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HealthMap Gives Lowdown on Disease Outbreaks, Could Save Lives
Scientists are using the power of the web to track and find real disease outbreaks. Every hour, HealthMap, an infectious disease-tracking website, feeds off of news, public health list serves, and the World Health Organization's online pages to survey the spread of infections. With help from Google, the program has identified 95 percent of all disease outbreaks, sometimes days before the WHO or international disease control agencies can announce them. More »
air gun
Here's a great idea that DeWalt should get their asses on: A handheld 18-volt air gun that can be used to dust, airbrush, or fill up basketballs or bike tires. I'd get one if it meant less time on the bike pump, and it could start a new genre of krylon-free, duel-wielding graf artists. Found this cool gem of a fantasy gadget over at the newly designed and even sexier Core77 website. [Core77]
Cool Concept: Handheld Electric Pneumatic Gun
Here's a great idea that DeWalt should get their asses on: A handheld 18-volt air gun that can be used to dust, airbrush, or fill up basketballs or bike tires. I'd get one if it meant less time on the bike pump, and it could start a new genre of krylon-free, duel-wielding graf artists. Found this cool gem of a fantasy gadget over at the newly designed and even sexier Core77 website. [Core77]
culture
Take a potentially lethal power tool (such as a saw), screw with it a bit and then place it on a track against other similarly sharp, high-speed devices. That's the philosophy behind the Seattle Power Tool Race & Derby. And like any sport we like, it involves no sweat but a touch of danger. Last weekend as their third annual race—that's a shot of the festivities above. Read on for the video:
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Power Tool Drag Racing is Our Kind of Non-Sport
Take a potentially lethal power tool (such as a saw), screw with it a bit and then place it on a track against other similarly sharp, high-speed devices. That's the philosophy behind the Seattle Power Tool Race & Derby. And like any sport we like, it involves no sweat but a touch of danger. Last weekend as their third annual race—that's a shot of the festivities above. Read on for the video:
More »
tools
Padlock Scares Off Thieves With a 100dB Alarm
I have actually been looking for a decent padlock over the last couple of weeks, but so far nothing has suited my needs. While many of these locks would do a fine job of protecting my stuff, I think I was waiting for something a little different. This siren padlock may be just the ticket because it locks up property and it is liable to have a thief shitting bricks when they hear the 100dB alarm. More »
lighting
Ground Effects Lighting From Snap-On Makes Your Toolbox Look Fast
Sure a toolbox is functional, but it lacks aesthetics. My suggestion: paint flames on the side and add some ground effects lighting from Snap-On. The AC-powered lights come in singles or dual packs in blue, red and green colors—and they can be attached to any number of surfaces using magnetic clamps. Unfortunately, the Snap-on site is a little wonky with regard to pricing on these things, but we do know that the dual packs will set you back about $90 (which seems to be the same price for a single green). Way overpriced if you ask me, but that is what you get when you buy a big name brand. [Snap-On via Toolmonger]
bbq
Magnetic BBQ Tool Light Brightens Up Your Beef
Did you know that May is national BBQ month? If you haven't celebrated yet, I suggest you make up for lost time by firing up that grill morning, noon and night. That's right, you can even cook in the dark thanks to this LED BBQ tool light. It isn't the first BBQ light out there, but it is the only one that can attach magnetically to your spatula so you can catch all of the action close up. It even has a bendable neck for added versatility. If you think about it, this sort of device could come in handy in all sorts of situations outside of the grill. Not bad for only $14.95. [Solutions via EB$29.99 via Techie Diva via DVICE]
motors
A British man who had his car clamped outside his home used an angle-grinder to cut it in two. Ian Taylor's car, which he had bought for $100 for his stepson to use (guess he doesn't like his stepson much) and had yet to tax, was parked on his front drive, but was protruding by two inches onto the pavement. Although Taylor had legally registered it to be off the road, the clampers didn't care, and stuck a Denver Boot on it. Taylor's revenge was to play "Will it Angle-Grind?" on the vehicle.
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Mr. T-Wannabe Halves Car with Angle-Grinder to Hack Off Police
A British man who had his car clamped outside his home used an angle-grinder to cut it in two. Ian Taylor's car, which he had bought for $100 for his stepson to use (guess he doesn't like his stepson much) and had yet to tax, was parked on his front drive, but was protruding by two inches onto the pavement. Although Taylor had legally registered it to be off the road, the clampers didn't care, and stuck a Denver Boot on it. Taylor's revenge was to play "Will it Angle-Grind?" on the vehicle.
