When you think power generation in the early 1900s, coal and steam generally come to mind. But in Alexis Madrigal's upcoming book, Powering The Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology, he shows that people were trying to find environmentally friendly alternatives via ocean waves in the nascent days of household electricity. More »

The SlobStopper is a real product—MADE IN THE USA—forged from two layers of polyurethane laminate. What does it do? Why, it stops your slob! It ensures that toddlers, with their undeveloped motor skills and precarious feeding angles, don't corner the market on bib-wearing! It makes pretty girls look at you when you wear it because you're a guy who knows he's going to dribble his Slurpee all down his frontside yet is frugal enough to minimize dry cleaning charges! It is horrible, it is wonderful, it is America. And it puts your Snuggie to shame. [SlobStopper via Geekologie] More »

How do you improve on the month's best diapered baby twins jibber jabber video? Make that same video... with overweight men. Specifically, Commish Michael Chiklis and funnyman Patton Oswalt, who gibberish with the best of 'em. More »

There are a ton of solar backpacks on the market and they're not very attractive, so it's nice that a mainstream designer label like fashion juggernaut Ralph Lauren has come out with a stylish version of their own. More »

So the graphic realism isn't quite Black Ops, but this military sim will actually influence real-world naval operations in the future. More »

You will never find me watching a silent movie, nosiree, I'm a talkie man. But Silent Film Director, a $1 iOS app, has shown me that a scratchy old sped-up silent movie is pretty fun when you're the star! (That's me, doing my best silent movie-era acting, up above). The app lets you choose what style of old school movie you want to make ('20s silent movie, '60s home video or '70s home video, or a few others), slap on some stock piano music or a tune from your library, and set how fast you want your action comically sped up. And if you really want to get into it (I won't judge!), you can buy the pro pack for $1 as an in-app purchase, allowing you to add title cards and transitions. Fun! Until the Great Depression hits. [iTunes] More »

Complaints arose today that the mobile broadband on Verizon iPads wasn't working. Apple confirmed that rumor, stating "a small number of iPad 2 customers have experienced connectivity issues with the Verizon 3G network" and that they're "investigating it." [AllThingsD] More »

Paris! The City of Light, the City of Love, the city of...expensive airfare. But with this new app from Fotopedia, you won't have to spend a cent to immerse yourself in Parisian culture. More »

First an original series. Then Mad Men. Now Netflix has release dates for its promised delivery of every episode of all five live-action Star Trek TV series. More »

CUBICLE BEAR | O HAI! I IZ IN UR OFFICE, SMELLIN UR FEARZ

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Hearsay about Apple putting the kibosh on Best Buy's iPad 2 sales remains hearsay—but if it is true, Gear Live thinks they know why: Best Buy employees (and friends) abusing their sweet trade-in program. More »

The Network giveth and The Network hath taken away. Verizon has announced that it is eliminating its semi-popular one-year contract option, explaining that most customers sign two-year contracts and the options for month-to-month and prepaid accounts remain. More »

When John Muir's name comes up, technologically progressive inventor is not the first thing that comes to mind. But as The Atlantic points out, the author and lover of nature dreamed up a few ingenious inventions in his time. More »

It's only taken a few years and a hundred million tax bucks, but the Navy is a step closer to what Rear Admiral Nevin Carr wet-dreamingly describes as his "Megawatt death ray." The experimental Maritime Laser Demonstrator lit shit up. More »

An antiquated law is adding to confusion surrounding tonight's potential government shutdown. Under the 1884 Antideficiency Act, furloughed federal employees could face two years in prison just for using their office BlackBerrys or checking their work email from home. More »

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology turns 150 this weekend! You're probably thinking—150? That's old! Who cares about something so old! What a geezer!—for shame. MIT's produced the brains behind some of the world's coolest stuff. [via FastCo] More »

The makers of the G-Form iPad Sleeve claim you can drop an eight pound bowling ball on the sleeve (with iPad inserted) from a height of three feet, and the iPad will still work afterwards. And assuming all is honest in this video clip, the proof is in the pudding. The sleeve will cost $60 when it's available on May 1. [G-Form via 9to5Mac] More »

That's Endeavour on the launch pad, waiting for the start of mission STS-134. But, like the United States Government and most of its vital science operations, it may shut down tonight. If that happens, that's very bad news. More »

Just look at them - with their beady little eyes and flapping heads. And don't bother going to sleep tonight, that's just the opportunity these crafty bastards are waiting for. You can thank our friends at Oobject.com for the nightmare fuel. More »