Warning: Video contains strong language.
Never base a marriage around mutual hatred for a plumber.
[Dorkly]
Researcher Creates Fully Operational Plane Using 3D Printer [Video]
Using only a 3D printer, researcher Jim Scanlan from the University of Southampton has created a fully functional plane. Even moving parts were created using the printer, all in one go.
[Via]
The Ultimate Geek Comic
If you’re a geek and you don’t read xkcd, you should be horrified and appalled. You should also now spend the next hour or so flicking through the comics, picking out the ones you understand on the first go and the ones that took you a little while.
The more you understand on the first go, the higher your geek rating. And the sexier you are.
Though this one I just find hilarious. Black Sheep anyone?
You will be led to judgement like lambs to the slaughter--a simile whose existence, I might add, will not do your species any favors.
[Via xkcd]
Amazon to Test Brick and Mortar Stores?
Amazon is a giant in the book biz, which is subtly ironic considering they only sell books online. Of course in recent years they have expanded beyond online book sales to include other products. A sign of the times, Amazon even expanded to create the Kindle, their very own e-book reader, allowing them to sell books without books.
Now the very changing landscape of the internet may be changing even more, but not in the direction you might expect. Amazon is currently testing the market to see if a real brick and mortar retail store will fit their business model.
“Sources close to the situation” tell trade blog Good E-Reader Amazon plans to roll out a small, boutique store in Seattle in the next few months as a test of whether physical stores could be profitable. The pilot location will focus on Kindles and accessories. It’s not clear if the store will even stock books, but Amazon’s publishing imprints have been banned from Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, so there would be a rationale for doing so.
This does seem a little strange considering they have made quite a name for themselves as a store without a store.
It does make sense that if Amazon wants to be considered a player in the publishing market, this would allow them to have more places to sell their published works.
Amazon broke all trends, creating a retail market without a retail brick and mortar storefront, and now decides to dabble in traditional sales methods? Does this feel backwards to you?
Pack Your Bags Aussie Tech Nerds: A Place to Crash in San Fran!
A team from StartUpBus: one of Elias Bizannes’ other start-up initiatives. Photo credit: Eoin McMillan.
A couple of entrepreneur Aussies (and a Kiwi!) are tired of having their tech start-up friends, with bright, puppy-dog eyes crashing on their couches week after week. They needed somewhere to direct their tides of friends so they could actually sit down in their living room in the morning!
Australians Elias Bizannes, Bardia Houseman (lol – what an appropriate last name for this project!), and New Zealander Stephen Weir decided enough was enough and decided to literally set up a house for the homeless start-ups. And what are they calling it? StartUpHouse.
These guys aren’t just some random kids from down-under with a good idea and no idea how to implement it. Bizannes moved to San Francisco about two and a half years ago and has a solid job as a director at Charles River Ventures. He also has experience in start-up ventures, including StartUpBus (which actually sounds really cool!) – get on a bus with Internet access and have a viable tech company set up by the end of the road trip!
Being a veteran in nurturing start-ups, Bizannes realized that San Francisco holds a definite allure to aspiring Aussies, and since it’s difficult for a foreigner to find a place to stay in the city of technological dreams, there was a void to be filled. He also is an invaluable resource, being very connected in the Silicon Valley network and giving local insight on the ideas coming through.
The 3345-square meter complex, at 880 Harrison Street in the “SoMa” (South of Market) district, is set to be “Ground Zero” for what they believe is the next Silicon Valley. With 210 desks and a 576-square meter building next door for accommodation, they hope to incubate great minds and churn out even better enterprises.
The government of New South Wales liked the idea so much that they’ll be subsidising the costs of NSW businesses using the facility by up to 50 per cent!
For us techy nerds, it’s a dream come true: a fun place to meet people of like minds, but most of all, to cooperate with those of like minds. It is the beginning of the human version of a mind meld, and hopefully it will start spitting out ingenious ideas that will completely change the world.
One might think that there are so many other places offering space to the start-ups, that we’re in a bubble that might well soon pop. Well, Elias defies such theorizing and says we’re not quite in the bubble yet, we’re still in a “boom” and this hub is going to be a “fun” place where entrepreneurs will live, sleep, and breathe together – hopefully to the benefit of all.
So if you’re keen to pick out your little corner from which you plan to become a leading tycoon, check out this video tour that Bizannes gave Hermione Way of the 880 Harrison street complex!
[Via The Age]
Star Wars R2-D2 Apron [Picture]
New from Haute Mess Threads Geek Chic Line the R2D2 apron. Uniquely designed, construsted with the upmost care you can gain multiple uses from this piece. Wear it while hosting, attending conventions, halloween. This is the ultimate attire for any die hard Star Wars fan!
Woman May Soon Give Birth to Venom [Pic]
Earlier this morning, Redditor ozLebowski posted this picture on the social media site along with this message: “So my wife may soon be giving birth to venom.. any tips?”
After seeing this, all I can say to you ozLebowski is: Ouch, this is going to be a painful delivery… plus, raising that kid will probably be quite a challenge!
[Reddit]
A Trip to Earth: 6 Aliens Review Their Terran Escapade [Pic]
[Source: Awful Drawings | Via]