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Frankenstein Experibass Makes Wonderful, Bizarre Music
For his unique creation, Diego Stocco, a sound designer and composer who has worked on such films as 'Terminator Salvation,' and 'Transformers,' attached the necks of a violin, cello, and viola to the body of a double bass. He then mic'ed up his monstrosity and played it with just about any object in reach, including bows, a paintbrush, a fork, spoons, a kick drum pedal, a drum stick and "a little device... built with fishing line and hose clamps."
The resulting instrument and generated sounds are nothing short of astounding. Check out the video below to hear a piece that Stocco composed using only his custom creation. [From: Diego Stocco, via swissmiss]
How to Use T-Pain's Auto-Tune in GarageBand
Just as a four-track enabled Beck to hit the big time, some home-recording savant might soon have a career of T-Pain proportions, thanks to Download Squad's instructions for using Auto-Tune in GarageBand. As typical of Garageband, the four steps are remarkably intuitive. As for hipping you to this undeniably awesome how-to, don't mention it. Just be sure to thank Switched when you're accepting your Grammy for 'Euro-Trash Dance Single of the Year.' [From: Download Squad]
Man Mounts 747 Cockpit to His Home to Use as Flight Simulator
The photo thread shows the cockpit's journey from the airport to the man's house, which couldn't have been cheap or easy. Some hapless souls hauled it on a flatbed truck and actually pushed it against the house with four dollies and old-fashioned manpower. He repainted the cockpit to 'match' the color of the house, but it's still a bit of an eyesore. Despite the back-breaking labor and absurdity of the project, one has got to hand it to his tolerant neighbors... or wife. [From: NASIOC via Tim_Stevens]
Man Uses Linux and CD Tray to Rock Baby to Sleep
Parents of newborns sometimes devise ingenious MacGyver-esque devices to keep their babies entertained, or to, more importantly, soothe them to sleep. One inventive techie, who goes by the YouTube handle macjonesnz, has created a ridiculously inexpensive self-rocking chair using only his computer and a piece of string.
The creative parent, using Ubuntu Linux, wrote a program commanding his CD-ROM tray to repeatedly eject and then pull back in. Connecting the tray to his baby's car seat with a piece of string, macjonesnz effectively created a continuous baby-rocker. As the video clearly demonstrates, Baby Charlotte v1.0 is resting peacefully -- and for a fraction of the price of some other non-traditional baby toys. [From: macjonesnz, via Neatorama]
Bar-Owner Uses 'Bum Bot' to Fight Crime, Considers Mayoral Run
Like the citizens of most large cities around the U.S., folks in Atlanta, Georgia worry about crime. No one likes crime, of course, but controversy arises when people begin to discuss how to deal with the problem. After hearing one Atlanta business owner's idea, expect an avalanche of controversy in the Southern city.
A 57-year-old pub owner, environmental engineer, and potential mayoral candidate, Rufus Terrill told USA Today that his homemade 'Bum Bot' has made the area around his bar much safer, and could do the same for the rest of the city, too. The robot, powered by four car batteries, features a loudspeaker attached to a walkie talkie, allowing Terrill to warn any trespassers, wrongdoers, and vagrants gathered on the sidewalks. Terrill says that the three-wheeled, steel robot has deterred crime, and that he only wants to target criminals, not the general homeless population. (With the name 'Bum Bot'? Sure, Rufus. Sure.)
Man Auctions Instructions on Building 'Dark Knight' Batmobile
Grown men love their toys. One man might have taken that love to new heights, though. Not only does he own a smaller version of a Tumbler, the armored vehicle that Batman drives in 'The Dark Knight,' but he built it himself, too.
Now, he's put the plans up for auction on eBay so that all you amateur engineers and professional nerds can have your own Tumbler. According to OhGizmo, the winning bidder will receive a .zipped copy of the Tumbler plans, which would enable the winner to build the go-kart, but wouldn't give him or her ownership rights to the design, itself. Speaking of ownership rights, tully712 might be hearing from DC Comics or Warner Brothers fairly soon. (And judging from the lack of bids on his auction, his eBay profits aren't going to go too far in paying for his legal representation.)
