Since far more learned organizations have the whole gadget scene locked down, we here at Microkhan rarely wax rhapsodic about the electronic toys that wow us. But we just couldn’t help ourselves upon coming across the Egg Shell Thickness Gauge, which now sits high atop our wish list. How many hours have we spent fraught [...]
Entries Tagged as 'gadgets'
“The Mills of the Gods”
August 24th, 2009 · No Comments
With next year’s Census already sparking so much political heat, it’s worth looking back at one of Microkhan’s favorite-ever technology stories: the 1890 Census, the tabulation fiesta that have birth to (semi-)modern programming.
For the hardcore geeks in the audience, this is already a well-known tale, featuring one of the true rock stars of the field: [...]
Tags:Census·computers·gadgets·Herman Hollerith·IBM·programming·statistics·technology·U.S. history
Speed Climbing’s Grey Eminence
June 24th, 2009 · No Comments
Granted, in the clip above, the bloke on the right-hand tree gets smoked. But cut him some slack—when this video was shot, Guy German was 53 years old, with nothing else to prove in the world of timbersports. He is, after all, widely recognized as the greatest speed climber in history. And he’s still competing [...]
Tags:gadgets·Guy German·sports·technology·timbersports·trees
The Winner in the Quagga Mess
June 10th, 2009 · No Comments
Despite mankind’s best efforts, the ultra-aggressive quagga mussel continues to spread unabated across our great land. Gorgeous Lake Tahoe is the latest victim, while the shellfish invasion’s in full swing over near Cleveland. And could the mussels even dim the Sin City lights someday? Nothing, it seems, can stop the quagga mussel, given the species [...]
Tags:animals·Cleveland·gadgets·Lake Tahoe·Las Vegas·maritime·quagga·quagga mussels·techonology
Hold the Turtle by the Hand
May 12th, 2009 · 2 Comments
Microkhan’s in the midst of a vintage programming kick, and so we’ve inevitably turned out thoughts to Logo in recent days. We have incredibly fond memories of clustering around a battered Tandy in the early 1980s, to watch our school’s lone computer-proficient teacher demonstrate how simple commands could push a turtle-shaped cursor around. We’ve been [...]
Tags:gadgets·Logo·programming·technology
I, Milkbot
May 4th, 2009 · 5 Comments
Growing up in Los Angeles, I always idealized cow milking. It seemed like such a delightful, salt-of-the-earth activity, with just the right amount of grossness thrown in for good measure. Plus, being the curious sort of bairn, I was always fascinated by the thought of tracing my beloved Kraft Singles back to the source.
Turns out, [...]
Shacked!
April 29th, 2009 · No Comments
Given that Radio Shack provides one of the least pleasant retail experiences imaginable, this doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. Though I wonder if the employee asked for the customer’s zip code while delivering the beatdown.
Top-Notch Pigeon Tech
April 28th, 2009 · 2 Comments
With legit cash available on the pigeon-racing circuit, there’s huge demand for gadgets that can ensure fair play. And that’s where Germany’s Unikon comes in, offering the very best in tracking rings, loft antennas, and clocks capable of simultaneously timing 250 birds.
A video review of Unikon’s latest clock, the Champ, is available here, via the [...]
Tags:gadgets·pigeons·technology·Unikon
The Decline of Braille
April 16th, 2009 · 10 Comments
Whenever I’m in an elevator, I take note of whether or not the button numbers are printed in Braille. Not entirely sure why, but I’ve always thought Braille was a brilliant invention—simple, intuitive, and oh-so-useful. And it’s got such a cool backstory, with its roots in 19th-century French spycraft.
But according to a recent report from [...]
Is It Real, or Is It Moissanite?
April 9th, 2009 · 10 Comments
Even expert jewelers can mistake a well-crafted slab of paste for the genuine article. Or at least that’s the theory behind DiamondNite, a hand-held gadget that beeps when it’s placed against a diamond, yet remains silent when brought in contact with cubic zirconia or moissanite. DiamondNite’s manufacturer won’t reveal how the device works, but Microkhan [...]
The Slow Geek Movement
February 13th, 2009 · No Comments
Wired “Senior Maverick” Kevin Kelly writes a touching ode to Amish hackers. The German-speaking denizens of Lancaster County may eschew modern conveniences, but they’re still plenty tech-mad. A key passage on a jerryrigged electrical system in an Amish woodworking shop:
The boss takes me around to the back where a huge dump-truck-sized diesel generator sits. It’s [...]
Tags:Amish·gadgets·hackers·technology·Wired
