If you were to read the achievements list for Infinity Blade II, you'd come across a rather peculiar one called 'Mind Over Matter'. To get this one, you have to defeat an enemy without attacking him. Say what?
As far as cooking appliances go, rice cookers are pretty fabulous. All you have to do is add rice grains and water, press a button, and wait for the magic to happen. You don't have to worry about the food burning or the pot boiling over. But what if you can apply those same lazy steps to cook other things, too?
Luxirare is a site of mystery; the genius behind the intricate and painstakingly photographed projects remains somewhat anonymous, despite her culinary mastery, fashion pieces and e-shop being featured in the likes of Vogue, Lucky Mag, ABC, NBC, and the New York Times. Insanely stylish and original, Luxirare has been blogged about all over the web.
This batch of live action reenactments of classic disney movie moments features Olivia Wilde as the Evil Queen from Snow White and Seven Dwarfs. In this frame there is also Alec Baldwin as the face in the magic mirror. Beauty and the beast features another Tron 2.0 actor, Jeff Bridges and Penelope Cruz (She is also in the new pirates movie). Last but not least is Ursula from The Little Mermaid. Queen Latifah takes on this role.
No two snowflakes are alike. The same goes for people. But a snowflake can easily compliment one's own individual charm, although finding your perfect soulmate snowflake is quite a challenge. Or... it was.
Where were you in 1993? Thinking about starting a tech company? Starting elementary school? Awaiting a 1996 Daft Punk party after which you would be conceived? It's been eighteen years, but the game that solidified my dorkdom for good is still coming out with new sets, still fun as hell to play, and deserves some love dammit. To that end, I have started this World: A Magic: The Gathering Spot.
A worthy addition to the world of outstanding chairs, this magical chair doesn't shrink in the morphing sense, but it does shrink to incredible compactness. Makes for a great magic trick prop, or a must-have for your next tailgate party. Previously, Self Healing Chair Picks Itself Up Off the Floor... Literally.
And the magic is revealed ten seconds in! Disappointed? Me, too. Such a simple explanation. Those first 10 seconds were so convincing... Previously, Why Are Our Brains Fooled By Optical Illusions?
Art nerds rejoice. With the aid of Photoshop, the folks at Artcyclopedia have doctored Van Gogh's paintings to give the effect of a three dimensional model (the same effect used in tilt-shift photography).
Do you want to hack your PS3? Are you tired of different videos sending you all over the place to find all of the necessary steps? Look no further. This three-part video offers detailed, step-by-step instructions for hacking your PSP, including making a Pandora's battery, a magic memory stick, and actually loading the custom stuff onto the PSP. Extend the life of your PSP in spite of its lack of software support!
Does making Pandora's battery seem too challenging to you? Or outright dangerous? You aren't alone. In this video one like-minded DIY'er demonstrates how to use a product called the Datel Battery Service Tool to make the whole hacking process much easier. It sets your PSP's battery to the proper mode that you usually have to use a Pandora's battery to create. Much easier than hacking your battery apart huh?
Two trailers with the exact length in time, their audio is swapped and synchro magic occurs. Here is the Social Network trailer visuals with the Let Me Go Audio, then the Let Me Go visuals with the Social Network audio.
Calling all alchemists, it's time to make magic. Here's another lesson from our favorite mad scientist, Nurdrage (previously, DIY glow sticks & pencil lead levitaton).
Finally, a solid jailbreak for the iPhone 4. Released by the iPhone Dev Team, all you need to do is visit JailbreakMe 2.0 with your iPhone and watch the magic happen.
Harlem / The Black Apples / Audacity @ The Echo ($10) Here's your chance to check out Harlem before they begin their tour with the Dead Weather.
Diseased Pariah News is a zine for and about people with HIV. It is "a patently offensive publication of, by, and for people with HIV disease (and their friends and loved ones). We are a forum for infected people to share their thoughts, feelings, art, writing and brownie recipes in an atmosphere free of teddy bears, magic rocks, and seronegative guilt." Started in the 1990s, it's up to 11 issues, 8 of which are viewable and downloadable online. It's marked by its trademark dark humor and hon...
In a nutshell Bocas del Toro is an arcipelago on the Carribean coast of Panama. It's located about 20 mi south of the Costa Rican border and you can get there from both San Jose and Panama City. The main islands are Colon, Bastimentos, and Carenero, but there are over 100 islands you can explore by boat.
3D TV is hovering in the not too distant horizon, which most likely means costly transitions. Luckily John Sciacca offers some ideas for dirt cheap alternatives.