NYPD Finding Weapons Hidden Inside Cell Phones
Newsday also reported that police officers in Harlem recently arrested a man who had turned his cell phone into a mild stun gun. This rise in cell phone-related criminal innovation is especially troublesome, because prisoners have created several methods of smuggling cell phones into jails in order to plan escapes, negotiate drug deals, and perform other illegal activities. While you can certainly expect upgraded prison security measures, don't be surprised either if you're asked to remove your battery the next time you go through airport security. [From: Newsday, via Textually]
New Blog Highlights Creative and Ridiculous Hacks
Featuring a wide assortment of user-submitted hacks, you'll find a gallery of the most absurd solutions to everyday problems. Smoke alarm busted? Stick a bag of popcorn on your wall. Out of spoons? Nothing a zip tie and some duct tape can't fix (check out the pic above). Some of the entries suggest incredible thriftiness, while others are clearly Photoshop jobs, but they're all definitely hilarious. Click on over for your moment of DIY Zen. [From: Wired]
Homemade Transformer-Themed Toy Is Expensive... and Sharp
With Michael Bay's ode to robots hitting the big screen this week, the world and the Web are abuzz about giant hunks of shape-shifting metal that blow stuff up. According to the old TV theme song, Transformers are 'more than meets the eye,' and, while it only slightly resembles Optimus Prime or Megatron, you could say the same for this toy posted by Lubbock, Texas Etsy user 'reaver.'Dubbed 'Homage,' the toy stands 17-inches tall and, at $2,000, costs as much as a used car. It transforms from its humanoid robot form into a sleek jet whose wings look like they could slice an apple in half. According to the designer, the original piece is on display at the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock. Working by commission, 'reaver' promises to build the toys upon order -- a process that takes close to a month. He plans to create a consecutively numbered series of the unique toy, which is constructed of aluminum, brass, steel, and plexiglass.
Top 10 Things Seen at Maker Faire 2009
Maker Faire 2009 is the world's largest DIY festival, celebrating everything from food to arts and crafts to cutting-edge technology. Organized by the folks behind the fantastic Make magazine, this year's festival, held last weekend in San Mateo, California, featured over 600 different "Makers" and their inventions/creations. We stopped by San Mateo Event Center where it was taking place, and saw robots, art cars, tofu-making demonstrations, and much, much more. Click on through to see our ten favorite things from the fair.
Gallery: Maker Faire 2009
DIY 'Super Mario'-Themed Board Game
In addition to the paper cut-outs, the game comes with a plexi-glass box, blueprints, and two Nintendo controllers with instructions printed on the back. [From: Ashley Buerkett, via LikeCool]
Man Delivers Baby With Help of YouTube
Providing further proof that the Internet is not, in fact, "good for nothing," Marc Stephens, a 28-year-old naval engineer from Cornwall, England, watched a quick how-to baby video on YouTube, and successfully delivered his baby daughter, Gabriele. According to the Daily Mirror, this all happened on March 21st, but apparently the Stephens only spilled the details about how the baby actually was born, yesterday morning.Feeling anxious about his wife going into labor, he decided to check out some birthin' videos. Good timing, because a few hours later, she went into labor (three weeks earlier than expected). The paramedics were on the way, but, with time running short, Stephens was forced to go at it himself.
His wife, Jo, who has three other children, told a slew of British newspapers that of all her four childbirths, this was the one she enjoyed the most.
Our New Favorite Thing: RC Nerf Tank
We're in love. And, no, it's not with some newfangled smart phone, or some USB gadget. It's with a DIY mod of a Nerf toy.
Travis Schmidt, a genius on par with da Vinci as far as we're concerned, built himself a radio control-powered, laser-sighted, iPod-playing (really?), web cam-wielding, turret-mounted, quick-firing Nerf tank. And, even better, he's decided to share with the world how he did it, posting detailed instructions on Instructables for building your own foam-firing weapon of domestic war.
Now, be forewarned; this project is not for those who have no previous experience with soldering, wiring, or working with metal (though that might not stop us from attempting to construct our own). It's a complex build, involving motors, metal work, and radio receivers. But, if you've got the skills, the time, and are as juvenile as we are, it might just be worth a shot.
If you're not up to the task, you can always live vicariously through Mr. Schmidt's video (above) that pits a pillow-wielding girlfriend against the ultimate in foam warfare. [From: Instructables, Via: BoingBoing]
DIY Trash Can Understands Your Voice Commands
Have you ever stared at a garbage can and wished you could command it to come towards you? No? Then you may still be interested in this new speech-controlled trash can built by DIY-er Amnon, which will respond to your beck and call, yet never stray beyond the safe confines of your carefully laid out tape route (sure to compliment any room).
Unfortunately, there isn't a step-by-step guide for building a little trash buddy of your own, but Amnon has provided a shot of the all-important underside (linked below), and a complete parts list, so it shouldn't be too hard for experienced folks to follow along. Head on past the break for the video.
[Via Hack a Day]
Unfortunately, there isn't a step-by-step guide for building a little trash buddy of your own, but Amnon has provided a shot of the all-important underside (linked below), and a complete parts list, so it shouldn't be too hard for experienced folks to follow along. Head on past the break for the video.
[Via Hack a Day]
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