Just when I had finished my therapy dealing with the unreasonable fear that mechanical men would someday destroy mankind…

A sinister and evil villainess of a scientist goes and creates this.  The Complete Mechanical Womb, disguised as SteamPunk art by the “artist” Porkshanks, clearly illustrates a failed prototype.  Just another experimental step in this woman’s diabolical plan to usurp human rule on Earth, and replace it with her own twisted vision of a perfect dystopia.

I approve…  🙂  I’d rather serve the Queen of the Damned (bite me Anne Rice, you traitorous bitch) under the rule of a benevolent leader such as El Presidente Porkshanks, than live another day under the current United States administration.  And with that statement, I will now end up on the Terror Watch list, and my boarding passes shall forever read “SSSS”.

Finally, a good SteamPunk jewelry store (and I have been looking).  Check out Velvet Mechanism, they’ve got corsets, goggles, bracelets, cuff links, earrings, hair stuff, necklaces, pins, medals, rings, and a few other things.  It’s all very reasonably priced.

The SteamCon II SteamPunk Convention is scheduled for November 19th – 21st, 2010.  They’ve just announced a new website (much of it still under development), which is very nicely done.

The 1st SteamCon was a huge success.  I had sent Omega7Red’s own infamous Captain Jamison Dao of the HRMAS Prometheus to the SteamCon event.  However, he failed to report back.  Apparently, he was killed in a duel, most violently.  (hit the more to read on)

Usually, I look at most SteamPunk jewelry, and I think “Meh…”  There’s some pretty creative stuff out there, but usually not something you would wear to work.  However, this ring is fairly well done, and worthy of attention.

It’s also functional.  You can create your own nervous habit of spinning the counter-rotating rings on your finger.  Or, if you’re like me, you can give them “the finger” with style.

 The Gear Ring from Kinekt has functional gears in the middle that allow the bezel to rotate. And that’s pretty much it. No lasers or anything. They’re available in US sizes 9-12 for $165, and may need to be oiled from time to time. Not unlike the Tin Man! Who, fun fact: is not a robot. Don’t get me wrong, I’d still crush his ass on my face like an empty beer can, he just isn’t a robot. No laughing, Lion, you’re next.

Via Geekologie

Sure, slap a tube on it, and watch the SteamPunkers and audiophiles line up with pockets full of green vomit in disgust.  This is the X-Tube, a USB/headphone amp made to look like a vacuum tube, promising high-quality DTS sound.  But there’s a problem.

That problem is “marketing”.  First, calling it the X-Tube was really stupid.  Go Google X-Tube and you’ll come up with a laundry list of porn sites.  Porn + Marketing = Win Fail (in this case).  Second, the fake tube gimmick is so overdone; the various communities that are into valves prefer real and fully functional ones.  Third, according to the DVICE blog I saw this at, there’s strong evidence to suggest that the DTS slapped on the plastic tube is a lie.  Lie + Marketing = Total Fail.  Last, is why?  Almost all modern computers, especially laptops, have built-in headphone amplifiers.

Via: DVICE

Having been exiled to California for the last 4 years, I returned home to Arizona and was quite surprised to find a significant change to my local friendly neighborhood Radio Shack.  This one is a Vintage Radio Shack.

Not just the usual collection of soldering tools, batteries, and home electronics; this one features a wide and varied array of restored and reconditioned vintage electronics.  The owner has a serious hobby and is constantly working to bring yesterday’s glory back to life.

Just how did they keep time before the invention of gears and springs?  You may be thinking sundials and hourglasses, but you’d be wrong.  Here’s a video on how it was actually done.

This is just plain cool, no matter who you are. I can only imagine the amount of video editing involved. It’s quite an insane project, but it puts a smile on the face.  Of course, the real question is: Who would buy this?  And does it have to be an old man?  Can we have one with Strippers?

Via: GEEK

Finally, something I would actually buy.  Much as I love MP3 players, they’re all too damn tiny.  These MintCube MP3 players are only 2-in x 2-in x 2in; small enough to be portable, but big enough to use on my desk.  The VU meter is cool, as long as it’s actually a real dBm meter.

Via: GIZMODO

I’m not sure it’s real, but it’s a cool concept.  The design is based on a 1954 TV, and some other old-fashioned elements.  I’m just glad it runs Windows 7.

Via: Yanko

Most impressive…  Steve Wozniak, Apple’s co-founder, and an impressive engineer has made himself a functional and practical Nixie-tube watch.  I don’t know why I have such a hard-on for Nixie’s, but it’s certainly more impressive than the steampunk toilet that came across my desk recently.  Seriously, some of you steampunkers have too much in common with pot-heads; instead of trying to make a bong out of everything, you try to make everything into a vacuum tube, like this Model 420 Pneumatiform Infumationizer.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak shows us that a nixie tube watch is probably a better idea in theory than it is in practice. It’s so bulky. Sure looks like a lot of trouble he has to go through just to change the time zone. Never mind that, if they could just make these things a whole lot smaller, we’d really be lusting after one.

via: DVICE

BTW, pot-heads suck.  Read my Official Position on 420.