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5.11.05
English lesson #1
From the show "Never Laugh In the Classroom". Students must watch a video of a english lesson without laughing - that's the rule. If they laugh, they will get a beating!



posted by Kei @ 5.11.05   0 comments  
Samsung Electronics demonstrates the world's first 8 megapixel camera phone

Samsung Electronics unveiled the world's first 8.0 megapixel camera phone, the WCDMA SPH-V8200.
Understandably very enthusiastic about the SPH-V8200, President Lee said, Ž¡ŽÈIncreasing the number of pixels while realizing digital camera-quality is a main task of developing handset camera module.Ž¡ŽÉ Samsung recently revealed a 7.0 megapixel digital camera, which shows their dedication to leading the camera phone market. Ž¡ŽÈThe new phone offers image quality of premium digital camera and will be available in domestic market with in November.Ž¡ŽÉ he added.

At 8-megapixels, you can rest assured that the Samsung SPH-V8200 camera phone will be one of the high quality camera phones on the market. So what do i know about this megapixel masterpiece? Not much, but i do know it looks nothing like itŽ¡ŽÇs 7.0 megapixel brother, the SCH-V770, and very much like the SGH-i300 3GB multimedia smartphone being held up by Ki-Tae Lee at the press conference.
posted by Kei @ 5.11.05   0 comments  
8Gb USB key
If you're looking for a BIG capacity USB key, have a look at this Transcend, It's called the JUMBO KEY and it has a whopping 8Gb of storage space. The transfer speed while reading is 21Mb/s and whilst writing you get 11Mb/s. The price of this key is unknown at this moment, but it's also available in smaller sizes (64Mb, 128Mb, 256Mb, 512Mb, 1Gb, 2Gb, 4Gb).

posted by Kei @ 5.11.05   0 comments  
Killer Bike

bicycle venture Lutz displays the new foldable bicycle Ž¡ŽÆCarry BikeŽ¡ŽÇ featuring small wheels with suspensions and which can be used as a hand cart once folded at the annual Japan International Cycle Show in TokyoŽ¡ŽÄ



If you notice, the drive wheel and drive chain go to the large rear wheel but the front wheels are tiny. The first curb or pothole the Ž¡ŽÆCarry BikeŽ¡ŽÇ runs into will cause it to tip forward and dump the hapless person riding the bike on their head.
OUCH!


Anyway, since the bicycle costs 48,000 yen ($420 USD) I donŽ¡ŽÇt expect very many Ž¡ŽÆCarry BikesŽ¡ŽÇ to be sold.
posted by Kei @ 5.11.05   0 comments  
The Flaming Fox Flings Forth Fabulous Future Freebie

FireFox just released RC1 of their upcoming 1.5 version. They have included some awesome features which you needed an extension for in the past. I really like the new drag and drop tab rearrangement and the update functions are more streamlined and easier to do. Some new extensions are being written for the beta versions only and they help to make the FireFox experience even better. I downloaded the IE Tab extension which adds a feature that has been in Netscape 8 for a while, having pages load with IE rendering. I love this because it means I don't have to load IE whenever a page is "optimized for IE" I just click the little FireFox logo in the status bar and it changes to the blue "e" logo of IE and I can optionally set FireFox to always show a given page or site as IE. When you have FireFox 1.5 RC1, who needs anything else? Go grab it at http://www.getfirefox.com and stay tuned for the upcoming release of 1.5!
posted by Kei @ 5.11.05   0 comments  
Futuristic Fish Tank Enables Fish To One Day Overthrow Mankind

A device that explores the many aspects of biosonic and infrasonic sound. Video capture from outside the tank is combined with the data from flow sensors inside the tank (measuring currents caused by the fish's swimming patterns). These inputs are combined to create audio and video output. Bae (the designer) suggests that, "even if the fish can't speak and express its feelings in a human way, it has an energy and communication skill in its own way. Vibration is the medium of interaction, and I chose it for its universality in the physical, emotional, and spiritual realms."
posted by Kei @ 5.11.05   0 comments  
Wall of boobs helps men remember bra-size
A Dutch designer has come up with an ingenious way to help goofy, bra-shopping men accurately report on their significant others' boob-size -- by giving them a wall of variously-sized boobs to squeeze until they find a pair that seems about right:

"When trying to buy a sexy bra for their wife or girlfriend, usually they point to other women in the shop or, when asked about size, they say a 'handful'."

