Neatorama

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• The Coolest Bikes on Two (Or More) Wheels
• The Bizarre Sport of Ferret Legging
• Pittsburgh's Conflict Kitchen
• The Past, The Present, and The Future of Media?
• What Your Email Address Says About You
• Crocheted Beanie with Beard
• Wartime Prisoner Escapes
• "Miniskirt Meteorology" Used to Predict Weather
• Grill/Motorcycle
• Stained Glass Motherboards
• The Orangutan and the Hound
• Oh No! You Broke Google!
• Favela Painting
• Subway to Tessellate Cheese?
• Riding Bombs
• Oil Spill Widget
• How Arlington National Cemetery Came to Be
• Sprocket Rocket
• The Fake Houses of Leinster Gardens

The Coolest Bikes on Two (Or More) Wheels Posted: 01 Jun 2010 04:45 AM PDT With the fear global warming taking over the minds of Americans everywhere, it's no wonder that bicycles have gone through a renaissance in the last decade. True to form, the bike renaissance comes with a lot of innovations to make our old two-wheeled cycles safer, faster and cooler than ever. Some of these bikes are really futuristic advances, while others are just plain cool, whichever you prefer, there's plenty to see here. Why Strain When You Can Relax Under the Sun? The Cycle Sol prototype may look a little strange, but its solar-charged battery makes it an inspiring piece of machinery. Soaking up the sun help to charge the battery, which can help push the bike to speeds up to 15 MPH. Its greatest attribute though may be the convenient push you'll feel when tackling tedious hills. Also a plus, if it is left in the garage or used on a cloudy day, you can still plug it into an outlet to get the full battery charge you need to get moving. Link The Bike That Is Actually A Computer Talk about a bike of the future. This stream-lined prototype incorporates an onboard computer that can help count the calories you burn, play music and serve as an unbreakable lock. It was designed by Gold Metalist Chris Boardman, who believes his creation could be an everyday product within the next twenty years. Similar to the Cycle Sol, this bike will also have a solar-powered battery to help you out when you're tired of pedaling. If you're wondering how a bike computer could incorporate an unbreakable lock, it's all through the magic of fingerprint identification. Of course, if the bikes are considered valuable enough, then you may run the risk of losing your digit all together when some really motivated thieves approach you –a fate that has already befallen one iPad user. Link Is the Shweeb the Next Schwinn? One of the biggest drawbacks to cycling is the danger inherent with sharing the road with vehicles. The Shweeb individual monorail system eliminates this problem and gives you the safety and serenity only possible in your own personal bubble. The company working to make these mini-monorail systems a part of your daily commute claims they are "a personal, efficient, and cost-effective transport solution with applications for urban commuting, recreational and fitness markets." Link Dissecting the Attraction of the Di-Cycle If the classic bicycle design of two wheels in line with your body is just too outdated for you, then perhaps the Di-Cycle's two side wheels are more your style. Perhaps the coolest advantage of the Di-Cycle though is its ability to operate on both land and water. Link Speed And Safety: Together At Last The Hyperbike may not ride on water like the Dicycle does, but its massive side wheels are instead designed to help protect you in the event of an accident. Also nice, it's design, which includes both feet and hand pedals allows you to travel at speeds up to 50 MPH. Link Why Snowboard When You Can Bike Sideways? On the other hand, if you'd prefer to sit on your bike sideways while it moves to the front, then perhaps the Sideways Bike is more to your liking. Inspired by snowboarding, this one allows you to sit and pedal while facing sideways and then to look to your left or right while steering. I'd be terrified to ride this next to the road, but maybe that's just me. Link The World's Cheapest Bike If money is your main concern, then this handy $30 bicycle might be more in your price range. It's cool, it's collapsible, it's recyclable, and not to worry, it is water proof. The inventor claims that one of the biggest advantages though is the fact that it will probably not get stolen. On the downside, it doesn't go very fast and if you bike regularly, you'll need to replace it every six months or so. Link The Nothing Bike When you're looking for something a little more flashy, but just as bare-boned as a cardboard bike, the Nulla minimalist bike is a great choice. It's spokeless, stylish and light, as it is stripped of all non-essential components. The name Nulla even translates to "nothing" in Italian, which means it's also a perfect ride for any existentialists out there. Link The Relaxed Minimalist Design Minimalists who prefer recumbent cycles are likely to find this spokeless cycle, created by designer Mathew Zurlinden, to offer many of the same advantages as the Nulla, only with the critical difference in the rider's body position. Link Row Row Row Your Bike If you were on your college rowing team or if you are simply much more muscular on the top half of your body, then why not row your bike home? Unlike a regular bicycle, even a standard hand-operated bike, this one is not powered by rotating pedals, but instead through pushing and pulling the handle bars. Using it can burn up to 850 calories per hour and it's supposedly easier on your joints than a standard bike. Link Now it's your turn readers. I'm sure many of you have seen some cool and crazy bikes in your time. Feel free to share them in the comments. Also, which of these designs would you prefer?

