STUFF: News, Technology, the cool and the plain weird

[MIKA27]

This Is What 13,150 Kilograms Of Jet Engine Force Looks Like In Testing

To fly a fast jet you need a lot of thrust. The General Electric F110-GE-129 certainly provides that: At its peak output, it generates over 13,154kg of force.

In this image, you can see Senior Airman Daniel San Miguel overseeing a series of tests on a F110-GE-129 engine at Misawa Air Base, Japan. This image shows the afterburner phase of its operation, with the intense heat and force of the engine glowing bright against the deep black of the test chamber. The engines are tested many times at peak output before they make it into jets such as the F-16.

[MIKA27]

The First Person View Of Climbing A Snowy 6900 Metre Tall Mountain Is A Little Bit Terrifying

If there is a mountain, people will climb it. Or at least, people that are much, much bolder than I am. Here is some incredible point of view footage from David Lama and Conrad Anker as they become the first expedition to reach the headwall of Lunag Ri, a 6907m tall mountain on the border of Nepal and Tibet.

Red Bull writes:

The combination of untouched summit and demanding climbing was incredibly difficult from all sides, and the duo made it further than any expedition in years past. Rough weather conditions and limited time kept them from reaching the true summit, but the ascent itself made for one helluva breathtaking experience.

[MIKA27]

BRABUS MERCEDES-BENZ G500

It’s hard to improve on something as iconic as the Mercedes Benz G500, but the German high performance tuning company BRABUS has managed to put their own distinctive spin on the stalwart SUV.

BRABUS upgraded the engine of this classy beast by throwing in a 4-liter twin turbo V8, and upping the output to 500 horsepower with 523 pound-feet of torque, making it all the more capable for off-roading. For when you’re on the road, however, BRABUS skimmed off some seconds on the sprint time taking it down to 0-62 miles per-hour in 5.7 seconds. Who said an SUV couldn’t be fast? BRABUS also updated the exterior – fitting the car with 23-inch wheels, a stainless steel exhaust, chromed side-pipes, and high performing LED lights added to the grill. The interior of the car is just as nice, upholstered with Mastik leather seats and given a wooden trim. It’s something we’ll all be putting on our wishlist. [Purchase]

[MIKA27]

Exploride

Exploride is a new head-up display for your car. You get all sorts of important info on it, such as text messages, maps, music, even onboard diagnostics of your car, but loads of other functions too. One of its most interesting features is its gesture and voice recognition, which allows you to keep your eyes on the road, no need to look up buttons on the dashboard or on your smartphone to get the messages you´re waiting for. Up & down, left & right are the simple movements you´ll need, plus your voice to control it. You can connect it with your cars´ stereo and diagnostics, via jack or Bluetooth, pair it with your smartphone, IOS or Android, you can even sync it with a cloud to backup your data and track your trips. It also features a built-in dash cam, and thanks to a 4G LTE connection, it has the ability to function as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

[MIKA27]

Glerups Slippers

Glerups Slippers are the indoor shoe for outdoor people, and quite possibly the coziest slippers money can buy. The Danish-designed slippers are handmade using a unique blend of 100% natural Gotland and Merino wool felt, resulting in the most comfy and warm slippers possible, with luxurious next-to-skin comfort. Equally at home during chilly winter days and cool summer nights, the slipper is available in 3 styles, slipper, shoe, or boot, and in a choice of soft, calfskin soles or a durable and grippy rubber sole for outdoor wear, in case you need to trek into the snowy hills on a mission to bring back more firewood.

[MIKA27]

STONE BITTER CHOCOLATE OATMEAL STOUT

Originally released in 2008 to mark the 12th Anniversary of Stone Brewing, Stone Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout is back for a special encore bottling. Due to a worldwide hop shortage in 2008, Stone brewed this stout to showcase the bitterness of unsweetened chocolate as opposed to the usual hoppy bitterness to mark their anniversary. Brewed again to celebrate Stone's 20th anniversary this year, it's a treat we never thought would see store shelves again.

