Technabob » humor

Building A Life-Sized AT-AT: Utter Craziness?

Range — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:24:37 +0000

We’ve just started to see some powered exoskeletons, and they are still pretty clunky affairs. So how can we even think about starting to build a real AT-AT? That doesn’t seem to faze the Mike Koehler, the man behind AT-AT for America – a campaign to build a fully-functional full-size AT-AT.

Even building robots that can walk using four legs is complicated, let alone a 75-foot high monster that can carry over a ton. The trick I think is to try and make defense contractors try and build a replacement for a tank that can walk.

An AT-AT can move up to 40mph, carry 40 stormtroopers, and on top of that, an extra ton of cargo. It’s going to take a while, but if it ever does come out, it will reign the battlefield. Honestly, I think it’s just too large and unwieldy. We’ll probably see exoskeletons in the field for soldiers way before this, but I could be wrong. Mike is working on a Kickstarter page to raise funds for the build, but for now go here if you want to get involved or make a donation.

[via DVice]

F’Ing Epic Cardboard Cubicle Prank Proves These Guys Don’t have Enough to Do

Shane McGlaun — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:00:14 +0000

Back when I had a real job I worked in a hospital on the night shift and we got really, really bored. We used to play pranks on each other than involved being dusted with baby powder if you fell asleep or shocked with a muscle stimulator. I was proud when I conned someone into answering a phone that had an earpiece coated in KY.

The people that pranked a dude named Leif make my shenanigans look pitiful by comparison. The epic nature of the prank makes me wonder if the people who made the cardboard office for Leif actually did any work while he was gone or just spent all their time cutting cardboard.

While Leif was on vacation, his coworkers took everything from his office and replaced them with cardboard versions. Everything includes the desk, computers, books, food, and all. I would just keep all that cardboard stuff, it has to be cooler than the real items they replaced. Check out the video to see how epic the gag really was…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via TechEBlog]

Undercover Boss: Video Game Style

Technabob — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:16:17 +0000

Ever seen the cheesy show Undercover Boss? You know, the one where bosses pretend to be employees at their companies so they can snoop on what their staff is really up to, then eventually eke out some crocodile tears and token gestures to ease their guilty consciences while they collect their millions in stock grants? Yeah, that one.

The guys over at College Humor decided to do their own version, where video game bosses spend a day filling the shoes of their underlings…

My favorite part has got to the part where the RPG characters say it’s company policy that they have to wait for their turn to fight. If only the boss could change that policy, I might enjoy RPGs more.

[via The High Definite via Geekosystem]

Alex Blagg: Webeneur

Lambert Varias — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:53:19 +0000

Are you planning on starting your own website? Perhaps you already run a website and want to get more traffic? Then don’t listen to Alex Blagg, strategenius, techspert, buzzmaster, stratocaster. But if you’re looking for someone who pokes fun at marketing speak and the ridiculous new words that have sprung forth from the Web, then he’s your man.

Alex Blagg writes at BajillionHits.biz, where he dishes out strategies on winning the Internet “formspringed” from his brain. He’ll be happy to provide “a relevant strat customized to your individual monetization needs” and “give your biz the next-lev bottom line your board will be looking for in the next Q.”Here’s is Blagg’s Viral Vidifesto:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Check out Bajillion Hits for more marketing BS. I love his YouTube vs. Vimeo comparison. He calls YouTube the place for people who want mad hits, while Vimeo is for “aesthetically-obsessed hipsters”. He also says Tumblr is the Vimeo of blogging platforms. Yes, his blog is on Tumblr.

[via Techi]

Are Facts Too Confusing? Try Fake Science

Range — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:13:21 +0000

Are facts too confusing for you? Then you should try out Fake Science. It will answer all of your questions without those pesky, annoying facts that everyone keeps flaunting around.

Everything from hiccups to solar power is covered by Fake Science and their crack team of researchers.

I’m just waiting to see what they blame on the Underpants Gnomes from South Park.

[via Coudal]

The Face of Washing Machine Destruction

Technabob — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:10:55 +0000

Remember that little clip we posted the other day, showing off the cataclysmic destruction left in the wake of throwing bricks in a washing machine? Well I can officially tell you that I like this new version better.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Oh, the humanity! Oh, that’s right, it’s still an inanimate object.

Washing Machine Cleans Bricks

Shane McGlaun — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:24:19 +0000

When I was a kid my grandmother had this set of plates that had gold leaf on them. When she got her first microwave, I used to sneak into the kitchen and put one of the plates in the microwave to see the sparks it created. It’s a good thing there was no YouTube when I was a kid. The only thing keeping me from trying out the old “brick in the washing machine trick” at my house right now is that I am the one who would have to pay for a new machine. If you are in the same boat, you will have to make do with the video of this dude killing his washing machine in fantastic style by tossing bricks inside it during the spin cycle.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

One brick made the machine smoke and vibrate a lot. Once the second brick was added all hell breaks loose and some innocent flowers are killed in the process. This is much better than the Will it Blend stuff.

[via Laughing Squid]

Pac-Man Ghosts Discuss Television

Technabob — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 03:42:53 +0000

Enjoy this brief video as Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde chill out and talk about their favorite TV shows instead of chasing Pac-Man.

…and I totally agree with them about Burn Notice.

[College Humor via Go Nintendo]

Web Browsers Illustrated

Range — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:14:32 +0000

Caldwell Tanner is a cartoonist for College Humor and he made this great little cartoon comparing the different browsers to their equivalent modes of transportation…

I found this hilarious, especially when I saw what he chose to represent Firefox. I use Firefox as my main browser, but it’s true that it can quickly become overloaded if you use too many add-ons or extensions. A fresh install is always nice when those memory leaks start to bog you down.