The Bizarre Sport of Ferret Legging Posted: 01 Jun 2010 12:11 AM PDT [YouTube Clip, the fun starts at 1:30] What do coal miners do for fun in Yorkshire, England? They partake in a sport that involves these three things: trousers, a ferret, and the ability to endure a fully fanged ferret shoven inside one's trousers. The sport is surprisingly simple: contestants tie their trousers at the ankles, then drop two ferrets inside and fasten their belts to prevent the animals from escaping. The man that lasts the longest wins. Lest they have sneaky contestants, judges make sure that the ferrets aren't sedated and the contestants aren't drunk. The ferrets must have a mouth's full of teeth - unfiled or otherwise blunted. Their nails mustn't have been clipped. Oh, and in case anyone asks: no underwear, please. The trousers must be loose so the ferret can move from ankle to ankle. The sport involves little innate talent, except for the ability of ignoring a nasty bite to one's ... um, well, you get the picture. Reg Mellor, the past world record holder for this bizarre sport said in an interview: "The world record was sixty seconds. Sixty seconds! I can stick a ferret up me ass for longer than that." So, at age sixty-nine, Reg Mellor found his game. As he stood in front of me now, naked from the waist down, Reg looked every bit a champion. "So look close," he said again. I did look, at an incredible tattoo of a zaftig woman on Reg's thigh. His legs appeared crosshatched with scars. But I refused to "look close." "Come on, Reg," I said. "Do they bite your -- you know?" "Do they!" he thundered with irritation as he pulled up his pants. "Why, I've had 'em hangin' from me tool for hours an' hours an' hours! Two at a time -- one on each side. I been swelled up big as that!" Reg pointed to a five-pound can of instant coffee. Indeed, before entering a competition, males "whose families are not yet complete" are required to have written permissions from their partners. So. How long do you think people last with ferrets rummaging around in their trousers? A couple of seconds? A few minutes? Try 5 hours and 30 minutes, set by retired school teacher Frank Bartlett. Today, you don't have to trek to the coal country of Yorkshire, England to find the sport of ferret legging. It is played annually at the Celtic Festival in Richmond, Virginia. Do you think it's animal abuse? Or is it actually human abuse?

Pittsburgh's Conflict Kitchen Posted: 31 May 2010 11:29 PM PDT Two art professors and a recent art graduate at Carnegie Mellon University have begun a year-long restaurant project in Pittsburgh called Conflict Kitchen, in which only foods from countries in conflict with the U.S. will be served.  The idea is "to raise awareness of the issues between the countries and to gain a better understanding of the highlighted countries’ social and cultural life." The project is funded by the Sprout Fund, the Waffle Shop, and the Center for Arts in Society. The first version of the project is an Iranian take-out restaurant called Kubideh Kitchen in the East Liberty neighborhood, which the professors opened on May 4. The food looks mighty appetizing. Conflict Kitchen will be hosting a free event on June 5 that will feature Persian foods and a live Skype chat with Iranian diners in Tehran. Graphic design by Brett Yasko. Architectural design by Pablo Garcia/POiNT. Link – via cmu From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Marilyn Terrell.

The Past, The Present, and The Future of Media? Posted: 31 May 2010 07:58 PM PDT SFist blogger Brock Keeling posted a picture of three cramped San Francisco Muni passengers pass the time with a newspaper, Kindle and iPad. One SFist reader wondered about the symbolism of the empty seat. Without missing a beat, Keeling cleverly replied: "The empty seat is reserved for web 4.0." Photo by Brian Brooks. Link From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Marilyn Terrell.