[MIKA27]

Brain Implant Will Let Amputees Move Individual Fingers On Prosthetics With Thoughts Alone

For the first time ever, researchers have successfully demonstrated a system that enables a person to move the individual fingers of a prosthetic hand using just their thoughts.

To test the device, scientists at Johns Hopkins University recruited the help of an epilepsy patient who was preparing for surgery to pinpoint the source of his seizures. (The patient himself was not missing a limb.) The scientists used the same electrode array implanted in his brain to control the prosthetic limb. After mapping the parts of the brain responsible for individual finger control movements, the researchers programmed the prosthesis to move the corresponding finger. The details of the experiment can now be found in the Journal of Neural Engineering.

“We believe this is the first time a person using a mind-controlled prosthesis has immediately performed individual digit movements without extensive training,” said senior author Nathan Crone in a pressstatement. “This technology goes beyond available prostheses, in which the artificial digits, or fingers, moved as a single unit to make a grabbing motion, like one used to grip a tennis ball.

The array of 128 electrode sensors was placed on the part of the brain responsible for hand and arm movements. A computer program was used to interpret the data streaming from the implant, triggering the individual fingers to move.

Initial accuracy of the system was 76 per cent, but refinements allowed the researchers to bump it up to 88 per cent. The part of the brain that controls the pinkie and ring fingers overlaps (which explains why many people move them together). By coupling these two fingers together, the researchers were able to improve overall accuracy.

No pre-training was required for the patient to familiarise himself with the device, and the whole thing took less than two hours. It’s all very exciting and impressive, but the researchers say it will still be many years and many more refinement before we see the technology move to prime time.

[MIKA27]

New Jersey Residents Are Fighting A Seawall That Would Protect Their Homes From Total Devastation

In 2012 Hoboken, New Jersey suffered the brunt of Superstorm Sandy when most of the city was flooded. Now a piece of infrastructure has been designed to prevent this from ever happening again, but some people who live there don’t want it built. Because they think it will look ugly.

After the storm, a Department of Housing and Urban Development initiative named Rebuild by Designworked to solicit proposals to essentially flood-proof the entire New York City metropolitan area and protect against future rising seas. The projects were innovative — functional and beautiful at the same time.

A winning plan for Hoboken named “Resist, Delay, Restore, Discharge” was drawn up by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), headed by superstar Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. The plan offered the first comprehensive climate risk strategy for Hoboken, proposing physical barriers to prevent flooding but also an array of more holistic solutions that could help with heavy rain or even drought, from permeable surfaces that can absorb and store water, to a series of pumps that would help drain the city effectively without impacting the health of local waterways.

The other interesting part of the project was that the barriers proposed by OMA would not look like seawalls but instead be embedded into the edges of buildings or new recreational facilities. The state won a $US230 million grant to implement the plan.

But that plan has not gone over well with some Hoboken homeowners. According to a New York Timesarticle, some very vocal residents have organised against the idea of a proposed seawall which would need to run through certain parts of the city to protect its over 50,000 residents.

“You’re going to ruin the character of the neighbourhood,” one woman said. One of her neighbours added: “I got denied a zoning thing I wanted to do in my home, but you’re going to put a four-foot wall in front of my house. No good.”

Here’s another angry person who doesn’t want the wall where it is proposed because it didn’t flood there the first time:

Aside from destroying historic neighbourhoods in upper Hoboken, the wall would likely have the effect of diverting floodwaters into many homes and businesses east of the wall which were not previously affected by flooding, making the proposed seawall in Option A a completely unacceptable solution.

And another forward-thinking vote against the wall:

“I think a Sandy is kind of a once-in-a-lifetime type event, so to build an eight-foot, or 10-foot or 15-foot wall to prevent that, it just doesn’t make sense to us,” Beck said.

