CrunchGear

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Video: Humanoid HRP-2 Doesn’t Avoid Obstacles But Makes Use Of Them
Sex Sells: Gibson 1976 Les Paul Custom
Yeah, So This Exists: A Coffee Cozy Wallet
See Yourself In The Third Person Without Drugs Or Major Bodily Trauma

Posted: 27 Dec 2010 04:37 AM PST

Recently I was flipping through GQ magazine's annual "Style Guide." A special issue of their magazine dedicated to helping helpless male souls "dress better" (not that the advice is all bad, but it is extremely declarative and one-dimensional - though I do realize that assertive, aggressively consultative content does sell copies). Thankfully the issue had a section on watches, but as it turned out the section was written by fashion editors. Oh oh!. Actually, not everything they said was bad, though it left little room for 'argument.' They more or less offered a "one-size-fits-all" approach to recommending watches - which is clearly not in tune with the universe of timepiece options out there. When it came down to it they suggested getting your self a small, thin, gold watch.

Video: Humanoid HRP-2 Doesn’t Avoid Obstacles But Makes Use Of Them

Posted: 27 Dec 2010 03:02 AM PST

Usually, one way to determine how sophisticated robots are is to look at how they deal with obstacles standing in their way. Some are able to avoid them, some simply jump over them. But Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology has developed a humanoid that can make use of obstacles.

The awesome HRP-2 is, for example, able to place an arm on a table before kicking away a ball lying in front of him to maintain his balance (more in the video embedded below). A piece of software helps HRP-2 to first identify which objects are located in his vicinity before suggesting possible movements that could help him finish the task at hand.

HRP-2 isn’t the fastest humanoid out there, but this video showing him in action is pretty impressive nevertheless:

Via Engadget via New Scientist

Sex Sells: Gibson 1976 Les Paul Custom

Posted: 26 Dec 2010 01:58 PM PST

Those wacky Aussies! Apparently the head has gotten to “Koolguitar” because he (or she, to be fair) has decided to sell a 1976 Gibson Les Paul Custom, which it super rare. I’m not so sure about the guitar (however it is up to $5,400 at the time of this post), but the first picture he’s using to post is certainly rare.

No word on if the sheila comes with the guitar, but for $5,400 I know I’d want a few more shots of her with it. You can check out the ebay auction here. Enjoy.

Yeah, So This Exists: A Coffee Cozy Wallet

Posted: 26 Dec 2010 07:45 AM PST

Bread and circuses, friends. Bread and circuses.

Designed as a reusable sleve for a coffee cup, RuMe added a useful zippered pocket so the cuff also functions as a safe, secure armband cash wallet. Now you can walk, jog, rollerbalde to the coffee shop with cash, cards & keys tucked safely inside! Every year more than a billion disposable coffee sleeves are discarded, and the sturdy, tight-fitting elastic not only makes a better sleeve for that hot latte, but is an incredibly easy way to reduce waste. Choose: Fuchsia, Grass, Indigo, Black, Tangerine or Lemon.

Insult to injury? It costs $10.

Product Page via Deletyourself

See Yourself In The Third Person Without Drugs Or Major Bodily Trauma

Posted: 26 Dec 2010 07:31 AM PST

Have you ever wanted to see yourself from above? Behind? Ever wanted to see yourself as other see you? Try this Instructable that creates a 3rd person view of your own person by attaching a camera to a head mounted display. You’ll see yourself – and only yourself – as you walk across the darkling plain.

The rig you see here is wireless although you can actually just wired the camera through a frame that you put in front or behind you. You can use almost any head-mounted display including (try the Vuzix) and a camera with video-out. Then you put a bag over your head and walk around.

Just remember, folks, when you look into the void the void looks into you. Have fun!

Instructable