Something I Wasn't Expecting to Find in a Blister Pack at the Drugstore

An alethiometer.



A philosophical instrument used for divination in Philip Pullman's book The Golden Compass and its sequels. I might call it a "psionic device," but that doesn't seem steampunkish enough.

Actually, this is an Uno game with circular cards, packaged to resemble an alethiometer.

This did not keep it from startling me. Even though I knew the movie was on the verge of release.

(For a nice pocketwatch casemod, see this.)

Roll Over, Nikola: 1,020,411 and Still Arcing

The video clip entitled "Singing Tesla Coil at Duckon 2007," posted on 21 June 2007, has now been viewed over one million times.

(Don't bother to click on it-- you've already seen it!)