One of the most vocal critics is Natalie Morales, an anchor for NBC’s Today show, who showed up at a public meeting to harass Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer in person:

I assume that these people do not realise that they are fighting a seawall that could almost certainly save their own lives, so let’s focus on the preservation of their homes and their hypothetical 1.2m fences. Do they not understand that the seawall will not only preserve the character of a neighbourhood, it will preserve the entire neighbourhood itself?

Maybe they should let the people who don’t want the wall move even closer to the Hudson River. There they can enjoy the unadulterated character of their prime waterfront real estate, unimpeded by any walls at all — as the seas slowly rise around them.

[MIKA27]

Monopoly Ultimate Banking Eliminates Cash With A Tiny ATM That Scans Property Cards

Is there anything worse in a game of Monopoly than thinking you’ve bankrupted another player only to discover they have a secret stash of cash hidden away? That’s no longer an option with the new Monopoly Ultimate Banking edition that uses a tiny ATM to keep track of every last financial transaction.

It’s not the first time that Hasbro Gaming has tried to speed up the game of Monopoly by replacing cash with credit cards and an electronic banking unit. But ironically the company’s past efforts actually slowed the game down because players had to manually type in dollar amounts on an awkward keypad.

But the compact banking unit in the Monopoly Ultimate Banking edition is able to quickly scan not only each player’s credit card, but all of the individual property and chance cards in the game which now include special bar codes on them.

If a player wants to buy a property they have landed on, they just need to scan their credit card and then the property card, and the price will be automatically deducted from their available funds. It works the same way if another player lands on a property with a house or hotel on it. By scanning both credit cards and the property card, funds can be quickly transferred between players to pay the rent.

The latest version of the game, which will be available in autumn for $US25 ($35), also mixes things up with new chance cards called Life events that can cause rents across the board to fluctuate, or other sudden financial changes that are really only easy to implement thanks to the game’s much-improved electronic ultimate banking unit.

[MIKA27]

Whopping $50,000 Reward Offered For Lost 1970 Time Capsule

Have you seen this big metal tube from 1970? It’s a time capsule. And there’s a $50,000 reward for anybody who can find it.

The time capsule tube was interred in a foundation stone at Singapore’s National Stadium on 23 February 1970. But nobody knows where it is today. People have been searching for it since at least 2007, when the stadium was torn down. Construction crews have even employed ground-penetrating radar but come up empty-handed.

The tube’s contents are somewhat of a mystery. The only thing we know for sure is that it has some newspaper clippings, blueprints, sports memorabilia and “local currency”. How much currency is currently unknown.

So far at least $100,000 has reportedly been spent looking for the capsule, which raises at least a few eyebrows in the time capsule hunting community. Time capsules are often lost (and sometimes stolen) but spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to search for one is rare.

Officials in Houston recently went looking for a 1963 time capsule at the Astrodome, but ultimately determined that they’d have to tear down the entire building to find the thing. In the case of the Singapore National Stadium capsule, the building has already been torn down, leading this here time capsule nerd to think that maybe it was stolen.

Judging by the photo, the time capsule was sealed properly, giving hope that if it is found, the contents won’t be a soggy mess. But if it was indeed stolen, (at any point in the past 45 years, mind you) it’s probably sitting somewhere above ground anyway.

A new time capsule was sealed and interred by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Singapore recently. The plan open it in 2040. The new capsule contains sports memorabilia like the shoes of sprinter Shanti Pereira. There’s no word if any “local currency” was included in this capsule, but let’s hope it survives to see 2040.

[MIKA27]

FILSON DUTCH HARBOR DIVE WATCH

When it comes to watches, diver models needed to be as precise and reliable as possible. Anything less would have spelled disaster, even death. Now, inspired by the structure and reliability of the dive watches of the ‘50s comes the Filson Dutch Harbor Watch. This model features a uni-directional rotating top ring and a 30 ATM rating, meaning it’s resistant to water pressure at depths of up to 990 ft. Fitted with Swiss Super LumiNova accents at each minute marker for the first 15, and every five thereafter for a clear division of diver safety stops.

