Three vending machines dispensing crack pipes for $2 each were discovered roadside in Long Island. The machines were marked "PENS" and did indeed contain pens, well, ballpoint pens that had been turned into crack pipes. Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine tested the machine by inserting the required eight quarters and later remarked, "We're going to crack down on this."
ABC7NY:
Suffolk County police will decide if the machines warrant criminal charges.
"To sell a pipe is not illegal, but this is considered drug paraphernalia," Town Councilman Michael Loguercio said. "And it also is being dispensed from a machine that was installed illegally per town code."
Now, in the video, they report that the machines formerly dispensed tampons but I think they're wrong. Pen dispensing machines exist and look just like the ones found.
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They aren't for throwing, but an art gallery in Los Angeles is selling Molotov cocktails from a vending machine.
Think Tank Gallery on Melrose Ave. writes:
This is an art object, not functional as a molotov cocktail.
“What’s More American Than Violence?” is a sculptural installation and series of dysfunctional art objects inspired by Edward Abby’s “The Monkey Wrench Gang.” The installation features a fully-functional molotov cocktail vending machine, full of converted Mezcal El Silencio bottles, customized with a limited edition, hand signed and numbered, spot-UV instructional art sticker, and custom “STEAL THE FIRE” bandana, each designed by artist Phil America and designer Dino Nama. The piece seeks to call attention to the ease of access to deadly weapons in America, and a large portion of proceeds of each sale are donated to Every Town.
This series is limited to 200 bottles available online, and an extremely limited number of bottles available for $5 at the vending machine on Melrose Ave, released at an undisclosed date and time leading up to and during the “We Stole the Fire” art exhibition.
Thanks, Chris!
images via Think Tank Gallery
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Using electronic key cards, homeless men and women in New York City will soon be able to get three free items a day from one of these orange vending machines. Basic but necessary items like socks, tampons, toothbrushes, and water will be made available to them. There will also be food, like fresh fruit, chips, sandwiches, and chocolate (all donations from local supermarkets, charities, and shops). One of the most popular items? Books.
The man behind the project is Huzaifah Khaled. He's the founder of Action Hunger, a British charity that is "committed to alleviating poverty and hardship amongst the homeless."
Khaled was recently interviewed on WBUR, and talked about the first machine already being used in Nottingham, England since January:
"The early data and feedback has been very, very promising. In fact, it's far surpassed even our own expectations. It's offering them a little more dignity. It's giving them a little more agency over their own lives. It's really heartwarming to see our service being used exactly as designed."
Thanks, Robin!
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It's freezing cold in Minneapolis but that didn't stop digital ad agency space150 from making a snowball vending machine. Yup, you can buy real balls of hard-packed Minnesota snow from a vending machine. $1 buys you one snowball.
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Fully stocked and ready for the weekend!
A post shared by Real Minnesota Snowballs (@realmnsnowballs) on Feb 2, 2018 at 12:48pm PST
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Don't forget to bundle up if you're headed outside today. This wind chill is no joke!
A post shared by Real Minnesota Snowballs (@realmnsnowballs) on Feb 4, 2018 at 11:08am PST
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!!!!!!!
A post shared by Real Minnesota Snowballs (@realmnsnowballs) on Jan 31, 2018 at 3:48pm PST
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Making a great snowball involves a lot of drying time.
A post shared by Real Minnesota Snowballs (@realmnsnowballs) on Jan 20, 2018 at 11:56am PST
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Choosing art to be inked permanently on your body can be a crippling decision, at least for some folks.
Elm Street Tattoo in Dallas, Texas thought of a fun way to make the process simpler. They created a vending machine that picks the art for you.
Yup, for $100 you get one turn of their "Get What You Get" machine. "What you get" is an old-school tattoo design which pops out in a plastic toy capsule and is then inked on your person. If you aren't cool with the design, don't throw a fit because for another $20 you can buy yourself another spin. No one is forced to put the design on their body; however, there are no refunds.
Boogie, a shop employee, told the Dallas Observer, "All of these tattoos I would price out between $160 and $180 ... maybe $250."
Tattoos will be completed on a first-come, first-served basis. If there's no line, you can get yours right away. If all of the artists are booked, you may have to make an appointment.
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Get What You Get now at #elmstreettattoo! Drop by the shop and get tattooed! #dallastattoo #2146531392 #walkinswelcome #americantraditional #walkintattoo #deepellum #deepellumtattoo #deepellumart #heartinhandgallery #tattoospeakeasy #heartinhand #getwhatyouget
A post shared by Elm Street Tattoo (@elmstreettattoo) on Aug 8, 2017 at 3:54pm PDT
The shop's co-founder and Ink Master star Oliver Peck writes, "Not a bad design in the bunch."
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This Friday at @elmstreettattoo I will be doing tattoos out of the "Get What You Get " machine ...
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Woodworker Matt Thompson has been making Adirondack chairs in the shape of Michigan, the lower peninsula at least, for a few years. Recently, he added the state's upper peninsula to the chair's overall design in the form of a beer/soda can cooler and dispenser.
From Michigan-based site Mlive:
The chair is made of cedar, and Thompson estimates he spent somewhere between $400-500 in wood to create it.
"It's not very practical to sell this or mass produce this," Thompson said.
The holding chamber can hold a full six pack of 12-ounce cans. The ice contained will keep the cans chilled for approximately eight hours, Thompson said. There's a full drainage system that prevents the ice from spilling down the chute.
"Cedar is a good insulator," Thompson said.
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