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Astronauts Jiggle ISS Water Recycler Handle But Crew Can't Drink Pee Just Yet
Posted by Jack Loftus at 1:31 PM on November 24, 2008
The multimillion dollar water recycler recently installed by astronauts aboard the International Space Station is still experiencing some minor issues this evening, meaning crew members will just have to wait to have their first peetinis, Long Island Iced Pees, Whiskpee Sours and other lame pee-themed drinks I have yet to think of. The prototype recycler, which separates waste from water using a centrifuge system, was brought to the station aboard the latest shuttle mission. It malfunctioned two hours after installation, although a separate sweat and waste water recycler is working as expected. Phew!
It's rare we get to write something positive about Best Buy, but here goes! It's testing a free e-waste recycling program in 117 stores in eight states (Update: Here's the 
If you get a new computer for Christmas, you're probably SOL on timing, since it'll be about time to pack up the holiday fa-la-la-la junk, but you could always make a computer box deer to shoot in your backyard, especially if you hate your computer company. 
What to do with an old PowerBook when you replace it with a shiny new Santa Rosa MacBook Pro? Make jewelry out of the power buttons, of course. While these are of the dangly, girly variety, they would make a pretty killer pair of gauges, too. [
Designer James Dunlop hopes his myhab disposable habitats will help curb the huge number of tents left behind at crowded functions, such as music festivals. At a glance, myhab might look like a glorified cardboard box, but check this out: Your very own myhab with room for two will be erected as well as dismantled for you, and contains a cushioned pad to sleep on, a locker secured by a PIN, lighting and the option to personalize your myhab with your name. The myhab hasn't hit the campgrounds yet, but the company hopes for 2008 to be its big release year.
Myhab Limited is based in London, and was formed when its founders saw a business opportunity in the increasing number of ditched tents after popular events, such as a the Glastonbury Festivals. Back in 2005, organizers reported 10,000 abandoned tents. In 2007, that figure jumped by half again to 15,000. While booking a myhab through the company individually looks like it will be an option, we think it'll be more common for events to sponsor the service if the eco-friendly alternative catches up. Seems a hell of a lot better than the discarded mess of plastic poles, mesh, muddy tarp, construction paper, Popsicle sticks and other materials drugged-out festival-goers cobble their temporary homes together with these days.
