Not gonna lie, probably wouldn’t wave my hand in front of it for less than $20. Seen here looking at least partially constructed out of tin-foil, the Navy has made a breakthrough in the laser department , creating a free-electron laser (FEL) capable of producing a sustained 500 kilovolt beam OF TOTAL DESTRUCTION (the previous record was 320kV, and four years ago was an embarrassing 10kV). Which, while impressive, is nowhere near as badass as the 1,100kV laser I’m working on. “Uh, did you invent that just so you could say, ‘TURN IT UP TO ELEVEN…HUNDRED’?” Yes, yes I turn it up to 1,100% did. The new technology will allow the Navy to utilize the powerful “death ray” to burn up incoming missiles or punch holes in an enemy vessel’s hull. “Five hundred [kilovolts] has been the project goal for a long time,” says George Neil, the FEL associate director at Jefferson Labs. “The injector area is one of the critical areas.” The free-electron laser is one the U.S. Navy’s highest-priority weapons programs. The future of weaponry rests in “fighting at the speed of light and hypersonics,” says Rear Adm. Nevin Carr, the Navy’s chief of research. “We’re fast approaching the limits of our ability to hit maneuvering pieces of metal in the sky with other maneuvering pieces of metal.” So, give it to me straight: is a superlaser capable of burning through 20-feet of steel a second covered under my second amendment right to bear arms? Kidding — why would I want bear arms?! They’d probably be covered in honey and bee stings! Hit the jump for a 6:45 dozer of a video about the technology.

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Serious PEWS: New Navy Superlaser Can Burn Through 20 Feet Of Steel Per Second

This is a 3:30 war movie made entirely with cardboard weaponry . It’s incredibly well made though. Granted not as good as Saving Private Ryan or Band of Brothers , but if you expected it to be you obviously have zero grasp on reality. This video took about a month and a half of planning, making cardboard guns, filming, and editing. Really COol! Make this video, you will need: - 254 program crashes - 427 manual frames to rotoscope - 59 layers of sound effects - a BUTTLOAD of cardboard and box cutters - and a katamari That’s, uh….that’s a lot of program crashes. Maybe you should, oh I don’t know, CONSIDER SWITCHING TO A MAC. Kidding, don’t do that. Or should you? Let the flamin’ begin! Hit it for the action-packed video.

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In A World With No Metal: Cardboard Warfare

F*** I’m getting good at titles. Wanna blow some shit up ? You should seek therapy. I jest, pyrotechnics are a natural part of man’s being. Like electronics and trying to put your wiener in everything that isn’t nailed down. And some that are. I’m looking at you, birdhouse! Gardening’s gone guerilla - You’ve seen them, you may have looked away, but you’ve seen them. Those forgotten areas of the estate, left to fall apart and fall into disrepair. The municipal scrubland where nothing can grow… Or can it? Turn the concrete jungle into a wilderness with our compacted wild flower seed grenades. $15 nets you one grenade and less than a second of enjoyment. Unless you really love looking at wildflowers in which case TAKE A TIME MACHINE BACK TO THE 60′S YOU DIRTY HIPPIE. Product Site via Grenades with seeds: by far the coolest way to plant flowers [dvice]

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Make Love Me A Sandwich, Not War: Flower Grenades Explode With Booms Blooms

I’d like to take this time to thank all the servicemen and women who have given their lives so that I can write without fear or censorship. And to those still serving: keep up the good work, and come home safe. Here’s to you, The Geekologie Writer

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Freedom Isn’t Free: Happy Memorial Day

The U.S. Special Forces is all set to test the new XM-25 Individual Airburst ‘Smart Gun’ this summer . And you all know what that means : I actually have no idea what that means. The gun fires a 25-millimeter “smart round” that can be detonated at pre-programmed distance, spreading shrapnel in all directions. It uses a rangefinder to figure out how far away a target is, and the operator can manually adjust when the bullet detonates to suit different situations, allowing a soldier to attack entrenched targets around corners and in buildings more effectively. Geez, I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that thing (or a big ol’ johnson). Granted it’s still no match for my laser blaster. Just sayin’, one time I did bring a two-handed great sword to a knife fight.I cut some asshole’s legs off with a single swing. It’s cool, I’m getting used to the wheelchair. Hit the jump for a video demonstration of the PEWs in action.

