A German motorcycle craftsman has created "Satte Literschüssel,"* a beautifully barbaric beast of bike powered by a tractor engine, sporting metal-banded ash forks and what appears to be a shovel for a seat. My only question: how would one steer with an axe in one hand and a shield in the other? (I suspect the solution involves an iron phallus sheath on the steering column.)

Project Page (Machine Translated) [Werner-Broesel.de via Jalopnik]

* Not exactly sure what that first letter is supposed to be in that script. Fixed. Thanks, guys!

Kotaku takes a look at ten different videogame industry analysts and analyzes the accuracy of their claims, proving the hardest part about being an industry pundit is fooling someone into giving you a proper soapbox.

My personal rate of success is a perfect ten, since I strive to be wrong always. HD DVD will rise again!

Analyzing the Analysts, Episode One [Kotaku]

Eschewing the form-over-function tendency of most concept designs, Bongkun Shin's "SmartGuide" drill features a nesting, retracting guide that ensures perfectly perpendicular holes. While there are certainly times when the guide would get in the way, a simple clip to keep the guide out of the way would be enough to make this useful in all situations. I wouldn't be surprised to see this on a retail product at some point in the near future.

Training Wheels For Your Drill [Yanko Design]

This is a bit far afield for a gadgets site, perhaps, but indulge me. "Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions Creative Awards" has changed their name to "Mouse," with this clever logo. There's even a slight gadget connection, since to be eligible the advertisements had to appear only on a Microsoft property like MSN or Xbox Live.

Why "Mouse?" Because the winners are entered in the Cannes Cyber Lions award competition.

The Roaring Mouse [Brand New]

Here's a bizarre intersection of a certain subset of my friends and our interests: a retro commercial filmed by Charles and Ray Eames for the Polaroid SX-70, set by an unknown genius to The Cramps "Garbageman." (I'm in there for everything but The Cramps, but I'm coming around to them, too.)

The SX-70 was a folding SLR and the first to use Polaroid's automatic format integral film, which didn't need to be separated from its back after being removed from the camera.

A later model of the SX-70 line used an autofocus system that used sonar to determine the distance from the lens to the subject.

[via Kottke]

Recently on Modern Mechanix we looked at this 1939 radio-fax machine that picked up a broadcast from a local radio station and printed out the morning newspaper right in your living room.  During WWII the U.S. navy deployed really crazy looking "dazzle" camouflage on some of it's ships. If you have a gajillion giant rubber bands and a whole lot of time on your hands,  I'd love to see someone actually build one of these midget cars powered by a sixteen-cylinder band motor. Supposedly it can travel up to three miles on one winding. Lose an expensive piece of radium? Better make sure it didn't get eaten by a pig.  In 1933 this dairy was producing milk cartons that are virtually identical to the ones you buy in the supermarket today. We also have musical instruments from around the world, a bicycle you ride by swaying from side to side, a helmet mounted radio,  a jiggling frame massager and  a not-so-compact organ for your home.

The Leatherman Skeletool was near the top of most of my admittedly-multi-tool-obsessed friends' wish lists this Christmas. Too bad it still hasn't made it to market. (Amazon is currently projecting a mid-March release.)

Now Leatherman is showing off an even lighter riff on the same idea with a couple of minor changes. Called the "Freestyle," the new multi-tool replaces the Skeletool's removable bit driver socket with a combination Phillips/flathead driver that uses some sort of slightly twisted end to make it work with both types of screw heads. (I don't understand how that works, exactly, but the Toolmonger boys seem to get it so I'll just trust them.)

The other difference is a nylon plastic handle which should shed even more weight from the already less-than-husky Skeletool. I presume that plastic handle is also cheaper than the carbon fiber or aluminum of the Skeletool models, since the projected price of the Freestyle is just $50.

Having burnt their customers with a slow launch previously, Leatherman is currently planning to release the Freestyle in December of this year, giving themselves plenty of time to build up Christmas stock.

