Knorreck reportedly spent 10,000 hours and €15,000 (approx. $22,300 (USD)) to build this one of a kind vehicle. The Snafell is a combination of a Laverda motorcycle which Knorreck bought in 1976 and had already modified to be a sport bike, and the custom-built carbon fiber and polyester sidecar. The sidecar’s parts were culled from various automobiles, including a Volkswagen Golf GTI,  a Citroen Xantia and an Audi 80.

The Snaefell – which incidentally is also the name of three volcanoes in Iceland – is powered by the Laverda’s 1000cc engine. I barely know anything about vehicles, so I don’t know if the triple exhaust is necessary, but damn if it doesn’t add to the quirkiness of this ride.

The sidecar has a gull-wing door and has a car seat, complete with seat belts. Say what you will about the Snaefell, but it’s sidecar might just be the most comfortable and safest one on the planet.

There should be more pics at Knorreck’s website, I just don’t know for sure because Internet fame has brought down the site. I really want to see it in action! Man this thing is weird.

[via designboom & kneeslider]

Just kidding. And even if the electronics on Flare are affected by water, I think the worst that could happen would be the lights shorting out. I hope.

I like how the electronics enhance but don’t overwhelm the dress. Ossevoort’s work shows that geeky fashion goes way beyond Star Wars t-shirts and video game-themed sneakers. Not that there’s anything bad about those.

[via Bornrich]

That doesn’t look so hard, right? If you run across a good deal on a lot of toilet paper, maybe you can even make your own, right? Creator Beru Betto’s even provided a template for you to use, with all sorts of variations, too… including the Prince from Katamari Damacy. Rolled up from rolls. It seems almost too perfect.

Here’s a look at the patterns provided:

Note that the pattern isn’t necessarily toilet paper specific–you could use all sorts of items. But now that you’ve seen this version, why do anything else?

[via Sprite Stitch]

Berg encountered a couple of problems while modding the G4, the first being the proprietary connector that the iMac monitor uses to connect to its controller. He remedied it by installing a shelf on the back for the new connectors. He then installed a surface acoustic wave touchscreen, saying, “its high resolution does not distort the image at all.”

The second problem was the lack of real estate in the base of the iMac: “I initially wanted to make it a Core 2 Duo all in one. Unfortunately, there is a lot less space in there than you think. Its very impressive how Apple constructed it. because it was convection cooled, the parts literally stacked on top of each other. They fit together like a puzzle. The disk drive alone probably takes up 70% of the volume in the base.” He states the solution to this problem more vaguely though: “I decided to keep the computer separate.”  But if it’s proof you need, don’t worry, Berg’s got it all on camera:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Although we all know that a conventionally oriented desktop touchscreen monitor would be a pain to use for more than a few minutes, I think Berg still deserves a round of applause. And major plus points for the Blu-ray drive. But wait!

He had some leftover parts and decided to use them to build a “big touch screen remote equipped with Windows 7 Media Center and a convenient blu-ray player hooked up to my HD TV.” This time he used a 17-inch HP monitor and painted the whole thing black. The touch screen is resistive, which according to him is less sensitive and operates at a lower resolution, but that’s okay Mr. Berg. You turned a white iMac G4 into a black touchscreen Windows Media Center remote control. If that’s not modding then I don’t know what is.

[via Hacked Gadgets]

Ah, what a sweet young bride. So… uh… animated.

The thing that sets Love Plus apart from other dating sims of this time is that it revolves around actual interaction of this type… it’s just that I’m not sure anyone expected someone to take it to this extreme. With Love Plus, as soon as you get the girl,  you’re supposed to take her out and engage with her in the real world. As in, you take her on dates, where she probably eats as much as a real girl (but at least she costs less).

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The proud new groom is planning a reception for November 22. He has invited the media to attend, so I’m sure there will be lots of interesting footage to check out. I wonder if anyone is going to ask him how he feels about all those other Nenes out there with all their boyfriends.

[via Tiny Cartridge]

They say that necessity is the mother of invention. I’d like to add that boredom is its father. And for people whose needs are mostly being taken care of, daddy reigns supreme: “The idea was inspired last year by boredom and a strong desire to drive something off of a cliff. So Bob’s son Rick and his buddy Jake figured out a way to turn big cars into remote-controlled toys.”

Rick and Jake rigged the vehicles so they could remote control the steering and the throttle. Brakes? What brakes?

The insane…ly fun event lasted for 8 hours. Moravitz didn’t charge spectators for their show, but he says they got enough donations to cover the insurance that he bought for the event. Redneck geeks sure are crazy.

[via KARE 11 via nfttu via Make:]

This unassuming looking prototype might not look like much, but it’s actually the EZ-REM-0001, the very first remote control to require no batteries at all. Power to the remote control is generated using the tiny vibrations caused by pressing the buttons on the face of the remote. The device uses a combination of a sound vibration power generation device, an RF remote control, and a specialized power supply that can drive the circuit with very little power. This new technology was developed as a joint-venture between Japan’s NEC Electronics and Soundpower.

