A while back, I came across an article in Popular Science about a do-it-yourself kit for making a charger that would charge USB devices (like iPods or some cell phones) using only a 9v battery packed into an Altoids chewing gum tin. I was intrigued. I’m not much into homebrew electronics, but this particular charger seemed like a very good idea. So, I looked into it and came across the blog of Aaron Dunlap, who just recently opened up an online store for this and other kits, which is cleverly called the Electroids Co., so named for the propensity of the kits to fit inside or make use of Altoids tins.
So, I bought one. You can buy the kit (no tin included) for $9.50 or a snazzy prebuilt charger for $10.50. There’s also an LED flashlight kit and some other useful stuff, but the USB charger kit is what I went for. I got the kit in the mail a few days ago but I have yet to get working on it. Hopefully I can figure out what I’m doing and get this thing built.
Sphere: Related Content
Adam Carolla is an interesting character. I’m not a big fan of his, but I recently found out that he did something simply amazing: hung up on Ann Coulter. Oh, what I could give to do that. I hate that lady (and I use that word loosely) with a passion. “How to Talk to a Liberal”? Come on, everyone knows you need special training to talk to conservatives, not liberals. Conservatives are the ones with crackpot viewpoints (such as being pro-war and pro-life at the same time). Liberals…well they’re just liberals. Anyways, this is an old story (July old), but I found it so freakin’ hilarious that I had to post it. There’s a brief (really brief) transcript and recording here, courtesy of Crooks and Liars.
Yes, I’m behind the times. Sue me.
Sphere: Related Content
Everyone’s heard of breast cancer, right? You see television commercials, ads in magazines, the works. Everyone wants to find a cure.
40,000 people die every year from breast cancer. 40,000 people also die every year from pulmonary fibrosis. Just as many people, but who can say they know what that disease is?
If you’re gung-ho about finding a cure for breast cancer, you should also be finding a way to heal pulmonary fibrosis. Don’t let those who die from it go unnoticed. Spread the word: just as many.
Sphere: Related Content
Best YouTube video. Ever.
Oh, and there’s water on Mars. Just thought I should bring that up.
So, I took my girlfriend to see The Fountain yesterday, and I’ve got to say that it was one of the weirdest movies I’ve ever seen. About on par with The Butterfly Effect but much less depressing.
I won’t spoil the movie for you (although there’s not really much to spoil), but I thought it was all right. Weird, yes, and definitely not for the average moviegoer, but still all right. You really had to think to understand what the movie was getting at. If you’re planning on seeing it, here’s a hint: don’t take everything in the movie literally. That was my problem at first, but once I wrapped my brain around the fact that half of it isn’t really happening, it became a lot easier to understand. Anyways, if I was to rate the movie, I’d give it a 7 out of 10. Or 3.5 out of 5. Or 1.75 out of 2.5. Or…okay, you get the picture. Not horrible, but not amazing. I’d put it about on the same level as that movie Solaris that George Clooney was in a while back. Good story idea, but not the best way to go about doing it.
So now I’ve seen Casino Royale (seriously one of the best Bond movies, in my opinion), Happy Feet (meh, penguins are overrated), and The Fountain. All that’s left is Borat and I can consider myself movied out for the rest of the year. Maybe. There are a couple Christmas releases that look pretty interesting…
Sphere: Related Content