The wall consists of rows of silicon breasts in all sizes. By look and touch, male shoppers can work out the right size, she says.


posted by Kei @ 5.11.05   0 comments  
Life-sized latex zombies for sale
MyPetZombies are life-sized, incredibly gross latex zombie mannequins. Like a Realdoll, except more fun and about 10 percent of the price.

posted by Kei @ 5.11.05   0 comments  
Sharp R-426Hs Microwave

There really hasn't been a well designed microwave in a while. The Sharp R-426Hs ($140) is the first i've seen that i would actually want to see in my kitchen every day. The family-size, 1200-watt microwave has a sleek brushed stainless steel exterior with a hidden control panel located behind its door. The microwave has 9 sensor settings, popcorn sensor, Instant Action keys, a 5-option defrost feature, and a Keep Warm Plus feature that keeps food hot up to 30 minutes after cooking is done.
posted by Kei @ 5.11.05   0 comments  
Hitachi Waterscape PDA

Not a day goes by when I don't curse my Treo for being so...imperfect. Then I think about replacing it, but there's nothing out there that has everything I want in a single device yet. To get high-speed EVDO, GPS, a megapixel camera, and a QWERTY keyboard with a good PDA OS, I'd need at least three phones. In the near future, probably sometime in the middle of 2006, such a device will exist and I'll buy it, and I will be rapturously infatuated, and after a month or two, a little let down. I think perhaps I just expect too much. Even years down the line when my phone will be powered for hours on fuel cells, have some incredible input system (full-size but paper-thin keyboard maybe), and a thousand things I can't even imagine now, I will be cursing its numerous limitations. As everyone does with everything in life, but nothing seems to elicit as much irritation as a mobile phone that hasn't fulfilled a promised function.


I'm fascinated by Hitachi's concept PDA, the Waterscape which is deliberately very limited in functionality. It is completely buttonless, doesn't have a touch screen, or anything that requires any real precision. The screen, which looks like the answer window of a fortune telling 8-ball, responds to tilting and shaking. The interface consists of bubbles that open up new sounds and pictures or video when they're moved into the center of the screen. When you want to get back to the bubble menu, you shake the Waterscape like an Etch-a-sketch. Hitachi calls this a "passive, flowing interface". I love it. We so often can't control our devices, this one doesn't even pretend that you can.

Read the overview from the Hitachi Human Interaction Lab.
posted by Kei @ 5.11.05   0 comments  
Electric shoe dryers

How many times have you stepped over a curb and got soaked because you stepped into a puddle? Bet you wished you were wearing GORE-TEX¾¤? shoes, or you had one of these. Just insert the dryers in your shoe and a low, steady stream of warm air will dry the shoe from the inside out. I love the added suggestion of inserting them into your slippers or boots before you step out into a cold day (or your cold floors). I hate having cold feet, so this sounds so nice!
posted by Kei @ 5.11.05   0 comments  
Angus Noble Indium Smart Flashlight

The Angus Noble Indium Smart Flashlight is the WorldŽ¡ŽÇs First PC Programmable Flashlight. If only they added in FM radio and metal detecting features too.

Above left picture : The round part near the head one one side is one of two switches, the other round part on the other side is to mount it on a camera tripod and for other possible accessories. The rings on the front and rear are Stainless steel on an Aluminum body.
ThereŽ¡ŽÇs also a forum where the Jsburly guy is talking about the features for the Angus Noble Indium Smart Flashlight

*This light allows you to create your own user interface Via PC using GUI and drop down menues..

