We’ve brought you Rube Goldberg-style clocks and toys, but none of them are a match for the 156-step device that’s just won the annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. This year’s challenge was to assemble a burger with vegetables, condiments and two bun halves. The meat was pre-cooked… a sensible idea to avoid fires and explosions: you’ll understand when you look at the great photos of the machines that MAKE took. Beneath the gallery you’ll find a demo video of some of them in action. Sadly we don’t have one of the complete 156-step run yet, so you’ll just have to envision its fantasticness.
A little meta for my tastes, but today’s Old Gray Lady has an article explaining how blogging will slowly kill all us bloggers. While I’m sure some of you would say, “Where’s the problem?” I thought it was neat to see the Times even acknowledge the work of some of us. There’s quotes from bossman […]
A little meta for my tastes, but today’s Old Gray Lady has an article explaining how blogging will slowly kill all us bloggers. While I’m sure some of you would say, “Where’s the problem?” I thought it was neat to see the Times even acknowledge the work of some of us. There’s quotes from bossman Michael Arrington and some of my friends over at Gizmodo.
Common threads include little to no sleep, weight gain and social isolation. If anything, I’ve gotten into better shape because of blogging (something about sitting in front of a computer screen all day makes me want to head to my Rikers-style gym most evenings), but I can absolutely see how damaging the lifestyle could be; it’s not normal. I won’t say it’s a “woe is us” article—I know those of you with a “real” job would punch us in the face for complaining about doing this—but just know that the gig isn’t all reviewing gadgets and downloading from BitTorrent.
We’ve shown you NASA’s neat ATHLETE robots before and it looks like the little hexapod machines have been getting more sophisticated. This vid of two ATHLETEs collaborating to lift a heavy habitat load onto the ground sent faint Matrix-esque shivers down my spine. NASA is taking development of the robots seriously, as it turns out their multiple-wheeled dexterity make them perfect for carrying mobile habitats across the rocky, uneven lunar terrain. They’ve even been discussed in the most current mission planning, so they really might be trotting-rolling across the Moon’s surface in a short bunch of years. Next up for ATHLETE: a mock mobile lunar base trial. [NASA and New Scientist]
The Jet House by designer Jérôme Olivet is certainly one of the craziest designs we’ve ever seen for a house. At first we were amazed with the “grounded space craft” looking three story structure. But then we got to thinkin’. This isn’t too much different than the UFO home built in the 70s. The Jet Home has an elevator and two jet-car garage, where as the UFO house has a button activated stair case and a two normal-car garage. After giving it a little more thought, the Jet House is basically just an updated UFO Home that looks cooler. Well actually, much cooler. [Yanko Design]
We’ve brought you Rube Goldberg-style clocks and toys, but none of them are a match for the 156-step device that’s just won the annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. This year’s challenge was to assemble a burger with vegetables, condiments and two bun halves. The meat was pre-cooked… a sensible idea to avoid fires and explosions: you’ll understand when you look at the great photos of the machines that MAKE took. Beneath the gallery you’ll find a demo video of some of them in action. Sadly we don’t have one of the complete 156-step run yet, so you’ll just have to envision its fantasticness.
The Jet House by designer Jérôme Olivet is certainly one of the craziest designs we’ve ever seen for a house. At first we were amazed with the “grounded space craft” looking three story structure. But then we got to thinkin’. This isn’t too much different than the 
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