Hi-Sci-Fi

yeah, something awful: still relevant today as when the web started (started for real - I’m talking geocities and yahoogames. All that stuff before then was sort of the dark ages.)

This image was uploaded with the post Star Trek Wetsuit.

Nothing says I love Star Trek AND diving like the Star Trek Wetsuit.

These suits are the newest novelty item aimed at us poor geeks who are willing to shell out a pretty penny for just about anything Star Trek. I have to say that even though I am horribly broke, this one does appeal to my senses, and I am terribly, terribly tempted.

It sure beats a uniformed teddy bear.

This image was uploaded with the post Mom! Han Solo is Just Floating Above My Bed!.

by Irma Arkus

Check out the Fathead’s new Han Solo design. Due to the photographic imagery, it actually does look like Han Solo hovers three feet above the floor. I am seriously considering gifting it to myself.

Fathead also has C3P0, Yoda, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and two versions of Princess Leia (I presume one for the bedroom, and one for the bathroom). [Fathead]

This image was uploaded with the post Food: Then And Now.

by Irma Arkus

If geeks are known for anything that it is for the countless hours spent playing timesuck games (I can think of an entire year and a half eaten by WOW), and successfully gaining weight based on diet of takeout, snacks and pop.

But an interesting article popped up comparing portions some 30 years ago, versus contemporary portions, and if you are trying to take off those last few pounds and finding it difficult, then maybe, just maybe, it is the portions that are the cause.

Divine Caroline’s Liz Monte has the scoop with appropriate photos and information on average caloric value of these delectable foods. Dietitians have been raving about portions for years already, telling us to eat only half of a average meal served in a restaurant, and then even move onto consuming only a half of that.

An average slice of Pizza was smaller, narrower, and contained some 350 calories less. Bahh, I say - I can eat 2 regular slices and then curse myself for hours later. The pros I hang with can finish a whole Xtra Large Za in a mere sitting. But I digress.

350 hundred calories may not kill you, but will definitely contribute to that ponch you’ve been jealously holding onto. But then there are worst scenarios: one of my favorite lines in a cafe is “I would like a giant cup of coffee,” so it is shocking when looking at comparison between the giant cup of coffee found at Starbucks (I don’t spend my money at Starbucks btw), measuring at 16 ounces and boasting 330 calories (and that’s with 2% milk! I drink whole!!!) versus the traditional 8 ounce cup with only 45 calories.

That leaves me with an almost extra 300 calories per cup of coffee, and that may not be such a concern, if it weren’t for the fact that I consume a LOT of coffee.

Check it out and share your woes. Photos above are up to scale. [Divine Caroline

That aside, you could always have a bigger problem with calories.

This image was uploaded with the post I am wearing Super Mario Socks as we speak.

and they are amazingly cute Super Mario Warp Zone Socks. Yeah, sock it to me baby.

Thanks to Genevieve for the tip [Ashidashi].

This image was uploaded with the post India Needs No GoogleEarth, They Have Bhuvan.

by Irma Arkus

Reuters reports on India’s National Remote Sensing Center, meant to serve as a superior, national version of GoogleEarth.

The program called Bhuvan, is meant to do what GoogleEarth does, but better, with a greater specificity on local environment, including soil types and the location of ground water. The idea is to combine the available satellite imagery and geographic field information to improve upon city planning efforts.

The really intersting bit about Bhuvan is that it has a resolution of 2.5 meters, which is highly accurate and provides for a superior resolution to that of GoogleEarth.

This brings up some valid security concerns. In the mentioned Mumbai Attacks, the gunmen were prepared using GoogleMap technology. With Bhuvan, they get to inquire about mining right, do online tours, and only then turn to their terrorist attacks.

This also brings up another interesting point: publicly available satellite images with a 2.5 meter resolution? Yes, you have been watched. [Reuters]

This image was uploaded with the post Space Invader Cookies! .

Wanna learn how to make these? Follow the link. Also, note the recipe for pork scratchings. Yees. Take that Vatican!