Preview: Leatherman Freestyle [Toolmonger]

CNET has assembled a gallery of interface shots from various in-car navigation and media systems, commenting on the strengths and failures of various designs. I'm shocked by the preponderance of blue and grey.

GM's interface is nicely done, with a good, deep color and a convenient tabbed design for easy access to different functions. But we think GM could have better brand differentiation, as we've seen this same interface on everything from a Cadillac Escalade to a Suzuki XL7 (built for Suzuki by GM).

Photos: Automotive interface design [Reviews.CNET.com]

Eyeclops, the cheap magnifying camera that attaches to your TV, has announced additions to the line-up for '08, including a replaceable lens for greater magnification and the "Bug Vac," essentially a small Dustbuster-like contraption with which to capture insects for closer study. One your bug is inside, you can pop the vacuum top and replace it with the Eyeclops camera itself.

Product Page [Jakks.com via Gizmodo]

"Oh hella shit, boys, my new motherboard is off limits."

"Do you mean that it does not conform to industry standards making it unsuitable for interoperability with other PC hardware?"

"No, I mean that it has snake truck."

This motherboard renders space motorcycles so fast that your monitor can only display the tailpipes.

"Hey guys are you sure it's okay to make an orbital platform out of garden hose?"

"Shhhhkkkk...krrssshhh...I am a spaceman, over. Do you read I am in space now."

Hammacher Schlemmer is selling this "60 Second Charcoal Starter," essentially a heat gun that blankets briquets in 1,300 degree air. Stick the heat gun in the charcoal, wait until it sparks, and then leave the blower on for another 60 seconds. There's one clear benefit of the $80 device: no nasty tasting lighter fluid on your briquets.

On the other hand, a chimney starter can usually be found for ten bucks or so at the hardware store and doesn't require electricity and attendance next to the grill for a minute.

Now I'm hungry. Only a couple more months until it's barbecue season!

Catalog Page [Hammacher.com via Dvice via Uberreview]

Composer Nobuo "Final Fantasy" Uematsu suggested in an interview that Japan change its national anthem from the imperially biased "Kimigayo" to the theme to Super Mario Bros.

I think there are a lot of talented composers these days compared to when we started back in the day. But if I were to name just one person then it would be [Koji] Kondo-san and his beats and music in Super Mario, just his upbeat tempos. I'm sure everyone in the world -- no borderlines or age limit -- everyone in the world who's come across Super Mario's music will never forget that melody... I think that the Super Mario song should be the national anthem for Japan. [Hums the death refrain] So when someone wins a gold medal at the Olympics, a Japanese athlete, the flag should go up with the theme song. Shoop! ...The world would have a different image of Japan if we use that.

While the theme to Super Mario Bros. is probably more widely recognized worldwide (oddly the same notion I had last night playing Mario Galaxy) I think the theme to The Legend of Zelda is more appropriately austere.

A Day in the Life of Nobuo Uematsu [1up.com via Kotaku via Go Nintendo]

Image: Bombardier

Peter from Create Digital Music whacks Roland on the head for their inability to spot trends. This time they're missing the Keytar resurgence, forcing retro enthusiasts to go out and buy older models on eBay. I looked for one myself a year or so ago and couldn't believe the prices they commanded for what are essentially $30 keyboards in a fancy shell.

People love their 303, their 808, even their 909. Yet when these a whole generation of kids desperately wanted you to just re-release these things — or your Jupiter, or Juno, any of your other fantastic keyboards and sound toys of yesteryear — you’ve responded with souped-up, “modernized” versions that mainly share only the name.

A Chinese crap merchant could do very well by knocking together a $99 Keytar clone with USB and MIDI out. Perhaps throw in a cheap synth and an 1/8th-inch output for live shows, too. M-Audio, I choose you.

Keytar Komeback: You Don’t Love It Until It’s Gone, An Open Letter to Roland [CreateDigitalMusic.com]