Gizmodo: rabbits

Fully Functional Penises Grown in Lab

Rosa Golijan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:40:00 EST

In the future, the compliment to give a guy will be to say that he's hung like a rabbit. It'll imply that he has the super-high libido that comes with fully-functional, custom-engineered penises like those being successfully implanted in bunnies.

I don't know how the fluffy creatures lost their most precious parts in the first place, but scientists decided to grow entire penises from scratch and implant them into a group of rabbits. The result were fully-functional, completely responsive sex organs in all the rabbits and "when given the chance to have sex, eight [of them] were able to ejaculate, and four became fathers." Impressive conception rate considering they were working with brand new equipment.

The hope is to one day reproduce those results for humans and aid those requiring penile reconstruction. Until then though, I suppose that "replacement penis" will keep implying the involvement of batteries. [Wired]

This week, Gizmodo is exploring the enhanced human future in a segment we call This Cyborg Life. It's about what happens when we treat our body less as a sacred object and more as what it is: Nature's ultimate machine.

This Autofetch Motion Pet Ball Is One Twisted Toy

Rosa Golijan — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:40:00 EDT

At first I thought the Autofetch Motion Pet Ball is a neat way for lazy dog owners to give their pets some exercise and treats, but then I looked at the product FAQs. What's this about using it with kids?

The point of the Autofetch Motion Pet Ball is to stick some pet treats inside, activate the internal gyro-drive, and let the ball spin around to entertain and reward your pet. Well, at least I think you're supposed to use it for your pet, because one of the two "frequently asked questions" listed on the product page is a bit odd:

Can I use this motion ball with my pet Rabbit or Pig or Iguana?

Yes, it can be used with any pet, child, or adult human.

I really want to give whoever wrote that the benefit of the doubt and assume that the intent is to say that it's safe for kids to use the toy to play with their pets and that they're not encouraging shoving Halloween candy in there and watching a kid chase after the ball. Although maybe that could be fun to watch. [China Vision via Red Ferret via Wired]

Humping Bunny is a Daintier Way to Defile Your Computer

Elaine Chow — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:00:00 EDT

Humping dogs are great and all, but sometimes we'd prefer to have something cuter do the nasty with our USB ports. Why not go for the animal that everyone associates with overbreeding anyway? Imported from Japan (no surprise there), each satisfied-looking rabbit comes with adorably humping motions and 1GB of memory. You can get one now for $15 on Urban Outfitters' online store. [Urban Outfitters]

Pet-Proof Your AV Gear For Fun and Profit

Jason Chen — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:30:00 EDT

Unless you want to spend money on replacing your AV gear or replacing your pet, you're going to have to protect one from the other. Sound & Vision Mag has seven suggestions on how to do just that. Among them are wrapping up your rat's nest of wires behind the TV, placing a ScatMat (not what it sounds like) to gently shock little animals that step near your goodies, shielding your screen and hiding your remotes. Sounds like a pretty good warmup for when you have to baby-proof your AV gear a few years down the line. Especially with that ScatMat thing. [Sound And Vision]

Shot-Glass Printing Bot, Darko-Like Rabbit, Molten Beer Bong Turn Up at Roboexotica "Cocktail Robotics" Convention

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 10:02:30 EST

Apparently the science of cocktail robotics was woefully neglected until some enterprising alkies created Roboexotica, a convention to celebrate cyber-assisted drunkenness. The action is taking place this weekend in Vienna, and from the looks of the opening night pictures, things are still as academic as they were when I was in college. (Just looking at this molten steel beer bong gives me a tear of nostalgia.) The homemade replicator—or "reprap"—you see above stamps shot glasses using a thermistor, stepper-controlling arduinos and, of course, an extruder. Man those nerds know how to party! [Roboexotica, Brex's Flickr Page and Sean Bonner's Metroblogging Vienna via Make]

LoveHoney's Rabbit Vibrator Recycling Program Helps the Environment

Jason Chen — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:00:13 EDT

Recycling electronics is crucial, so why should recycling your old vibrators be any different? Love Honey has a new program where you send in your old, worn out, used one-too-many-times vibrator to them, and they'll send you a brand new rabbit vibrator for half price. Half price! That's a fantastic deal. Don't take our word for it, let this talking rabbit explain. Just don't confuse him with one of the other kind of rabbits. [Love Honey]

Moooi Animal Thing

gizmodo.com — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 11:25:51 EDT

The horse lamp looks really awesome but unless you live in a big space or have a seriously quirky personality, we imagine it would get real old real quick.

The pig table we love and would actually use but we are indifferent to the rabbit lamp. Easter is over, no reason to cut the little critters slack now.

Moooi Animal Thing [Front Design]

Run Away! Killer Plush Monty Python Rabbit

gizmodo.com — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 09:15:45 EST

You know it's just a rabbit right? Wrong. This bunny is absolutely ferocious. Coming straight from "Monty Python & The Holy Grail", this bunny looks innocent and cute until you approach it. Pull down it's mouth to reveal it's bloodthirsty fangs and tongue dripping with blood. Squeeze the leg for it's eyes to light up in a frenzy that will make you scream "Run Away!" This life-sized creature goes for $29.99 and is worth every penny to those who have seen the movie a billion times like I have.

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