Additional features include a case back tightly secured by six screws and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating for easy viewing. They’re available in a variety of colors and come with bracelet options of either leather, nylon or stainless steel. Hand assembled in Detroit by Shinola, each watch is covered under their comprehensive warranty. [Purchase]

[MIKA27]

SINCLAIR ZX SPECTRUM VEGA+ CONSOLE

Pride yourself as a gamer on the go? Check out this Sinclair ZX Spectrum Vega+ hand-held console. It’s the world’s only portable LCD game console that comes stock with 1,000 licensed games that also connects to your television. The product is based on Sir Clive’s successful Spectrum products from the early 1980s and incorporates all the features of the ZX Vega, including a stereo output for great reproduction of gaming sounds and music. Development of the product is complete, and Spectrum plans on producing a full-functional prototype very soon.

What’s attractive about the Vega+ is its simple user experience in conjunction with its price tag. A less expensive option than most popular consoles of today, users can also have the choice to download the many thousands of additional Spectrum games to the device free of charge. All those who pledge at least £100 (about $143) in support and choose a Vega+ perk will receive their order in the first production run. [Purchase]

[MIKA27]

Biolite Cookstove

Biolite first introduced the popular CampStove four years ago, now the brand have presented a simplified version with a more portable design - the CookStove. The sleek device features a uniquely designed USB-rechargeable airflow system, and provides 30 hours of clean wood cooking on a single charge. Leave the gas canisters behind and cook meals using sticks, pellets or pinecones, and with the four fan speed levels you can boil rapidly or enjoy a campfire feel with smokeless flames.

[MIKA27]

Scooter Chair

Scooter Chair aims to please those who love the vintage look of the Italian iconic scooter made by Piaggio: the Vespa. Each piece uses original parts of the front chassis from the eighties model, the frame is in fact the back and seat of the chair itself, it has a leather imitation upholstery, a piston hydraulic system that lets you adjust its height, a swivel that allows you to easily turn your facing position, and soft tread spinning silent wheels. Scooter Chair is fully customizable, you may choose a wide variety of extras handmade at Bel&Bel with premium materials. A unique piece of contemporary design that is numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

[MIKA27]

The William Duffle

The William Duffle is another handsome bag by leather crafters Go Forth Goods. The versatile and stylish handmade bag is the perfect bag for both a weekend or a week long trip, a timeless classic travel essential. It is crafted with rugged and durable oiled kodiak leather, a soft yet durable leather that is also water resistant, and ages beautifully. The American handmade bag also features an interior pocket, and an adjustable shoulder strap. Available in a choice of four colors.

[MIKA27]

Armogan Watches

Armogan Watches are makers of handsome pilot watches inspired by great adventures and pioneers. Their "Spirit of St. Louis” model was inspired by the famous custom-built, single engine, single-seat monoplane that was flown solo by Charles Lindbergh on May 1927, on the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris. It features cockpit-legible dials, Japanese chronograph movements, and a price point that leaves plenty of room for pilot lessons ($225) . A watch that fits any occasion, and brings the classic, handsome look of the 1920s to present day.

[MIKA27]

COCONUT PADDLE

With an edge grain bamboo wood handle that enables a precision style grip, the Coconut Paddle isn't looking to simply improve your table tennis game, but change the way you play entirely. Thanks to a hole in the handle that lets you stick a finger through, the Coconut gives you a secure grip while ensuring that none of your fingers ends up on the playing surface, or worse, in contact with the ball. The core is made from blonde 3-ply bamboo wood, and each paddle is finished in Wisconsin with custom foam handle inserts that improve comfort and accommodate both right- and left-handed players, as well as a hand-cut and -applied black long pimpled rubber.

[MIKA27]

The LA Gas Leak Is Finally Over

Four months and nearly 100,000 metric tonnes of methane later, the worst natural gas leak in US history has ended, according to officials at California’s Department of Conservation, who made the announcement at a press conference today.

