Robot Chicken, one of the best shows ever, did an “operatic” version of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”. In remembrance of Ricardo Montalbán, enjoy this short little video clip.

Retrieved from -ExtraLife-

…and once again reinforces why I vote Libertarian.

So it appears that our wonderful leaders in North Carolina are scrounging around to find money anywhere they can find it. Their thought…let’s tax all the internet users! A group of politicians is studying whether to apply a sales tax to digital downloads over the internet. This includes such websites as eBay, iTunes, Amazon and even the PlayStation network (PSN).

With all the economic problems we are having, a lot of people are resorting to entertainment to forget about their troubles. With games costing around $60, music costing about a $1 a song, we as consumers are already feeling the crunch. Taxing on top of that is like a virtual slap on the face.

I could really go on and on and on, but I would like to stop my rant before I say something not family friendly. I just wish politicians could get a grip on what their “people” they represent really want.

Retrieved from -News 14-

…given by the funny people at XKCD! They now give you their guide on how to have a contingency plan if you should happen to have a child rotten to the core. There are ALWAYS options, and this just provides another if you go with their “Jurassic Park” approach!

…because at least I could feel like I have accomplished something.

Once again, leave it to the Japanese to really come up with some weird stuff. Here, designer Haikun Deng has generated a concept drawing for a toilet seat with a scale built in that will measure exactly how much that excrement weighs that you just released into the toilet. Defiinitely a reverse concept of measuring yourself before and after and then taking the difference, but hey, who’s to fault creativity? Who wants to guess if Mr. Bunny Love in the designer’s pics feels 10 lbs. lighter or not?

Product Info -Yanko Design-
Retrieved from -OhGizmo!-

…on March 1, 2009.

On that date, the traditional lighting source of incadescent bulbs will be banned from stores, forcing people to purchase more energy efficient bulbs such as compact fluorescents, halogens and/or LEDs. I have to say, at our last house, I had tons of halogen ceiling lights, which put out TONS of heat and had to be replaced about 3 times a year. That doesn’t seem ecologically friendly or energy friendly.

I have slowly begun converting some of our “main” lights in the current house to compact fluorescents, which with the ones I purchased, you have to get over two issues: one is the warm up time and the other is the color. I know that the color and warm up time can be compensated for by higher priced bulbs, but they also expend a bit more energy to have a constant “primed” bulb. I just figure it is a gradual light for late at night when your eyes need to adjust.

Now, for the LEDs, I am slowly becoming to love those little lights. They just need to come down on price before it can really be cost effective in a house my size. Maybe that will be the next experiment.

Anyways, do you think the people of Ireland will hate or love this change? It appears overall, there is a higher cost for the bulbs, so I wonder if that will sway them?

Retrieved from -Popular Science-

…and the Wunder Boner might do just the trick (if you want some fish)!

Yes, it is a fish de-boner…and yes, it is a horrible name. It’s great!

Retrieved from -ExtraLife- (thanks Scott Johnson for the laugh)

…involves tearing things down on purpose, instead of trying to keep them up!

So normally with Jenga, the object is to remove pieces of a tower and keep it from falling. Well, Uncommon Goods is offering a game that is similar, but much more pleasing to my destructive side. Players take turns building a tower while the other tries to knock it down with three types of devices: a ramp, a catapult or a wrecking ball.

This would be an awesome game for an engineer. Critical thinking to build up defenses where they are weak requires constant analysis which, for me, would be a pleasant change from normal board games when it comes to my thinking processes.

The only downside to the game….it costs $55.

Product Info -Destruct 3-
Retrieved from -OhGizmo!-

Unbelievable Dalek Christmas Tree from Lindsey J. Testolin on Vimeo.

…well, ThatsMyFace has the unique gift everyone has been wanting…a 3D model of your face!

So, the website ThatsMyFace has a pretty unique idea for gifts. You go to their website, you upload a couple of photos (frontal and profile), mark some key points and submit to them and they will create a facial profile for you. Then you can have fun by either aging yourself 10-40 years, change your ethinicity, change your sex and other fun things. They can also rate your “beautified self” and “attractiveness” ratings. How they do that, I have no clue. I would also be interested in the matching part where they will track down others who look similar to you.

But finally, for the true reason of this post…you can then purchase 3D cut statues of yourself to keep or to give as a gift. I like the pen holder shown above, but if you want to get real creepy, they have a “braincase” sample in which your top of head is cut off showing the brains.

So, starting at $29 (and ranging up to $2,000) feel free to give the ultimate narcissistic gift!

Product Info -ThatsMyFace-
Retrieved from -OhGizmo!-

Baxter St. Bridge over Little Sugar Creek in downtown Charlotte that now carries the professional engineering seal of the Q!