According to a recent MIT graduate that’s a fact. He’s developing a way to capture the energy lost through a vehicle’s shock absorbers.
Star Wars Uncut
What would happen if you took George Lucas’s classic Star Wars film and split it up into 15 seconds clips, then distributed those clips to hundreds of fans to remake in their own way? Well, you’d get the Star Wars Uncut project on Vimeo’s video sharing site. It’s amazing the variety and hilarious re-enactments of every nerd’s favorite movie. Not sure if all this amalgam of bathrobe clad extras will actually go together in a watchable full length movie or not but the results of just watching a few clips is more than entertaining!
Star Wars: Uncut Trailer from Casey Pugh on Vimeo.
Electric Cars and Hybrids Not So Economical
One of the touted benefits of electric vehicles is the fuel cost savings, but it appears that’s not necessarily the case according to Edmunds. Aside from the high purchase cost, a gas sipping Aveo is considerably much cheaper to operate than a Prius! And depending on how the electricity is generated used to charge the Prius, they may not be any better for the environment.
… consumers could see that at 1,250 miles a month, a 2010 Toyota Prius would cost, on a national average, $67 a month at the pump, while an electric Mini E would cost $49 a month to “fill” from a 220-volt charger in the consumer’s garage; the monthly gasoline bill for a four-cylinder Chevrolet Aveo would be $11, and a 2011 Chevrolet Volt – running on gas and electricity – would cost $54.
Google Street View Painter
Bill Guffey is an artist in Kentucy that has painted a series from the 50 states using Google maps Streetview as reference.
http://billguffey.blogspot.com/search/label/States
Great Acapella cover of the song Africa
Every once in a while you come across something creative and unique and this is one of those times:
Take the Elevator to Heaven… or Hell.
New York City’s “The Standard” hotel has placed a video art installation in their elevators created by Marco Brambilla. The montage of over 400 video clips rises through stylized scenes from hell to heaven going up or vice versa going down.
Civilization by Marco Brambilla from CRUSH on Vimeo.
High quality version here: http://motionographer.com/theater/marco-brambilla-civilization/
Double Your Gas Mileage for $400
The simple act of reducing wind resistance (or drag) could double a car’s gas mileage. It may not look pretty but it works.
Interestingly this technology was used in Germany in the 1930s.
http://www.aerocivic.com/
Video News story
http://www.wcnc.com/video/?nvid=242961
I thought it interesting that this idea hasn’t been exploited (or at least commercially) before. It probably has a lot to do with how it looks. I think the main thing is that it really only helps to a degree at high speeds. Since the guy has a 50 mile commute to work it really benefits him, otherwise if you’re just driving around town the effect would be minimal.
Another interesting thing, looking at some of the photos, how some of his modification panels are pretty rough. I mean not very smooth and aerodynamic like you’d think they’d need to be.
The other interesting thing is the negative effect the ethanol additive had on his gas mileage. I don’t quite understand his statement that he lost gas mileage but gained range.
I think the Aptera Electric vehicle uses a lot of these concepts.
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/video_player.shtml?vid=1104622
Cordless drill powered vehicles, winch.
How would you like to power a small mini-bike or a wheel chair with your run-of-the-mill cordless drill? Now you can. They even have a nice little winch for lifting over 600lbs!