NERF Transforming Assault Blaster

Transform and roll out!

Sometimes you need some shock and awe in your office arsenal. And that's when you'll grab your NERF Transforming Assault Blaster. No funny stories here, this blaster is just one of the nicest NERF guns in the world. It shoots great, has a pump-action, shotgun-style reloading, and holds a clip of 6 darts. And it's got a red flashlight on it for moving in the dark. But that's still not the most awesomest part of the NERF Transforming Assault Blaster. It's the button on the handle or, more specifically, what happens when you press said button.

See, the NERF Transforming Assault Blaster has two modes: storage and assault. In storage mode, the gun resembles a rectangle with a handle and flashlight. But one press of the button on the handle and the stock extends, the handle pops down, and the clip drops to the side. Heck, it even gives you a rudimentary scope through the handle. The NERF Transforming Assault Blaster will soon be your assault weapon of choice, in the everlasting cube war. We want you to be ready for anything.


NERF Transforming Assault Blaster

•Transforms from storage mode to assault mode with the push of a button.
•Integrated red flashlight, for stealthy missions.
•Tactical rails let you add any NERF N-Strike rail accessory you already own.
•Includes: Blaster, clip, 6 Clip-System darts, and carry strap.
•Batteries: (for flashlight) 3 AAA (not included)
•Dimensions: approx 20.5" x 9.5" x 5.5" (in gun mode)

USB Missile Launcher

Finally, WMD* at an affordable price

Nobody remembers who started it. Perhaps that guy from HR lobbed a wadded up piece of paper over the cube wall at you? It could have been one of those accounting dudes with the marshmallow-gun. It doesn't matter, now. You are armed.

The USB Missile Launcher is the latest desktop weapons platform that elevates your status from mere code-monkey or BOFH Sysadmin to a true Digital Dictator. Laugh maniacally while you zero in on your unsuspecting target. Rain down foam punishment upon him with a click of the mouse. Watch as, one by one, three spring-loaded missiles arc 5 to 8 feet gracefully to your quarry. Giggle girlishly at the realistic sound effects with every launch.

This launcher can pivot 180 degrees horizontally, and 45 degrees up. Controlled by the included PC software, point the missiles at your foe, and press the big red shiny delicious button on screen. FOOM.

The USB Missile Launcher stands approximately seven inches high, is gunmetal grey, with three white foam spring-loaded missiles on top. It requires 3 AA batteries, which are included. Also includes PC Software (currently Windows XP only, but there is third party software available 'out there' for Mac and Linux).

Behind the World's Lightest Soccer Shoe...umm can it fly?

The World Cup's just around the corner, and that means the shoe companies are now battling over who's stuff is more innovative. In a feat of high-tech engineering, Adidas has made the lightest soccer shoe ever.

Where the typical soccer shoe weighs about 10 ounces, the Adidas F50 Adizero tips in at 5.8. It's a weird sensation to experience—picking them up feels like lifting a stack of mail. Crazy-light shoes, how do they work?

According to Adidas's senior product manager, Aubrey Dolan, there's actually a slew of high-tech breakthroughs at work. "You can always remove materials to make one lightweight sample, but mass-producing something for a mass market that actually functions is another challenge entirely."

Almost all soccer shoes have a stiff insole board that keeps them stable. The F50 Adizero doesn't have that at all—instead it simply has a molded poly-amide outsole they call a "sprint frame." All the stability comes from the fins running across the middle of the footprint:

These, in turn, are molded in carefully calibrated, organic shapes—if there were any sharp angles, the sole could actually snap since it is, after all, just a thin slip of high-tech plastic. Variations in the shape and thickness of the frame—and the placement of the curving ribs—allows flexibility in some places, such as the forefoot, and rigidity in the heel:

According to Dolan, the inspiration was modern-day cycling. "In the bike frames you see in the Tour de France, all the strength comes from the geometry itself."

And the upper of the shoe, which just seems like plastic-y sheath, hides an intense process of materials engineering. It's made of microfiber—that is, synthetic fibers that have be intertwined, which allowed the materials engineers to dial in a precise combination of flex and rigidity. That way, you don't have to add more material to create interior supports, and you can even print additional support structures directly onto the shoe, which isn't possible with your standard leather:

But what insures that these race cars won't fly apart when they're actually in use? "It's safe to say this is the most rigorously tested product we've ever made," says Dolan. The shoes were put through paces on myriad players—pros and amateurs alike—and the even tested in cold rooms and hot rooms, to ensure they wouldn't break down.