While this might not seem like much, the notion of powering your electronic gadgets simply by using the power generated through button presses is pretty groundbreaking. Perhaps someday we’ll see other devices that can convert your physical movements into renewable energy for electronics. While I don’t know if vibrations will ever generate enough power to send radio waves, you might someday juice up simple electronic devices by simply pressing the power button.

Cool stuff, Maynard. Very cool stuff, indeed.

[via Tech-On!]

The bazookas are made of aluminum and were manufactured in Spain in the 1960s and 70s. Each one measures a whopping 70″ long, and is equipped with an optical sight, eyecup, shield, strap and bipod. It looks so awesome!!! And heavy.

Why are you still reading this? There are vintage bazookas for sale! This will be the best $200 (USD) you’ll ever spend. Go to Centerfire Systems and arm yourself soldier! And oh, if you’re from California I’m sorry but you can’t buy one of these. It says so on the product page. I wonder why.

[via Retro Thing]

Created by Scott Holden for the recent Zone Ball in Sacramento, this Tauntaun not only looks great, it actually walks. Scott modeled out the original plan for the behemoth costume using SolidWorks, and then built out a stilt mechanism to stand on while walking around in it. And no, those aren’t the rider’s real legs dangling there on either side – they’re actually hidden inside standing on the stilts.

He built the Tauntaun’s main body using PVC pipe and fabricated custom stilts with snowboard bindings to hold the wearer’s feet and legs in place while walking.

Scott created a custom silicone mold for the head, and airbrushed the details on a final foam cast form. To give the beast its fuzzy coat, Scott covered it with layers of faux fur, fastened to the body with zip-ties.

Check out the video below to see the costume in action:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

You can check out the complete build log here. All I can say is wow.

[via Make:]

Now why you’d want a cell phone that looks like a pack of cigarettes is anyone’s guess. All I can assume is that if there’s a strange gadget that’s yet be made in China, they’ll make it. These particular phones are dead ringers packs of Marlboros, complete with flip-top box and storage for actual cigarettes. The Marlboro 508 phone is pretty standard low-end cell phone fare, featuring a dual-band GSM phone (works everywhere but the U.S.), a 1.6-inch screen, and MP3/MP4 player, bluetooth and an FM radio. One interesting feature is a 1.3-megapixel camera that’s hidden in the side of the cigarette pack for your spy shots.

If you’re a smoker, or just want to look like one for some reason, you can grab a Marlboro phone over at ChinaGrabber for $144.99 (USD) a pack. Isn’t that about what a carton of cigarettes sells for these days anyhow?

I like how one simple gadget can help solve a couple of environmental issues, but I’m not too sure if the Gaon can be turned into a real product. For starters, how much trash is needed to produce a decent amount of methane, and how long will it take before the trash produces the gas? And remember, only biodegradable waste will produce the methane, but in urban areas a large part of the waste comes in the form of plastic, glass and other non-biodegradable materials.

Still, Lee is onto something here. You think a version of the Gaon could work in real life?

[via Yanko Design via DVICE]

Created by Japanese artist Hanaoka, the Siva mouse is part of a series of grass-covered objects he’s produced for the world to enjoy. This mouse is just one of many grassy items that Hanaoka has created over the years, and while the grassy mouse it’s not currently for sale, there are a variety of other grass-covered stuffs over at his website. As an added bonus, 50% of the proceeds from his product sales go to a non-profit group called Shibafu Spirit, which helps bring live greenery to Osaka’s schoolyards.

While I’m not sure about the practicality of this thing, I really do appreciate the concept of bringing a bit of nature to our drab, fluorescent-lit cube farms now and again. Also, I don’t know if it’s a good idea to pour water on your mouse either.

[via Crave and Craziest Gadgets]

This high-tech plantlife does away with such petty annoyances as dirt, water and sunlight, replacing them with an ongoing thirst for electricity. Each kit comes complete with bendy branches, tipped off with bright and colorful LEDs.

While these particular ones are only available in Korea and come with a 220-volt power adapter, I managed to find some similar ones over at Sam’s Club.

Eh, who am I kidding. The auction still has 19 and a half days to go and the current bid is already at $3,200 (USD). I’m pretty sure the simulator cost way more than that though. Here’s a few more pics of this stupid simulator. I wish we had one at our school. But we didn’t so I hate it.

Rich nerds and awesome schools, go to Public Surplus and bid on this baby. You don’t want your child, or your students, or yourself to not have a spaceship simulator. Trust me, the pain never goes away. Damn you awesome schools and your awesome amenities! Damn you all!

