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Archive for the ‘Geek’ Category

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale.

The Power Loader “dual-arm power amplification robot” uses 18 electromagnetic motors that let the wearer lift 220lbs without blinking. It gets its name from the exoskeleton fromAliens (get away from her you bitch!), and even has force-feedback.

It’s being developed by a Panasonic subsidiary called ActiveLink, who say they don’t expect to see it being used for things like disaster relief efforts until around 2015. At the moment it has an aluminum-alloy frame weighing around 500lbs, so hopefully they can shrink it down a bit. Very cool, though. Check out the vid: [Mainichi (translated) via PinkTentacle]

Via: Gizmodo.com

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Geek vs. Nerds, hard data.

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Today, Septmeber 19th, it’s international “Talk like a Pirate” day.

Know the history

Talk Like a Pirate Day began back in 1995 when John “Ol’ Chumbucket” Baur and his pal Mark “Cap’n Slappy” Summers spontaneously began hurling piratical insults at each other on a YMCA racquetball court in Albany, Oregon. The logical conclusion of this exchange was to establish a day in which everyone around the world ought to talk like a pirate. September 19 was chosen as the date because it was Summers’ ex-wife’s birthday, thus making it easy for him to remember.

For several years the holiday remained an inside joke between Baur and Summers, until they sent a letter about their made-up holiday to nationally syndicated humor columnist Dave Barry. Taken with the idea, Barry promoted the concept in a 2002 column for the Miami Herald, after which Talk Like a Pirate Day began to spread virally on the internet.

Now celebrated all over the world, International Talk Like a Pirate Day has spawned thousands of events, parties, mashups, and various celebrations over the years. Check out the list of TLAPD events for 2009.

Mashable created a HOW TO: Celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day, check it out!