News You Can't Use: Terrifying Robot SPIDER Can Roll Up into a Ball and Somersault Towards You

It seems the main purpose of robotic technology is to provide an endless stream of horrors as a prelude to the final rise of the machines and destruction of their human creators. We've got autonomous cars that haven't been programmed to deal with minor things like pedestrians, artificial intelligences that default to creepy laughter and "I must kill all humans" if we turn our backs for even a second or two and now terrifying robo-spiders. Why are we making these things? Honestly, where is the benefit? Oh well, progress and all that.

If you’re not a fan of spiders, you may want to look away now.  

Trigger Warning: mechanized eight-legged freaks.

Scientists from Festo have designed a robotic spider that can walk or roll up into a ball and somersault.

I'm not sure how something with arachnid physiology can "somersault," so it must be assumed that this is code for "launch itself at your face in a homicidal attack."

The robot, dubbed BionicWheelBot, is inspired by the flic-flac spider - a species discovered in the Erg Chebbi desert on the edge of the Sahara in 2008.  

Before you blame us for unleashing this waking nightmare I should remind you that insane Mother Nature was doing it first.

The flic-flac spider can walk like other spiders, but can also also propel itself into the air, with a combined sequence of somersaulting and rolling on the ground.

The plan for next year is a robotic millipede and can fire itself like a disgusting multi-limbed bullet.

This unique movement makes the flic-flac spider ideally adapted to its surroundings.

It's adapted far better than you, you pathetic obsolete meat-sack.

On even ground, the spider is twice as fast in rolling mode than when walking, while on uneven surfaces, it is faster walking normally.

It's still not resistant to a sledgehammer, though. Hint, hint.

This means that in the desert, where both types of terrain can be found, the spider can move safely and efficiently.

Here in the desert we have both kinds of ground, anything you want. 

 You afraid of spiders? You afraid of robot spiders? You afraid of robot spiders in pictures??? Man, you are one scared cat.

To roll, the BionicWheelBot bends three legs each on the left and right of its body to make a wheel. 

This process is unbelievably frightening, sorry we temporary neglected harping on that.

Meanwhile in walking mode, the robot uses all six legs, with the other two folded up.

If two legs are folded up, how can it be using "all" of its legs? I may have found a logical error in an article about spider bots.

Full Article.

Aaron Zehner is the author of "The Foolchild Invention" available in paperback and e-book format. Read free excerpts here and here. 

Mirror Image: The Darkness of Man by C. Michael Powers

Title: Mirror Images: The Darkness of Man
Author: C. Michael Powers
Genre: Psychotic Thriller/Horror
Length: 260 pages
Release Date: May 2013
ISBN-13: 978-0615766065
Imprint: Grimoire A love story mixed with maniacs and monsters.

Available: Amazon, for Kindle or Paperback, at: http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Images-Book-Darkness-ebook/dp/B00CB3717O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1366159025&sr=8-2&keywords=Mirror+Images+Darkness+of+Man

Barnes and Noble, for Nook, at: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mirror-images-c-michael-powers/1116009479?ean=2940148122722

Book Description:

Gabe Cutter, an average paper pusher, has his life ripped out from under him when his reflection in the mirror switches places with him, hell bent on destroying the life Gabe knows, and killing his cheating fiance’. Now, stuck on the other side of the mirror, Gabe must join together with a band of stranded survivors and find a way to get back to his world before his reflection destroys it. Along the way he battles his way through maniacs, monsters, and ultimately his own heart, as he realizes that the woman he’s been trying to save...wasn’t worth the price of admission.

What people are saying...

"A delightfully intriguing story, "Mirror Image" captured my attention at the very beginning with its superb reader's hook, and maintained my interest and intrigue throughout. Author C. Michael Powers deftly explores the inner personality and integrity (or lack of same) in his multitude of characters. He also cleverly illustrates how a chance encounter, or a wish slipping from the tongue without thought, can lead to danger, trouble, even fatality. Very fast-paced action and plotting keep this paranormal urban fantasy rolling on. Think of a boulder rolling downhill in an avalanche and you will get some idea of the pacing and implacability of this story."

