Geeky Willow Plates: Calamityware

If you missed out on Olly Moss’ limited edition 8-bit willow plates, Don Moyer’s Calamityware might be the next best thing. Don creates humorous dinner plates by using the ancient willow pattern to depict modern subjects. His first plate features the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz. Now he’s raising funds on Kickstarter to make plates with a giant robot on it.

To give you an idea of what the finished product will look like, here’s a sample of the flying monkey plate:

You can pre-order both plates from the Calamityware shop, but you can also pledge just $25 (USD) on Kickstarter to get the giant robot plate as a reward. You can also check out Don’s Flickr page to see more images of Calamityware, including his future designs.

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Honda Concept Cars 3D Models: You Would Download a Toy Car

The new PS3 racing game Gran Turismo 6 lets players drive concept cars made expressly by automotive companies and other brands for the game. Honda is one of those companies, but it’s also using a newer form of technology to reach out to its fans. The Japanese automaker recently made 3D models of its concept cars available for download.

As of this writing the Honda 3D Design Archives features five downloadable 3D models, headlined by the 2013 Acura NSX Concept. You can also download the Fuya-Jo, the FSR Concept, the Kiwami and the toaster-like Puyo from the website. Not familiar with any of those cars? Check out this video:

Man, I need to step my daydream game up. Drive your browser to Honda 3D Design Archives and download the models.

[via TomoChan Store]

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Arcade Machine Accepts Bitcoins: Bitcoin-op

A growing number of establishments are accepting Bitcoin as payment. Now you can even use it to play arcade games. British company Liberty Games combined the cutting edge currency with the aging gaming platform to make a simple transaction hilariously complicated. The company used a Raspberry Pi and a PiFace add-on to make the payment interface.

Liberty Games first tried their Bitcoin payment mod on a pool table. After receiving good feedback for that mod, the company decided to apply it on an arcade machine.

The great thing about their method is that it doesn’t mess with the machine’s software, which means it can be performed on pretty much any coin-operated arcade game. Not that you should.

[via Gamefreaks]

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Geeky Heroes Boiled Down to Basic Blocks

Artist Adam Lister creates awesome watercolor paintings of iconic pop culture figures using rudimentary block shapes. The most meta of his images has to be the watercolor of Bob Ross – though I’m having a hard time making out any happy little trees.

Despite their apparent simplicity, each image clearly conveys its subjects, while giving them a sort of 16-bit pixelated sensibility to them. He’s done versions of Darth Vader, Superman, Boba Fett, Batman and Robin, Iron Man, and even Forrest Gump. But my personal favorite is Kirk and Spock:

You can find more of Adam’s pieces over on his website – where you can get limited-edition 5×7 Giclee prints of many of his images. He’s even got a special running through today (2/2/14) where you can grab them for just $30(USD). And be sure to check out his gallery of original paintings here.

[via Geek Art]

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Map of the Internet 1.0: Web Browser

Even if you’re not an XKCD fan, I’m sure some of you have seen Randall Munroe’s irreverent Map of Online Communities. Martin Vargic – who makes maps in his pastime – was inspired by that webcomic strip and decided to make his own map of the Internet.

The Independent spoke with Martin and found out that the amateur cartographer drew the map in Photoshop by hand, aping the style of old National Geographic maps. Like Randall, Martin isn’t actually planning on mapping the entire Internet or even the entire World Wide Web, just the most popular sites as determined by website analytics company Alexa. Martin also told The Independent that he split the websites into the western Old World and the eastern New World.

Aside from the map itself, Martin also added related stats and other trivia on the edges of his illustration.

Travel to deviantART’s shores to see a high-resolution version of the map. Martin admits that it’s far from the final version and will be updated and polished. But if you want, you can order a print of the map from Zazzle; the price will vary depending on the size of the print.

[via The Independent]

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Power Generating Soccket Soccer Ball Now Available

Last year we talked a bit about the Soccket soccer ball, or football depending on where you are from, when it turned up on Kickstarter. At the time a pledge of $89 would get you one. If you missed the Kickstarter campaign and want to get your hands on one of the power generating balls, you now can.

It uses tech inside the ball that captures and stores electricity when the ball is kicked around. It’s designed primarily for use in developing nations which have limited access to electricity, and can provide three hours of light after 30 minutes of play, using the flexible LED lamp included with each ball.

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The power captured by the generator inside is stored in a battery pack. If you don’t need a light, the power can be used to charge a smartphone. Keep in mind that its USB jack offers only 6W so it’s not enough for most tablets.

The Soccket ball is now available to purchase for $99(USD).

[via EverythingUSB]

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You’ve Got It In You, Now Wear It: Chromosome Jewelry

Genes, chromosomes, DNA. We all know it’s complicated, but who knew it could be so beautiful?

Electron microscopist Louise Hughes is passionate about microscopy and the genetic structures that she has studied and observed. And now they are available to wear as jewelry, as Louise has begun a Kickstarter campaign to get these pieces of jewelry in production.

Rewards include postcards featuring Louise’s microscopy artwork (told you she was passionate about it!), rings, pendants, earrings, and cufflinks that are available in XX, XY, XXY, or triplet of chromosome 21 designs. There’s also a ring available that features all of the chromosomes in a single piece.

For more information on the project and the rewards, check out the Human Chromosome Jewelry campaign page on Kickstarter.

[via C|NET]

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