I do use Chrome sometimes, especially if I don’t want to open all of my saved tabs in Firefox, I’ve also noticed that it’s pretty fast, though in my unscientific tests, it’s not faster than Firefox. Still, Chrome and Firefox are getting more and more extensions and add-ons.

Which browser do you use most? And don’t say Lynx.

[College Humor via Presurfer]

God of War III Nutrition Facts: Now With More Arterial Spray!

Technabob — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:29:32 +0000

Somehow, I managed to miss the fine print on the front of the God of War III box cover.

6,004% of the U.S. RDA of disembowelments, eh? Can you ever get enough, really? And I had no idea that it had negative 130 calories a serving. I’m gonna have me a bowl of delicious Kratos as part of my daily regimen, and in no time I’ll be skinnier than Nicole Ritchie sitting in a sauna after a good purge.

[illustration by Gary Hodges, via Joystick Division via Geekologie]

Prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse With First Aid Pack Tee

Alisha K. — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:38:46 +0000

You know what goes well with guns and gore? First aid kits. And thanks to the ThinkGeek folks, you can keep yours close. So close, in fact, that it’s two dimensional.

I’m pretty sure a picture of a first aid kit isn’t going to help you much, in the event of a real zombie apocalypse, though, so as cool as this t-shirt is, please, prepare accordingly. You never know when the hordes will rise up against the untainted! But in the meantime, you can use this shirt to weed out the people who have good taste. They’ll be the ones complimenting your duds.

Start picking out your new friends now for a mere $18.99 (USD).

[via Wonderland]

IMac Shuffle: the Simplest Mac You’Ll Ever Use

Technabob — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:14:41 +0000

Inspired by the simplicity of their recently released iPod Shuffle 3G, the fine folks of the Apple design team have done themselves one better – with the announcement of the new iMac Shuffle.

By removing the bulky screen, DVD drive, USB, firewire and display ports, it’s the thinnest iMac ever. Just a svelte layer of brushed metal with a power button. Plus, you can take control of all of your applications using Apple’s VoiceOver technology and a pint-sized remote that replaces the need for a keyboard or mouse. Oh yeah, they did leave in the bottom-facing speakers so you can actually hear the voice.

I can’t wait to try editing Photoshop files with this bad boy.

[iMac Shuffle via Nowhere Else]

Cmu Girls Heart Technabob

Technabob — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:40:19 +0000

The girls of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) are undoubtedly some of the dopest chicks you’ll ever encounter. Not only do they do they possess mad algebraic skillz and could probably kick your ass in World of Warcraft, they have the only finest taste in tech blogs.

In this hilarious rap vid clip from the school’s CMU Gurlzzz, pay careful attention starting around the 1:45 mark, and you just might hear a mention of a little blog that’s near and dear to my heart.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Excuse me now I gotta catch up with my blogs (blogs)
If you don’t like that then I’ll throw you to the dogs (dogs)
And if you DIGG it, then you my dawg
Gizmodo Notcot and technabob

Yep. When you start having your blog mentioned alongside DIGG, Gizmodo and Notcot in a viral YouTube clip, you know you’ve arrived.

CMU Gurlzzz, technabob loves you too.

[check out the HQ version of the video here]

Automated Voice Response System Gets an Attitude

Technabob — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 05:08:49 +0000

Ever feel like telling one of those stupid voice-recognition phone systems exactly where it can stick option number 2?

Carnegie Mellon alumnus, humorist and robotics author Daniel H. Wilson stars in this humorous video clip of what happened when he got a little too snarky with Diane, the voice behind an Automated Voice Response (AVR) system.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Be sure to check out more entertaining clips (including some catchy tunes with Keepon the rhythmic robot) over on CMU’s Robo U Website.

[Thanks to Technabob reader Mandy for sending this along!]

Robot Laughs Its Shiny Plastic Ass Off

Technabob — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 18:37:06 +0000

I’ve certainly seen my share of stupid robot tricks in my day, but this is the first time I’ve seen one have a hysterical laughing fit.

Sure, the $3,000 Speecys SPC-101C programmable robot can walk and dance around, but more importantly, it’ll laugh at your bad jokes if you train it properly.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

But you’d better dust off your best material if you want a reaction like the one in the video clip.

[Robots Dreams via Skirmisher]

Idrink Therefore Iam

Technabob — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:57:12 +0000

The brilliant minds of industrial design firm Sonic Design came up with this design for an iPod-inspired bottle opener called the iDrink.

In keeping with Apple’s DRM (Drinker’s Rights Management) policies, the iDrink opener will only open bottles which have been purchased from the iDrink store (99 cents each). In addition, the opener features a built-in battery pack that can only be changed by the manufacturer.

While Sonic hasn’t officially revealed whether or not they plan to sell these, I have it on good authority that they will initially sell for $5.99, then drop in price by $2.00 about 2 months after release.

[via Core77]

Mario’s Real Life: Not a Pretty Sight

Technabob — Thu, 03 May 2007 15:52:44 +0000

This clip features the real life story of the famous plumber’s addiction to those little magic mushrooms…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The video, by P0YKPAC is a sad, sad tale, but the (mildly NSFW) clip is really quite funny. Mario’s struggles with the “stuff” lead him down a path of self destruction and it all ends with tragic consequences.

My favorite line, from Mario to Princess Peach as he looks inside an empty question mark box: “Where are my mushrooms? Where are my f–ing mushrooms?”

[via Kotaku]