*User decides how simple or complex the user interface is.

*User interchangable LEDŽ¡ŽÇs, you can install 3watt, 5watt, K2.

*User selects maximum current to LED by selecting what 100% means, If you blow the LED the user can replace it.

*User can use Gama Correction tool on software. This will determine what the power curve will be shaped like on the 256 brightness levels.

*User selects rate of fade via GUI.

*User selects how the buttons behave. Time interval for hold for programed effects to occur.

*A tool exists in the software for better working with the forward voltage of the specific LED.

*The software will let you know how much memory is being used by the various functions programed into the light.

*If you want morse code, a text box opens. What ever text is in there becomes morse code.

*Currently the plan is to make software upgrades free online.

*The light will be modular allowing change of heads, tails, future upgrades of smart module. If a part becomes obsolete, do not replace the light, just the part.

*User can make custom stobe effects to download into the flashlight. It can strobe at different brightness levels and have fast or slow fades in it. ItŽ¡ŽÇs up to your imagination.


Angus Noble Indium Smart Flashlight site
posted by Kei @ 5.11.05   0 comments  
Sony Announces New Low Prices on Bestselling PSP Games
Sony announces new low prices for the best selling Sony PSP games in Japan. All in all 13 Sony PSP titles will be available in November and beginning December most priced at 2,800 Yen (incl. Tax). This is about $24. One of the games is Ridge Racer that currently sell on Amazon.com for $39.99. Need for Speed Underground sells on Amazon.com for $49.88. The new price in Japan starting December 1st will be only $24 for this Sony PSP game.


The Sony PSP is close to one year on the Japanese market. The new low prices for those PSP games are a cool move.
posted by PSP WebBrowser @ 5.11.05   0 comments  
4.11.05
Death Challenge
The "eating a Double Cheeseburger, of Death" bet. Not a big deal i thought.

got to test it first, it wasnt really that ...hot...just a bit..yeah ..uhm,

Ive put a nice load death into the burger. Wasnt that bad actually...
why its called death? I munched away almost half of the Burger......
uuhh..
slowly it started to feel like someone placed a
immersion heater in my mouth


FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, AND ALL THAT IS HOLY!!!!
posted by Kei @ 4.11.05   0 comments  
Binocular vision.

The Carl Zeiss-Jena Observation Binocular. I was so going to give this ugly green 80 kg monster a miss when I happened to read the comment review from a user ? Ž¡ŽÆFrom my viewpoint , I have a free view of 50-60km.Ž¡ŽÇ Anyway if you read the blurb this is the ultimate in optical marvels, only 400 ever made to secret plans and now selling for $2,299.00.
No finer optical fire control binocular/stereo rangefinder has ever been made. The viewing characteristics of the glass are superb, converting from super-wide angle low-power viewing to a high-resolution 16x with the flip of a switch. In addition, the widely spaced objective lenses provide for virtually 3-dimensional viewing with an exceptional depth of field. The welded aluminum housing is pressure sealed with numerous desiccant canisters contained therein, along with built-in de-humidifying valves.
posted by Kei @ 4.11.05   0 comments  
F-18 simulator.

F-18 Flight Simulator. Why mess about with a mouse, joystick and lame Cessna flight simulator, when for a few thousand dollars more you can have almost the real deal sitting in your front room?

The New F-18E package includes these standard features: * All aluminum interior/structural parts * New backlit panel assemblies * New floor mounted center control stick * New main wiring harness * USB computer interface * Discrete or RS-232 wiring interfaces * New all aluminum NACES simulated ejection seat
posted by Kei @ 4.11.05   0 comments  
Crypt-a-Cell.

GSM Crypt-a-Cell. Just how paranoid are you? Enough to clip this tacky encryption dongle onto your mobile phone? No, thought not. Oh, and did i mention the other party needs one on their handset too? Or that it only seems to work on old Sony Ericsson phones? ItŽ¡ŽÇs probably cheaper and easier to just learn Klingon.