This image was uploaded with the post Science Blogs That Kick Ass: Chicks in Science.

by Irma Arkus

As we pointed out a few weeks back, scientists are predominantly women, regardless of what your car/dental/optical commercial may tell you. Women rule in science, it’s just that their white coats, for some reason, don’t end up celebrated or seen. Apparently, until recently, all women scientists have been in hiding, in underground laboratories…but I digress.

Apparently, while held in captivity, women are on the Internets, blogging away, getting sciency-er. And we dig that.

Phlebotomy has published the top 50 science blogs by women, and they are fabulous. So, check these out and blog for science!!! [Phlebotomy]

This image was uploaded with the post Geek Style: Atomic Tarantula.

by Irma Arkus

Thank you for the responses. Since we’ve hit Mininova our downloads have been enviable, to say the least. Not to be bragging, but in comparison to CBC, we seem to produce a far more popular show.

Saying that, Greg sent me this fab sci-fi T-shirt link: Atomic Tarantula. Obviously peeps with excellent taste, the Ts are graphically inspired by many of your favorites, including Tyler Corp., Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, and many, many more.

Check it out here.

by Irma Arkus

Nothing like high-school memories, peppered with images of new discoveries…of sweet sounds of Black Flag.

Black Flag, an exceptional punk band, was started in late 1970s, only to develop into a group that produced remarkable, complex sounds, as well as delivered politically aware lyrics.

WFMU carefully reconstructed all the hairstyles of Black Flag. For hair-raising experience down memory lane, visit their site.

This image was uploaded with the post Black Flag…And Their Amazing Coiffure.

If you can see this then hot action is on the way

A New Record for distance has been established by some dude in Venezuela using parts commonly found in a store. He managed to connect a laptop to his set up 237 miles away. Amazing.

Wired Blog

This is currently the description for the XBOX 360 Elite over at Future Shop’ website.

"Releases 04 May/07. Redesigned. Reinvented. Reborn. Introducing the all-new, almighty XBOX 360 Elite. It possesses all of the incredibly powerful features of the first generation Xbox 360, but with a few significant improvements including an integrated 120GB hard drive, HDMI connectivity, and a foreboding black finish. The hunt for Sarah Connor continues"

Irma and I usually rage on the show over and over again about the bad American adaptions that are made of British, Asian, or other World shows or movies into shows or movies however it goes both ways. Here are some hilarious foreign adaptions of North American based favourites like Superman and Turkish Star Wars, etc.

Weirdness

More Weirdness

This Wednesday, 3-14, is Pi Day. It will be celebrated at 1:59 pm in which you can honour the concept of Pi and the warriors who dare to recite the digits for World Records or to prove their Mathlete status. Warriors such as Chao Lu, a Chinese chemistry student, who rattled off 67,890 digits over 24 hours in 2005. It took 26 video tapes to submit to Guinness. I wonder who had to watch all of those and confirm he was not screwing up…

Article about Pi Day

If you want to express your inner BSG, aka the best damn show on television, now you can. BSG is running a contest on its website where you can download music, special effects clips, and stuff in order to compose your own Battlestar Gallactica video, homage, or emotional cinematic breakthrough in postmodernist pastiche. You get the idea. The winner gets to be immortalized and aired on an upcoming BSG episode. They also have some cool selections posted on the BSG website so enjoy them or make one yourself!

Ever want to own Obi-wan’ brown robes from the original Star Wars? Well someone bought it. In fact they bought it for just under $104 000 dollars US at an auction in London yesterday. Imagine wearing something like that while eating breakfast or entertaining guests? I hope whoever bought does something awesome like this. Again this is from a BBC article.

BBC Article

If you are bored tonight, which is November 24 in case you are wondering, I would recommend going out on the town to check this out. I copy and pasted it from an email btw…

Better than Lego Star Wars? Well maybe not. Check it out though

Lego Doctor Who

So its almost Halloween and you want to make sure you have the coolest pumpkin carving ever? Here are some ideas I found today. Evil Mad Scientist has posted step by step guides on how to build a Dalek Pumpkin or a Cylon one, complete with motion and voices!!!

According to scifiwire, Christie’, a New York auction house, is going to be auctioning off over 1000 Star Trek props, weapons, costumes, and hoobajoobs from the infamous series on October 5-7. So if you want a piece of official stuff from the CBS television archive now is your chance. According to the article: