Seven Awesome DIY Star Wars Vehicles July 15, 2011

Vehicles from the original ‘Star Wars’ trilogy were the coolest things in the movies. What’s more exciting than recreating them using recycled and repurposed materials?

The original Star Wars trilogy rules, period. The plot is awesome, the characters so memorable that they’ll stay with you for the rest of your life and the effects still put most CGI wannabes in the shade. Yet, while the story carries along like you’re sat in a Landspeeder, and the human element is undoubtedly entertaining, those movies were visual masterpieces first and foremost, and it was the many amazing vehicles that captured our imaginations as much as anything else.

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‘Frozen Gore’ Sculpture in Alaska Fuels Warming Debate January 7, 2010

Blowing smoke (from the tailpipe of a nearby truck), a "Frozen Gore" sculpture parodies the former Vice President in Fairbanks, Alaska -- ice sculpture capital of the U.S.

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Another two-ton ice sculpture of former Vice President Al Gore is back in front of a Fairbanks liquor store.

“Frozen Gore” is a dig at Gore’s beliefs about climate change.

The first statue went on display last year. This year’s version is hooked up to the exhaust of a pickup truck to make it appear Gore is spouting hot air.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the smoke drew laughs from a crowd Tuesday as a Gore speech on climate change played over a loudspeaker.

The sculpture was commissioned by two businessmen, Craig Compeau and Rudy Gavora, who want Gore to discuss global warming in Fairbanks.

“We don’t agree with his theories — we’re suspicious of the financial motivation behind them,” Compeau said.

Last year’s inaugural Gore ice sculpture got national attention, including mentions on The Drudge Report, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC.

Compeau said his Web site with photos and information about the sculpture attracted 1.7 million visitors. He also was swamped with mostly positive e-mails from people who found the sculpture entertaining.

Climate change scientists say Alaska has warmed by 3 degrees Fahrenheit during the past 50 years. The average temperature for 2009 was 27.8 degrees in Fairbanks, about one degree warmer than normal, said Rick Thoman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

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Level Green, The Autostadt, Wolfsburg December 11, 2009

Sustainability exhibition at Volkswagen’s Autostadt

November 24th, 2009

If the fabulous landscaping, architecture and the famous CarTowers weren’t enough to persuade you to take a visit to Volkswagen’s impressive ‘Autostadt‘, then this new permanent exhibition from Berlin architects J. Mayer H. might tip the balance for you. A collaboration with interactive media specialists, and fellow Berliners, Art+Com, this otherworldly, architectural space offers experiential learning on sustainability issues through a variety of touch-screen technical installations. The rather ginormous green shapey things are apparently based upon the internationally recognised PET symbol, which we’re sure was all very nice to say when presented to the client, but who are they kidding? This beautifully bizarre, luminous, melted wall madness was surely born from some crazy hallucinogenic toad-licking experience.

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Solar SunFlowers Provide Green Energy With a Fresh Look August 22, 2009

Fifteen flower-shaped solar panels have been installed in an open space between a highway and a retail lot in Austin, Texas.

They not only provide a green source of energy, but also bring a fresh look to solar panel design.

Designed by Massachusetts art duo Harries/Heder, the SunFlowers are an art exhibit at heart, and stand over 30 feet tall.

They collect power from the sun by day, and use that energy to power their blue LEDs at night.

Up to 15 kilowatts of surplus power is sent back to the grid as payment for any maintenance fees the SunFlowers incur.

Click here for more on this story from PopSci.com.

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