Magic Trick - Chop Cup

Just procrastinating... browsing the internet and came across this.

Now I, like every one, love a bit of magic, this is just weird, crazy and a touch scary just watch it and find out.


CHOP CUP from :weareom: on Vimeo

Timescapes

Timescapes is a series of time lapse films that utilise Kessler technology - http://www.kesslercrane.com/

The Kessler Cranes are mounts for your cameras that run on tracks with motors and do all kinds of crazy things and add a sense of movement in to the time lapse films. Some of the effects that have been achieved are mind blowing! and They have recently introduces a way in which alter focus during the camera movement too!!

Just think of the mental effects you could get when they make them tilt and shift compatible so that you can move the camera on 3 axis as well as the lens!

TimeScapes: Rapture from Tom Lowe on Vimeo.

After the jump there is another video, its a Timescapes making of style video! its also well worth a look!!

Brainwave Controllers

SH found these whilst having an amble through the recesses of the internet the other day.

I reckon they could step beyond Kinect and Wii by making the brain the controller rather than the body.

More importantly they are also being developed so that paralysed patients are able to control sensors, computers and the like without having to commit to complex surgery inside the skull.

Now there is a realistic possibility of the technology becoming more commonplace allowing people with reduced mobility and those with muscular conditions to improve their quality of life.

Aeroplane Concepts

The following are a number of aeroplane concepts developed by companies such as Eads, Aerion and Airbus. These concepts could be the future of long distance travelling - though will they match the luxury of Concord?

Underworld Awakening

This could be absolutely amazing, on the other hand, number 4, have we gone too far? Either way this film promises a few of the old favorites with the now compulsory uber baddie at the end. For a start i was so happy to hear about this film being on the way, after watching the trailer I've gotta say I'm slightly underwhelmed; and for that matter having resident evil flash backs. Also why does the poster have "In 3D" written on it, surely that's just an expensive movie going assumption now. I will leave you all to be the judge of this film beyond that however, Enjoy the trailer

Film of the Week : The 6th Day

2000, what a year, and this is why. How many flims have had the same concept as this now, not one but two of our beloved Arnold Schwarzenegger. Can Arnie [Adam Gibson] stop maniacal clones taking over the world, I think we all know the answer. But it is great fun watching how he does stop them, you guessed it, diplomacy. Enjoy the trailer especially the very last quote of it, oh the declarative nature of things.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Today released in the UK one of the greatest all time Sci-Fi classics is rehashed. Hopefully the memory of Tim will leave us and be replaced with something fantastic. Yes there is risk that it may be terrible, however it is still potentially gonna brilliant, that’s what I'm holding out for.

Now a little short featuring, well Golum, Enjoy.

Film of the Week : Wall•e

Ive got to admit for a start i was not convinced by Wall•e. I was so wrong, this film is awesome. If you haven’t seen this film just go and watch it.

Pixar paint a bleak and dystopic future, in a lovely colourful way. Some what of a happy anomaly, also for the first half of the film there is almost no talking.

Homemade Atomic Reactor

Maybe it's because I have a hangover that feels like a bear is scooping out my brains and aliens are doing intrusive tests on what remains of me but this amuses me somewhat.

A Swedish man, Richard Handl has attempted to create his own nuclear reactor in his own home. He acquired the materials on the internet and said he had hoped he might split an atom. (See one of the images he posted on the web of his efforts below)

The authorities got onto his fiendish plot when he contacted the Swedish radiation authority to check if what he was doing was legal. What is clear is that the police have stopped a supervillain in the making. Holy Macceroni, maybe the police raid was accompanied by some crazy graphics of words like BAM!!! WHAM!!!! SMACK!!!! TWOOOH!!!

We will never know but the whole caper might just as well have involved Roger Moore aggressively seducing the nearest lady whilst making 1970's innuendo to a bald apparently headless man who strokes his bejewlled pussy...cat.

Swedish UFO found in the Ocean

This is just brilliant the birthday present ive always wanted. The Swedish have found a 60 foot wide unidentified crashed object in the bottom of the Botnia Gulf.



