Now that's punny

I'll apologize in advance for this one.  You see my dad has always been a prolific punster.  He can make a pun out of anything, anytime, anywhere.  So puns, mostly really bad groaners, are near and dear to me.  Just as I had no idea that they have competitions for flying kites without wind, planing and synchronized walking, I had no idea that there is a world championship punoff.
So, in honor of my dad's birthday, I present this video from the pun world championships.  In the head-to-head competition, the competitors have 5 seconds to come up with a pun related to a topic chosen by the audience.  If they repeat a pun, they get a strike... three strikes and you're out.  They continue until one of them strikes out, or can't think of a new pun in 5 seconds.  Dad, I'm pretty sure you could take these guys!

If you managed to watch that video and you still are looking for more, you may enjoy the jokes here or the video below.

Happy Birthday Dad!

A little marine science for you

Edith Widder: How we found the giant squid

Edith Widder gives a TED talk about how they took pictures of the giant squid.  It is a pretty interesting story.  Apparently, if you act like a distressed jelly fish, you can attract giant squid, not because the squid are interested in you, but because they are interested in what might be eating you.

Once, when we were sailing in the Indian Ocean, Monika and I found a school of ~2' squid under our sailboat.  It was pretty spectacular and spooky at the same time.  They have a very alien look.. In fact, they kind of make me think of the movie Alien, but maybe that is just me.  I really can't imagine what it would be like to encounter one on the scale of the one in the video above.

Mike deGruy: Hooked by an octopus

Mike deGruy had a bid hand in making the expedition above possible, but unfortunately he died in a helicopter crash before the project got its results.  His TED talk about octopi is quite inspirational.

This Wave Pendulum is Compelling

For some reason I really like this wave pendulum.  Some of the patterns it gets into are really cool.  It kind of makes me want to build one of my own.  Why don't they make these for your desk, kind of like a Newton's cradle?  Probably because if I had one on my desk I wouldn't get any work done.

Tall Ships are coming to Redwood City

This is local news for those of you in the Bay Area.

Redwood City is the only deep water port in the south San Francisco Bay.  As such, it occasionally hosts interesting maritime events.  One such event is the arrival of the replicas of historic tall ships, Lady Wachington and Hawaiin Cheiftan.  The Lady Washington is a wood hulled brig which set sail in 1989 and has been named Washington State's official tall ship.  She has appeared in numerous movies including the 2003 movie Pirates of the Carribean: the Curse of the Black Pearl.  The Hawaiian Cheiftan is a steel-hulled topsail ketch replica of a 19th century coastal trader.  They will be in the port from March 7-19 and will offer public tours, sailing excursions and educational programs for K-12 students and groups.

One of the fun things about this visit is that they have adventure and battle sails where you can actually  sail in these amazing ships and imagine what it must have been like to head out to sea in the olden days.

Schedule

3/8: Walk-on tours, 4 p.-.to 5 p.m. No reservation required, but $3 donation requested.
3/9-10: tours, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. No reservation required, but $3 donation requested.
3/9-10: Battle Sails, 2p.m. to 5 p.m., $40-$60.
3/10: Adventure Sail (Lady Washington only), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. $39 all ages.
3/l2-15: Walk-on tours, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. No reservation required, but $3 donation requested.
3/16-17: Walk-on tows, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. No reservation required, but $3 donation requested.
3/16: BattIe Sail, 2p.m. to 5 p.m., $40-$60


More information from the Port of Redwood City

Synchronized Walking - really?

We've featured a few interesting competitions here on Digital Diner recently.  Planing and Windless Kite Flying both were pretty unusual, but how about this one?  Synchronized Walking.  I can see that it requires some skill and incredible amounts of practice (see the move at about 2:00), but at the end of the day, it's just walking.  That's pretty weird, I've got to say.

Reminder: Workshop Weekend is this weekend in Oakland

Bix Studies Plant Science at Digital Diner to prep for Workshop Weekend

This is just a quick reminder that this weekend is a Workshop Weekend in Oakland.  It's a great chance to stimulate your Maker neurons, meet interesting people, have some fun and learn a thing or two.  Classes range from telescope making to cheesemaking to website building and Arduino programming.
Of course, the best class will be the critically acclaimed Awesome Aeroponics class taught by two Digital Diner staffers.  As I write this there are only 4 spaces available for that class, so sign up quickly before it is completely filled.  Don't forget, when you sign up, use the code AEROPONICS0313.  It is good for $10 off admission to Workshop Weekend.

We hope to see you there!

Quadcopters continue to be awesome!

You know we love the quadcopters here at Digital Diners.  It seems every week they teach them to do some other amazing trick.  This week it is throwing poles around.  Yes, you heard that right.  These quadcopters, not only balance poles, they are able to throw them to one another.  I can just see the game of "keep away from the humans" now.  Watch the video and be amazed.

Finally! Science and engineering resources applied to opening an Oreo!

Finally physicists/makers have applied themselves to the difficult problems facing our society; splitting an Oreo cookie.  Personally, I think it is sad to just disposed of the cream filling, but that is personal taste I suppose.  Certainly, down the road, these advancements will benefit even those who prefer the filling.  ...and, just like the NASA space program, there are unforeseen benefits that come up along the way... like how to keep you neck and ears warm.  Definitely good work. We salute you David Neevel.

What Most Schools Don't Teach

Code.org has published a cute little short film about learning to program.  Gusteau (from the awesome movie Ratatouille) says, "anyone can cook."  Here at Digital Diner, we say "anyone can code."  There are so very many resources out there to learn from... If you don't know how to code yet, now is a great time to dive in!

Here are just a few places to start:
code.org
codeacademy.com
codeschool.com
Udacity
Coursera
Khan Academy

Give it a shot!

from code.org via Gizmodo

Wow... A pen that draws in 3D... Cool!

This is pretty cool looking.  It is a pen that lets you draw in 3D.  You actually just move the pen around and it extrudes plasticy stuff that cools and hardens when it comes in contact with the air.  I can't think of a single practical use for this, yet I want one.

It's a Kickstarter from a company called WobbleWorks.  Take a look for yourself.

via ThisIsColossal