The Crypt-a-Cell is designed to encrypt, to military level, outgoing and incoming, voice communications over the GSM network, by creating an encrypted communications channel with either an encryption centre or another Crypt-a-Cell unitŽ¡ŽÄ
posted by Kei @ 4.11.05   0 comments  
Locate and save.

loc8tor stops you losing everything from keys & glasses to children, & can even stop you mislaying things in the first place. Convenient pocket sizeŽ¡ŽÄ.Up to 350 ft range, directional ? helping you find, with audio, visual & vibration technology. Uses small tags that can be attached to almost anything
posted by Kei @ 4.11.05   0 comments  
Beer and Soda Vending Machine.

The Desktop Beer and Soda Vending Machine. Suddenly thereŽ¡ŽÇs a deluge of these mini machines around. Strange. $149.00.
The Beer and Soda Vending Machine, holds and cools 12 cans of your favorite drinks.
posted by Kei @ 4.11.05   0 comments  
The Selector Mug.

The Selector Mug. Tell your slave exactly how you want your beverage by sliding the stainless steel bands over the appropriate settings. Yes this kind of thingŽ¡ŽÇs been done before, but never with such l33t skillz.
posted by Kei @ 4.11.05   0 comments  
Clip-on power-up PSP glory.

The Clip-on 1800mAh Battery Pack for PSP. YouŽ¡ŽÇve got a Sony PSP right? And youŽ¡ŽÇre not bothered about pocket bulge, as long as you get max play time out of your battery pack? Well then, this is for you. No not you missus. You, the geeky one snuffling in the corner. Cough up the $14.95 now.
This battery pack for PSP clips on the back of the PSP console and provides 1800mAh of extra power for your PSP console, allowing to double the battery life. Acting as an external power source, the highest level of brightness (200 cd/m2).
posted by Kei @ 4.11.05   1 comments  
The Jack PC.

The Jack PC. This has got to be the thinnest thin client in the thin lovinŽ¡ŽÇ thin universe. Basically a PC in a wall socket. Funky-licious! AMD 500MHz processor, juice from Power over Ethernet, 128 MB RAM, Windows CE, 5W heat and power consumption, Citrix thin client software. Totally client-server though, so forget about local processing of any meaningful kind. StillŽ¡ŽÄPriced at around $299.00.


posted by Kei @ 4.11.05   0 comments  
DIY Hummer.

Build your own Hummer clone. Got a manky old Chevy pickup? Fancy making like Arnie? Then cough up the $5000 plus, roll up yer sleeves and get cracking.

Urban Gorilla off-road body kits turn your pickup or Suburban into the vehicle of your dreams. Body packages are designed to require only basic auto shop skills and equipment. Your completed vehicle will turn heads and go just about anywhere. Get started on your dream truck today!
posted by Kei @ 4.11.05   0 comments  
The Dual Earhone MP3 player.

The Netac C635 MP3/FM player with twin headphone outputs. Sometimes, good people of earth, you have to feature a product not because itŽ¡ŽÇs the newest, or greatest or even the most expensive. But because it looks like a designer somewhere in the far East of the universe woke up one morning and said, Ž¡ŽÆI know, IŽ¡ŽÇm really going to try today to avoid dull, silver, oblong mediocrity and produce something that my children will look at with a happy happy smile.Ž¡ŽÇ And hey, it even has twin headset sockets so you can share the love and sound with your bestest friend. AwwwŽ¡ŽÄ...