To catch the orginal article try ABC.es

Film of the Week : Monsters

2010 gave us one of the most subtle and beautiful monster films [if you'll forgive the pun] that have been released in a long time. There has bee a spate of revisiting this genre over the last few years and this film is no exception. It is however a very good exception and should be considered on its own merits. Unfortunately the trailer isn't very good, so if you are really up for watching this film id just avoid the trailer and see the film. As is a trend in modern film the trailer gives a lot of stuff away and doesn't do anything to strengthen the film. Enjoy

Film of the Week : Inception

Staring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Ellen Page, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt [3rd Rock from the Sun], 2010 saw one of the most supported Sci-Fi films since the Matrix. A fantastic film ignoring the fact that it panders interly to allot of peoples ego's, i.e. "I know whats going on here". But all of that aside a fantastic film and just worth your time. Defiantly one the best film's of the last few years, not a direct book creation and just intended for the screen. Having both a theoretical and visual brilliance on its side, only time will, and can tell the extent to which this film will stand as a classic.



Also this film included one of Hans Zimmer's best bit of soundtrack, The dream is collapsing, to have a listen catch the jump.

Assassins Creed Revelations

Assassins Creed Revelations, Given the strength of Assassins Creed 1 & 2 this game should be special. This trailer was released at E3 if you haven’t seen it yet Enjoy.

Freshwater Factory Skyscraper

The Freshwater Factory Skyscraper recieved a special mention at the 2010 eVolo Skyscraper Competition.

It was designed by the Design Crew for Architecture.

The tower is made of circular tanks filled with brackish water. These tanks are sheltered in spherical greenhouses. Tidal powered pumps bring the water up the structure. The structure would create its own fresh water to be used for irigation on surrounding arable land.

Film of The Week: Being John Malkovich

This weeks film of the week is Being John Malkevich (1999). It stars: John Malkevich, John Cusack and Cameron Diaz and is directed by Spike Jonze.

A pupeteer is drawn into a strange love quintet with his wife, a co worker and John Malkevich when he stumbles upon a mysterious door that allows a person to be inside John Malkevich's head for 15 minutes.

A thoughly strange film that enjoyed strong popularity on its release and endures today as something of a cult film.

Seascraper Concept

I found this whilst researching yesterday's post. This is a concept design looking at the reapplication of oil rigs as sustainable living spaces.

This design by Young Wan Kim, Sue Hwan Kwun, Jun Young Park and Joong Ha Park recently recieved an honourable mention at the 2011 eVolo Skyscraper competition.

The structure also through a process of distillation would make its own drinking water.

Film of the Week : Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

1984 saw the release of one of Studio Ghibli's best and greatest films. Following the traditions of Ghibli films of a princess or prince of some description on an adventure this film really does not disappoint. In fact and on top of this this film is ace. A brilliant take on human interaction with the world around us. Even if this film was cast a children’s film it will always be a far more morally sound and ethically stable lesson for any child or adult than any Disney film. Well worth the time and effort of a watch hope you enjoy this film as I have.

Film of the Week : Starship Troopers

1997 saw the birth of one of my personal absolute favourite sci-fi films, Starship Troopers. Directed by Paul Verhoeven and staring Michael Ironside, Denise Richards, Neil Patrick Harris and Dina Meyer, this film was sci-fi gold. Referencing everything from "Alien" to "Full Metal Jacket" this film does not buck the sci-fi trend of being able to assimilate all other films to aid its own construction. Whilst I admit this is not just limited to this genre it is particularity prevalent in Starship Troopers, and rightly so it strengthens the film.



If you have never seen this film change that just go watch it, a cult DVD release classic and a fantastic film for it. Enjoy the trailer and check out the film if you can.

Ultimate Saw

I found this a couple of days ago whist shopping for tools.

It is a saw capable of cutting through mountains and is used in Kazakhstan to cut thousands of tonnes of coal out of hillsides.

It is over 145 feet tall and weighs over 45000 tonnes. It also requires 27 people to operate it at any one time.

Steampowered Bikes - Steampunks Revenge!

A bicyle powered by a steam engine sounds like it something that roared straight out of the sepia-stained pages of a steampunk tale.  Gusts of steam rise through fog bound warehouses, chains and gears clank and grumble. Mutton chopped heros chase down clockwork automatons through the gritty cobbled streets of Victorian London, whilst genius-supervillans plot world domination through rooms of cigar-smoke and polished brass.  You can almost smell the tweed.

Alas, such men and their marvelous machines are destined to remain in the pages of fiction... or are they?

Tom Sepe's Steampunk "Whirlygig Emoto"


Tom Sepe is Steampunk artist, performer and fabricator. You can see some of his wonderful creations and visit his rather beautiful personal website here.

Tom's bike is essentially an electric bike with steam-powered effects - but is that all we can hope for? Is a true steam powered bike possible? Yes, yes it is.