Be the Conductor of Your Own Personal Mercedes-Benz Train

The Mercedes-Benz Hexawheel concept is perfect if you need to do some serious off-roading and want to stay classy while doing so. Also, two Benzes are better than one and six wheels are better than four. That's just math.

The Hexawheel, conceived by Iranian engineer Siyamak Rouhi Dehkordi, has a two-part, articulated body for tumbling up and over any terrain. The designer said the concept was inspired by ants, whose segmented bodies give them the flexibility to crawl over all sorts of obstacles. If it works for the ants, it'll work for a Benz.

The Hexawheel sits three people in its front cabin and its rear storage bed is attached by a hydraulic joint—all of which is carried by its six all-wheel-drive wheels. I'd say it's the most inspired bug to car realization since the Beetle.

http://www.emercedesbenz.com/autos/mercedes-benz/concept-vehicles/mercedes-benz-hexawheel-concept-design-study/

Gridlock Concept Watch Not as Complicated as It Looks

With an face that seems ripped right out of Star Trek's LCARS, you'd think the Gridlock is yet another Tokyoflash watch that's nigh-impossible to read, but you'd be wrong. It's actually quite simple once you figure out the hook.

The face is divided into two sections: the circle-like part and the box-filled matrix. The circle is the hour, and is displayed just like an analog watch. The matrix is split vertically, with the two halves showing minutes. See? Simple:

While not a real watch at the moment, Tokyoflash has a habit of making their conceptual wares into the real deal. So, if you like this one, you may be able to own it someday.

Read That: Pop Quiz Clock

Readers, you can probably instantly figure out every one of the equations on this Pop Quiz Clock, but I'm having trouble with 6 x 2. Oh, wait a second, we don't need no stinking equations to figure out what time it is — it's an analog clock!

So how much is this kooky clock that I'm considering sending to my high school math teacher? Why, it's a mere 229,00 Swedish Krona, or in U.S. dollars, that would be the square root of 900 x 2 - 1770. Okay, okay, it's $30.

Use The Fork, Luke: Star Wars Pancakes.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a Jedi Kitchen Master created an epic breakfast to unleash the power of his Jedi Padawan. Using the Force™, he created three nonstick steel pancake molds in honor of his favorite galactic heroes and villains: Yoda™, Darth Vader™ and a stormtrooper™. Our Star Wars molds couldn’t be easier to use.

Just place them with their handles up on a preheated griddle then pour in your batter. After the first side has set, remove the molds and flip the pancakes. Serve a stack drenched in your favorite syrup – and let the adventures begin. Hand-wash. 4 1/2" to 7 3/4” wide. Fold-down handles. Set of three.

Doing It Wrong: An Inflatable Pool For Yachts

Designed by naval engineer Paolino Napolitano to provide a jellyfish and other dangerous sea life-free place to swim while out boating, the Magic Swim is essentially nothing more than an inflatable pool like you may have enjoyed as a kid.

Made from durable PVC it weighs about 66 pounds when empty and can be setup with the assistance of a standard air compressor in about 5 minutes.

Mesh covered holes allow the Magic Swim to fill with water once it’s deployed, but also keep unwanted visitors out, and a semi-rigid floating platform in the center of the pool allows you to stand once it’s completely filled with water. ~$2,250 for the large version, and ~$2,440 for the extra-large one.

What If: Gaming Consoles Were Buildings?

That's all I want, really. Just a cozy little spot somewhere underneath the D-pad.

Or if all that construction turns you off, maybe you'd prefer a penthouse condo atop a PS3 highrise:These images come courtesy of photographer Joseph Ford, from a series called If I Were President.

I couldn't think of a better title, especially since my dream White House would clearly look like this:That's it; I'm officially accepting donations on behalf Joseph Ford's presidential campaign.

Then they'd look like this ya little dum dum! Hit the jump for PS3 and NES buildings, all of which are from artist/photographer Joseph Ford's collection, If I Were President .