[Via UberReview via Born Rich]

The camera is motion activated and takes CCD color footage by day and black and white at night. It’s max resolution is 720×480, while it’s maximum framerate is 30 fps. Like most other hidden cameras, the SleuthGear Recluse records the time and date of any footage, and can also be scheduled to activate on a particular time. The camera supports SD cards for up to 16GB worth of damning evidence, and its rechargeable battery lasts up to 6 hours in between charges.

The KJB SleuthGear Recluse. A sophisticated camera crammed into a box so ordinary and plain that you won’t know how to explain to your spouse why you just paid $600 (USD) for a tissue box at Amazon.

[via 7Gadgets]

Pretty soon people will be building whole houses out of bacon. Poor piggies.

Check out the rest of the photos on krismkelley’s Flickr page to see how the lampshade was made. It’s nothing complex really. But it is insane. Although I would like to have a bacon tie, so I’d have something to eat at work. Mmmm. Bacon tie.

[via Oddity Central via the Presurfer]

Each Roadkill stuffed animal comes packed in its own see-through body bag, complete with all of its plush and squishy guts pouring out of its body. They even throw in a death certificate and an “I heart Roadkill” bumper sticker in each bag.  The smashed menagerie includes Twitch the Racoon, Grind the Rabbit, and Splodge the Hedgehog (Sonic’s long-lost cousin?). There’s also Pop the Weasel, who’s not stuffed at all – rather a flat rubber door stop. (You can read their obituaries here.)

UK readers can find the entire series of squashed Roadkill toys over at the RoadkillToys website for £25.00 each. Live in the U.S.? The guys over at Charles & Marie are selling Roadkill animals for $40 (USD) each.

The Galactic Suite will look more or less like these artist renditions. Before customers can get to these glorified pods, they’ll have to undergo an eight-week training course, which will be conducted on a freaking tropical island. Then they’re off to the shuttle for the day and a half trip to the pods. Galactic Suites Ltd. Xavier Claramunt compares the pods to a mountain retreat, because there’s no staff there. But the shuttle will be docked with the pods the whole time, meaning the astronaut-pilots will be staying with the visitors, who by the way will wear velcro suits that stick to the walls of the Suite. Stay in a space hotel and be like Spiderman in one go. Damn you rich people.

Claramunt et al claim that a “billionaire space enthusiast” has invested $3 billion in their project, and that they already have 43 people on the reserved list. I hope these customers donate millions to charity too. I mean I know it’s their money, but come on. Whether the hotel will be operational in 2 years or in 5, space tourism will eventually take off and there will be takers, but these outrageous prices just makes me think how misplaced our priorities can be sometimes. But as I always say, it’s your money, so do what you want with it. If you’re interested, you should check out the company’s website for more info.

[via Yahoo! News via DVICE]

Okay actually the 2009 Baltic Robot Sumo Cup wasn’t illegal; in fact it was sponsored by major robotics companies like iRobot and ABB. 60 robots participated in 3 categories – Mini Sumo, 3 kg Sumo, and of course Roomba Sumo. But it was really held in Lithuania. And Roombas really do sneak off at night. They meet with other miniscule warriors and oshitaoshi the circuits out of each other. True story.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Of course the only move that these robots have is “push”, but I’m sure ten to fifteen years from now, when Roomba v. 10.10 or something will be out, and it’ll look like a human, only with 4 arms and missiles for fingers, we’ll all look back to these pioneers, and curse iRobot for coming up with the darned things, because obviously we’ll be the ones who are cleaning the Roomba’s homes at that point. So enjoy their limited functionality and their silent yet comedic fights, because it won’t last long folks. It won’t! What was I talking about? Oh right, android tennis! Awesome stuff.

[via BotJunkie]

If you’ve seen the trailers before then you’re probably familiar with the graphics, but I believe this is our first glimpse at the HUD and controls of the game. Also, BIG-ASS SWORD!

I don’t know why this dude and his MegaBastard Sword only appears at the very beginning of the game – although it seemed like whoever was playing could control Sir Huge Sword here, note that the HUD is absent – but according to 1UP’s Kevin Gifford, players will be able to customize and  swing huge swords. But of course, even heroes have to start somewhere – here’s the puny little fight stick the king gives the hero as he starts on his quest:

According to the same 1UP article that I linked to above, players will be able to choose from three archetypes – the Hero, the Prince, and the Adventurer. If you like none of those three, you can make your own hero, dot by dot, and even customize its animation. Going back to the footage, here’s the world map, which is very reminiscent of Link’s Map in the first Zelda, except that this one is pseudo-3D:

All in all, the game does have a very old school feel, but the cute graphics will probably lure in kids as well. Gamersyde is have bandwidth problems so they’ve disabled embedding for now, meaning I can’t post the video here, but all you have to do is go here to watch the high quality version, and here for the low quality one. You can also download the video if you want.  The Japanese version of 3D Dot Game Heroes just dropped this week; a North American release is coming, but we don’t know when exactly.