These Refuseniks (which have nothing to do with the Soviet Jews to whom this term is usually applied) usually cite the always-reachable effect of carrying a cellphone as their main reason for refusing to use one, but sometimes you want to be connected. Jenny Catsos falls into this category, but tells a story in which a cellphone would have made her life an awful lot easier: Her car broke down on the interstate on the way to surprise her father, and it took her hours to contact someone she knew.

But the best story in the article has to be that of Linda Mboya. Her friend lives on the top floor of a building with a broken buzzer. So to let her friend know she's arrived, "Ms. Mboya makes noise to disturb the dogs who live on the first floor, who then bark and announce her arrival to her friend." Sort of like that board game Mouse Trap.

I don't really have a judgment on those who don't have cellphones—but what about you guys? Is it okay to make yourself unreachable? [New York Times]

And on the seventh day, the Tumblr Gods rested. [Dinosaursfuckingrobots.com - Thanks, Dan!]

Each bone segment of the T-Rex snaps together with ball joints. When completed, the skeleton can be installed on a powered platform that brings it alive with stomping and thrashing action. Indeed, if dinosaurs ever roamed the Earth again in a real-life Jurassic Park then escaped to terrorize mankind, chances are the scientist that is responsible will have owned one of these as a kid. [Skeleflex via OhGizmo]

The Triceracopter is subtitled "Hope for the Obsolescence of War," and I guess that's why it's a dinosaur combined with a military helicopter. But somehow I feel like it promotes war. I mean, if the US had dinosaur helicopters, you think they wouldn't want to try them out? I mean, come on, dinosaur helicopters!

Just don't say anything like that if you're looking to acquire this piece of art. The artist might not be down with that interpretation. [Facebook via NotCot.org]

It's a solar-powered vehicle, so its covered in solar panels. But when you stop for a breather, the panels fan out, increasing their surface area and helping juice up in the sun when its not in use. It's a smart design and a cool one as well. Cool because it was inspired by dinosaurs. As soon as they start designing minivans with the sleek lines of a T-Rex, minivans will finally be cool. Take notes, car designers. [CarBodyDesign via SlipperyBrick]

"The next generation of airborne drones won’t just be small and silent," says the multidisciplinary group, "they’ll alter their wing shapes using morphing techniques to squeeze through confined spaces, dive between buildings, zoom under overpasses, land on apartment balconies, or sail along the coastline."

The researchers behind the project view the pterodactyl as one of the most successful flying creatures to ever soar above the Earth—so, naturally, a robotic version might prove useful in gathering information and maybe even conducting military strikes somewhere down the line. Nothing would strike fear into the hearts of terrorists like a squadron of pterodactyls swooping down and devouring their comrades one by one. [Science Daily]

Sorry, but the T-Rex does not come in periwinkle. Toyota still has you there. [Scare Factory via Nerd Approved]

The robots will also be capable of interacting with guests by following them with their eyes or lunging at them as the walk by. Even though you would think that keeping the wraps on a 500,000 square foot park would be difficult, further details are scarce. However, the park is scheduled to open in late 2008 in City of Arabia, Dubai. [City of Arabia and Cosmos]

It's a life-sized replica of a Camarasaurus, one of the less popular kids at the dinosaur cafeteria table. But hey, that doesn't make this lumbering herbivore any less impressive. Standing 18 feet high and stretching 55 feet long, it'll make your birthday party the social event of the school year. So what are you waiting for? Have dad get your checkbook and become the most popular kid around. –Adam Frucci

Product Page [via Red Ferret]

1.5 feet tall and 4.2 feet long, Troody was meant to roam freely in museums to get people interested in science. And if that didn't work, Troody would be equipped with lasers and subsequently take over the world...slowly. – Mark Wilson
Thanks Tyler!
Troody Video

In hindsight, the effort was wasted. This is a perfect example of the tectonic shifts that take place in electronics—tapes to CDs, VHS to DVD—and dash the hopes and dreams of countless innovators and investors every year.

A Sliderule -Calculator Missing Link [Saffo via BoingBoing]

A prehistoric adventure begins as soon as kids empty the packet of brown sugar-flavored oatmeal into their bowl, add boiling water and begin to stir! Within seconds, dinosaur eggs hatch into brightly colored baby stegosaurus and triceratops.

Kids? I hardly would say that this is only for kids. What kind of kid can handle a triceratops popping right out of your god damned oatmeal bowl? I know I'd be armed to the teeth with a spoon and a big appetite! Remember Jurassic Park? I doubt all that high tech engineering was needed. After all, Quaker managed to cram real dinosaur eggs into a bowl of oatmeal without Jeff Goldblum. Any dinosaur enthusiast should immediately try this oatmeal. If you need more explaining on how you can re-create dinosaurs with the flick of a spoon, watch this short movie.