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Bang Bangs: Military To Test New ‘Smart Gun’

This $60,000 “bomb detection wand” is much-loved by Iraqi security forces. American military representatives say it’s about as useful for finding IEDs as a ouija board. [New York Times]

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Iraqi forces love this "magic wand" bomb detector; US thinks it’s junk.

This is a little gallery of old photographs with pictures of superheroes Photohaxored in. I thought they were pretty neat, but perhaps you don’t. And maybe that’s the fundamental difference between you and I. Well, besides how handsome and smart you are. Did I say you? I meant me. It’s true, one time I looked in a mirror and it shattered itself because it was so jealous of my handsomosity (and word wizardry). I jest — I was so ugly I put my fist through it. REFLECT ON THAT, YOU STUPID MIRROR! Also, my hand bled and this nancy Edward begged to lick it but I wouldn’t let him. Just sayin’, I can be a lamb too . Hit the jump for three more, including a little Fidel action.

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I Like: Superheroes In Old War Photographs

I haven’t decided if the new XM-25 will be a useful weapon against the robotic uprising yet, but I’m leaning towards *pew pew* . Hook me up government , I pay my damn taxes. Well, I did last year anyways. The system is clever enough to detonate its exploding 25mm bullets within 3 feet of their targets, picking off unfortunate foes with uncanny accuracy, even when they’re hiding behind obstacles. After calculating the target’s distance with a laser rangefinder, this lethal weapon sends a radio signal to a chip inside the bullet. That brilliant projectile can precisely measure the distance it’s traveled, exploding at precisely the right distance for maximum killage. Oh shit yeah I need one of these. Maximum killage, that’s what I’m talking about. You here that, Skynet — MAXIMUM KILLAGE. I will ride into battle atop my trusty tyrannosaur steed and pew pew your shit all up. Then, my mount will dine on all the dead Terminators while I reach around him for a job well done. XM-25 rifle shoots tiny laser-targeted smart bombs [dvice]

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XM-25 Shoots Laser Guided Exploding Bullets

Filed under: Aftermarket , Gadgets , Etc. , I.C.E. AT&T is starting to work with pockets of customers to test its CruiseCast satellite-based entertainment service before officially putting the TV/radio service on wide offer. When the whole clan is on the go, it may work to keep everyone calm and quiet, and when your Prevost motor coach is loaded up with everything else, you might as well go for the TV service, too. Truckers sticking DBS dishes on their rigs would likely be pleased with the CruiseCast system, especially since AT&T is using some new technology developments by RaySat that defeats the typical issues with line of sight obstacles and underpasses. For comparison’s sake, Sirius is cheaper and offers much more variety than AT&T’s 20 music/talk radio stations, but their optional Backseat TV service only offers three television channels, and they are all geared for the kiddies. Conversely, AT&T’s CruiseCast hardware must be professionally installed and will set you back $1,299, and the monthly payment is $28. Once the service is available for all customers in early June, they’ll have 22 television channels to choose from. All that for the price of a used car and more than $300 bucks a year in subscription costs. Official press release posted after the jump. [Source: Engadget ] Continue reading Eyes on the Road: AT&T bringing CruiseCast in-car satellite tv to market Eyes on the Road: AT&T bringing CruiseCast in-car satellite tv to market originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 May 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read ?|? Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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Eyes on the Road: AT&T bringing CruiseCast in-car satellite tv to market

Filed under: Gadgets , Etc. , Tech , Volkswagen Vehicle infotainment systems, those all-inclusive interfaces controlling the myriad electronics on today’s modern cars and trucks, can make or break the driving experience. CNET is offering us a sneak-peek at Volkswagen’s latest iteration from the company’s Electronic Research Laboratory (ERL). Developed with Intel, the new system uses Global Open Research Infotainment Architecture, or GLORIA. Most systems today us a joystick-like device, touch screen, or hard buttons on the edge of the display (or a combination of the three) to control the inputs. Volkswagen’s new GLORIA system takes it one step further by making Apple iPhone-like “gesture control” possible. This means that users are able to navigate quickly by simply tracing single letters across the pressure-sensitive display. Another unique feature may allow users to import third-party widgets for the system, much like consumers currently load apps from iTunes onto their iPhones. As cool as it sounds, GLORIA is still under development and she isn’t expected to see showrooms for a few more years. [Source: CNET , Photo by CNET] REPORT: Volkswagen’s next-gen nav system to get Apple iPhone-like gestures originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 May 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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REPORT: Volkswagen’s next-gen nav system to get Apple iPhone-like gestures