What Your Email Address Says About You Posted: 31 May 2010 07:08 PM PDT Matthew Inman of the webcomic The Oatmeal has some strong opinions about the computer competencies of users of different email providers. At the link, you can read his scathing criticism of Yahoo and AOL users. Link

Crocheted Beanie with Beard Posted: 31 May 2010 06:59 PM PDT This crocheted cap comes with a built-in beard. It was made by Etsy seller Tara Duff, who has several others for sale, as well. This leprechaun beard/hat is especially cute. Link via The Presurfer | Duff’s Blog | Photo: Tara Duff

Wartime Prisoner Escapes Posted: 31 May 2010 06:15 PM PDT How would Cracked commemorate Memorial Day? By posting a list of The 5 Most Badass Prison Escapes in the History of War. These escapes took imagination, intelligence, and nerves of steel, plus a fair amount of desperation. Henri Giraud was 63 years old when the Germans captured him during World War II and took him to “escape proof” Konigstein Castle. Giraud spent two years planning the perfect escape. First, he addressed the part of prison escape that every other escapee forgets–what you’ll do once you’re outside the walls. The prison was right there in Germany, after all, and he didn’t even know the language. So, he convinced his captors to start classes in how to learn German. Next, he needed to coordinate with somebody on the outside. His letters to and from his wife were read and censored by the guards, but they somehow developed a system of embedding coded messages that the captors never picked up on. Next, he got ahold of a map and memorized every detail of the surrounding geography. All right, now there’s just the matter of the, uh, 150-foot drop outside the prison walls that had made escape utterly impossible for the last eight centuries. He and a friend came up with some twine, thin stuff like they use to bind packages. They twisted it together, bit by bit, until they had 150 feet of it. It took a year. Last, he got himself a Tyrolean hat. Together, these preparations helped Giraud pull it off. Link -via Gorilla Mask

"Miniskirt Meteorology" Used to Predict Weather Posted: 31 May 2010 03:09 PM PDT There is a positive correlation between the sale of miniskirts and subsequent warmer weather: The rises and falls in the length of skirts are said to be a good way of forecasting what the weather will be like three days in advance, based on research at eBay. Analysts at the company said the length of skirts sold on the website becomes shorter several days before the weather changes for the better, and lengthens when colder conditions are due. On occasions, the trend is said to have predicted a shift in the weather before any advice has been issued by the Met Office using more traditional meteorological methods. Link | Photo via Flickr user colros used under Creative Commons license

Grill/Motorcycle Posted: 31 May 2010 02:57 PM PDT The RUB BBQ Chopper, built by Orange County Choppers, would come in handy when you’re in the mood of brisket, but don’t want to stop riding. It’s fully functional, and you can view pics of it in action at the link. Before a flame war starts in the comments: yes, the headline identifies this object as a grill. That’s what we call these things in south Texas. Real barbecue pits are made of brick. Link via Make | Photo: Men in Aprons Update 5/31/10 by Alex: Don’t forget our Top 10 Coolest BBQ Grills (And Then Some!) post

Stained Glass Motherboards Posted: 31 May 2010 01:02 PM PDT The friend of a poster at Overclockers, an Australian computer blog, created a piece of art resembling stained glass. But instead of using stained glass, he used old motherboards. You can view more pictures at the link. Link via reddit

The Orangutan and the Hound Posted: 31 May 2010 12:28 PM PDT One day, Bhagavan "Doc" Antle of The Institute of the Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (yes, with the clever acronym T.I.G.E.R.S.) was taking Surya the orangutan on their daily elephant ride, when they happened upon a hound dog by the river. And so began one of the unlikeliest friendships ever. Check out what happened next in this National Geographic Channel clip: hit play or go to Link – Thanks SparkS!

Oh No! You Broke Google! Posted: 31 May 2010 11:54 AM PDT Are you tired of people asking you questions that are easily answered by Google in the first place? If Let Me Google That For You isn’t enough of a hint for them, why not play a little harmless prank? Behold Google Gravity, a lil project by Mr.doob – via Gearfuse The effect doesn’t work on Internet Explorer, which is undoubtedly the browser used by people who don’t know to use Google first, so it’s sadly kind of ironic.

