Geek culture

Comedian and self-appointed judge John Hodgman reveals the secrets to surviving the apocalypse and answers your questions about National Doughnut Day, the proper way to grow a mustache, and how to deal with Internet whiners.

If you like what you hear, subscribe to Netflix and check out John's stand-up special "Ragnarok" on June 20, push play, and walk away. John's also performing in Chicago on June 13 at the Just For Laughs comedy festival. Details on all his tours can be found here and on John's Twitter!… Read more

Apple's big annual developers' conference kicks off next week. That has left plenty of time to speculate and entertain rumors about new announcements. We won't know for sure until the Worldwide Developers Conference actually gets going, but there are some likely, and unlikely, scenarios for new hardware and software.… Read more

The hottest crowdfunded gaming device of 2013 could end up being Virtuix's Omni virtual-reality treadmill, which, in just 48 hours, has already netted a stunning sum of $600,000 in Kickstarter pledges from around the world.

Virtuix may have actually come up with a sensible physical platform that lets a gamer run or jump seamlessly on an enclosed octagon-shaped treadmill and see those actions mirrored in a video game.

After stepping into the octagon, Omni users slip inside a circular ring (with an attachment belt) that prevents them from toppling over while moving. Other than that, the concept seems simple: if you run forward on the Omni, you run forward in a game; if you crouch, you crouch in the game, and so forth. The recommended -- almost required -- Omni shoes don't seem so bad, either, as they contain a few protrusions similar to a cycling shoe that let you run easily on the Omni without fear of sliding around aimlessly. … Read more

When given the choice, most people would opt for home detention over serving time in a jail cell, eating prison food, and sleeping on a hard bed. As it turns out, not everyone can handle the comforts of home with its cushy chairs and video game equipment. Too much time with his Xbox caused a New Zealand man to ring up the local police and request a jail stint instead.

Details are a little sketchy, but the cry for help was enough to capture the notice of the local news. The Northern Advocate spoke with Senior Constable Paul Nicholas of the Whangarei police. "Mr. Nicholas said the 19-year-old had already served 10 months of an 11-month home detention term and with one month to go 'had run out of Xbox games to play,'" the paper reports.… Read more

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Weird Al Yankovic says next album will be his last.

- Australian scientists uncover "God's bathtub."

- These Blu-ray discs will last 1,000 years.

- You guys, Xanga is about to shut down unless we give them $60k.

- This teenager would rather go to jail than play his Xbox 360.… Read more

You can already buy an infrared camera, but only if you have hundreds of dollars to sink into the purchase. An inexpensive infrared-modified camera, originally developed by Public Lab to monitor damage to wetlands after the BP oil spill, is now available through Kickstarter.

The Infragram project has already handily topped its $30,000 goal and gives you several different options for obtaining a cheap infrared camera. You can do it yourself and modify your own camera for $10, buy a pre-modified bare-bones Webcam for $35, or buy a ready-to-use point-and-shoot camera for $95.… Read more

Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., has expanded its The Simpsons ride to include a real-life version of Springfield, where you can visit with your favorite eateries.

Pop by Moe's Tavern for a quick pre-lunch Duff, perambulate on over to Krusty Burger for a big ol' ribwich -- or, if you're feeling fancy, hit Luigi's for a slice of pizza, then swing by the Kwik-E-Mart for a few supplies. Visitors are now able to take their repast in truly cromulent style.

The theme park has recently added a sort of miniaturized Springfield to its "Simpsons"-themed motion simulator ride, … Read more

I've seen street-legal bumper cars made out of vehicles from vintage amusement park rides, but this is the first time I've seen a real full-size car transformed into a giant bumper car. The well-named seller, bumpercarguy, is parting with his sweet wheels on eBay. There are only a handful of hours left for you to get your bid in.

The base of the unusual vehicle is a 1984 Dodge Colt 1.6-liter turbo. Yep, a turbo bumper car. What could possibly go wrong? The exterior has been customized from fiberglass to make it look like the outside of a big red bumper car. It even has the pole sticking out the back that would make the electrical connection in a real bumper car.… Read more

It's only a matter of time, really. Google Glass, Epson's Movierio, the Oculus Rift, and similar technologies are at the cutting edge of wearable technologies. Sci-fi has certainly given us a glimpse at the potential future: internal links to the Internet, augmented eyesight and hearing, perhaps even full cybernetic bodies to house our minds.

We'll have the technology, we will build it. The question is, presuming it's safe, would you embed yourself with technology?… Read more