Technorama

Listener feedback show #159

We’ll get in your head one way or another.

Podcast: Download

Light Saber Umbrella via Boing Boing

This will make you stand out in a crowd, even in the rain.

The Most Thrilling Art Installation in the World via Digg

A five-story tube slide for adults. Makes you long for kindergarten again.

Algorithm helps computers beat humans at Go via Digg

For a while, chess has been the field of battle to determine human vs. computer superiority. Ever since Deep Blue took down Garry Kasparov, the focus moved to Go. An Asian strategy game where human intuition rather than straight computational power. Now, it seems that a new algorithm and multi-process computing has been closing the gap.

Marv

Darth Vader Samurai Helmet via Digg

Babelfish didn’t translate the text very well but the picture speaks for itself.

Voltron-Like Modular Robot Demonstrated via /.

Superbot consists of Lego-like, but autonomous, robotic modules that can reconfigure into different systems for different tasks,

Justice League of America movie announced via Digg

So far they’ve only hired the writers for a potential movie. Rumors are circulating because the lead actors from the recent Batman and Superman movies have options in their contracts for a cross-over. So it’s not entirely out of the question that a live action JLA movie could be a reality some day.

Marv

SETI Finally Finds Something…a stolen laptop via /.

The rightful owner tracked down the IP when the laptop checked into SETI@Home and got the police to investigate.

Hilarious Star Wars Pic! via Digg

Don’t want to spoil the pic but let’s just say “Oh how the mighty have fallen!”. Photoshopped of course, but hilarious just the same.

Show #159: Abbey Normal

1. Anyone want to buy a podcast directory?
2. We can all breath a sigh of relief that more BSG is on the way
3. We found a lost clip in the archives

Show Notes for 159

Podcast: Download

Duckling born with four legs via Digg

Is this cute or are they just extra drumsticks?

Delete Key Eraser via Boing Boing

Now if we only had the Ctrl & Alt keys too, we could reboot this analog mess called life.

SCI-FI to SCI-FACT: Plasma Converter via Slice of Sci-Fi

Looks like just another garbage to electricity program, but this one strips electrons from the air to make plasma and burn even toxic (but not radioactive) waste.

The UN’s new international radiation symbol via Digg

In short, the symbol says “Run For Your Life”. The article also says that the new symbol is not for ordinary use and will only be used where someone attempting to open a radioactive device would see it.

Professor in reply to student drawing on test sheet via Digg

This should be an example for all teachers.

Marv

Save Chuck .. Save the World.

Podcast: Download

Beer + Milk = Bilk? via Digg

What to do when milk sales start falling off of a cliff? Try making beer with it instead. These guys can’t produce enough to meet demand right now.

Speakers from Mars via CNet

If H.G. Wells had envisioned a set of speakers that could take over the planet, they would have looked like these.

Table Hockey on Real Ice via Digg

I remember wasting hours of my youth playing air hockey after work with my friends. This would have been really…cool.

Marv

Dating advice for men explained in electrical diagrams via Boing Boing
Oh sure, there’s nothing geekier than proposing marriage over IM, but this is definitely in the top 10. One guys dating habits analyzed as an electrical diagram. His conclusion…parallel circuits are the only way to go.

Robotic jacket has power up its sleeve via Boing Boing

Sensors at the elbow and wrist allow a healthy arm to control the eight artificial muscles, which are powered by compressed air, on the paralyzed side.

Atari joystick coathangers via Boing Boing

Actually it looks like just what I need for the bathroom.

Marv