Gizmodo: wacky

Wingwalking Couple Weds Atop Their Own Individual Speeding Biplanes

John Mahoney — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:30:00 EDT

Apparently a proposal in the middle of the Amazonian rainforest wasn't enough for Brits Darren McWalters and Katie Hodgson, seen here taking their vows under the guise of a rearward-facing wing-mounted priest above the English countryside. The magic words were exchanged with a combination of hand signals and radio headsets, which were also simulcast to guests on the ground. From the looks of the video below, it seems like things went off without a hitch.

[Reuters]

Thirteen Computer Keyboards You've (Probably) Never Seen

www.gizmodo.com — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 09:30:00 EST

The folks over at Hongkiat.com posted a great roundup of wacky keyboards that you've probably never seen.

I've seen a few of these at my local family-run electronics shack, but there are definitely a couple I've never even thought existed—a few of these are straight BONKERS.

Up top, we've got the Datahand Keyboard, which looks like it came straight out of 'Flight of the Navigator.' This keyboard features 132-keys and uses five key switches located at the tips of each of the fingers. The keyboard claims to reduce hand-strain while hitting hard to reach key combinations, like 'ctrl+t' to open a new tab. I'm sure lil' David Freeman and Co. have a lifetime supply on order.

In the middle, we've got the Safetype Keyboard. I assume you're supposed to type on it like you're gripping a pair of love handles. A progressive design, but it looks like it can't handle much punishment and could break easily, especially during some heated Unreal Tournament deathmatches.

And at the bottom, we've got the Tidy Typist. "The marriage of eating and tipping: the decorative tablecloth, made of felt, contains a textile keyboard. The electronic is woven into a fabric, which finds itself between layers of water resistant felt as sandwich material." I don't get it.

Hop on over to Hongkiat to check out the rest of the list. And if any of you have used these, be sure to post up your experiences. – Alexander Yoon

13 Computer keyboards you have never seen before [Hongkiat]

Product Page [Datahand Keyboard]
Product Page [Safetype Keyboard]
Product Page [Tidy Typist]

Japanese Human Vending Machine

Travis Hudson — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 13:15:39 EST

In today's episode of "More Weird Crap from Japan" we find our heroes encountered with a very strange machine. This vending machine is staffed by a real human who gives the desired product to the consumer, rather than having a series of mechanics do the job. If only it was a real human vending machine that actually gave out, uh, humans. Those wacky Japanese—what will they think of next? –Travis Hudson

Human vending machine in Tokyo [Via Coolest-Gadgets]

Best of the Best: Toys From Japan

Jason Chen — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:45:56 EST

Lisa Katayama, who regularly covers Japanese toys for Gizmodo, has a huge roundup of of the best things from Japan. Among them, a shiny golden bazooka that only works when holding a dog, David Beckham's head, a gropey Japanese dude, and a fake marijuana plant.

– Jason Chen

Cool Toys for Grownups [Wired]

Will It Blend? Crazy Old Man Blends Everything in Powerful Blender

Gizloco — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 11:42:53 EST

You know those late night infomercials where they cut a pair of shoes in half for no real reason? This is kinda like that, but just about a billion times cooler (estimating, of course). Blendtec is hawking a blender that they claim can blend pretty much anything under the sun like, "40 pens!" Their Web site has a whole bunch of "Will It Blend?" videos of wacky things being blended, so if you've got a few minutes to kill (because you're without a PS3) and want to laugh at complete and utter nonsense, have at it. – Nicholas Deleon

Thanks, Richard!

Will It Blend? [Blendtec]