And while the nation is definitely in need of some console-shaped buildings, I can't help but feel a presidency could be put to better use. I'm talking about childhood obesity (I have no clue).

Marouane Chamakh Factfile

Marouane Chamakh

Full Name: Marouane Chamakh

Nationality: Moroccan

Born: January 10 1984, Tonneins, France

Age:26

Previous Clubs: Bordeaux (2002-2010) 293 appearances (79 goals)

Club Honours

Ligue 1 Champions: 2008/09Coupe de la Ligue: 2007, 2009Trophee des Champions: 2008, 2009

Transfer Details: Joins Arsenal on a long-term contract

Position: Forward

Arsenal Squad Number: 29

International Honours: Morocco (2003-Present) 53 appearances (27 goals)

International Debut: v Sierra Leone, June 13 2003

Marouane Chamakh completes move to Arsenal

Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that Moroccan international striker Marouane Chamakh has joined the Gunners on a long-term contract.Chamakh (26), who joins Arsenal from French side Bordeaux, made a total of 293 appearances, scoring 79 goals during his eight years with Les Girondins.In the 2008/09 league campaign, Chamakh scored 14 goals, helping Bordeaux win the French League title, thus ending Lyon’s seven-year domination of Ligue 1.

The Moroccan striker’s fine form continued last season, playing an integral role in helping Bordeaux reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they finished above both Bayern Munich and Juventus in the Group Stages.

Born and raised in France, but playing international football for Morocco through his parentage, Chamakh has made 53 appearances for the north African country, scoring 27 goals, and was part of the side which reached the Final of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations. Manager Arsène Wenger said: “We are delighted that Marouane Chamakh has joined us. He is a player we have admired for some time now and I know he will provide our squad with great quality.

Chamakh has proved he is a great player with his performances for Bordeaux and Morocco in recent seasons and we’re all looking forward to him joining us."Chamakh is a striker of real quality and has all the attributes suited to come to England and do very well. He is also a fighter, not only a good football player, but a fighter as well. He is very good in the air and also a good team player.

He is a great addition to our squad.”After completing his move to the Gunners, Chamakh said: “This is a dream come true and a great joy to be joining Arsenal. My goal was always to play in the Premier League and Arsenal was the choice of my heart.“Without any hesitation, Arsenal was my preferred club. The team and history of Arsenal, they make me dream. My goal was to join Arsenal out of the all the English clubs because it is a club that makes me dream and I have been a fan since I was a child.“I’m very excited about playing at Emirates Stadium in front of the Arsenal supporters. I have heard many great things about the stadium and I cannot wait to be playing there in an Arsenal shirt.

“I will give my best to this Club, the Club that I used to support. We have many great players at Arsenal and I will be giving everything to help the team win trophies next season.”Ivan Gazidis, Chief Executive of Arsenal Football Club added: “Arsène has been following the progress of Marouane Chamakh for some time and has identified him as a player that will add significant strength to our squad.

We’re delighted that Marouane has chosen Arsenal ahead of the many other clubs that were interested in him.”Chamakh, who will wear the number 29 shirt for Arsenal, will join up with his new team-mates for pre-season training in July.

A Pocketwatch From The Future: Kisai Round

Are you fancy pants? Do you wear white gloves and a monocle? Jesus you must look ridiculous. But not if you're rocking Tokyoflash's Kisai Round Trip Pocket Watch (kidding, you still 100% will). You see, it's a pocket watch from the future.

Just kidding, it's from Japan. Which, let's be honest, WOULD be the future if they'd cut out all the robot shit. I SAID KNOCK IT OFF.Touch the button and a programmed animation will ignite from beneath the smoked screen before the time is displayed.

The time is shown with flashing lights; orange LEDs show hours in the inner ring in the same position as hours on a clock face. Blue LEDs show minutes in the outer ring in groups of 3 in the same position as minutes on a clock face - ideal for reading the approximate time instantly.

Green LEDs show two single minutes at the bottom of the display.The $73 timepiece is available now and is USB rechargeable (3.5 hour charge for ~1 month of use). I just bought one to compliment my chained wallet.

http://www.tokyoflash.com/en/watches/kisai/round_trip_pocket_watch/

VW's Folding Bik.e: Because Two Spare Tires Are Better Than One

Having a spare tire in your trunk is good, sure, but having two is even better. Especially when they're attached by a folding, pedal-free electric bike made by Volkswagen. A bike with a cool curvy frame. And two kickstands.

