Category Archives: Machines

Easter Egg

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Gaius

Well, it sort of looks like an Easter egg if you scrunch your eyes up and have been drinking heavily. GM’s master plan to save itself was revealed today in all it’s glory: The PUMA. Bankruptcy for General Motors may … Continue reading →

Posted in Machines | 2 Comments

T Party

Posted on July 19, 2008 by Gaius

While I generally find The New York Times news coverage and editorial positions to be badly skewed to the left, the still carry wonderful feature stories. Such as this little gem describing some of the ways people customized their Model … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Machines | 1 Comment

Labor Of Love

Posted on May 31, 2008 by Gaius

What results when 30 enthusiastic volunteers spend 18 years and some £3 million working in a shed in Britain? A brand, spanking, new steam locomotive. It's a project which makes no sense on paper  -  but it has created 90 … Continue reading →

Posted in Machines, World news | 5 Comments

Mobile Infantry

Posted on April 26, 2008 by Gaius

The late Robert A. Heinlein's vision of powered armor is rapidly approaching reality. A company in Utah has an operational powered exoskeleton and a contract with the US military to develop it even further. Rex Jameson, one of his test … Continue reading →

Posted in Machines, Technology | 3 Comments

Too Tired To Play With The Dog?

Posted on March 20, 2008 by Gaius

Help is at hand.   Via the Daily Mail .  Tweet

Posted in Animals, Machines | 2 Comments

“Phased-Plasma Rifle In The Forty Watt Range.”

Posted on February 27, 2008 by Gaius

It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead. (From The Terminator) Dire warnings are circulating about the possibility of … Continue reading →

Posted in Machines, Technology | 2 Comments

Gentlemen, We Can Rebuild Him…

Posted on January 7, 2008 by Gaius

…We have the technology. That comes from the old television show The Six Million Dollar Man, of course. But now, the real world has caught up with that television show that went off the air in 1978. Because they can, indeed, rebuild … Continue reading →

Posted in Machines, Medicine, Science | 1 Comment

Unintelligent Design

Posted on December 18, 2007 by Gaius

The New York Times has an interesting article on unintelligent design. No, this has nothing to do with the debate over creationism versus evolution, this is about lousy design in something really important: gadgets. So the bad news is that … Continue reading →

Posted in Machines | 1 Comment

Ramjet Helicopters

Posted on December 6, 2007 by Gaius

After I posted that old newsreel footage from 1957 earlier, I decided to look up ramjet-powered helicopters, seeing if there was any information out there. Not only is there information, there is a surprise: the Hiller company actually produced an … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Machines | 1 Comment

They’re Watching You

Posted on November 28, 2007 by Gaius

The Miami-Dade police will join the Houston police department as the first two operators of a new high-tech aerial surveillance drone system. The tiny vehicle, called the Micro Air Vehicle or MAV is built by Honeywell it is not armed … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Machines | Comments Off

Attack Of The Robot Guitars

Posted on November 13, 2007 by Gaius

Gibson Guitars is releasing a new, robotic guitar that keeps itself in tune all by itself – even after a string change. It will also retune itself into six different preset non-standard tunings at the push of a button. Help … Continue reading →

Posted in Machines, Music, News | 2 Comments

Time For A Niche Electric Car?

Posted on October 18, 2007 by Gaius

Interesting concept, although sales thus far are fairly dismal. A tiny, one-seater electric car with a 30-mile range that is actually pretty zippy (70+ mph). It would be a practical choice for many people who have short commutes and who … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Machines | 1 Comment

Robo-Massage

Posted on October 10, 2007 by Gaius

Japanese engineers have developed what they hope will be a practical robot capable of giving facial massages. The WAO-1 robot, which stands for Waseda Asahi Oral Rehabilitation Robot 1, is being developed initially for patients with jaw-related medical problems who … Continue reading →

Posted in Machines, World news | Comments Off

The DragonSpies Are Coming!

Posted on October 9, 2007 by Gaius

Oh no! Run away! The Washington Post reports that people at anti-war rallies are reporting being bugged. Or rather, being watched by bugs. Or something. Vanessa Alarcon saw them while working at an antiwar rally in Lafayette Square last month. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Insanity, Machines | 4 Comments

So Cute You Just Want To Punch It

Posted on October 8, 2007 by Gaius

The Nissan Motors company has unveiled its newest concept car, the Pivo-2. It's just so cute and cuddly that you want to slap it. (AP) Nissan's ball-shaped electric vehicle can squeeze into tight spots without backing up because its wheels turn … Continue reading →

Posted in Machines, World news | 6 Comments