Aside from housing the plasma screen, the walnut hardwood console even incorporates room for a built-in center speaker. Made from "Fender amp screen material," the front facing speaker grill is in a perfect location to complete the surround-sound speaker layout.

This design to house electronics in a clean modern look is a complete throwback to the entertainment consoles that emerged in the 1950s. Back then it was very common to find a TV housed completely in a wood console, or a record player hidden inside a teak credenza. With entertainment technology becoming such an integral part of every household, it's nice to know that there is someone out there trying to put it it all together again.

Since the console was only on display to "test the waters of public interest," there is no word on specific specs, pricing or availability. Apartment Therapy did get a few words from the designer, and found out that his furniture company, Wilkerson Furniture, is still unsure if they should offer the console and the screen as a package. I'm glad this is a concern, because with plasma TVs currently on the way out, it could mean this console is just old stuff. [Wilkerson Furniture via Apartment Therapy]

Jon has since visited CompUSA and purchased some tools to help him map out the school's network. Apparently, the whole infrastructure was in such a sorry state when Jon got started, he had to urge the head teacher to spend some cash on up-to-date antivirus software. Even still, some of the machines Jon has to deal with are so old they cannot support current protection packages. In short; the little tyke's got his work cut out. Sure, this all sounds fantastic for the kid, he's obviously quite a smart lad, but we ask you this; is he smart enough to make the old network administrator mysteriously vanish, giving him an excellent opportunity to show off the mad network admin skills he's gained following 11 years of solid training? That crafty little... [Network World via Slashdot]

As the water heats, the rising air pressure makes it flow upwards from the glass water chamber into the metal brewing unit. Once the coffee is ready, take it off the heat and the coffee will return through a filter into the Kahva's glass bottom via a vacuum that has been created by the cooling of the coffee maker. To pour, simply turn the grip and let the coffee flow. [Yanko]

He's modded it to shoot rubber-tipped railway sleepers at criminals. And in spite of the police's stance, the 70-year-old is standing firm. "I'm not out to kill anyone or even hurt them," he says. "I just want to keep yobs off my land."
Signs up at the entrance to Watson-Webb's flooring business warn of the fate that will befall anyone who attempts to get onto the Nottinghamshire property. SmartPoo, it seems, is no laughing matter. "This is a serious issue. People all over Britain are sick and tired of feeling like prisoners in their own homes and seeing yobs get away with it."
After trying just about every security product on the market—fencing, motion-sensor lights and CCTV cameras—the 70-year-old is unrepentant, and has pooh-poohed the attitude of the law. "Maybe the police think I'm joking, but the only people laughing are the criminals. That's why I fully intend to take the law into my own hands." [Daily Mail]

While Rogan says it doesn't create addiction, he seems quite enthusiastic about it and the psychedelic experiences he claims the tank puts you through. Enthusiastic enough to have created a new, larger version, a soundproof 11-feet tall box filled with 11 inches of water and 800 pounds of dissolved salt.

The salt makes you extremely buoyant, and combined with the a 93.5 degrees F water temperature—the same of the skin—lying on the water makes you feel like there's no end to your body. You don't feel anything and, 15 minutes after you are in, he says you will start having weird visions and pseudo-astral trips. And although he has a machine pumping pure oxygen into the chamber ("it's good for the brain," he says), according to Rogan the crazy effects come to you without any kind of drugs.

Hookai.

In the movie Altered States, however, William Hurt's character uses more than pure oxygen. Taking hallucinogenic drugs to get back to a "primordial state" and discover the origin of life, he almost destroys himself after going through a monkey and a giant amoeba, only to get rescued back into human form by his wife at the last moment. Looking at this picture, Rogan seems to be getting into the monkey stage now.

All this can be yours for free, dear reader, straight from a guy who doesn't believe that humans landed in the moon, September 11's WTC 7 was imploded and JFK's assassination was a conspiracy. Contrary to rumors, however, the free tank doesn't come with a tinfoil hat. You'll have to do one yourself. [Joe Rogan —Thanks to Brian Reichle, who made the video and send it to us]

A group of students from North Carolina State University, led by industrial design student Joe Harmon, are building Splinter as part of a thesis project. Harmon and his car dons intend to look at how to work with wood in car designs, so Splinter even has wooden components in its suspension and chassis.

Crafting a car like this has required them to come up with some innovative uses of laminated wood—the wheels are made of carefully cut and layered oak veneers strong enough to take the stress of a 2,500-pound body—that's as heavy as two Smart cars. And how do you stop the heat from its powerful mid-located V8 from setting fire to the body? Turn parts of it upside down so the exhaust vents over the top of the engine, and incorporate the muffler into the rear wing, where it can also aid downforce.

Inside the car the passengers' legs go between the arms of the suspension, which sounds kinda dangerous, but clearly the team has thought long and hard about it. They want project Splinter to "explore materials, learn, share ideas and stimulate creativity." And go bloody fast. – Kit Eaton [Winding Road via Autoblog]

Helio Ocean walkthrough with Fat Joe [Boy Genius]

I was watching the Queen Mary 2 pass under the Golden Gate Bridge last Sunday with Lisa and NY-transferee Joe Brown. (Joe, formerly of Pop Science, took over some of my old beats at Wired Mag after I left.) We were strolling down at Chrissy Field, talking bout work when the topic of 3GSM came up.

Joe asked, "You sending anyone?"

I replied that I didn't think it was going to be interesting enough.

Joe said, "You kidding? The iPhone knockoffs will be there."

I simply shook my head. It's been 6 weeks. Maybe they'll be ready at CTIA.

Then this Samsung phone hit the news on Thursday, boasting all the best features of the iPhone (kinda) but making up for the shortcomings with a qwerty keyboard. I forgot that making hardware like the iPhone is child's play for these megacorps.

The next day, Editor Louis Ramirez volunteered himself to Spain, with no hotel room. He's crafty, I'm sure he'll be fine. The important thing is that Louis is going to be bringing us some great hands on time with all the iPhone knockoffs. So stay tuned.

And Joe Brown, I owe you a beer.–Brian Lam

We throw around the phrase "intellectual property" commonly, as we bitch about patents, lawsuits and other industry jargon (as we did earlier today in a post about the Wiimote). It's one of those concepts that's tough to grasp because the property itself so often digresses to an idea pissing match between monolithic corporations and lawyer speak. Then you hear about a story like this one. – Mark Wilson

Chicago Gunman Angry Over Patent [sfgate]