Netac Mustik C635 is an attractive MP3 player with innovative dual earphone output design, which allows you enjoy the music with your freind at the same time. It perfectly combines digital music playing, voice recording, FM tuner and removable data storage into one; With format tools, you can format the MP3 player into two zones, one for your music and the other for your data files, which you can access by password.
posted by Kei @ 4.11.05   1 comments  
Axcess G1000 WiFi phone.
The Axcess G-1000 WiFi VoIP phone. A colour screen clamshell mobile phone that provides SIP based voice over IP via any local WiFi connection? And with 40 polyphonic ringtones? Oh dear, the sound you hear is a horde of agonised phone company execs jumping off a capsizing business model. $299.95.

This is a brand new design, a clamshell (flip) cellular like Wi-Fi Phone with a TFT color display. It is the first one of its kind and is only available in limited quantities. The G-1000 can be used in corporations, SOHO, public hotspots, and residential environments. Flip type form factor, with color LCD Screen and POP3 Email integration. WIFI 802.11b compatible, Axcess Communications will also soon be releasing a firmware upgrade which will allow the G1000 to support 802.11g.


posted by Kei @ 4.11.05   0 comments  
3.11.05
USB pad for squids
Squid friends, to your pads! Life can be hard for squid gamers, but Elecom has listened to your woes and this is their new 12-button pad!

So let's start with the JC-U1512T: available in 3 colours, and it hides it's extra buttons on the side, looking at it from the top, it seems like a normal pad for humans...





the JC-U1510T, also available in 3 colours




elecom
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Afroman's guide to recharging alkaline batteries


Fully recharge typical over-the-counter alkaline batteries with a $0.50 circuit.

Parts list:2 Resistors: 10-ohms and 1K ohms, 2 Diodes: 1N400x, 1 Transistor: Q1 2N3904 or equivalent NPN

See Afroman's guide to recharging alkaline batteries for diagrams and notes.

Summary
You can fully recharge a depleted 9v alkaline battery at 63mA overnight without problems. You can fully recharge a depleted alkaline AA battery all day without problems. I recharged both types of batteries twice, and I would expect them to easily take many more charges. If you care about safety more than I do, attach a multimeter to the batteries and monitor them so they never reach more than 110% of their rated voltage.

Punishermark 2099
Explosions: 0
Myths dispelled: 1
Companies bankrupted: 2
Total cost of ownership for sex toys: down 86%
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
DDT and you
So, I found a 50s-vintage Japanese comic book and I thought some of you might enjoy seeing some of it. Believe it or not, this three-page piece is probably the most coherent story in there.



Yes, I do think this comic was at least partly sponsored by a person or organization with a financial interest in DDT. The father spends half the comic book wandering around in his DDT kimono. It's pretty punk rock, actually. (Though not as punk rock as storing flour in a box that apparently used to hold DDT.)
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Living Tombstones
In a mystical use of genetic modification, a U.K. art group based in Japan has found a way to ensure that a person's DNA lives on long after their demise. Biopresence, founded by Georg Tremmel and Shiho Fukuhara, intends to infuse the DNA of recently deceased loved ones into trees, turning the plants into living memorials...In a nutshell, Biopresence will piggyback the human DNA underneath redundant triplets of nucleic acids that already exist in the tree...The first attempt will be with a Japanese cherry blossom tree, which is in the same genome as apple trees. The artists estimate the cost of the procedure to be about $35,000
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Xbox Lounge Opens
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Nokia N80

Although it wonŽ¡ŽÇt be available until the first quarter of next year, this may just be the next cell phone we buy. The Nokia N80 ($TBD) works on virtually any network you can find Ž¡Ž½ with WCDMA 1900/2100 and GSM 850/900/1800/1900 plus EDGE capabilities Ž¡Ž½ and is overflowing with techie goodness. Features include a 3 megapixel camera, a 352x415 resolution display, miniSD card slot, a sliding form factor, and a Symbian OS.

link
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Oakley high-voltage LED bag

Oakley's High Voltage tote has two LEDs that light up the roomy cotton/nylon insides when you open it. I realized how badly I needed this tonight when I managed to lose a gigantic mobile phone power adaptor in my tightly packed handbag. Of course, this may largely be due to my pack rat tendencies and inability to carry less than about 13 kilos of gadgetry, papers, books, gum and candy, makeup, more snacks,...well you get the point, but I like to blame it on the darkness. The High Voltage tote is good for organization too, with multiple inside and outside pockets. I clearly need one right away. Compression straps will hold in the contents of the bag in case you don't stuff it to the gills the way I do.