The Bik.e, presumably named by a VW marketing intern who made the best typo of his life, made its debut at Auto China 2010. It contorts itself impressively to fit into the spare tire space in your trunk, which you can watch in the following video, if you sit patiently through the bizarre mermaid dance montage.

Yin Yang Bunk Beds

For every positive, there's a negative. For every orange, there's an apple. For every Starsky, a Hutch. That's why someone made these ying and yang bunk beds. I like it. My back, however, won't be too happy.

A Hot Coffee Hand Grenade

The Mocca Pearl looks like a hand grenade, when it's all covered up. But it makes coffee.

It's not entirely clear how it would work—but I feel like a battered steel egg is how people would make coffee in a post-apocalyptic desert.

Camera Kite Sails High For Rude Aerial Photos

Taking photos from a digital camera attached to a balloon, floating 20m in the air could get you into a lot of trouble. You could get it wrapped around a power line, for example. Or injure a low-flying bird.

This aerial camera is the work of Matthew Clark, who claims it'd be ideal for using at weddings and festivals, with the inflatable balloon sailing high into the air, but remaining tethered to your hand by the reel. A switch on the reel takes photos, which can then be transferred to a computer via USB. Being a film shooter, I'd like to see a 35mm version with some lo-fi lomo-esque lens. Make it happen, Matthew.

Motorola Droid Lego Robot Solves A Rubik's Cube Faster Than You Can

Unless, of course, you happen to be the current world record holder, who can solve a cube in under 20 seconds. This Lego Mindstorms 'bot was built by ARM, and managed to solve the cube in 25 seconds flat.

The Mindstorms robot was programmed using a Motorola Droid, which runs on an Arm A8 processor clocked at 550MHz, to show the speed of their chips. A specially-built app takes a photo of the cube's side facing the camera, with the commands being sent to the Mindstorms robot over Bluetooth. [ESC via MAKE via Technabob].

Every House Should Have a 256-Foot Double Loop Water Slide....I want One!!!!

This luxury villa isn't grand architecture. It's not made of titanium. And it's not even underground. But it's the first home in the world with a 256-foot-long double loop water slide going from its top balcony to the pool.

That's comparable to most water slides in amusement parks. The house is available for rent for families looking for a vacation place in Koh Samui, Thailand.

My Childhood Alter-Ego: Cookie Monster (Awesome!)

Cookie Monster is a voracious monster and one of the main characters on Sesame Street. Covered with blue fur and possessing a pair of googly eyes, Cookie Monster has an insatiable appetite. As his name implies, his primary craving is cookies, but he can (and often does) consume anything and everything, from apples and pie to letters, flatware, and hubcaps. Usually when he eats something, he makes loud munching noises, usually like "AWWWWM-num-num-num-num..."

Cookie Monster has a deep, growly voice, and generally speaks with simplistic diction (e.g., "Me want cookie!"). He occasionally displays an unexpectedly complex vocabulary, however, and is at his most gentrified when in his Alistair Cookie persona, hosting Monsterpiece Theater.

continue reading: http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Cookie_Monster

Rainbow Pentax K-x Is Some Sort of Culmination

Recently, at Pentax: "Sir, I don't know what to tell you. We've done the robotic colors. We've done the Valentine's colors. We've tried everything, short of using the whole goddamn rainbo—wait a minute. I think I've got it."

It's all been leading up to this. The red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink and purple Tower Records Pentax Rainbow K-x. Only 1000 of the $810 cameras will be made, and they'll only be sold in Japan through the Tower Records website. But if there was ever a rainbow worth chasing, it's this one.

Optimus Popularis Keyboard Still On Track With 2011 Launch Expected

After hearing nary a peep from the Art Lebedev guys about their Optimus Popularis keyboard from years back, they've taken to their LiveJournal (LiveJournal!!!) blog to say production will begin "later this year," with "the release likely in 2011."

That'll give the Popularis a three-year gestation period, so we're expecting a lot from this non-OLED keyboard. More details have been promised for June, including some new mock.