- Mallory Anne (Amazon)

About the Author:

C. Michael Powers (Christopher Powers) started writing at the age of 16 when his dad and younger brother were out fishing, and he was left alone, with only his thoughts, his sleeping grandfather, and an old typewriter. Since then he hasn't been able to stop. Recently, he has focused his attention on contemporary fantasy; dark, action packed stories, the kind he’d like to read himself. Now, living in his wife's beautiful country of Panama, with she and their four kids, he's finally finding time to write. Living in Panama has given him the opportunity to write freelance about retirement locations all over the isthmus, and has even given him some time to work on his true passion...fiction.

 

Where to find C. Michael Powers:

My author website is: www.cmichaelpowers.com

Facebook is: www.facebook.com/CMichaelPowers

Twitter is: http://twitter.com/CMichaelPowers

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6585488.C_Michael_Powers

My profile at GMTA, where you can also find other great writers, and maybe even submit your book to GMTA is at: http://www.gmtapublishing.com/authors4.html

***

Hey everybody,

My name's C. Michael Powers, and I'm the author of Mirror Images Book 1: The Darkness of Man. Today, I'm going to be spending some time with two of the characters from my book, Lisa and Ivy. So that you understand the role these two play, it's probably a good idea that I fill you in on what this story is about.

When an average Joe's reflection in the mirror switches places with him, he finds himself trapped in a strange mirror world, battling his way back to the other side so that he can stop his reflection from destroying the life he knows.

“Have you ever wondered why so many people in prison claim to be innocent? It’s ‘cause most of ‘em are,” Dozier whispered.

On the other side of the mirror, lies a horrific world where each of us has an image, our violent replica, capable of fulfilling our darkest desires, and only released into our world when we’re unable to follow through with an evil deed. Gabe Cutter, an average paper pusher, has his life ripped out from under him when his image switches places with him, hell bent on destroying the life Gabe knows, and killing his cheating fiance’. Now, stuck on the other side of the mirror, Gabe must join together with a band of stranded survivors and find a way to get back to his world before his image destroys it. Along the way he battles his way through maniacs, monsters, and ultimately his own heart, as he realizes that the woman he’s been trying to save...wasn’t worth the price of admission.

So, I've got Lisa sitting here on the couch in front of me, and I have Ivy, her image (or reflection) live via satellite from the dark side of the mirror. Let's get this interview started.

Me:  Ladies, you both look lovely. Lisa, thanks for being here. Ivy, thanks so much for joining us. I know things are a bit crazy in your world.

Ivy: Yeah, never a dull moment over here.

Lisa just smiles and scrunches up her face in her cute trademark nervous gesture.

Me: You've both been on a whirlwind adventure. Maybe adventure isn't the best world.

Lisa: Definitely not.

Me: Lisa, let me take you back to that day in the bathroom at your work. Can you tell us a little bit about what happened?

Lisa: Sure. God, this is embarrassing. I had a little crush on a coworker named Gabe.

Ivy: A little crush?

Lisa: Okay, a big crush. I'd known him for years, but he didn't seem the slightest bit interested in me.  We were just friends. He had a girlfriend, a fiancé named Alley. She's a real...you know.

Ivy: Bitch. Sweetheart, you gotta stop bein' so fuckin' weak. Shit, just say it. Alley was a lyin', cheatin', whore. Plain and simple.

Lisa laughs and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.

Lisa: Yeah, she was all that. Gabe deserved better. And she knew I had a thing for Gabe, so one day she stopped me in the hallway and basically told me how I had no chance with him and, well, she made me feel this big (holding her fingers an inch apart). Like Ivy said, I was weak. I ran into the bathroom and started crying.

She shrugs her shoulders and scrunches up her face again.

Lisa: You know, it was just an emotional time for me. I liked him. He liked her.

Me: But then something happened. You went somewhere.