Late last week, drill crews were close to sealing the breach in a methane storage well outside the LA-area community of Porter Ranch, which precipitated an environmental and public health crisis that displaced thousands of residents. But Southern California Gas Company, the company managing the well, was reluctant to predict when the state would declare the leak officially over.

Now, to everyone’s immense relief, it is. “The Division of Oil and Gas has confirmed that the leak in the Aliso Canyon storage field is permanently sealed,” said Jason Marshall, chief deputy director of at the state Department of Conservation.

SoCalGas has furnished temporary housing to some 4400 Porter Ranch residents. Today, these residents were notified they have eight days to move back to their homes. According to the LA Times, 1800 households had already returned.

To seal the breach, crews have spent the last two and a half months drilling a “relief well” alongside the ruptured well to a depth of 2591m. Last week, they reached the final phase of that drill operation, which involved injecting heavy fluids and cement into the ground to permanently seal the leak. Follow-up testing has confirmed that the ground is no longer spewing methane.

The four-month gas leak was an environmental catastrophe, but if there’s a silver lining, it’s that Porter Ranch has put a spotlight on the natural gas industry’s piss-poor regulatory standards. As I pointed out in December, there are approximately 400 natural gas storage wells around the US subject to little or no federal regulation — other eruptions waiting to happen. Many California officials are now calling for tougher state regulations, including subsurface safety valves on each well (the well at Porter Ranch didn’t have one), and 24-hour well monitoring that can be accessed online by the public.

Hopefully, Porter Ranch will serve as a wake-up call, and policy makers will begin to enact some common-sense measures to tackle this large — and largely preventable — source of carbon pollution.

[MIKA27]

Australian Researchers Develop A Plan For 'Superinfecting' Mosquitoes To Tackle Zika

Wolbachia is a virus that infects many insects, but it doesn’t naturally infect the Aedes mosquitoes that transmit Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya. However, Wolbachia can be introduced into populations of Aedes, where it blocks replication of the nasty diseases they carry, and is passed on from females to their offspring, eventually leading to Aedes populations that are disease-free.

But the diseases themselves can develop resistance to Wolbachia, scuppering control efforts. Now, Australian researchers have developed a strategy to stop resistance developing — ‘superinfecting’ already Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes with additional strains of the virus. The superinfected insects were healthy, and therefore able to pass the superinfection on to the next generation, providing a new weapon in the fight against Aedes-borne disease, they say.

Cameron Simmons from the University of Melbourne in Parkville, Australia, and Scott O’Neill, from Monash University in Clayton, Australia, are involved in these field trials.

Besides examining the effect on Dengue virus disease in human, they, together with colleagues, are also working on further improvements to the use of Wolbachia in Dengue control. One concern is that the virus will mutate and eventually be able to multiply even in Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti hosts.

One way to make this harder — at least in principle — is to increase the number or type of Wolbachia parasites in the host cells. To this end, the researchers explored the possibility of “superinfection”, namely the secondary infection of mosquitoes that already carry one strain of Wolbachia with a second one.

For a second infection to rapidly spread into a population already carrying one Wolbachia strain, it must benefit from cytoplasmic incompatibility, and the second strain must not reduce the fitness of the mosquitoes. And in order to reduce the risk for the development of viral resistance, mosquito hosts that are co-infected must have higher levels of Wolbachia parasites in the host cells that the virus uses for replication.

The researchers have reported the generation of superinfected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that fulfil these criteria.

The first Wolbachia strain is called wMel, and it is the one that is currently spreading through wild Aedes aegypti populations as part of the ongoing field trials.

The second strain, called wAlbB, has similar characteristics in singly infected mosquitoes: it grows to relatively high densities in infected mosquitoes and does not diminish their fitness.

A third strain that has also been developed and tested grows to higher densities—and these are associated with stronger inhibition of virus replication — but the infected mosquitoes are less fit and therefore do not spread the infection as efficiently.

The researchers found that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with both Wolbachia strains showed normal fitness and had higher parasite densities than mosquitoes infected with either one of the Wolbachia strains alone. The two parasite types also seemed to populate the same mosquito tissues.

