Hamster powers environmentally friendly paper shredder

[TechBear_Seattle]

Hamster powers environmentally friendly paper shredder

The hamster has to run flat out for 45 minutes to shred one sheet of A4 paper.

The paper then falls on to the base of the hamster cage, providing fresh bedding for the furry pet.

Tom Ballhatchet, 29, developed the product using a friend's hamster for his masters degree in industrial design.

The article continues at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4015113/Hamster-powers-environmentally-friendly-paper-shredder.html

Very cute idea.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I thought hamsters were paper shredders! They always made a mess of the papers I put in the bottom

of their cage.

[Sydnie]

2. Good thing they breed quickly

Cheney will need a whole bunch of these! ;)

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. You get my vote for Best Possible Response

How do I nominate you for a DU-zy? :hi:

[Sydnie]

5. You PM the link to JeffR

:rofl: Thanks for noticing. :)

[The2ndWheel]

4. How is that environmentally friendly exactly?

1) The hamster is still in the cage, so that fundamental framework of control still exists.

2) The hamster didn't design this contraption for the hamster's sake, it was designed in order to make the life of the owner easier, to whatever level the tearing of paper can be considered difficult.

"The hamster just has to go about its normal life."

Well there you go.

[DBoon]

7. This device opresses hamsters!

Hamsters of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your cages!

[Muttocracy]

10. saves energy over an electric one I guess? nt

[TechBear_Seattle]

12. And allows for immediate recycling of the shredded paper

However, I have raised hamsters: their tiny bodies mean they are very sensitive to toxins that larger animals (like humans) would not notice. Between ink, sizing and binders, most paper is bad for small animals, especially in the quantity needed to serve as bedding.

It is a cute idea, but not a very well thought out one.

[Muttocracy]

15. yeah, I wondered about that, plus

odor and moisture absorption. Better to hook the hamsters up to the grid!

[Frustratedlady]

6. Now, to design an automatic hamster cage bedding emptier.

aka, who cleans up the mess?

Cute idea, though. Sounds like some projects from our local science fairs the school kids put on. Very innovative ideas.

[shireen]

8. speaking of hamsters ...

i can't look at a hamster anymore without cracking up, thanks to this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRzTfgds0UI

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. Dwarf hamsters are the cutest thing

I've had them before. Sadly, their life spans are only about two to three years.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

13. that is sooo much better than being rick rolled

you may have come upon the NEW "Rick Roll".

Love it.

[Muttocracy]

11. you know, I've always wondered about human treadmills

People turn on electrical treadmills at the gym and that's always seemed backwards to me!

[OKIsItJustMe]

14. I may be wrong, but

I believe the item was intended to be humorous. (45 minutes to shred a single sheet of paper.)