Artist/clockmaker Roger Wood isn't afraid to experiment. That much is obvious from a quick glance at his marvelous clock designs. He lives and works out of an old munitions factory in central Toronto, surrounded by an incredible collection of clock parts and mechanical odds-and-ends. Honestly, his studio looks like something out of a movie (I've included some photos after the jump). Each fully functional timepiece incorporates a unique assortment of retro brik-a-brak and surreal design. Prices range from a few hundred dollars through a few thousand.
The Art Gallery of Ontario eloquently summed up his work: “These are no ordinary clocks. Toronto artist Roger Wood imbues each piece with an alluring whimsical quality that will fill a room with charm and intrigue. No two clocks are alike and each one features Mr. Wood’s own unique signature: a feather.”
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I like ridiculous flying machines. Bonus marks go to any designs that feature spinning propellers right behind the pilot's head. Alisport Srl was founded near Milan, Italy to manufacture sailplanes. They've since expanded to produce a line of short-takeoff aircraft and propellers.
Modern Coca-Cola machines terrify me. They seem at least ten feet tall with dozens of blindingly illuminated buttons. I fully expect the things to call my name if I get within arm's length.
As a child, I conducted a weekly food toxicity experiment. I'd grab my allowance, leap onto my banana bike, and race to the local store. Once there, I spent a good fifteen minutes selecting a horrific handful of colored sugar. It was the equivalent of rocket fuel for a 10 year-old.
Kodak's Super 8 movie cartridge was introduced in 1965. It became a phenomenon throughout the world, but many people think there was a better format released at almost the same moment. It was Single-8, developed by Japanese camera giant Fuji. The Single-8 format used a slightly taller cartridge and film with exactly the same dimensions as Super 8; you can project either format on a Super 8 projector.
I'm going to add my bit to the Convergence Series that Bohus started a few days ago. Australia Post now offers their 'Mail2Day' email or SMS notification to let you know when a letter or package arrives in your P.O. box. This is a great idea for those of us who have to make a trip to the post office to collect mail -- a great melding of real-world practicality and technology.
You can now get full-size reproductions of Doctor Who's most famous mechanical nemesis - The Dalek. This Planet Earth was able to get their hands on some of the BBC's prized props and the result is a series of bang-on replicas. I didn't realize that Daleks are a lot like cars - they came in a seemingly endless array of colors with a dazzling assortment of lumpy colored accessories. The price? Around £2000. The manufacturer's FAQ helpfully explains how you can convince your spouse to let one of these mechanical monsters through the door: