Acetio | Blogma

This would be great for stop-motion animation.

I like how dark it is. And I like the name "Filth Wizardry"

http://www.filthwizardry.com/2010/06/diy-sand-art-lightbox.html

There's not really enough value in this to make cities need to install them everywhere, but it's one of those ideas that at least makes me pause to think about it.

Pop-Up is a set of platforms that is embedded in the sidewalk and can be pumped up or down by anyone. The advantage is in being able to free up sidewalk space when not in use, while also not requiring other storage space for bulky furniture. Also, since each component can be raised or lowered independently the furniture can be used as benches, tables, or some combination.

Downsides:
A) Potentially filthy (dog-doo smears on your table?)
B) Some kid decides to pump your seat up or down while you're sitting on it and you have to chase him away.

Maybe you have to be in Holland for this to work.

From the earliest days of desktop computers there has been a tradition of tinkering with computers, people taking them apart, modifying them, and building their own. But cell phones seem to have not gotten the same kind of attention, even though they may be the most ubiquitous computing devices there are.

CNet has a story about home-brewed cell phone makers that show that it isn't all that difficult to get into cell phone hacking, especially now that there are tiny Linux-powered brains available.

"Patel says he has lost patience with even the slimmest Motorolas and most advanced Nokias. He has been trying to build new features for cell phones for years, and he--like a growing number of other impatient developers--has concluded that phones have to be as flexible as ordinary computers if he's going to make progress."

I don't tinker anywhere near as often as I used to, but this gives me ideas...

from Mike C.

I first heard about this guy, Reishee Sowa, about ten years ago on some TV news show. He built a floating island out of empty plastic bottles and was able to live on it as it floated near the Yucatan Peninsula.

Unfortunately, the island was destroyed by hurricane in 2005 and since then Sowa has been working on the replacement, named Spiral Island.

The island uses a quarter of a billion soda bottles tied together, with plywood sheets mounted on top of them, then sand is poured over the boards. Mangrove trees, which thrive in salt water, help anchor the sand to the bottles and provide shade.

Sowa is nearly completely independent on his island, gathering drinking water from rain, and using solar ovens for cooking.

More here, a blog devoted to islands

And more and photos here

This idea has fascinated me for 10 years, and is increasingly relevant as people try to find ways of controlling the enormous and growing amount of trash floating in the Pacific Ocean.

"Karin of ValhallaBrooklyn started her business with the goal of large wholesale orders to shops throughout the United States and Europe. Once setting up shop on Etsy, she soon discovered she could make wholesale orders and retail orders together in order to support herself. With a new baby on the way, she made the decision to stay small and handmade rather than outsourcing her designs to larger companies. She now finds herself supporting her entire family through the endeavor and sure works the hours to prove it! Keep reading to find out what goes on in Karin's 80+ hour work week!"

Wired has an article titled 12 Good Gadgets for Hard Times listing the dozen things that any fallout shelter owner would want to have.

I own a few of these, and whenever I pick them up, I have a sense that, if anything really bad were to happen, at least I would still be able to open cans and listen to AM radio.

Objectives:

1 - Create passive, solar-powered water electrolysis device

2 - Store generated hydrogen in volumes of at least 1 liter

3 - When volume reaches desired threshhold, release gas and ignite with a spark.