Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Ken Block and his Subaru Impreza WRX STI Showing Everyone Up
Ken Block Co-Owner of DC Shoes was featured in this months December issue of Snowboarder Magazine, Check out the Press Release. *Read all the way at the bottom we added in a video of Ken busting a 170 foot gap in the desert.
SUBARU DRIVER KEN BLOCK FEATURED JUMPING HIS RALLY CAR ON THE COVER OF SNOWBOARDER MAGAZINE AND IN THE NEW DC SNOWBOARD VIDEO
Subaru Rally Team USA driver Ken Block and his Monster Energy Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally car have landed on the cover of the December issue of Snowboarder Magazine, hitting newsstands this week. The cover shot features Block getting airborne in his Subaru at New Zealand’s Snow Park Resort with DC Shoes pro-snowboarder Torstein Hargmo flying alongside the car on his snowboard.
Block, an avid snowboarder and co-founder of DC Shoes, recently brought his Subaru to the snowboard park at New Zealand’s Snow Park Resort to join the DC Snowboard Team for a multi-day session that combined filming, snowboarding, and driving for a unique experience captured for DC’s second full-length snowboarding video, Mtn.Lab 1.5. Along with the cover shot there is a multi-page feature full of photos from the session and a double sided pull-out poster featuring two more photos of Block’s rally car catching air in the park.
Block had the impetus for hitting the snow with his Subaru rally car after successfully jumping it 171 ft. for the Discovery Channel show Stunt Junkies late in 2006. After several attempts to set up a snow jump in the USA, the opportunity came together in New Zealand and Ken Block joined the DC Snowboard team as they filmed at Snow Park Resort in New Zealand’s South Island.
“After I completed the Stunt Junkies jump last winter, I started kicking around the idea of trying a jump out on the snow,” explained Block. “I’ve been a snowboarder for a long time and have loved driving in the snow since I first got behind the wheel. It was always a dream of mine to take a rally car to a ski resort and really see what I could do with it. I started talking with Mtn.Lab 1.5 Director Pierre Wikberg and some of the guys from the DC Snow Team and we decided to film it for the snow video and see what would come out of the idea.”
Block and the team of DC snowboarders filmed together in the Snow Park Resort’s main park on several obstacles and the crew built a 55ft tow-in kicker on flat ground to create a unique playground for the rally car and snowboarders alike. Block towed the snowboarders into several park obstacles behind his Monster Energy Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally car which was equipped with spiked ice tires from BFGoodrich Tires. Block then successfully jumped his car over 70 feet, with the snowboarders jumping beside him, creating epic photo sequences, one of which is featured on the cover of Snowboarder Magazine.
“All in all I’m really stoked on how well it went,” said Ken. “In all the experiences I’ve ever had, it truly was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done.”
Video of the entire rally car/snowboarder session will be featured in DC’s Mtn.Lab 1.5 set to release on DVD early November 2007. Additional video clips will also appear in Travis Pastrana’s next DVD, Nitro Circus 5 ‘Thrillbillies’, which will release in late November 2007.
Here is a link to a brief history of DC as well as the Team Riders Section of Subaru
Video Ken Block 170 ft Gap
Use a Wiimote to Make Whiteboards Out of Anything
Johnny Lee's description of "Low-Cost Multi-point Interactive Whiteboards Using the Wiimote" may sound boring, but it's actually a very cool and very innovative use of the Wiimote. Since you can hook the controller up to your computer and accept inputs using the Wiimote library interface, you can use its infrared sensors to detect and track infrared light on any kind of surface. With Johnny's app, you can in turn use a cheap DIY IR pen as an input device and make your own whiteboard/input tablet. You should watch the video to see more, but this thing looks really exciting. [CMU - Thanks Adam!]
Homemade Optimus Prime Costume Also Deserves Props
It may not quite be the Citroen transformer, but these kids still deserve props for creating a Optimus Prime costume worthy of recognition. It appears to be around 10 feet tall, which is inching closer to a scale model of the real (and by real, I mean not-real) Optimus Prime [Blasphemy! -- Ed.] Click the video above for a very anti-climactic video of Optimus Prime getting dressed and ready for work in the morning (and by work we mean killing Decepticon assholes). And y'all thought it would be the new boss-man doing the Transformers posts around these parts, eh?
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
LITROENERGY
Litroenergy is a patent pending designed light source material that emits light for 12 plus years- without electricity or sun exposure! The light source is inexpensive, non-toxic, and will stay on for 12+ years (half-life point) continuously without having to be plugged into any power source. This extremely low cost material offers 24/7 light. If produced on a mass scale the product has the potential of saving billion of dollars in energy cost World wide.The fill rate of Litroenergy micro particles in plastic injection molding material or paint is about 20%. The cost to light up 8 ½ x 11 piece of plastic 1/8” thick is about .35 cents.
Dutch plan to build a new island - Tulip
Dutch plan to build a new island
By Emma Thomasson
Reuters
Monday, December 10, 2007
AMSTERDAM: The Netherlands wants to redraw the map of Europe - literally.