Richard Valentine Pitchford, widely known as the great Cardini, was a legendary magician and former president of the Magician's Guild.
Mike from the SubStream's "Film Lab" has some tips regarding lighting, gripping and gaffing. Mike's soul screams for Rosco's magic Cinefoil wrap (aka Black Wrap, aka shroud-of-death wrap). Made from black holes. Learn what it's used for and how to use it! It's really just thick black aluminum foil with heat protection. The easiest and cheapest lighting accessory.
This magic trick requires a coin, your ability to snap your fingers, and long sleeves. If you possess all of these then you too can become a world class magician. Learn to make a coin disappear out of the palm of your hand with just the snap of a finger. Although the video is super short, it's straight to the point — no illusion here! Make a coin disappear by snapping your fingers.
Super Ventures has published "The AR Landscape," a chart encompassing the major players and startups that are shaping augmented reality. Launched in February as the first incubator and fund focused on augmented reality, Super Ventures outlines companies working augmented reality applications, tools, devices, input/output methods, and components. The AR Landscape lists 312 companies, representing $12.1 billion in funding and $69.6 billion valuation. It runs the gamut from startups and innovato...
Many new, emerging technologies are coming to our faces. Some are already here, and it's hard to tell what's what. We've taken a deep dive into the three main types (virtual, augmented, and mixed reality), but if you need a quick primer, this infographic will do the trick.
Bored of using your bottle of dishwashing soap for just washing dishes? You're in luck. Not surprisingly, the soapy liquid commonly used for removing stubborn food build-up from your eating utensils can also be used as a general cleaner for washing windows, removing clothing and carpet stains, and cleaning your blender without taking it apart. For more unusual uses, dishwashing liquid is surprisingly useful for prepping your nails before a manicure and can even be used to kill fleas.
I love books almost as much for their book covers as I do their actual books. A well-designed book cover matches the intent and spirit of the story, and can often enhance the experience of reading it.
Below is a great video that shows a classic illusion designed and built by Jerry Andrus. Jerry is a backyard magician and illusionist who created his own kind of special magic tricks for his entire life, up until his death in 2007.
Tom Friedman. One of my very favorite contemporary artists. Friedman injects the wonder into the humdrum. He creates magic from the unsuspected with his incredible sculptures assembled from simple, everyday materials. His materials have included: toilet paper, drinking straws, construction paper, masking tape, toothpicks, bubblegum, spaghetti, toothpaste, soap powder, sugar cubes.
Just like magic - incredible new project from Sweatshoppe in which video is "painted" onto a wall. Video demonstration below, (don't miss it! absolutely visually amazing).
Magic? Camera tricks? Did someone build an egg inside the bottle with tweezers as if it were a ship? Nope.
This is the Harpo Marx tutorial. We have several recipes for silly putty in our index... with sound, but this version (from our friends at YouTube) is more colorful. We just like it the best. It is aesthetically more appealing than the others; conceived for the visually minded.
Michael Faraday knows how to harness static electricity. The television sends enough static electricity to the aluminum to spin the cup between the polar charged cans.
Wait...with only your hand? It's simple. Take a normal Bic-style lighter. Hold down the button to release butane gas into your cupped hand. Then light it.
In today's world of texts, twitters and status updates, could we have evolved past paper based exchange?
Remember the future? It was supposed to be flying cars, 3D virtual worlds and pill-form meals. And the hologram. That Star Wars relic.
Coin toss. It's an equalizer. 50/50. Heads. Or tails. Well, not if you cheat.
The Zippo ain't no common Bic. This lighter is windproof, waterproof, electrocution proof... the list goes on! In the 1950's a fisherman found a Zippo in the belly of a fish. It worked on the first try!
Smoking fingers is a basic magic trick, but it still gets a wow up-close, especially if your audience is barside and slightly inebriated.
Defy logic and gravity with this quick magic-science illusion. All you need is lighter fluid, a bowl and some bubble solution. The butane gas from the lighter sinks to the bottom of the bowl, below the oxygen. The bubbles then float in the oxygen atop the heavy butane creating a magical hover effect!
The lemon battery has a rich history in many elementary science classes as a great example of an electrochemical reaction.
Hovercrafts! Make your own magic carpet ride! Find your inner George Jetson! The World's Hovercraft Speed Record was set on September 18, 1995 by American Bob Windt. He got his air cushion vehicle up to a speed of 85.87 mph!
