Steamroller Music Box Plays Star Spangled Banner, Though It’s a Little Flat

Music boxes are one of the oldest forms of storing and playing back music. Just don’t expect anything fancy. Now the simple music box concept has been taken to the next level. We’re talking huge. If this Steamroller music box ever gets loose, it will flatten you to the tune of The Star Spangled Banner.

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Dave Cole completed this sculpture last year, He took an 11-ton steamroller, stripped it apart and turned it into a functional music box. It proudly plays the national anthem of the United States – like a monster delicately playing an instrument.

I don’t know whether to smile or run. Maybe both are appropriate. Just keep away from it’s musical wheel of doom and you’ll be safe.

[via designboom via Neatorama]

Suitcase Stickers Will Make You Miss Your Flight – or Worse

Unless you want to miss your flight on purpose or have airport security personnel give you a full body cavity search, you probably shouldn’t stick these otherwise hilarious Suitcase Stickers onto your luggage.

For obvious reasons…

Suitcase Stickers

The stickers available in several designs: air stewardess (who’s trapped in your bag), sugar (which is clearly not sugar…), cash (which is stacked in neat piles in a totally not suspicious way at all), and an “adult” version, which we’re not showing here – but you can use your imagination.

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Fittingly enough, the product page carries the following warning:

Caution: Some of these stickers may cause offense to airport and immigration staff. But you would have figured that out whilst enjoying those cavity searches.

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Fortunately, these stickers have been designed to “stick to anything”, so you’re not limited to using them on your suitcases. Stick them on your wall, on your bed, in your car, and anywhere else where you feel like making a mess of things.

Suitcase Stickers retail for $7.50(USD) each from The Cheeky.

[via Cool Material]

Luminescent Plant Kickstarter Project: Miracle Glow

I’ve seen some offbeat projects turn up on Kickstarter over the years, but a project that’s there now called Glowing Plants is one of the strangest. You can probably figure out what the project is about simply from the name. The people behind the project want to create plants that glow to provide natural lighting with no electricity.

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That sounds like something right out of Avatar. Exactly how the people are genetically creating glowing plants is rather difficult to describe. All you really need to know is that if you choose to back the project over on Kickstarter, you can get seeds to grow your own glowing plants.

The project was initially seeking to raise only $65,000(USD). With 28 days left to go, the project has blown through its goal, raising over $295,000 to date.

A pledge of $40 or more will get you your own package of glowing plant seeds. The specific plant is an Arabidopsis. A $150 pledge will land you an already growing plant. If at least $400,000 is raised, people who pledge $150 or more will get you a glowing rose as well. If you pledge $250 or more, you can get your own DIY kit allowing you to make any of your plants at home glow.

Star Wars Spaceship Wedding Invites: Run to the Altar in Under 12 Parsecs

Do you normally just throw wedding invitations out as you laugh and call the bride and groom suckers? Well, you wouldn’t throw these wedding invitations away. After all, they come with starships. Who’s the sucker now?

star wars wedding

There’s probably no better day for Star Wars fans to get married than May the 4th. It was the perfect day for Homer Liwag. You probably remember the Indiana Jones engagement ring and the Star Wars wedding band he created. So of course, for his own wedding, he created some amazing invitations.

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Each invitation comes in a little black box that holds a miniature Star Wars ship attached to an invitation that initially read only “Take Off.” Once the recipient took off the lid, the full invitation and a tiny spaceship was revealed. Now, that is classy.

[via Nerd Approved]

Street Legal Batman Tumbler Replica Rises

The Gumball 3000 is an international rally for rich people who own exotic supercars. It’s a chance to show off and let their expensive toys roar. But this year’s race will feature one car that’s surely more exotic than even the newest Lambo. It’s a life-size replica of the Tumbler from Nolan’s Batman films.

batman tumbler replica by team gulag and parker brothers concepts

The car was commissioned by a group of gearheads from Saudi Arabia who call themselves Team Galag. According to Yahoo! Autos, the replica has a 400hp engine, goes up to 100mph and cost $1.6 million (USD) to build. A Wayne-level budget; I guess that adds to the authenticity. Autoblog says that the car was made by Parker Brothers Concepts, who are no strangers to building wacky one-off vehicles for the rich and famous.

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Images by Sam Moores Photography

Here’s a quick video of the car rumbling down the street via YouTuber Shmee150:

Please let their be a Batpod in there. You can see more pictures of the Tumbler at Team Gulag’s Facebook page.

[via Yahoo! Autos, Autoblog & Team Galag via DVICE]

Girl Makes Ziploc Bag Jacket, Vows to Never Be Hungry Again

You’ve probably run into the old problem of where to keep your spare slice of pizza, or that half-eaten sandwich when you are out and about. You can’t put them into your pocket because that’s just nasty. You don’t want a sandwich full of lint! Well, one girl has solved the problem with a Ziploc jacket.