Ivy: Just fuckin' say it. I happened. She was weak, she wanted Gabe, and I was just the one to make it happen.

Lisa: Right, you, she pulled me into the mirror and switched places with me.

Me: Wow, and what was that like?

Ivy: Exhilarating.

Lisa: Scary. I was so confused and so scared. You can't imagine the feeling of suddenly falling through a mirror and into a strange world full of violence and mayhem and murder and sex in the streets. It was just...awful.

Ivy rolls her eyes and laughs.

Ivy: It's not that bad.

Me: And Ivy, what did you think when you crossed through the mirror.

Ivy: It was strange. I'd heard of it happening to other people, so I knew what was going on, but I wasn't prepared. Look, I'm as sexual as they come. I admit it. Images, your reflections, our very nature is your darkest desire. If you have the overwhelming urge to kill, your image is a murder. If you have the urge to rob and steal, your image is a robber. Well, Lisa's urge was to hook up with Gabe. She wanted to be a little loose, promiscuous maybe, so when I crossed through the mirror, my only thought was to find him, and fuck the shit out of him.

Lisa blushes. She covers her reddening face with her hands.

Lisa: Oh my God.

Ivy: So that's what I set out to do.

Me: And how did that turn out?

Ivy passes me a very sexy wink.

Ivy: How do you think?

I laugh. Ivy laughs. Lisa doesn't.

Me: But then Gabe and his image switched places too, and all hell broke loose.

Ivy: Yeah, that was bad.

Lisa: Horrible.

Ivy: I was the one who got dragged all over the place by that sick bastard. Cutter, Gabe's image, and I had a thing a long time ago, on my side of the mirror. He was sick then and if anything, he's gotten worse. He just wants to have sex and kill. And sometimes not even in that order.

Me: I know it was a bad experience, and I won't ask you to go into detail. We'll let the readers discover that themselves when they read the book, but just tell me, what's the best thing about the other side, for both of you? Lisa, is there anything good about the dark side?

She laughs under her breath and thinks on it for a long time.

Me: Okay, you take too long, I'll come back to you. Ivy, what's the best thing about our side of the mirror?

Ivy: Sex. You know me, C. Michael, sex is always the answer. What's best? Sex. What's worst? Sex. How's the weather? Sex.

Me: So sex is your answer.

Ivy: Well, I guess it's more than that. Men on your side aren't just throw-you-down-and-take-it kind of lovers. They're actually loving. I mean, most of the time, I just want it, however I can get it. You know what I mean girls?

She laughs and passes another wink.

Lisa: Nobody knows what you mean. You're crazy.

Ivy: So yeah, I kinda dig the loving nature of fucking that happens sometimes there. I mean most of the time I like my coffee black, but sometimes I like a little cream in it, you know, the softer version.

Me: Lisa, think of anything yet?

Lisa: No, there's not much good about the dark side. Gabe being there was the only great thing. And I met some really cool people, made some friends.

Me: So, without giving too much away, was there a love connection at all? I mean every story has to have a love story.

Ivy: No comment. Let my fucked up twin over there answer that one.

Me: Lisa?

She's looking down at her lap, then looks up at me and blushes. She does the face scrunching thing again, looking adorable.

Lisa: Maybe. Read the book and find out.

To find out more about Lisa, Ivy, Gabe, and his image, Cutter,  check out Mirror Images Book 1: The Darkness of Man, now available at Amazon, for Kindle and paperback at:

http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Images-Book-Darkness-ebook/dp/B007V9GQ7Y

You can also find it for the B&N Nook at: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mirror-images-c-michael-powers/1116009479?ean=2940148122722

Check out my website at www.cmichaelpowers.com

Follow me on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/CMichaelPowers

On Twitter at: https://twitter.com/CMichaelPowers

And on Goodreads at:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6585488.C_Michael_Powers 

Choose Your Own Adventure #5: The Mystery of Chimney Rock

After an unfair, deprotagonizing and generally ungood voyage to a land of swords and sorcery it's back to the Choose Your Own Adventure series and some relatively modern horror. Make no mistake, this was definitely an area where this series excelled. While my parents were just glad the moron box was off, I was experiencing refined nightmarium. They probably would have been less happy about all that reading if they knew it was generally stories where you die a horrible and meaningless death at the hands of supernatural evil.