More »
surgery
Tiny Surgical Instruments Suck Appendix Out of Your Stomach and Into Your Mouth
The vanity-saturated life of a Gizmodo writer means no scars, visible or otherwise, so this breakthrough procedure for appendicitis is a godsend for those among us who still have the vestigial organ. According to doctors who performed the operation in San Diego, a flexible tube is used to thread miniature surgical instruments down the patient's throat into their stomach. At that point, the fun begins—unless you're an appendix, of course.More »
apple
My MacBook Cable Replacement Tip at Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools
After years of wanting to, I finally submitted a Cool Tools entry, and my friend Steve Leckart edited it for me. It's about using a spare Playstation cable, which one of the smart readers at KK.org recognized as a IEC C7 cord, instead of the nub or grounded garden hose that comes with a Mac Laptop.Why? My reasons for doing it are over at [Cool Tools]
bots in disguise
Russian Chat Bot Talks the Sexy Talk, Scores Chicks for You
A Russian website will soon offer CyberLover, a program that simulates chatroom flirting. The stated purpose is for nerds with no skillz, who can use it to talk to "up to 10 women at one time" and score some digits. Says the site: "Not a single girl has yet realized that she was communicating with a program!" It also said that the program could perform virtual sex online. Sure, it's all fun and games—until someone loses a credit card number, says an Australian anti-virus software developer PC Tools. More »
chocolate
A Set of Chocolate Tools Please
The holidays are all about candy, and nothing says holiday sweets like a set of chocolate tools. Wait, is that right? We know there are chocolate shaped bunnies, Champaign bottles and even gadgets, so we guess chocolate tools aren't that strange. These photos from Sicily, Italy, show a set of working chocolate tools, complete with moving parts and threaded nuts and bolts. As for how much work you can actually get done with these tools is unknown, but we would imagine not much. For more chocolaty tooly goodness hit the jump. More »
tools
If you consider yourself something of a handyman, my guess is that your toolbox at home has become increasingly filled with laser guided goodies over the last few years. That having been said, feast your eyes on this new laser guided hand saw. I could be wrong, but it seems like it would be fairly difficult to maintain a straight line with the beam flailing wildly about as you work — but hey...it has a laser on it! Available for $19.99 [Product Page via Uberreview]
Laser Guided Hand Saw Transforms an Ordinary Tool Into an Ordinary Tool...With a Laser
If you consider yourself something of a handyman, my guess is that your toolbox at home has become increasingly filled with laser guided goodies over the last few years. That having been said, feast your eyes on this new laser guided hand saw. I could be wrong, but it seems like it would be fairly difficult to maintain a straight line with the beam flailing wildly about as you work — but hey...it has a laser on it! Available for $19.99 [Product Page via Uberreview]
tools
T-N-T Multi-Tool Helps Firefighters Kick Ass and Break Stuff
The fires currently raging in Southern California got us thinking about tools that can help firefighters do their jobs more effectively, and few devices can do more than the T-N-T or "Denver" Multi-tool. It is an axe, a pry bar, a ram, and a D-handled pull hook all-in-one—so it can smash or rip through just about anything. The product site also notes that the T-N-T is equally useful for those involved in law enforcement, construction, or "other." I suggest that "other" be home protection. With a device like this, you could surely lay an epic beatdown on an intruder. Available in various sizes for around $180. [Product Site and TNT Tools via Toolmonger]
office tools
Dinosaur Skull or Staple Remover? You Decide
This family of crazy staple removers and other office implements are by New York designer Jac Zagoory, crafted of pewter and certain to elicit raised eyebrows and quizzical looks around the office. What the heck is that skull doing on your desk? The purpose of the lion, gorilla and gator you'll see in the gallery below are a little more obvious. All are between $45 and $65, but the shark bite stapler will cost you $90. [Jac Zagoory Designs, via Dark Roasted Blend]
tools
If you're like us, you might use a cordless screwdriver once a year, long enough for its charge to trickle away. But get this: The Coleman FlashCell Cordless Screwdriver will be ready for you in a jiffy, charging in 90 seconds or less. That's because it's not charging batteries, it's charging a large capacitor, sucking up the juice and getting you back to your screwing duties lickety-split (yikes, how many double entendres can I use in one sentence?).
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Coleman FlashCell Cordless Screwdriver Charges in 90 Seconds
If you're like us, you might use a cordless screwdriver once a year, long enough for its charge to trickle away. But get this: The Coleman FlashCell Cordless Screwdriver will be ready for you in a jiffy, charging in 90 seconds or less. That's because it's not charging batteries, it's charging a large capacitor, sucking up the juice and getting you back to your screwing duties lickety-split (yikes, how many double entendres can I use in one sentence?).
More »
tool toys
Crayola Total Tools Audio Ruler, the Talkative Measuring Assistant
Here's an odd toy from Crayola that could function as a tool, too. The Crayola Total Tools Audio Ruler lays down a line of disappearing ink, and then blurts out exactly how long that line is as soon as you're done drawing it. It's accurate to within a quarter of an inch, but has a major limitation. More »
award winner
Just when we were thinking the hammer had already been perfected, ATOMdesign steps in with this S2 Hammer, designed with a split head that reduces the shock to the hands and arms of the poor sucker who has to bang on stuff with it all day long. He-man hammer beta testers say this beast can drive a nail to the hilt with just two strikes, approaching nail-gun territory. Despite all of its high-tech design goodness, this mofo hammer's creators decided to stick with the carpenter-favorite hickory handle.
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Get This S2 Hammer, and Everything Will Start Looking Like a Nail
Just when we were thinking the hammer had already been perfected, ATOMdesign steps in with this S2 Hammer, designed with a split head that reduces the shock to the hands and arms of the poor sucker who has to bang on stuff with it all day long. He-man hammer beta testers say this beast can drive a nail to the hilt with just two strikes, approaching nail-gun territory. Despite all of its high-tech design goodness, this mofo hammer's creators decided to stick with the carpenter-favorite hickory handle.
More »
