technabob » flame

cherkassy motherland statue’s new led torch still has a touch of retro

lambert v. — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:40:34 +0000

I’m a bit surprised that this isn’t in Japan. Look at them pixel flames burn! That’s the new “torch” of the Motherland statue in Cherkassy, Ukraine. The statue is one of several Motherland statues built in several locations across the former Soviet Union to commemorate the people who fought or died in World War II. The statue used to have a gas-lit flame that was kept burning at all times.

Unfortunately, when the Union disbanded into independent states, one of the free amenities that disappeared was free natural gas. Apparently it became expensive for the local government to maintain the flame. As the article in English Russia puts it, “the memories don’t cost much in wild capitalistic realities!”

Unfortunately I don’t know when exactly the awesome turn of events occurred, but the important thing is that officials found a way to keep the fire burning by installing a cellphone transmitter with what I think are LED panels, which displayed the pixelated flames.

I don’t know how much utilities cost in Ukraine, but we’ll just have to assume that the cost of the powering the new torch is much cheaper than the old one.

[via The Presurfer]

boy you lookin’ hot: mini lighter cufflinks

lambert v. — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:20:14 +0000

You’ve been stealing glances at each other the whole night. All you see is that hot little number with the shiny red dress, everything else is black and white. She finishes her drink, and sashays off to the terrace, the light bouncing off her hips as they sway. You adjust your tie and follow her. You reach her side just as she’s putting a cigarette in her mouth. You twirl your right hand and snap with the left. A modest but firm flame appears on your wrist. Your eyes meet and reflect the flame as she lights up. She inhales for half a second, blows smoke for 3 more, puts her lips next to your ear and whispers, “Douche.”

I mean come on! Who else aside from MacGyver can pull off a get-up involving mini lighter cufflinks? Even James Bond in the 70s would’ve had laser beam cufflinks. Richard Dean Anderson, the cufflinks are sold by YougNeek at Etsy for $40 (USD). They’re currently sold out, so you might want to use your charms to wrangle a pair off of YougNeek. Or better yet, take a good look at the cufflinks and then go make your own.

[via Cool Material]

mathmos fireflow: the lava lamp goes cordless

technabob — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:45:01 +0000

Remember lava lamps? This modern update on the classic lava lamp does away with cords, instead promoting its ooey-gooey goodness using fire.

London UK-based Mathmos is getting set to release their new Fireflow lava lamps. The lights eliminate the need for electricity, instead substituting the heat of a simple tea light candle.

The Fireflow R1 and Fireflow O1 were designed by the same company that invented the original lava lamp over 45 years ago. The R1 looks like a tiny rocket ship, loaded up with bubbly goo that gradually morphs under the warm glow of candlelight.

The O1 features a modern design that floats a mouth-blown glass lava container several inches in the air above the flame.

Both versions are is available in a variety of fluorescent colors, as well as a sparkly glitter version, sans lava. You can also choose from a chrome or black metal finish. Burn time is rated at appx. 3 hours – or however long an average tea light glows.

Mathmos expects to ship the Fireflow lava lamps this Fall, with the Fireflow R1 selling for £29 (appx. $49 USD), and the Fireflow O1 priced at £35 (appx. $60 USD).

lego flamethrower will have you shitting bricks

lambert v. — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:00:25 +0000

Here’s a warning to all the bullies out there who like to make fun of nerds: don’t mess with people who can build flamethrowers out of LEGOs.

See, all they need are some bricks and a bottle of butane, and they’ll be pwning your ass like a Pyro on a Spy.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Unless of course, you’re a nerdy bully, in which case I have just given you an idea for your next project. What I done.

[via TechEblog]

instant bonfire: giant lighter

lambert v. — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:40:15 +0000

Light up all of grandma’s 98 birthday candles at once with this giant lighter! Or surprise the hell out of anyone who asks if you’ve got a light.

This fully-functional lighter measures a whopping 6.5″ x 4.5″. It’s perfect for accidentally lighting your face on fire. Here’s a video of the giant lighter:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

You can buy a giant lighter for $19.89 USD at Prank Place.

burn during reading [best bookmark ever]

technabob — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:48:57 +0000

While everyone is all abuzz about the new Kindle 2 Wireless E-Book Reader, we at Technabob still like to occasionally crack open an old-fangled hardcover or paperback. At least we now have a nice way to keep track of what page we left off on. The Burning Bookmark is available from Perpetual Kid or Gama Go for just $6 bucks.

mystical fire powder: for people who hate red flame

lambert v. — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:30:28 +0000

Winter is just around the corner – in places that get winter – so I’m sure that fireplaces and bonfires are being fired up everywhere. Wherever winter comes. So with all the fire some people see, I can understand why some of you might be tired of plain old red flame. You might be thinking,”Is there something out there that could spice up my boring old flame? Something that might be called, I don’t know… Mystical Fire? Can that something add colors like blue and green to my flame making it appear like the picture below?”

And then you think, “Yes, yes… and this Mystical Fire should be in powder form, so I could just sprinkle 1 to 3 packages on any outdoor/indoor wood burning fire, and so I can use it not only for camping and for luring my brother into the fireplace but also as props for Friday night D&D’s. Also, I think they should come in 25 gram sachets. Not 26 grams. 25. Because 25 grams is the right amount to create fires like the one below.”

Finally you think, “If such a Mystical Fire powder should exist, it would be really nice if it sells for like… £1.49 (appx. $2.29 USD). Over at Boy’s Stuff. Man. it sure would be nice if there really was some Mystical Fire powder.”

Here’s where I come in, and say “You there, red flame hater! You crazy psychic! Call me if you begin thinking of the numbers that a winning lottery ticket would have.”

[via boy'sstuff via random good stuff]

flame: the talking midi synthesizer

technabob — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 20:35:39 +0000

Dig that retro “Speak & Spell” sound? This sound module out of Germany produces an array of interesting eighties-esque bleeps, blips and fuzz that can incorporate little bits of speech and other sound effects.

The Flame Talking Synth can also be driven by a MIDI controller so you can really compose some serious electronica using one of these and composition software. The device incorporates a couple of Speakjet chips to produce a variety of sound and speech effects. The Flame is capable of cranking out 72 different speech elements, 43 sound effects and 12 telephone touch tones. Be sure to check out the audio samples here.

Available from analoguehaven for $549, the Flame is definitely geared to the professional electronic musician rather than the casual sound hacker.

[via MAKE]