Favela Painting Posted: 31 May 2010 11:37 AM PDT In 2005, two Dutchmen named Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn  came to the favelas (slums) of Rio to make an MTV film about hip hop. After the filming was done, the two decided to stay. They formed an organization called Favela Painting to bring "outrageous works of art to unexpected places." Their goal is to paint an entire hillside favela in the center of Rio, visible to all inhabitants and visitors. Currently they are transforming the favela of Santa Marta in the heart of Rio, with the help of local youths. More about their work here.  You can follow Favela Painting on Facebook here. Link – via nagonthelake From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Marilyn Terrell.

Subway to Tessellate Cheese? Posted: 31 May 2010 10:59 AM PDT For years, people have complained about the way that Subway places the cheese wedges on their sandwiches. This is best explained by a 2007 comic from Left Handed Toons. As we suspected, it was a policy designed to encourage customers to order extra cheese. However, what looks to be an internal memo from Subway Down Under hints that this policy might be changed effective July first. Link

Riding Bombs Posted: 31 May 2010 10:47 AM PDT When most of us think of someone riding a bomb, the image of Slim Pickens in the movie Dr. Strangelove comes up. But he was far from the first character to do so, as you’ll see in this collection of photographs and art at Oobject. Link -via Jason Kottke

Oil Spill Widget Posted: 31 May 2010 10:45 AM PDT PBS created this embeddable widget that not only has live video from the Gulf oil leak, but also keeps track of the amount of oil spilled. You can also adjust the rate of gushing oil according to the latest estimates. Link -via TYWKIWDBI

How Arlington National Cemetery Came to Be Posted: 31 May 2010 08:54 AM PDT What is now Arlington National Cemetery was once the home of Robert E. Lee and his wife, Mary. Mary Lee dreaded the thought of abandoning Arlington, the 1,100-acre estate she had inherited from her father, George Washington Parke Custis, upon his death in 1857. Custis, the grandson of Martha Washington, had been adopted by George Washington when Custis’ father died in 1781. Beginning in 1802, as the new nation’s capital took form across the river, Custis started building Arlington, his showplace mansion. Probably modeled after the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, the columned house floated among the Virginia hills as if it had been there forever, peering down upon the half-finished capital at its feet. When Custis died, Arlington passed to Mary Lee, his only surviving child, who had grown up, married and raised seven children and buried her parents there. In correspondence, her husband referred to the place as “our dear home,” the spot “where my attachments are more strongly placed than at any other place in the world.” If possible, his wife felt an even stronger attachment to the property. Mary Lee packed up and left in 1861, just ahead of the Union Army. Even after the federal government began burying soldiers on the property, the Lees fought for the return of their home. Smithsonian Magazine has the rest of the story of how the estate became the hallowed ground it is today, a resting place and a memorial to American military personnel who died in service to their country. Link (Image credit: Bruce Dale)

Sprocket Rocket Posted: 31 May 2010 07:39 AM PDT This is a physics-based game in which you design your own tools to accomplish tasks and collect cogs (which help you accomplish more tasks). At first, I thought it might be difficult to understand, but there are hints, prompts, and do-overs along the way. Before long, I was really into it and had to force myself to get back to work! From Aardman Studios, the folks behind Wallace and Gromit. Link -Thanks, Evan Duval!

The Fake Houses of Leinster Gardens Posted: 31 May 2010 06:20 AM PDT Can you spot the two dummy houses in this photo? They look like the other houses on this upscale London street, but they’re just facade, only 5 feet wide, and the doors and windows don’t open. Give up? They’re the two in the middle with the 18 blackened windows. Before 1868, there were actual houses where the fake onces are now, at 23 and 24 Leinster Gardens. But the new Metropolitan Railway was coming through, the world’s first underground railway, and the locomotives needed a stretch of track that was open to the elements in order to vent the smoke and steam that would otherwise accumulate in the tunnels. So the railroad demolished the houses and built a facade that matched the other houses on the street, with similar architectural details. But if you look around back you can see the house-sized gap behind the facade, with the obsolete tracks below it. Close up of the ‘entrance’ to 24 Leinster Gardens, complete with railings, door and plants. There’s a long tradition of wagsters sending pizza deliveries, taxi cabs and religious representatives to this address! Link – via bldgblog (Image credit: Mike Slocombe) From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Marilyn Terrell.

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