Dubai built Palm Island. Now the world leaders in land reclamation are considering an island in the shape of a tulip to fight overcrowding and shield the coastline from the rising sea.
Supporters of the scheme say it will give Dutch companies a chance to showcase water management skills that are increasingly in demand due to global warming, but critics say the plan will be prohibitively expensive and harm delicate ecosystems.
While a poll in October by the research company TNS NIPO with the Red Cross showed that the Dutch were more afraid of flooding than a terrorist attack, many have a strong faith in Dutch expertise and technology to protect them from the water.
The Dutch Parliament has asked a commission on coastal development to look into the idea of building islands in the North Sea that could be used for housing, farming or a nature reserve, while at the same time helping to protect the coast.
"People live on top of each other in the Netherlands," said Joop Atsma, the Chritian Democrat politician who sponsored a parliamentary motion on building in the North Sea. "We are hungry for land. A huge area is needed for building."
Atsma says high land prices threaten the country's position as one of the world's exporter of agricultural products, and make a 100,000 hectare, or 247,000 acre, island potentially worth €10 billion, or $14.69 billion - enough of a return to fund the project.
A government body set up to promote innovation has drawn up proposals for an island about 50 kilometers, or 31 miles, long, sparking fierce debate which inspired one blogger to joke that a cannabis leaf may be a more suitable shape than the tulip on the formal plans.
"The Netherlands has a lot of know-how in terms of water," said Maria Henneman of Innovation Platform. "It exports this knowledge but it is missing out on innovation. More experiments are needed in the fields of alternative energy, tides and wind."
"Of course it is an expensive investment but with current technology a lot is possible."
The Netherlands, literally the Low Countries, has a long history of pioneering technology to help it claw back land from the sea and fight recurrent flooding.
U.S. officials sought advice from Dutch experts after floods devastated New Orleans in 2005, and Dutch companies have been involved in coastal developments worldwide.
The Dutch company Boskalis developed techniques during the Zuiderzee and Delta projects to become the world's largest dredger, helping reclaim land for Hong Kong's airport and now working on Oman's "Wave" project, a huge resort added to the coast.
Dubai's island, which juts into the shallow waters of the Gulf in the shape of a palm tree, was built by the Dutch marine contractor Van Oord using more than 100 million cubic meters, or 3,500 cubic feet, of sand.
"I live far below sea level and I have never had wet feet at home," Atsma said. "So much can be done with water management."
One of the world's most densely populated countries, with 16 million people living in an area about half the size of Scotland, a quarter of the Netherlands is below sea level and lies on the floodplains of three big rivers.
In 1932, work was completed on a mammoth 32-kilometer dike that closed the Zuiderzee off from the North Sea and allowed 1,650 square kilometers, or 640 square miles, of land to be drained.
After devastating floods in 1953 killed more than 1,800 people, the Dutch started one of the world's largest construction schemes, the Delta project, to raise dikes, close sea estuaries and build a huge storm-surge barrier.
"Funny shapes like tulips, clogs and windmills are a good way to start a debate, but they should not be considered as realistic," said Bert Groothuizen, spokesman for Van Oord, the builder of the Dubai palm island.
While Dubai's Gulf rarely sees waves above 2 meters, or 6.5 feet, high, the North Sea is much stormier with waves of up to 10 meters.
"The seaward protection must be stronger than in the Arabian Gulf which means that construction costs are greater," he said, adding it might be more realistic to extend Dutch beaches into the sea or move the main airport.
That idea was already floated after a plane crashed into an apartment block in Amsterdam in 1992, but it was shelved due to cost and environmental concerns. Nature-lovers have also scuttled plans to drain more land onshore.
Given rising sea levels, Van der Veen said it made more sense to protect existing land than build a new island.
The 33 Best Beer Pong Tables Ever Created
We have seen quite a few beer pong tables in our life, and decided to compile a list of the 33 best beer pong tables that we have ever seen. These tables were judged on overall creativity, the time it would take to make, and of course the final look of the beer pong table. With that being said, we bring you: The 33 Coolest Beer Pong Tables Ever Made!
33) Beach Beer Pong Table
So the table surface kind of sucks, but the idea to dig a huge trench is the sand is really awesome, so this made the list. Great if you enjoy sandy beer and shirtless dudes.
32) Baltimore Beer Pong Table
This table features a massive Marylandflag with holes to fit 2 games of six-cup and 1 game of ten-cup. Table also comes with Ravens logos and a stick figure man that is running with a football.
31) Superman vs. Batman Table
Clarke Kent or Bruce Wayne? Dark Knight or Man of Steel? You make the call on this table. Feel free to act like a nerd if on the Superman side, and a snobby rich guy if on the Batman side.
30) Snow Beer Pong Table
When life hands you snow make snow beer pong tables! This table feature embedded cup holders that keep your beer nice and cold while you play. Just don’t use yellow snow when making your own.
29) NES Controller Table
Four buttons of glory! This table is a throwback to the NES days, up up down down left right left right b a b a select start anyone?
