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A Retro Boombox with a CD player, a Cassette Deck, USB and SD
Do you remember your old cassette tapes? Yes, those same tapes you used to record with your favourite songs and that are probably hidden in some dark corner of your house? Well, if you have any of those tapes left, you might consider buying the Sanyo MAJ-U02. This portable Boombox comes with a CD player, a cassette deck, a digital FM tuner and a SD/MMC card reader.
Continue reading » A Retro Boombox with a CD player, a Cassette Deck, USB and SD
Sure it’s a blizzard, but the stove is on,, let’s blow hot air around!
The Heatwave Wood Stove Fan from Northlineexpress.com which, from what I can tell, is where hot things come
from. They’ve got fireplace and heating things of all kind. More importantly though, I’m focusing on the aftorementioned Heatwave Wood Stove Fan.
Here’s the reason we’re looking at it,, it’s got a Stirling engine inside!!!
So as not to confuse it with the crazy-insane commentator on the NFL Stirling Sharpe, it is not bipedal, nor crazy.
It is however a heater that is powered by the heat given off from your wood, gas, or pellet burning stove. This is interesting because it is taking advantage of exisiting thermal energy and does not require anything but a hot surface to activate.
While Mr. Sharpe does blow a lot of hot air out his mouth hole, it is likely below the 390 degrees F needed by the fan to blow 200-300 CFM (cubic feet per minute) around the room.
Continue reading » Sure it’s a blizzard, but the stove is on,, let’s blow hot air around!
Armless Teenar plays the blues
It never ceases to amaze me what men (and women, of course – I’m just talking in an extremely general manner, so please don’t get overtly PC on me) can do with a little bit of imagination, some D.I.Y. skills, and a passion to create something totally new that blows our collective minds away. Lou Reimuller obviously had more time on his hands than the rest of us by lovingly fusing an armless mannequin of yesteryear with a modern electronic guitar. He has dubbed her Teenar, and she has this sultry look that casts a pall of gloom whenever you look at her direction, but nobody is stopping you from stepping up, cradling your arms around her, and start pulling the right strings to bring a cheery disposition to the sombre mood all around.
Continue reading » Armless Teenar plays the blues
1984 Apple LISA Demo
Want a good laugh? This video clip from a local cable show has a rare demonstration of Apple’s 1984 Lisa computer as well as some sexy 1980s hair styles. In the video, some guy named Alfred takes the $10,000 Lisa computer for a test drive. Yep the Lisa sold for $10,000. Pretty expensive for a clunky word processor. In case you are wondering, the Lisa would cost about $19,500 in 2006 dollars. Another funny thing about the video is the TV host. For some reason she talks like a robot. She’s also wearing a pair of over-sized 1980s eye glasses that probably have more glass than an automobile windshield.
Warning: There is a very long 5 minute introduction before the Lisa demo clip. Alfred, the guy giving the demonstration in the video, is now a YouTube director and loves to suck up to his subscribers. He also apologizes for his 1984 haircut, suit and a recent nose surgery. But once the actual demonstration clip starts to play, you will probably enjoy it.
Fully Working Miniature Brass Steam Engine
I’ve not seen one of these in ages, a fully working minature steam engine (and I’ve never seen a model engine with so much shiny brass).
The classic Locomobile is works like a real steam engine but is 1/8 the size. You fill the boiler with water, light a dry spirit tablet and when the boiler is hot enough the steam powers the engine (and the all important whistle).
This is one of those toys that as well as being fun and educational is also a pretty good investment IMO (though bear in mind I have a shed full of 2000 AD comics that I thought would be worth something one day (Sylvestor Stallone (Judge Dredd) has a lot to answer for)). You can get the Classic Working Steam Engine Locomobile for $549.95 from Hammacher.
Atari Video Game Key Chains
I didn’t grow up with Pong, but I know a lot of people did. And a lot of people loved it. If you were one of those people, you surely will go out and buy a Plug ‘n Play Atari video game keychain.
Modern technology puts all that great Pong action into something that can fit right on your keychain. Just think, you can take Pong with you everywhere.
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Bosch iPod Power Box Review
Like to listen to music while you work but find your workplace a little too dangerous and dirty for your fragile little iPod? Bosch, a company more famous for their power tools than stereo equipment just might have the perfect solution for you.
The Bosch Power Box is a feature-rich stereo system that not only sounds great, but has a protective roll cage that keeps it safe in busy commercial and outdoor work environments. When used with the Bosch Power Box iPod Dock (sold separately) you can bring your job sites into the digital music age. The Bosch iPod Dock easily connects to the Power Box where it not only protects your iPod but recharges it too.
The Bosch Power Box and iPod Dock sound like a powerful combo, but let’s take a look at all the features of each item and how well they perform together in a busy work environment.
Review: Bosch iPod Power Box
The Commocoffee-64
In 1983 for my 13th birthday I received my first computer – a Commodore Vic-20. It came with one game cartridge, I don’t remember the game however I do remember it was terrible. Included in the box was a book called “BASIC Language Reference” and soon I was writing my own games. It didn’t take long before the persistent “Out Of Memory” error prompted me to plead with my parents for an upgrade and the following year I received a Commodore-64.
In the middle 1980’s personal computers hadn’t quite found their niche and most people were still asking the question: “What do I do with it?” In an attempt to answer that question PC makers inundated us with a barrage of peripherals and add-ons hoping that one of them might be the thing that would make everyone want a personal computer. The Commocoffee-64, an espresso maker that is controlled by your C-64, is definitely one of the strangest.
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