Comments on: Nixie Tubes & Clocks http://www.geekfoolery.com/2007/03/26/nixie-tubes-clocks/ Commentary on emerging trends, especially cool or absurd innovations across a broad range of geekiness. Sun, 6 Jul 2008 01:57:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: antique alarm clock http://www.geekfoolery.com/2007/03/26/nixie-tubes-clocks/#comment-14222 antique alarm clock Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:59:34 +0000 http://www.geekfoolery.com/2007/03/26/nixie-tubes-clocks/#comment-14222 <strong>antique alarm clock...</strong> Just imagine how much better it would be if a nature sounds alarm clock with these sounds. Most of us use traditional alarm clocks... antique alarm clock…

Just imagine how much better it would be if a nature sounds alarm clock with these sounds. Most of us use traditional alarm clocks…

]]> By: Mr.Monkey http://www.geekfoolery.com/2007/03/26/nixie-tubes-clocks/#comment-986 Mr.Monkey Tue, 27 Mar 2007 08:02:19 +0000 http://www.geekfoolery.com/2007/03/26/nixie-tubes-clocks/#comment-986 Dear Mr. Alex, Your expensive clock is indeed cool. But the question is why? My hunch is that its coolness is a product of its anachronistic appearance. All other things being equal, newer technology probably works better than older technology — that is, after the bugs have been worked out, and sometimes it looks better — for example, high-definition plasma TVs give me a pup tent, but all too often it looks a little boring — for example, the aerodynamic design on new BMWs make them look like Toyota Corollas. (Nothing against Toyota Corollas. I own one. But, Dude, if your Beemer looks like a Corolla, that’s, like, totally weak!) (See “Transforming a Vintage Toaster Into a Delicious Mini PC”*) However, old technology often has a certain character — even if it doesn’t work that well. One of my favorite toys is an antique stereoscope** viewer. (Saying an “antique stereoscope viewer” should be redundant, but both the Wikipedia article** and this site below*** say that some people still make these. Is it all DIY?) First of all, it just looks cool. It’s made of wood, and it looks old. People say, “What’s that?” The 3D images don’t look like 3D stuff in the real world, but that’s what gives them that cool/creepy/ oneiric quality. Another toy that I just got is a Quimby the Mouse Wooden Toy****. The toy (based on Chris Ware’s art) is a late 21st century creation that’s designed to look like an early 20th century creation. I also have Pip & Norton(!) and Eddy Table(!!) vinyl figures (They aren’t dolls damn it!) that I bought because I like Dave Cooper’s work, and they make me giggle every time I look at ‘em. But, even though I wasn’t a big fan off Chris Ware’s work initially, I really dug the toy. It’s my “new antique.” I think that some of this is related to your post — isn’t it? Cordially yours, Mr. Monkey * http://www.retrothing.com/ ** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereoscope *** http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/stscp/stscp.htm **** http://quimbys.com/product_info.php/products_id/14748 (!) http://www.duckywaddles.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=665 (!!) http://www.sweatyfrog.com/www.sweatyfrog.com/eddytable.html Dear Mr. Alex,

Your expensive clock is indeed cool. But the question is why? My hunch is that its coolness is a product of its anachronistic appearance. All other things being equal, newer technology probably works better than older technology — that is, after the bugs have been worked out, and sometimes it looks better — for example, high-definition plasma TVs give me a pup tent, but all too often it looks a little boring — for example, the aerodynamic design on new BMWs make them look like Toyota Corollas. (Nothing against Toyota Corollas. I own one. But, Dude, if your Beemer looks like a Corolla, that’s, like, totally weak!) (See “Transforming a Vintage Toaster Into a Delicious Mini PC”*) However, old technology often has a certain character — even if it doesn’t work that well.

One of my favorite toys is an antique stereoscope** viewer. (Saying an “antique stereoscope viewer” should be redundant, but both the Wikipedia article** and this site below*** say that some people still make these. Is it all DIY?) First of all, it just looks cool. It’s made of wood, and it looks old. People say, “What’s that?” The 3D images don’t look like 3D stuff in the real world, but that’s what gives them that cool/creepy/ oneiric quality. Another toy that I just got is a Quimby the Mouse Wooden Toy****. The toy (based on Chris Ware’s art) is a late 21st century creation that’s designed to look like an early 20th century creation. I also have Pip & Norton(!) and Eddy Table(!!) vinyl figures (They aren’t dolls damn it!) that I bought because I like Dave Cooper’s work, and they make me giggle every time I look at ‘em. But, even though I wasn’t a big fan off Chris Ware’s work initially, I really dug the toy. It’s my “new antique.”

I think that some of this is related to your post — isn’t it?

Cordially yours,
Mr. Monkey

* http://www.retrothing.com/
** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereoscope
*** http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/stscp/stscp.htm
**** http://quimbys.com/product_info.php/products_id/14748
(!) http://www.duckywaddles.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=665
(!!) http://www.sweatyfrog.com/www.sweatyfrog.com/eddytable.html

]]>