(Video Link)

The Doctor's sonic screwdriver is the ultimate multitool. It can do anything! In fact, it can do too much. If it were available for action movie heroes, the sonic screwdriver would make everything too easy. Content warning: violence.

-via The Uniblog

Be sure to check out our selection of sonic screwdrivers from the NeatoShop!

A woman in Sicily faced a massive fine for illegal parking when a police officer accidentally noted the year 208 instead of 2008:

Police in Sicily issued a whopping 32,000 euros ($44,500) fine for an illegally parked car after totting up 2,000 years of interest by mistake, Italy's Repubblica newspaper said Wednesday.

The interest due was calculated from the year 208 A.D. after a policeman dated the fine back to the year 208 instead of 2008.

The lady called in a favor from the Emperor (pictured) and had the fine waived.

Link -via The Agitator | Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Let's state upfront that redditor adriannezy is brilliant. She wanted to participate in Halloween at work, but not wear a costume that got in the way. So she generated a QR code that, when scanned, reveals a picture of herself in a classic Star Trek uniform. She writes, "I've had groups of guys holding phones up to my chest all day. It's been awkward."

Link -via Super Punch

If you routinely and repeatedly bang your head against a wall in the vain hope that doing so will alter reality, then you should know that it's not as safe as when a woodpecker does it. How can these birds hammer away like they do without suffering brain injuries? Scientists think that they have the answer:

The birds have little "sub-dural space" between their brains and their skulls, so the brain does not have room to bump around as it does in humans. Also, their brains are longer top-to-bottom than front-to-back, meaning the force against the skull is spread over a larger brain area.

Close examination of the birds' movements permitted researchers to create a computer simulation. It revealed that:

Firstly, the hyoid bone's looping structure around the whole skull was found to act as a "safety belt", especially after the initial impact.

The team also found that the upper and lower halves of the birds' beaks were uneven, and as force was transmitted from the tip of the beak into the bone, this asymmetry lowered the load that made it as far as the brain.

Lastly, plate-like bones with a "spongy" structure at different points in the skull helped distribute the incoming force, thereby protecting the brain.

Link -via Nerdcore | Photo: Flickr user texas_mustang

Before you take a cutting torch to your own propane tank, make sure that it's complete empty of fuel. Or just leave the work up to Scott Krichau, who made this and other jack-o'-lanterns from empty tanks.

Link -via Dude Craft | Artist's Website | Photo: Skull-A-Day

UPDATE: In the comments, Jfhascall lets us know that these are actually refrigerant tanks. Much safer.

(Video Link)

It is the duty of all parents to teach their children those essential life skills that are passed down from generation to generation. Fine work, Nathan Glemboski. Someday your son will thank you.

-via Kotaku

It may look like a painting from a distance, but Pete Fecteau's mosaic is actually more than four thousand carefully arranged Rubik's Cubes. His appropriately named "Dream Big" project took a year to complete, but it looks like that was time well-spent.

Link -via DVICE | Photo: Paul L. Newby II

Well, the good news is that this isn't one of those dolls that pees. Though "I changed Chewbacca's diaper" would make a great t-shirt, it's probably not a good experience.

eBay seller eyelovelucy makes realistic (as in semi-human looking) Han, Leia, Luke, and Chewy dolls. You need them to round out your action figure collection.

Link -via Technabob | Previously: Baby Chewbacca

(Video Link)

Don't chase crabs. You might catch one. And then he might catch you.

-via Geekosystem

Lest you think that Instructables user randofo just wanted a creative crafting project, he explicitly says that his button-controlled jack-o'-lantern is designed to deal with the trick-or-treater menace. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Yes.

Link -via Gizmodo

I'm not really one for Halloween -- or at least making decorations like this for a Halloween party. I mean, everyone would expect this sort of thing. To use Martha's skull cheese platter to full effect, it should be brought out when no one expects it, such as at Easter or Grandma's birthday party.

Link -via That's Nerdalicious!

(Video Link)

Skip ahead about a minute into the video to see this amazing work in action. David Cerny, an artist from the Czech Republic, made this 14-ton sculpture for a business park in Charlotte, North Carolina. Its segments spin, align, and spit out streams of water.

Link -via The Presurfer | Artist's Website (warning: auto-sound)

Well, if you can think of a better idea in about five seconds, then you try it! A man in Colorado Springs, Colorado met a woman online and invited her to his home so that they could have some privacy. That's when his girlfriend showed up. Thinking quickly, he accused his new sweetheart of being a burglar and called the police on her:

When Gaylor's girlfriend came home unexpectedly, Gaylor called police to report the other woman as a "burglary in progress," police said.

Gaylor was cited on suspicion of false reporting to authorities.

And it seemed like such a good idea at the time.

Link -via Stuff | Photo (unrelated) by Flickr user davidsonscott15

Sean Fallon says "I’ve got to say, there was wayyyyyyy more innards in there than I expected. Took forever to clean out." I can't top that line, but I started watching Doctor Who last week, so maybe one day I can.

http://samalam-e.tumblr.com/post/11914300772 -via Nerd Approved

(Video Link)

David Johnson is a highly successful street performer ($60K per year) who hides behind a bush on busy sidewalks in San Francisco. When people walk by, he jumps out and surprises them. It works because they never suspect that a man is hiding behind that bush on the sidewalk.

Link