Friday, July 25, 2008
Online
Comcast Support is Watching You Complain On Your Blog RIGHT NOW
11:40PM John Mahoney | When Brandon Dilbeck wrote about how shitty his Comcast service was on his no-traffic Blogspot blog, he didn’t think anyone was watching. But this guy was. And when he received an email from Comcast support that directly addressed his specific problem shortly after his post went up, he understandably got a little freaked out. More »
Science
Peak’s Plasmablade is Sci-Fi-like Surgical Tool of the Future
11:20PM Kit Eaton | Cutting open a person for surgery using a plain old scalpel seems pretty barbarian compared to this new cutting tool from Peak. Instead of a sharp metal edge, or even an electrosurgical cutter, the Plasmablade uses pulses of plasma generated around its tip to locally cut and cauterise flesh such as skin, fat and muscle. It has the advantages of not damaging nearby tissue since its generated heat remains short term and local, and there’s less… uh… smoke to worry about than with electrosurgical tools. If you can stomach the idea, there’s a pretty graphic demo video of the blade in action. Just don’t be eating while you watch. More »
Random Stuff
Mad Aussie Guy Catching a Marlin from Helicopter
11:00PM Jesus Diaz | Yes. Fishing marlins from helicopters. It may sound boring, but seriously, you won’t believe your eyes. If your jaw doesn’t drop after watching this, I’ll post pictures of myself naked. Update: do you think this is real or not? I think is is, but you can tell us you opinion in the comments. More »
Hardware
Moore’s Law Revitalised by 12-Nanometer Chip-Fabbing Invention
10:40PM Kit Eaton | A year ago we reported on Intel’s nifty technique for 22nm chip fabrication, which may extend the life of Moore’s Law. Now MIT is reporting a new technique for optical lithography which should make 12nm chip manufacture possible, making for smaller, denser future chip tech.
Robots
First Fembot Commercial Ever Heralds Imminent Robot Porn Market
10:20PM Jesus Diaz | Those crazy Japan-addicts from the Pink Tentacle have grabbed the first commercial ever made by a fembot. Actroid DER-2 stars in a 15-second TV ad titled “The Woman Who Doesn’t Rust”, promoting an insect repellent and sunscreen spray. From afar, she looks hey-babe-how-you-doin’ kind of good, but then they have to cut to a close-up and almost gave me a heart attack. Why a fembot needs sunscreen is beyond me. Lube after a few Old Fortrans, on the other side, it’s a completely different story. [Pink Tentacle] More »
Gadgets
Back to the Future Hoverboard Auction Starts at US$30,000
9:53PM Jesus Diaz | The original hoverboard used by Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future 2 is now on the auction block, starting at US$30,000. If you have that kind of money around, prepare more because this prop–made of wood and metal, including original stickers, textured paint job, and the hole left by the handlebar that Marty McFly pulls at the beginning of the chase sequence– may reach US$50,000 according to the seller. More »
Networks
Make Your Sysadmin Smile: Wish Them Happy Sysadmin Day
9:26PM Kit Eaton | It’s the 9th annual Sysadmin day today. You know… sysadmins? The people without whom your entire computing network would come crashing down in flaming ruins? According to the System Administrator Appreciation Day website, “on this special international day” you should “give your System Administrator something that shows that you truly appreciate their hard work and dedication.” And don’t mess up your damn PC by fiddling with it, for once. [Sysadminday via GeekDad] More »
Entertainment
Jar Jar Gets Locked in Carbonite Too: Long May He Stay There
8:15PM Kit Eaton | George probably deserved to be encased in Carbonite for corrupting the Star Wars Universe with Jar Jar Binks… but it’s waaaay more satisfying seeing the floppy-eared one himself frozen in the same state, unable to frolic and waggle his tongue. Its actually part of an Industrial Light and Magic display, near Lucas’s house, so maybe ILM think the same way too. [Geekologie] Photo: Pixdaus. More »
Science
Team Doubles Efficiency of Thermoelectric Material: Good News for Car Electrics
7:24PM Kit Eaton | Scientists at Ohio State University have taken a thermoelectric material that’s been used for decades to power deep-space probes, and worked out how to double its efficiency. That’s good news: thermoelectrics convert heat directly into electrical energy. By catching exhaust heat, the new material may allow car alternators to be replaced… and that’ll push up the efficiency of car engines. The team doped lead telluride with tiny amounts of thallium, which adjusts the crystal structure and increases its heat-electricity conversion efficiency from around 6% to over 10%. Even better, since engineers have years of experience of working with lead telluride, it should be easy to commercialise the product. Environmentalists will have to be pleased, and relax about the high toxicity of thallium, though. [Technology Review] More »
Music