This one opens with a fair amount of back-story, well at least more than most early entries. I'm visiting my cousins in Connecticut and we're checking out this "large stone house." It looks abandoned, but instead of becoming the center of a thriving squatter-based heroin industry it's also uninhabited, on account of a curse. People go and in and don't come back out, basically. Like most problems, a cat lady is involved. Apparently this old woman, who may or may not have been a witch, placed the curse so that people wouldn't bother her cat. Yeah, really. Others theorize that she isn't actually dead, but the bottom line is we've got this creepy haunted house ruining the local real estate market.

Places curses, ruins property values, throws cats.

There's also a creepy caretaker who lives in a nearby shack and presumably spends his days writing anti-technology manifestos, when not fulfilling the classic horror movie "insane prophet who is totally vindicated by later events" role.

Like any true friends, my cousins immediately suggest that I enter the cursed, haunted, roach motel for humans. I'm all "let's do this stuff." We get some nice descriptions of the general unpleasant aura of the house and I'm having second thoughts already, but the desire to not to look weak in front of second tier relations is a powerful, powerful thing.

Inside I enter a kitchen that is not exactly of the "dream" variety. Mister "It's got a death curse!" never goes into the house itself, which explains both the many chipped tiles and why "caretaker of cursed property" is the best job in the world.

In classic horror movie style I head up the stairs to investigate, say "Who's there?" at unexplained noises and generally blunder around wasting time before the inevitable. There's dust and cobwebs everywhere and the railing is falling off, which I'm sure is in no way telegraphing a possible horrible fate. I enter a room filled with various mismatched items, like an old radio and some rope. There's a closet in back. Go in? Of course.

Before I can complete that process, a mouse runs at my feet and I'm all set for a death struggle against two pounds worth of vermin. However, before I can "kick it away" it dies on its own. Well, all right. This prompts a mild freak out and I run out of the room. You know, maybe this whole witch house thing wasn't the best idea. I did notice some keys next to a police officer uniform hanging on the wall prior to my embarrassing battle with a self-destructing rodent, so I decide to go back and get them. I must properly honor the memory of Officer Van Halen.

Please type in your home address and what hours you're not there.

I get the key ring without incident, but heading back to the stairs a big black cat is hissing and generally looking unfriendly. After that whole mouse thing I can imagine how poorly this is going to turn out. Recognizing that I'm totally outclassed by an animal that regularly chokes on its own fur I bolt for the kitchen. Here someone is calling for "Melissa" and sure enough, it's the witch! Suddenly all crazy brave I stare her down and she runs off down some stairs. I try to follow, but end up going back outside instead, wondering what all this nonsense means. 

Got scared by a mouse, ran from the cat, then I "ethered" a witch.

The next day I go back and encounter the caretaker. I fear the worst, but instead of being all "look on this omen and despair!" or whatever he claims I freed him from the witch's curse. Man, if sitting in a shack all day ranting about the United Nations and inhaling booze counts as a curse I must be under the direct wrath of God. Either way, good for you, dude. "She died yesterday," he explains. "For the last time!" Oh, shocker! Bum bum bum BUM!!!!! Please do not ruin this incredible surprise ending by telling your friends.

I liked this book. It's got some nice atmosphere and builds tension, even if nothing that happens made any sense in hindsight. What were those keys for? Who did that uniform belong to? Why do mice just tire of life and die? Why did the old woman running off somehow result in her final, real, no take-backs this time, death and the lifting of the curse? There aren't any good answers and there probably shouldn't be. It's just supposed to scare you and based on all those childhood nightmares, mission accomplished.

Aaron Zehner's first novel The Foolchild Invention is available in e-book format at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.