Hopefully a future version will only kill the lights. That way, my kids will always remember to “bust a cap” into their lamp to turn it off when they leave a room. They’ll have to exert themselves a little more to turn the light on. [Gizmodo]
Kill The Lights With BANG! Lamps By bitplay INC.
February 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
http://www.vimeo.com/35973598BANG! lamps: just another cool gadget or gat training for the energy-saving domestic commando? Created by bitplay INC. out of Taiwan, BANG! lamps are turned on/off and the lampshade tilts when it’s shot by the included pistol. It’s only available in Taiwan now but should be coming to the states soon.
Idea For Searaser Wave Energy Generator Device Was “Right Behind” Our Butts This Whole Time!
February 2, 2012 By 1 Comment
Once again, Jubbling was so focused on writing about Christmas Trees from Goodwill that it missed a golden opportunity to develop something of value and to think the idea was as close as it was. The Searaser, the brainchild of engineer Alvin Smith, uses ocean swells to pump water onshore to storage tanks where it is released to drive a hydro-electric turbine and generate electricity. The Searaser idea was purchased by UK based Ecotricity and will be part of their renewable energy portfolio that’s focused on generating power from the wind, sun and sea. I may have missed my chance but I’m not giving up. I think I’ll go look under my sink for the next big idea in renewable energy. [Treehugger]
K-Tor Pocket Socket And Power Box
February 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Portable chargers like K-Tor’s Pocket Socket ($49) and Power Box ($150) are simple ideas that are packed with awesomeness.
The Pocket Socket’s is a hand-crank generator with a max output of 10w and is targeted toward emergency charging of cellphones, portable lighting etc. The collapsible and portable Power Box is a pedal-powered generator that produces up to 20w of power; enough to re-charge a laptop, tablet and of course, cellphones.
I’d like the see a video of K-Tor’s Power Box in use. If it’s not too loud, it could be the perfect product for anyone looking to sneak in a little exercise while they charge and work on their laptop. [GizMag]
Newt Gingrich: All Giddy About His Moon Colony Idea. Saving Planet Earth… Not As Much.
January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Let the crazy begin! Newt Gingrich, stumping for votes near Cape Canaveral Florida yesterday, let his space-reliant audience know that he’d like to establish a colony on the moon sometime during his first and second term as US President. Early in his career, he even introduced the “Northwest Ordinance for space” which would allow the moon to qualify for statehood once it reached 13,000 residents. Here’s Newt’s answer as to why he’d like to develop the moon:
I think there are a lot of different things you’d want to learn: How to live in low gravity. How to create certain capabilities that lead beyond the moon. How to develop assets that the moon has. How to do manufacturing in low-gravity environments.
Personally, I wish we’d get things right on this planet before we look to colonize others. So Newt, could you start by renouncing your renouncement of the pro-environment commercial you made with Nancy Pelosi? You and Nancy seemed to be in such agreement on the effects of climate change that I thought you were going to kiss at the end of the video. And for your sequel to 2007′s “A Contract With Earth” that’s coming out after the election? Maybe you should re-add the chapter by Christian climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe that attributes man-made forces as a cause for global warming. The geeky scientist in you knows it’s going on but the politician refuses to let you come out of the closet.
And if you do all of these things, I promise I will consider your somewhat batshit-crazy idea to colonize the moon if you become our President. Otherwise, I’m supporting the idea put forth by Mr. Show with Bob and David 15+ years before you on what we need to do with the moon. [Washington Post]
Donald Trump Willing To Scrap Plans For Hotel And Housing At His Scottish Golf Resort If Wind Towers Go Up Offshore
January 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Donald Trump’s bullying is continuing overseas and hopefully the folks behind the offshore wind turbines in Scotland won’t knuckle under. Trump has taken it to a new level and he is now threatening to not build the planned hotel and housing at his golf resort to protest Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group’s offshore wind turbines that his spokesperson 
describes as an “ugly industrial park directly off the shoreline.” Marine Scotland will decide soon if they’ll go forward with the turbines. For environmentalists, this could be a double-win – no more development on the protected Scottish coast and they get their wind turbines. But if they’re looking to compromise, we proposed a solution in Sep 2011 that might satisfy both parties – Trump gets to see his name and Scotland gets their renewable energy. [Bloomberg and Jubbling]
The Consumption Expansion Show (CES 2012) Is Over – Here’s One Reporters Take
January 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I’ve never been to CES but I have been to enough trade shows to know what a pain in the ass they are for both the attendees and booth operators. You scum around all day feigning interest in Company D’s products with the hope that you’ll get an invite to their party that evening. At the party, it’s a sales puke sausage fest with hired local talent to entertain you into more interest in Company D’s products. The end result – you’re creating a quantity 1000 purchase order for a product that nobody probably needs but that you now have QTY 1000 reasons for them to buy. It’s an ugly circle that surrounds CES and other trade shows and ultimately, it’s about consumption.
That’s why it was nice to read Matt Honan’s post on Gizmodo about his take on CES 2012. Here’s a portion:
I try to remember all the products I’ve talked about that I won’t even bother to cover—and that nobody’s going to buy. There were some Bluetooth speakers. Or maybe they were WiFi. But there was definitely a helmet cam. And a waterproof phone. And a tablet and an ultrabook and an OLED TV. There was ennui [weariness] upon ennui [lack of interest] upon ennui [boredom] set in this amazing temple to technology.An executive in a really nice suit from an up-and-coming display company tells me they plan to ship a half a million units this year. I try to figure out how much that is in kilograms of rare earth metals, but I can’t.
The full article is a great read and accurately reports the effect of trade shows like CES. It’s all about the “want” in consumption and not about the need of it.
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