Yes, apparently this is a great idea because it can be the key to obtain cheap geothermal power. These drills—created by Jared Potter—will go deep into Mother Earth to reach the magma to make geothermal energy wells. The magma will be used then to superheat water and produce electricity using steam and turbines—forever and ever—something that is impossible now even with today's state-of-the-art drilling technology.

Unlike current drilling methods, the flame-jets make holes without touching the rock itself. Potter has two prototypes so far, both with the same results. The first fires a 3200ºF hydrogen flame to heat the rock, making cracks that expand into a full hole in a matter of minutes. The other one superheats a jet of water at 7200ºF and can work at super-deep levels, with extreme pressures.

They are both in the preliminary testing stages, but as you can see in the video, they show promise. If they work, it will be great idea with—hopefully—great benefits for all of mankind.

My primitive self, however, has a funny feeling about this. You know, why do people insist on doing things that may end up badly? Don't we have enough with pandemics and the bloody Apophis and its 3,000 dark comet friends coming to destroy the planet with Pink Floyd music playing on the background soon?

Maybe Mr Potter should get a job as a birthday party magician.

The Shoot and Cook Rifle BBQ Lighter is a 14.5-inch implement that can set pretty much any flammable material on fire. Sure, it's designed to light coals on a grill, but I can think of plenty of uses for a flame-inducing side arm.

Imagine, you're at a bar. A lady needs a light. You reach into your pocket and pull out the Shoot and Cook Rifle BBQ Lighter. She says, "Oh no he's got a gun!!" Bouncers rush toward you. They can't tell if the tiny rifle is real, but these guys aren't taking any chances.

By the time the night is through, you've both had your heart broken and seen what human bone looks like when exposed to air. $10. [Bass Pro Shops via OhGizmo!]

The essential but counterintuitive concept is that, to walk like a man, the robot must "fall forward." Flame derives information from its "organ of balance," which it then applies to things like stance using seven motors. Springs in its joints make the movements smoother, as you see in the video above.

Flame will be used not only to further robotics research, but to help diagnose orthopedic problems in humans as well. Me, I'm waiting for Flame 2. Word on the street is that it'll be able to pull off, yes that's right, the Electric Boogaloo. [PhysOrg via KurzweilAI]

UPDATE: A reader named Jerry just told me about an earlier bipedal robot from Cornell that supposedly used the same principles to walk. As you can see in the video below, on the upside, it has arms; on the downside, it looks like it's been using the arms to do the 12-oz curl if you know what I'm sayin'. Thanks Jerry!

Don't have weeds? Buy one anyway. There is an attached control valve that regulates the amount of flame. Sounds like boatloads of fun to me. It is available for $35 over at the 'Zon. – Travis Hudson

Product Page [Via OhGizmo!]

So I'm not really concerned until the inventor, a certain Sanford B. Schupper, dropped us a line today:

If you want to pontificate or seek self-aggrandizement either go into politics or don t do it at someone else s expense. Your business credentials don t justify such public scathing of something you have no first hand info about. Think before you speak ...or get a towel and some lotion and head for the bathroom...might be more fulfilling and won t be at the expense of others.

No need to respond. Just grow up.

Sandy

So we get flamed over a silly CD player that dumps audio to an iPod with no visible means of getting the CD track info via the Interweb—maybe it's got wireless, or maybe it's vaporware: the website doesn't say—and I'm starting to get a little curious. Why would Mr. Schupper be so angry about this. Could he be making shit up?

Then I found this story from the Colorado Springs Gazette. The gist appears here:

A Monument businessman convicted of theft and securities fraud won t be allowed to travel to China to market a product he invented, a judge ruled Friday.

Sanford Schupper, 56, has been convicted of defrauding Citibank Visa of as much as $200,000 and sentenced to six years in prison. In another case, Schupper was convicted of swindling a family out of $872,000 and sentenced to eight years in prison. ...

Friday, Schupper s lawyer asked senior state District Court Judge Donald Campbell to grant Schupper permission to go to China to market his latest invention, an accessory for Apple iPods.

Pop through to read on.

Schupper says the product could make him millions and allow him to pay court-ordered restitution to victims of his crimes. He hasn t revealed specifics about the product because of fears someone might steal the idea.

What's that? Paranoid inventors? Vaporware? Securities fraud? Yes, friends, another magical visit to the wondrous underworld of tech!

This is what I've dug up on our little buddy. Generally, it's bad to antagonize your audience, Mr. Schupper, even though you are under a bit of stress.

Monument Gun Shop Case [KSCourts]
Same [Findlaw]
iLoad whois [Whois]
Parent Company - Wingspan Partners Inc [Wingspan]

UPDATE - Sent him a quick reply with some of the above links and got this:

And how do you relate that with the subject matter? I don't want to enter a dialog with you. As I said before, don't reply. Just consider what I had to say and your own reasons for being very negative without credentials that support such observations

Try and find something positive to write about. Good day

Please do not reply further