Where The Hell Is Waldo, The $130,000 Red Algae Hunting Robot?
$130,000. That’s how much Waldo—an autonomous underwater robot from the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida—costs. Now they have to find it, and the bloody thing doesn’t even wear a white and red striped sweater.
I bet Mote’s scientist Gary Kirkpatrick doesn’t find the irony funny, however:
Waldo was making reports every two hours, Then, bam, it just stopped sending a signal. There are a few possibilities that we think are likely: It could have had a major leak or malfunction and sank to the bottom and is just sitting there. Or, it could have had a malfunction with its computer or its communication system and is floating on the surface but unable to tell us that it’s there.
I’m sad for Gary, but I find it delightful that Waldo is finally missing, even while this one doesn’t look like a dork. Of course, these things can only happen in the great state of Florida, the only US territory that looks like a schlong. [Mote via AP]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
I think a great white thought it had a pretty mouth and had it's way with it.
butternine
Maybe one day Waldo 2 will find it
If experience tells me anything, it'll be in Egypt, next to the Great Pyramids, behind a slave driver who just got a huge rock dropped on his foot because the slaves were staring at a hot chick walking by.
ColonelGentleman
Time to call Mel Fisher !
@Pope John Peeps II:
SKYNET!!! LOLROFLOMG!!1!
This seems like a ruse.....
Curse you, paranoia!
Gormania
Cue a million young nerds posting "SKYNET!!! LOLROFLOMG!!1!" and then hopefully sinking into a deep, deep depression and rethinking their lives.
Where's Waldo? = Where's Wally?
[en.wikipedia.org]
Scotland
It's bright yellow, how hard can it be to find? I lost my bright yellow marker the other day, found it withing 10 minutes.
The giz home page is gone!!!! It just.. disapearedez
AceBytes
Naming something you don't want to lose after a famous missing person is asking for self-fulfilling prophesy.
PaddyDugan
@.- -. --- -. -.-- -- --- ..- ... / .. ... / .-.. . --. .. --- -.: If you'd lost it in the Atlantic, it would have taken a hella lot longer to find it.
I am sure someone did it for kicks and the irony
@Scotland:
(I get bored easily)
Scotland
Found him!
I saw this article last night as Terminator 2 was finishing up. The fight has begun and it will happen in the oceans
syko21
@Pope John Peeps II:
SKYNET!!! LOLROFLOMG!!1!
(only 999,998 more posts to go)
psychiccheese
@.- -. --- -. -.-- -- --- ..- ... / .. ... / .-.. . --. .. --- -.: lol I hope that wasn't a serious comparison.
@MrThunderfield:
Hmmm... My dad lost his brand new glasses a few years back on a beach near the mediterranian sea (whatever it's called/spelled in english) It's nothing more than plancton food today.
@matt_mcmhn:
Ya think?
Also, just noticed the extra G in my former post. Can't edit it now though.
@rcast1986: I believe the proper spelling is "sonofabitch".
Jesus, you sunuvabitch. You almost had me!
Are ye ready kids?
Aye-aye Captain.
I can't hear you...
Aye-Aye Captain!!
What's autonomic and expensive and lost out at sea?
SpongeBob Robot
Bouyant and yellow and missing is he!
SpongeBob Robot
If nautical reasearch be something you wish...
SpongeBob Robot
Then drop on the deck and search for this fish!
SpongeBob Robot!
Ready?
SpongeBob Robot! SpongeBob Robot! SpongeBob Robot! SpongeBob Robot!
SpongeBob Robot!...SpongeBob Robot! Haha..
@bnetter12: What's SKYNET?
@Pope John Peeps II: SKYNET!!! LOLROFLOMG!!1!
only (999,997 posts to go)
So I actually work with these things at Rutgers, the marine sciences department has a bunch that they send out on missions. They are a quite an impressive feat of engineering.
I think Rutgers has only lost one, which gives them something like a 95% recovery rate, which is not bad considering these things can be underwater for weeks/months running off battery power only.
ilya687
@Jrsy Devil's Food Cake®: Where do you live, so I can hug you? Or just take this heart. Whatever floats your boat.
@appletoad: Nah, I believe the proper spelling is STFU TROLL
RichasB
@Jrsy Devil's Food Cake®: Epic Win.
RichasB
Dear Jesus,
GO FUCK YOURSELF.
Signed, Florida.
P.S. Take a journalism class at NYU already. I'm glad you see a state and think of male genitalia. You're the fly in Gizmodo's otherwise respectable soup.
RichasB
@Pope John Peeps II: SKYNET!!! LOLROFLOMG!!1!
@Jrsy Devil's Food Cake®: This quite made me chuckle, heartily. I commend you!
@appletoad: Sorry if I missed your sarcasm, but was that a joke?
if irony was made out of strawberries, we'd all be drinking a lot of smoothies right now.
@Shamoononon: Microsoft is awesome.:
Does it matter? We're all just trolling the pope here.
@RichasB: I think your funny, wich should make you feel a little bit sad...
@.- -. --- -. -.-- -- --- ..- ... / .. ... / .-.. . --. .. --- -.: I rule. Now re-think your lives! SKYNET!!! LOLROFLOMG!!1!
@rcast1986: Yes, it was a joke.
@RichasB: Sorry, I forgot to use the /s tag, since it is a long weekend, and the idiots are still out on Monday. (not you, rcast1986.)
@Jrsy Devil's Food Cake®: There actually is a reason you have a star, isn't there?
@RichasB: + 47. That was great!
@Pope John Peeps II:
var i = 1;
while (i <= 1000000) {
echo "SKYNET!!! LOLROFLOMG!!1!";
include("depression");
rethinkLife();
i++;
}
Done. (and don't yell at me for using pseudo-PHP)
MePerson
@Jrsy Devil's Food Cake®: This is honestly the funniest thing I have read in weeks. A heart for you sir.
@appletoad: lol, much thanks.
I'd say search the giant Garbage Patches, but since they don't really exist or able to be seen, that's NOT a good idea.
@RichasB: I agree with you 100%. How could Jesus find this stupid joke the least bit funny or even relevant? I was reading the article and found it pretty interesting, but once I got to the wise crack about Florida I just sat there confused thinking "WTF?" All I got from this article is that this Jesus guy isn't the best at making jokes and is quite the douche.
LoneWolf41390
@Jesus Diaz: Geez, just because you have a near-death experience at the hands of a crazy driver every time you visit this state is no reason to insult its unfortunate deformity.
Hey! Don't make fun of my home town! In reality, Mote Marine has done some pretty remarkable things for the marine world.
And hey, we like to say that Sarasota is a blue pocket in a red state. We have theater, arts and class dammit!
Yeah...the rest of the state sucks...really sucks...a lot.
LucettaCaban
@Scotland: I miss Consumerist :'(
Identity≈Spontaneity
@MePerson: Learn a real language. Pfft.
Clearly it was eaten by a Jaguar Shark.
Thangka
@LoneWolf41390: Don't worry guys, I notified the police that someone made a dick joke on the internet. I'm sure this will all be taken care of soon.
tehsquish - Still plays Ultima Online