Buy A 5-Foot Tall Gundam For $3,400

A lot of you like Gundam, but do you have room in your houses for a 5'-tall Gundam? And enough moolah in your bank account so the $3,400 sting wouldn't be too painful? If so, proceed downstairs...

Bandai's Gundam is a 1/12 scale-model version of the RX-78-2 model, and weighs 35kg. Each statue is built to order, and unfortunately you'll have to buy the Japanese girl separately.

Bathe Under The LED Shower

Tranquil music is filtering in through the open door. You open your mouth and tilt your head back, imagining you're drinking the blue drops from a waterfall. Sounds like heaven, right?

It's actually a snazzy shower fitting from Domolight, able to change LED colors as a form of "colortherapy." It comes with a remote control to change colors and water flow, with the minimum being 25L every minute. You know what they say, if Apple stores had showers..

Ninja Assassins Are After Your Toothbrush

Yes, there are ninja assassins after that disgusting, germ-ridden toothbrush of yours. They want to brutally annihilate 99% of the mess with their germicidal ultraviolet lights and you should probably just step back and let them do it.

Alright, maybe these ninja assassins aren't after your toothbrush just yet, but you could and should buy their services at about $37 per ninja. After all, how often do you see such cute-yet-deadly-looking toothbrush sanitizers?

http://gizmodo.com/5541046/ninja-assassins-are-after-your-toothbrush

Japan Gets A Gundam Phone With Most Awesome Dock Ever

Just in case you weren't aware that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the Gundam figurines, Bandai has teamed up with Japanese network Softbank for a limited edition Gunpla phone.

Each phone comes with a 1:100 scale Gundam model kit, a Gunpla phone cradle, and decals. The phone itself? A 12.1MP OLED flip-whopper, something Gundam himself wouldn't feel too ashamed using. [Gigazine via Kotaku]

Eye Candy: Crazy 3-D Mapped 'Sensory Box'

ENVISION: Step into the sensory box. Under this name hides the immersive experiment offered by ALCATEL-LUCENT to its customers at the time of the last Mobile World Congress. An experiment containing video mapping conceived by agency SUPERBIEN and the department New Media of the Agency \ Audience.

The public was invited to enter a cube and to discover an artistic vision of the tagline of the event: Transforming the mobile experiment.

http://thenextweb.com/shareables/2010/05/15/amazing-display-of-light

Screw Copyrights: More Action Figure Ripoffs

From the second installment of cheap action figure ripoffs come GaoRanger DinoThunder: hands down the awesomest thing I've ever heard in my entire life.

http://www.forkparty.com/unlicensed-knock-off-toy-fails/

Jr.Gunners Camp on the Emirates pitch

Two hundred lucky young Arsenal fans became the first in the Club’s history to camp out overnight on the Emirates Stadium pitch last night, Friday 14th May 2010.

The unique and fun-packed event, attended by Junior Gunners* aged between seven and 12 years old, offered attending children the chance to play on the pitch overseen by qualified coaches, eat post-match dinner up on the swanky Club Level hospitality tier and watch a movie before it was time for lights out and the big sleepover. Attached pictures show the JGs taking over the turf before standing by their adopted home for the night, one hundred two-man tents!

Sue Campbell, manager of the Junior Gunners supporters added: “We’re very proud of the exciting activities our members have access to and camping on the pitch is the latest initiative that demonstrates that we like to go the extra mile for our fans. The 200 lucky Junior Gunners that were here for the first-ever kids’ sleepover on the pitch at an English football club, were part of a special and unique experience for everyone involved. Along with the tickets on offer and days out, there are many reasons to join up!”

*Arsenal’s young supporters club the Junior Gunners is for boys and girls from new-born to 16 with three age groups: Welcome to our World new born to three years of age, Team JGs four to 11 and Young Guns 12 to 16 years of age. All JGs receive special membership packs upon joining and have the chance to attend exclusive events with players throughout the season.

Only members can lead the team out at Arsenal games as official mascots, have access to reduced price match tickets and exclusive events like the annual Christmas party and February half term Q&A session with first team players! Membership is priced £20 or £23 overseas. Visit www.arsenal.com/juniorgunners for further information.