Technoecopsychognosis

First, a
bag made of recycled keyboards

Peerflix, a DVD swapping site, a bit like netflix but different. I like the peerflix model better.

Next, NationMaster.com, a site packed with statistics about the ecological footprints of many countries.

Hacking RFID tags. Free gas for everyone!

Glurge: Inspriational tales which conceal much darker meanings than the uplifting moral lessons they purport ot offer.

Ecologically safer ammunition. For those gun-lovin' environmentalists.

If I'm going to talk guns, I oughta talk cars too. Well, toy cars. Get those kids making their own media with this HotWheels camcorder.

Windwandler, a roof-top wind converter.

Finally, clean up the world. And its page for the US

Hybrid Technologies to Produce Electric Smart Car

The smart car made by DaimlerChrysler seems to be popular for modification projects. Recently, we wrote about a smart car with a motorcycle engine, and now we learn that a company called Hybrid Technologies is planning to produce an all-electric version of the vehicle. At first, it will be available to the European fleet and government sectors. "Initial orders for lithium Smart Cars will be manufactured by Cinema Vehicles, the company that has already worked with Hybrid Technologies on its electric versions of the Crossfire (R Car), Mini Cooper and PT Cruiser." The electric smart car will have a range of over 120 miles per charge (at highway speeds), and it should take 10 hours to recharge the 30kWh battery pack with the 3,000W charger, or 6 hours with the optional 5,000W charger. Pricing has not yet been released.

::Hybrid Technologies Begins Production of Lithium Smart Car, ::Hybrid Technologies, via ::Green Car Congress

Ring of Fire — Selected fault lines and earthquake epicenters.

Company v. Country — A country whose GDP rivals a corporation's gross income adopts the company's name. For example, Pakistan becomes Sony.

Moody's Rating — The lower a nation's Moody's Investors Service credit score, the darker it appears. Some places vanish entirely.

Life Expectancy — The average numbers of years people in each nation live.

Satellite Radio Broadcasting Footprints — Coverage areas of WorldSpace satellites AfriStar and AsiaStar.

Time Zones — How the clock divides the globe.

Asteroid Impacts — Points where celestial bodies have collided with earth.

I first saw this toy construction set at a front-door exhibit in the San Francisco-based Exploratorium. You arrange the rectangular plastic pieces in endless formations, limited only by your geometrical imagination. The squares interlock loosely, cleverly. A baby can do it. Every time you come to the set, you see new possibilities. But unlike other complicated construction sets, this ingenious one has just four simple sizes of one shape. I think of Wedgits as a 3D version of the ancient Tangram game. In fact you can get a booklet with profiles of shapes which you can try to build, in Tangram mode. Wedgits will challenge an adult, yet are easily manipulated by the small hands of an infant.

This toy was first called the Diamant, and it was invented in 1981 by the German designer Peer Clahsen. You can purchase an exquisite museum-quality wooden version (and other amazing toy-art) from the Swiss design company Naef. Here is what reader John Edmark has to say about them: "Swiss-made Naef toys are some of the most intelligent, well-crafted, creativity-promoting toys ever made. They are also very expensive, but well worth it. I possess and cherish but three of them to date: Diamant, Cella, and Ellipso. Cubicus is next on my list. These are not just toys for kids, but for anyone with an inquisitive mind. Nor are they puzzles to be solved, rather opportunities to enter into a creative dialog with spatial geometry. The quality and craftsmanship is outstanding. I've never seen better."

However, for plain fun, the cheap plastic version of the Diamant, or Wedgits, works just as well. I'd get the Deluxe Set version with 30 pieces. A great gift for kids. If you want art, go with the Naef.

-- KK

Wedgits Deluxe Set

$30

Available from

Fat Brain Toys

Manufactured by Wedgits

Naef Diamant

$350

Available from Nova

Manufactured by Naef Toys