When the researchers compared Dengue virus inhibition in the superinfected mosquitoes with virus in the two singly-infected ones, they found that the superinfected mosquitoes were at least as efficient, and in some tests more, so than singly-infected ones.

For example, when the researchers allowed the mosquitoes to feed on human volunteers with a Dengue virus infection, they found that the superinfected mosquitoes had fewer dengue viruses in their salivary glands, suggesting that they might be less likely to transmit the infection to their next human victims.

Critical for its ability to spread into the existing Aedes aegypti population, the double-infected strain showed cytoplasmic incompatibility with either of the single-infected ones, suggesting that it could ‘sweep’ quickly across areas that has seen previous release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes and transform the population.

“In summary”, the researchers say, “the generation and characterisation of a superinfected line with the desired phenotypic effects to replace single wild infections provides a potential mechanism to overcome the emergence of DENV resistance.”

“Both Wolbachia strains are stably maintained in the line with minimal mosquito fitness effects. Importantly, DENV replication is inhibited to a greater extent in the superinfected line compared to both parental lines.”

“The observed CI [cytoplasmic incompatibility] phenotype induced by the superinfected line is of particular significance as it would enable the line to be released ‘on top of’ existing wMel or wAlbB field releases in Dengue endemic areas.”

[MIKA27]

Hairy Panic Consumes Wangaratta, Victoria

“Hairy panic.” That’s the wonderfully apt name for the fast-growing tumbleweed currently consuming the Aussie town of Wangaratta.

To the residents of northeast Victoria, a little hairy panic every now and again is part of life. But this year, the weed has become an exceptional nuisance, piling up outside of homes and reaching roof height on several occasions, according to the Guardian.

A city council spokesperson told Guardian Australia that authorities can’t do much about hairy panic “from an enforcement side of things,” so for the moment, we can only assume that hairy panic-stricken residents are fending for themselves with hazmat suits and leaf blowers.

While hairy panic is reportedly widespread — and incidents like this “can happen in any town, at any time” — this particular panic is believed to be linked to a summer of bad drought. Fortunately, the tumbleweed doesn’t pose much of a fire risk, although sheep and pigs can develop photosensitivity from eating it, a condition known as “yellow big head.”

I have to say, I’m more than a little disappointed that the post apocalyptic Mad Max: Fury Road future didn’t feature towering piles of voracious tumbleweed and jaundiced mutated farm animals. But I guess there’s always room for a sequel.

Jason Magee posted this photo to Facebook with the comment: ‘Today was a bad day to come home to this.’

[MIKA27]

The Lexus LC500h Has The World's Most Advanced Hybrid Power System

The new Lexus LC500h announced this week is the first car to use Lexus’ next-generation hybrid petrol-electric drivetrain, the technology inside which will flow on to future Lexus cars in the future. The LC500h is the first luxury car with a 10-speed automatic transmission, but it’s the fact that Lexus is using a gearbox on the electric motor as well that’s really interesting.

Lexus’ Multi Stage Hybrid System is the new technology on show, pairing a Lexus-developed 220kW 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with a 44kW electric motor and lithium ion battery pack and delivering drive to the hybrid LC500h’s rear wheels — just like the 5.0-litre V8 Lexus LC500 introduced at the Detroit Motor Show in January. The new tech also allows for Lexus to implement the world’s first manually-activated gearshifts on a true series-hybrid car, with paddles on the steering wheel for drivers to tap away at.

The electric motor itself will have a four-speed gearbox attached to the rear and linking in with the rest of the drivetrain, with gearing that will allow the motor to use the most torque possible whether the LC500h is moving off from a standstill or accelerating even at high speeds. This is one of the first applications of a multi-geared electric motor in any road-going car, let alone a luxury car like a Lexus.