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This Ziploc Jacket keeps all of your food items in plain view and keeps it all fresh. You are basically a walking food cart when wearing this thing. And it’s stylish too.

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Want a mohair look? Just fill up all the pockets and let things get moldy! In the mood for red? Fill it up with tomato sauce! Damn. This thing is versatile.

[via Obvious Winner]

Steampunk Nintendo Controller Coffee Table: NESSSS

Here’s a coffee table that would go well with the steampunk NES. It was made by Charles Lushear of Bohemian Workbench using found items. I wouldn’t disagree if you think it’s more junkyard than steampunk, but either way it’s an impressive piece.

steampunk nintendo nes controller coffee table by bohemian workbench

The cedar wood tabletop used to be part of a fence, the A and B buttons are antique clock movements and the Start and Select buttons are vintage rifle magazines. But the most intriguing part is the directional pad.

Apparently that piece of metal is a Katanga cross or a handa, a copper cross that was used as a form of currency in the Democratic Republic of Congo from the 19th to the 20th century. Katanga Katanga cross, y’all.

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Lushear is selling it on his Etsy shop for $2,600 (USD). That’s a lot of Katanga crosses.

[via Apartment Therapy]

Time Traveller Watch Tells Time Around the World, All at Once

Need to know what time it is in one of the major cities of the world? Just check the Time Traveller watch and you’ll find your answer. With this unique timepiece, you won’t need to reset your watch’s time or consult an app on your phone in order to know what time it currently is because the answer will be staring at you at all times.

Time Traveller Watch

You won’t find the usual hour, minute, or second hands on the Time Traveller watch. Instead, you’ll see decorated one giant meta-hand in the form and shape of renowned landmarks moving around the face. They’re not just there for show, because they actually indicate what time it is in various major cities using the landmark that certain city is known for.

time traveller watch detail

For example, New York City’s time is displayed by the Statue of Liberty, while the Eiffel Tower indicates what time it currently is in France. It might take a little time to memorize all of them, but it’s still a really clever idea.

The Time Traveller watch is available in a limited edition of just 100 pieces from Mister Jones Watches, and sells for £145 (~$200 USD). There aren’t many left, so if you want one, you’d better move quick.

[via Laughing Squid]

Sushi Cats – Because, Japan.

Cats have always had their place in history. The Ancient Egyptians regaled them as sacred deities and they were much-loved pets during the Chinese Song Dynasty. The close relationship that cats have with man continues up until today, where felines feel free to express their emotions (hello Grumpy Cat) and are spoiled rotten (have you seen this or this?)

Then along came the Sushi Cats.

Sushi Cats

Contrary to what the title will have you believe, Sushi Cats is not some new exotic dish on the menu. Rather, it’s a quirky photo series featuring adorable and cuddly cats that are dressed to the nines as sushi – and not just the edible kind, since some of them are topped with accessories and random objects like a handbag, knitting needles, a tie, and even cold hard cash.

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Sushi Cats was created by Japan’s Tange & Nakimushi Peanuts and they’re available as photo prints, post cards, and fans in the company’s online store, although they only ship within Japan.

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They even put together a couple of humorous videos detailing the history and the adventures of the Sushi Cats…

If you live outside of Japan, fret not. Tange & Nakimushi Peanuts love the cats so much that they launched an mobile game app featuring none other than the felines themselves. You can download the Sushi Cats app for iOS here and for Android here.

[via WTF Japan Seriously via Laughing Squid]

Original Star Trek Galileo Shuttlecraft Being Fully Restored

It has been over 45 years since the original Star Trek graced TV screens, but somehow this 1:1 scale Galileo shuttlecraft prop from the original Star Trek has survived, though it shows it’s age.

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Last year, the shuttlecraft sold at auction and the new owners, Adam Schneider and Alec Peters, took the prop to New Jersey boat restorers Master Shipwrights, and asked them to restore the old bird. Space.com recently interviewed the team about the restoration, and here are a few highlights of the conversation…

It’s probably taken 2,000 man hours of work. It’s a world-class restoration at a world-class shop. This is not me because I have no skills as an amateur doing work. This is a fabulous facility…Not only is it going to be cosmetically good, but from a structural point of view, from a quality of finish point of view, from a quality of wood point of view, and from an ability to move it safely without damaging it. It has never been in better shape.

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There’s no word yet on where the Galileo will eventually land, but its owners hope to put it on display for countless Trekkies to enjoy. It is awesome to see people restoring a piece of sci-fi history out of love for the series. Captain Kirk would be so proud.

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[via Neatorama]