For everything from family to computers…
One of the main reasons people love the SodaStream is that you save money by making your own sparkling water. Supposedly. Unfortunately, replacing those CO2 canisters is expensive. This clever hack will help you cut those costs by a huge margin. More »
from Gizmodo
A Stirling engine is a heat engine operating by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas, the working fluid, at different temperature levels such that there is a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work.
[Sawerrt]
The tiny, $35, Linux-based Raspberry Pi computer has drawn a lot of attention in the last few months, and though it was originally developed to teach computer programming to young students, Internet activists have taken notice as well. A recent BBC interview with developer Nadim Kobeissi, creator of a web-based secure communications program called Cryptocat, shows off just one potential use of the low-cost hardware and free software system. Kobeissi says he’s looking forward to the arrival of Raspberry Pi as a way to bring extra-secure communication to web chat, especially in places where conversations might be watched.
Kobeissi’s Cryptocat is an open-source program that encrypts chat conversations before they’re sent to a server. For relatively little money, he plans to buy Raspberry Pi computers, set them up as servers running Cryptocat, and send them to areas where free speech is monitored or prohibited. The small, modifiable nature of Raspberry Pi computers make them well-adapted to foster chat privacy.
Considering general privacy concerns and recent NSA surveillance probes, the idea could be intriguing for westerners too. “Big Data continue to amass gigantic amounts of personal information without providing any guarantee of privacy, while encryption remains largely inaccessible,” Cryptocat’s website claims, “Cryptocat aims to bridge the gap for those who need easy, encrypted communication.”
Earlier this week, Raspberry Pi became available for pre-order through two Britain-based manufacturers, and the demand for the little open-source system was so great that both manufacturers sites went down on Tuesday evening. When the Pi becomes more widely available, Kobeissi plans to put the software for turning the Raspberry Pi into a chat server online for anyone to use.
from Ars Technica
This is the WaterBob, a single-use water reservoir that you can stick in your bathtub and fill with 100 gallons of water – and that can keep it fresh for up to four weeks. If you live in a disaster-prone area it could be useful, but there are a few things that one should consider before blowing $30 on a 100-gallon FDA approved plastic water-bag.
Let’s say an earthquake hits, a big earthquake – what happens? Assuming your house is still standing, you probably have no power, and your water company is probably in the same situation, so you have no water. Basically, unless you are prepared to live without a bathtub and want to spend $30 a month on water reservoirs for your bathtub so that you can have it filled up before the earthquake hits… you are going to be out of luck. So for earthquakes it probably isn’t much good.
For hurricane/cyclone prone areas it might be better. Let’s say you see on the news that a Katrina-sized storm front is heading your way. You would have enough forewarning to get it filled up. Assuming that all hell broke loose and your house was on high enough ground that it didn’t need to be evacuated, 100 gallons of clean water could be a life saver.
Price: $30 [Book of Joe]
from The UberReview
from Engadget
Here’s the 6th episode of MAKE‘s podcast, Make: Talk! In each episode, I’ll interview one of the makers featured in the magazine.
Our maker this week is William Gurstelle. He’s a contributing editor to MAKE and his books include Backyard Ballistics, Adventures from the Technology Underground, and Absinthe and Flamethrowers. In addition, Bill writes frequently on culture and technology for national magazines and blogs including The Atlantic, Wired, and Popular Science.
Here’s are some projects William has done for MAKE:
 Two-Can Stirling Engine |
 Bullwhip |
 Double Pendulum |
 Super Tritone Shop Whistle |
from MAKE
The ongoing joke that Ikea’s flat-pack furniture is confusingly complicated to assemble might be rendered moot now that the Swedish company is rolling out video assembly instructions that look considerably easier to follow than its printed manuals. More »
from Gizmodo