Jake von Slatt at the Steampunk Workshop wrote an article for MAKE Magazine describing how to build a Wimshurst Influence Machine (an electrostatic generator) out of easily-obtainable materials. He’s re-posted the article at his site, so we can all pretend to be mad scientists.* Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 *Or…

(via Dispatches from the Culture Wars, where many of the comments are highly entertaining)

Explanation of this vision here. (via Dave Lowe)

Counting sheep doesn’t help you fall sleep if you re-cast “Predator” in your mind with an all-sheep cast. “Baa! Get to da choppa! Baa!” — sween RT @mking260978@BrentSpiner Doing anymore sci-fi in the future?–That’s redundant. — BrentSpiner Does every last one of them need to be an homage to Zork? And if so, where are…

Improbable Research, home of the Ig Nobel Prize, is also the home of the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists. To be a member, you have to be a scientist and have (or believe you have) luxuriant flowing hair. Catherine Asaro (physicist and Nebula Award winner) and Brian May (astronomer and rock star) are both…

Geeky Amigurumi – Roundup of amigurumi versions of Marvin the Paranoid Android, Darth Vader, Tom Servo, and many more. SW Chopsticks – Best. Chopsticks. Ever. Burial Ground – This comic by AmazingSuperPowers amused me. Sheep Skull Mouse – Horrorpunk mouse made of brass and part of a sheep skull. I don’t know how functional it…

You’re probably familiar with PostSecret, a site which features secrets sent anonymously on postcards. There’s now a site called FandomSecrets which allows fans to submit their deepest secrets about actually hating Tim Burton’s films or wanting to become one of Warren Ellis’ harem girls. As the site warns, some entries may be NSFW or contain…

Whedonesque Needlepoint – Joss Whedon-inspired stitchery. I especially like the Firefly/Oregon Trail mashup. Food Photography: Star Wars Edition – Y’know, it never seems to be the kids you see playing with these action figures. Evolution – Extremely cool animated gif. Continent of Stupidea Under Quarantine – John C. Wright has written some interesting-looking books. I…

Chris McVeigh’s photos of chipmunks interacting with Star Wars action figures were all over the blogosphere recently (I think Worst. Copilot. Ever. is my favorite). He’s got loads of other entertaining photos on Flickr, and Terry Border of Bent Objects has done an interview with him. I had no idea that The Force had such…