EMTs Add Insult to Injury

EMTs Add Insult to Injury

Senate lets chaplains opt out of gay weddings

Senate lets chaplains opt out of gay weddings: The Senate voted Wednesday to ensure military chaplains are not forced to perform gay marriages if they oppose that for reasons of conscience.

Self-Folding Origami Stroller No Doubt Carried Baby Optimus Prime

Self-Folding Origami Stroller No Doubt Carried Baby Optimus Prime:

By David Ponce

You have to watch the video above to understand the elegance and beauty of the Origami stroller. At the touch of a button it goes from full size to ready-to-toss-in-trunk small, and it does the same in reverse also at the touch of a button. But it’s more than the folding action that’s impressive; this is one feature packed stroller!

It’s also the world’s first cell phone-charging, mileage-counting, LCD-sporting stroller, with generators in the rear wheels that charge the stroller as you walk. Plus, the Origami has daytime running lights, pathway lights for low-light conditions, and sensors that detect when a child’s in the seat (so it’ll never fold by accident). From power folding to cell phone charging, it’s everything a stroller should be.

Of course the Rolls-Royce of strollers comes at a chunky price: $849. But we know there are those out there who are willing to sell kidneys to get the best of the best. If that’s you, know that the Origami will be available starting January 6th, 2012. You can pre-order now.

[ Product Page ] VIA [ TechCrunch Gadgets ]

JetMan Yves Rossy Does Aerobatics With Actual Fighter Jets

JetMan Yves Rossy Does Aerobatics With Actual Fighter Jets:

By David Ponce

Yves Rossy is the world’s only flying man. He attaches himself to a custom-built wing and 4 turbojets, and simply takes to the skies (dropping from a helicopter for now), tilting his body to control his flight path. He’s been making headlines for a while, especially when he first crossed the English channel with his wing, back in 2008. And now he can add another feather to his cap: he’s flown in formation with two L-39C Albatros planes from the Breitling Jet Team, flying at their minimum speed. You can see what it looked like in the video below.

A little on the wing itself. It has a wingspan of 2m and weighs 55kg (121lbs) fully fueled and with smoke solution, 30kg (66lbs) dry. It’s propelled by 4 Jet-Cat P200 turbojet engines, with 22 kilograms thrust each. It has an average speed of 200 km/h (120mph) and a top speed (in descent mode) of 300 km/h (180mph). Finally, the amount of fuel on board lets Yves fly autonomously for 10 minutes. After that, it’s parachute time.

VIA [ TechEBlog ]

DIY Privacy Monitor

DIY Privacy Monitor:

By David Ponce

An Instructables user by the name of dimovi has created a privacy monitor in a most ingenious way. He basically disassembled the monitor, removed the polarizing film and glued a cutout made from this film to an old pair of glasses. Once reassembled, only people with the special glasses can see what’s on the screen while everyone else just sees a white monitor.

Of course, people will think you a little strange for staring at a white screen for hours on end, but that sort of stuff never stopped you before, did it?

There’s a more detailed step by step at the link below.

[ DIY Privacy Monitor ] VIA [ Hackaday ]

Hypnotizing Video Of The World’s Smallest V-12 Engine Being Assembled

Hypnotizing Video Of The World’s Smallest V-12 Engine Being Assembled:

By David Ponce

The video above shows craftsmanship and engineering prowess of such a degree that I remained transfixed for the duration of the 10 minute video. It shows a Spanish man machining every single part of a tiny V-12 engine and then proceeding to assemble the thing. Here are some details on the engine:12 cm3 of displacement (making it a… 12mL engine?), the diameter of the cyllinder is 11,3 mm and the stroke of the pistons 10mm. It runs on compressed air though it could conceivably run on gas; the guy didn’t want to “contaminate” the air with combustion gasses. There are 261 parts, 222 screws and it took him 1,220 hours to complete. It’s a one-off creation, is not for sale and is meant to instruct viewers on the inner workings of such an engine.

VIA [ BoingBoing ]

Tipping Teacup Is Smartly Designed

Tipping Teacup Is Smartly Designed:

By David Ponce

Nearly 7 years ago when OhGizmo! launched, it had an emphasis on design. It was just me back then and I remember being amazed at products that were elegant and ingenious in their design. And while I shifted focus somewhat after a while (smart design turns out to be pretty rare), I still get excited when I come across things like this Tipping Teacup.

The teacup has an unusual angled bottom that allows it to rest in two different positions. On one side is a screened compartment in which you place your favorite loose tea leaves. Pour hot water through the screen and allow it to steep. Once it’s done, simply tip the cup in the other direction, lifting the leaves up out of the water. The cup’s large size is perfect for cradling between your hands as you enjoy the warmth of your drink. Screen is removable for simple clean-up.

One cup holds 6 oz. and though it’s made out of plastic, it is not dishwasher safe. It comes in black or white and is $20.

[ Product Page ] VIA [ LikeCool ]

GEICO Creates App to Let Federal Employees Track Their Leave

GEICO Creates App to Let Federal Employees Track Their Leave: Federal employees who want to keep track of their days off can download the "Federal Leave Record App" to their mobile phones from the Web site of GEICO.

Holiday Decorating With a Helicopter Can Be Very Dangerous [Video]

Holiday Decorating With a Helicopter Can Be Very Dangerous [Video]:

You might worry about falling off a ladder while decorating your home with lights, but that pales in comparison to what happened to this helicopter in Auckland while installing a Christmas tree. Thankfully, the pilot walked away from the crash. More »