Wired has a great article about Pixar and how they\’ve become the new Disney. All of Pixar\’s movies have been hits so far, an awesome track record. The Incredibles trailer is online and it looks pretty good.

So the story about the woman who toured Chernobyl on a motorcycle by herself was a fake. She actually joined a tour through a Kiev travel agency and brought along a motorcycle helmet. I agree with Neil Gaiman, that\’s kind of a weird thing to make up. Hell, I thought it was impressive she went into Chernobyl period.
[ From Boing Boing ]

Remember the \”instant bootleg\” thing where you can get a live-recording of a show right after you saw it? Nevermind, it\’s over. Fear Channel bought the patent from the technology\’s inventors. Oh well, back to smuggling in a mic and tape recorder.

Oh man, this is sweet! Brazilian heavy metal covers of videogame music. They have covers of songs from Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Street Fighter, and lots more. Ahhhh…brings back memories of my metal childhood.
[ From Boing Boing ]

We have a new candidate for a Darwin award: Student Drinks Lab Chemical on a Dare

A student who drank a chemical from his high school lab on a dare was recovering in a hospital, but not before a scare.

The student drank the unidentified chemical on a bet at the school, said Nancy Smith, a UMC supervisor.

Actually, maybe I should give the kid a little credit. Maybe it was a double dare.

Oh my god. I soooo want one of these. The Hy-Tek Tek Panel is an entire PC integrated into the back of a giant 30\” LCD. It uses regular size video cards so it can be configured as a hard core gaming rig. The LCD is made by LG, but Hy-Tek custom made a 5\” deep aluminum case to house everything. It seems like the screen might be a weird in-between size though, cause it\’s too big to put on a desk and sit in front of like a regular monitor, yet it\’s too small to mount on the wall and use like a TV. Regardless, it\’s still badass.

DP Review reviews the Leica Digilux 2. It\’s a digital camera with actual mechanical controls for shutter speed, aperture, focus, and zoom. The popup flash can also be angled upwards for bounced flash shots. But it\’s $1800 and it\’s not even an SLR! The Panasonic version is supposed to be cheaper (as a tradeoff for lower build quality).

The Skinny Puppy tour dates were announced, including 3 shows in SoCal!! There might be more U.S. shows in an autumn tour too. And the new album comes out on the 25th.

A guy built a very accurate Ghostbusters Proton Pack and he\’s selling it on eBay now. It has functional lights that are accurate to the film, a sound system that plays sound effects off a compact flash card, accurate warning stickers professionally printed on vinyl, and realistic \”weathering\”. This guy went all out and used real valves, hoses, cables, fixtures, and other proton packy things. He also includes an accurate jumpsuit with elbow pads, patches, belt, and a radio (what, no ghost trap?). I could\’ve really used this stuff when I was about 8 years old and we had a Halloween costume contest at school. More details and info here.
[ From Boing Boing ]

Now I\’ve seen it all: housing developments made up of fake \”factories\” intended to resemble loft living. Imagine the typical suburban subdivision, but instead of houses you have factories with names like \”The Cannery.\”

What happens when loft dwellers fall in love, get married, and have babies? Some families with children do embrace the loft lifestyle, but others go out and try to find a suburban house with space for the children that still exudes their nontraditional values. What does the housing industry provide for them?

Weird. But at least you won\’t feel bad when the grass dies and the paint starts peeling, cause it just adds to the abandoned look.