laptop

Two guys in the UK, Will Crawford and Peter Brewin, have come up with a new type of emergency shelter. It’s basically an inflatable tent with a twist. The tent is made of a concrete soaked fabric.

It comes in a bag that you just add water to. After making sure the water has been soaked all the way through the bag, you hook it up to a pump and inflate it. Wait 12 hours, and you have a permanent concrete igloo. One strong enough to hold up against extreme weather and even bullets!

The two inventors are starting production in the next year. Their first customers will be aid agencies, but various military organizations, including the US military, have expressed interest.

Via BBC News: ‘Just add water’ instant shelters

DeputyDog has a great post devoted to nothing but snowmen. Check it out, the world’s best snowmen & snow art

Snow is one of those things I never see these days. Ever since I moved to Florida back in 96, I’ve managed to avoid snow. When I was growing up I lived in Maryland. And we would get snow several times a year. Making snowmen was lots of fun. And I do miss the white blanket of snow you would get right after a snowstorm.

Can’t say I miss it all that much though. The cold definitely got to me, and after a few days the white blanket started to look more like a hobo’s sleeping bag. Not something you wanted to touch. LOL So I’m glad I live in the sunny state of Florida were all I have to deal with are hurricanes(Are you feeling the sarcasm yet).

I think this is great! How many times have you been in a location and you’ve seen a sign that says you can’t take photos? Usually I look around and just wonder why? Why don’t they want me to take photos here? What makes this place so special, or the stuff in it so secret, that I’m allowed to look but not take photos?

Well, I found a site that is devoted to nothing but pictures taken in places where photography is banned. Everything from museums to government buildings. And if you want to contribute, you can create your own account and start posting clandestine photos of forbidden places yourself.

Check it out: StrictlyNoPhotography.com
By the way, the picture in this post came from the site. The irony of a photo of a sign banning photography is just hilarious. LOL