28) Bud Light Beer Pong Table
This table features hundreds of Budweiser bottle caps to create a Bud Light Logo in the center and spell out Bud Light on the sides. Someone really loves Bud Light. Gross.
27) Surfboard Beer Pong Table
Next time that you are on the beach and without a table, do what these guys did and append some legs on a spare surfboard and play surf pong.
26) Homer Simpson Nike Table
This table features Homer drooling over a beer, and a Nike Swoosh that states “Just Do Her”. I wonder how many people have screamed “D’oh!” after they missed.
25) Ninja vs. Pirates Table
Who will win? You have to play to find out! Ninja is swinging a katana, while the Pirate and his pegleg are about ready to swing his sword.
24) Beer Cap Pour Table
This table uses hundreds of beer caps to create a mosaic of a beer pouring into a beer mug, surrounded by a patterned frame.
23) Lakers Hardwood Table
Made by an obvious Lakers Fan, this table is a glistening example of a beer-sketball court, one that looks like it was freshly waxed. Kobe!
22) Aqua Teen Hunger Force Beer Pong Table
This table features the Plutonians (and dr. Weird) vs. the Mooninites (and Carl) and the main characters from the Adult Swim TV show: Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
21) Guitar Table
This table rocks! Har har. The table is shaped like two guitars that are connected in the center, and are propped up by storage bins, how classy!
20) Nightmare Before Christmas Table
This Tim Burton Inspired Table features glowing graphics that depict the cult classic: Nightmare Before Christmas.
19) Floating Beer Pong Table
Unlike other tables we have seen, this beer pong table looks quite study and it looks like you could actually bounce. Now no cannonballs while game is in play!
18) Patriots Beer Pong Table
This is a masterful work of art that features a full football field, the Pats logo, and even goalposts! Plus you can’t lose on it, just like the real Pats!
17) URI Hanging Beer Pong Table
This University of Rhode Island bouncable beer pong table hangs down from the ceiling when in use, making for a super space saving table. And look, the “U” in “URI” is even made to look like a cup!
16) Beer Bottle & Cap Table
This unique table features a large slab of glass that is supported only by beer bottles. The table consists of an outer ring of bottles that support the frame of the glass, with supporting bottles that spell out “ECU” in the center. The inner floor of the table also features patterned bottle caps.
15) Crossroads Beer Pong Table
This table gets bonus points for the presentation, not only is the table perfectly painted, but uses flags, multi-colored cups and stacks of cans to accentuate it. Now just look before you throw.
14) Separated Hanging Table
This table may not be a table per say, rather a minimalist apparatus that allows you to play beer pong. These two boards drop from the ceiling and do not take up much space at all, now don’t walk though when others are shooting!
13) TV Bottle Cap Table
Not one, not two, but three TV’s along with some tasteful bottle cap designs are built into this beer pong table. We bet this monster has negatively affected some GPA’s in its career.
12) NES Beer Pong Table
This table is 8 bits of pure joy. Highlights include Little Mac doing a funnel from MegaMan, Link getting in a barfight, Donkey Kong battling Samus Aran and much much more. This is really more art than it is table.
11) Massive Triangle Table
This table allows for serious party animals to play beer pong with 153 cups per side. Yikes, at least the first 50 or so throws should be easy.
10) Corona LCD TV Table
Not your turn to shoot? No problem, this table features an LCD panel in the middle for your entertainment. Also surface is made of Plexiglas that overlooks a hundred or so Corona bottles that filled with Highlighters to glow under backlights.
9) Tennis Ball Table
This tennis freak made a table that features 4 different sections with about 75 tennis balls in each. Also included, a rope light under Plexiglas and probably a few broken strings somewhere.
Nebraska Hockey Table
This table features the usual bottle cap center, but also features about 75 broken hockey sticks for support. Can’t find a badder material than that.
7) Skull Blacklight Table
This table looks like a Faces of Death themed rave. This is really a pretty gnarly skull, and the boney finger looks like it is cursing the opposing team.
6) Sod Beer Pong Table
A for creativity. This golf themed table features real sod, a cart sign and of course spots for beer pong cups. Only negative, you may have to water this table.
5) Neon Ladies Table
This table features wood, Plexiglas and neon lights to create a one-of-a-kind playing surface. Not to mention the shapely ladies in the middle, what a table.
4) Aluminum Beer Pong Table
Made from nothing but aluminum, this table features a skeleton of a frame, cup holder on both sides, and a flat surface in the middle for bouncing. A very artsy take on the traditional beer pong table.
3) Foosball Beer Pong Table
The best of both worlds! Now you can get your foos on when waiting for your turn at beer pong. Even comes with Plexiglas top so you can bounce and not worry about raining beer down on the foosball men.
2) Fire Beer Pong Table
Beer + Drinking Game + Table + Fire = Bad Idea. This on fire beer pong table features colorful players, and a big ol honkin fire pit right in the middle. We are guessing that you just need a lot of arc to make it?
1) Eight Person Beer Pong Table
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