The LC500h boasts 0-100km/h times “well into the sub-five second range” according to Lexus, despite its hulking size and presence; the hybrid gear means it can keep up with the V8s and turbocharged six-cylinder engines in Lexus’ performance competitors. Because the new system is more compact and lightweight, the 10-speed ‘box, electric motor and battery weigh no more than Lexus’ existing non-geared hybrid electric setup.

The rest of the LC500h is flush with tech, too – daytime running lamps, triple-LED headlights, and an active rear spoiler; it also features the first instance of Lexus’s 2017 in-car entertainment system, with a more friendly user interface and more flexible software that will better suit the different models it’s used in. A Pioneer speaker system will be standard on the LC500h, but as usual Lexus also has a massively overpowered high-end Mark Levinson speaker setup as an option.

[MIKA27]

Baby Dolphin Dies After Idiot Humans Try To Take Photos With It

A bunch of beachgoers in Argentina last week inadvertently killed an endangered baby dolphin when they scooped it out of the ocean and started taking pictures of it.

Vida Silvestra, the local arm of the World Wildlife Fund, claims that tourists in the town of Santa Teresita found the dolphin in the ocean and brought it ashore, passed around the smartphone-brandishing crowd. It later died. The dolphin was a Franciscana dolphin, which is a species that gets particularly weak when removed from the water from extended periods.

The diminutive dolphin species grows to be slightly longer than five feet long, and it’s classified as “vulnerable.” According to Vida Silvestre, there are fewer than 30,000 individuals in the wild. The organisation claims that it’s unlikely the species will recover.

Put the dolphin back in the water. The selfie’s not worth it.

[MIKA27]

Tesla Now Has A Model S For Kids

What you’re really paying for when you buy an electric car like the Tesla Model S isn’t the savings on fuel, or even the whisper quiet ride. You’re paying for the ability to be smug and self-righteous to drivers in petrol-powered cars, and now even little kids can start making others feel guilty about driving a petrol-guzzler.

Tesla Motors teamed up with Radio Flyer — the company most famous for its red metal wagons — to create a miniature version of the Model S that uses similar battery technology to achieve a top speed of 9km/h. Before you start to consider it as a cheaper alternative to a real Tesla Model S, keep in mind this $US500 ($697) version — shipping some time in May — can only support drivers up to 37kg. And it currently only ships to the US as well.

Almost every last detail of Radio Flyer’s Tesla Model S is borrowed from the full-sized car, including the turbine-inspired hub caps, the working headlights, the colour options, the battery charging port and even the optional $US50 ($70) indoor car cover.

Other options include a more powerful battery offering about 50 per cent more run time, and even a custom vanity licence plate in case you weren’t 100 per cent sure if your kid driving around a tiny replica Tesla Model S wasn’t already obnoxious enough.

[MIKA27]

Commercial Flights to Cuba Are Coming by the Fall

Your Cohiba-filled dreams are about to come true. This past Tuesday, the Unites States and Cuba signed a deal that will restore commercial flights to the island, with the return of said flights coming by the fall. It’s the first time in five decades that commercial flights will be allowed, and airlines are currently bidding on the desirable routes. Now, this doesn’t mean you still don’t have to provide a reason why you’re heading to the island before you land a ticket, but as we’ve seen, that’s about as easy getting a medical marijuana card in California. This fall, Varadero Beach and a bottle of rum will be calling.

[MIKA27]

Ukeg Growler

Ukeg Growler is an awesome growler developed to enable you to keep and carry around your favorite brew from your favorite pub or shop. Made from double vacuum insulated stainless steel, it features some nice brass parts, such as the dispenser tap, the sight glass, the pressure gauge and the carrying handle, that give a great vintage look. You can get it two different capacities, the 64 OZ model or its big brother, the 128 OZ. Featuring a special CO2 regulator cap, that uses a standard CO2 cartridge, it allows you to set the pressure you desire, so you may keep pouring a beer, with the amount of carbonation you want to get, that you can check on the pressure gauge. A cool and practical keg with an old-timer look that provides the locally crafted beer of your choice with a perfect storage element.