The lights aren't so bright you'll be able to read by them, but should be helpful in locating a power cable jammed into an overstuffed internal pocket. Not sure what type of battery life you can expect, but I can't imagine that it wouldn't be easily replaceable.

The Oakley High Voltage bag is $125 and comes in black, white, or olive green. The smaller version, the Low Voltage is $100 and comes in berry, white or black. Both are available from Oakley or Zappos.
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   1 comments  
Sony 2GB NW-A608/SI Special Edition MP3 Player

Sony again releases a special edition of its mp3 players only in Japan. This time it is a Winter Special Package of their small flash players.

The NW-A608/SI comes with 2GB and a silver color finish. The display shows snow flakes (how cute...). On the back is an engraving saying 2005 anniversary. The player comes with either a sliver or black box containing either a black protective skin or see-through one.
Sony already announced special editions of the Sony NW-A series. The Sony NW-A1200/B mp3 player also featured more storage than the standard editions.
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Swissbit SWISSMEMORY s.beat MP3 Player
Cut your fish sausage on the train while listening to music coming from your knife - what do you want more in life?

Swissbit has Swiss Army knife with integrated MP3 player coming dubbed SWISSMEMORY s.beat.
The MP3 player is actually sporting some nice specifications and comes in 1GB, 2GB and in January in 4GB versions. Features include MP3, WMA and OGG file support, FM-Tuner, Funky Swiss design remote and LCD display.
Features include MP3, WMA and OGG file support, FM-Tuner, Funky Swiss design remote and LCD display.
The 1GB and 2GB versions of the Swissbit SWISSMEMORY s.beat will be available from the 15th November.
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Tokyo's dandy dudes gag on pink vibrators
Center Guys, male versions of the panda make-up yamanba gals who hung out in Shibuya a few years back, were driven off the streets in around 2003 as cops cracked down on the district, but now they're back, if not quite with a vengeance, according to Weekly Playboy (11/15).

"They're not the same Center Guys as they used to be," Ada, a writer who specializes on stories related to entertainment districts, tells Weekly Playboy. "Now, there are three different types of Center Guys."

Center Guys originally derived their name from Sentaa Gai, the small block of hundreds of restaurants, live houses, karaoke bars and pachinko parlors in Shibuya's womb. They wore the distinctive fluorescent white eye and mouth make-up made famous by the yamanba gals who thrived in the area late last century and early into the new millennium. The Center Guys flourished only briefly before the cops started rounding them up as part of the effort to clean up Tokyo's entertainment districts. But now, as writer Ada notes, they're back.

"I'm a Kokonba. We're into Kokoruru. Is my pink hair hot or what?" Nyaoki, a 16-year-old boy says, referring to his existence as one of the three sub-branches making up the Center Guys. Kokoruru is a fashion brand hot among Shibuya teenage girls, but also worn by the Kokonba.

Aside from the Kokonba, the other sub-branches of Center Guys are the Guys and the Lumpen.

"Guys are former Center Guys who've let their white hair wash out and get done up in fashions that're a little bit gawky," self-professed Guy Tomoya tells Weekly Playboy.

Masato, Tomoya's buddy and a proud Lumpen, explains his fashions.

"Lumpen are Center Guys who've let themselves get a little bit dirty, have really untidy hair and wear sweat suits around all the time," he says.

Despite the different looks, the common trait shared by the three branches extends beyond merely their roots - they apparently all like to boast of who is the tougher. Strength in this case, however, is measured in slightly different terms.

" 'Strength' is all about who stands out the most," nightlife expert Ada says. "These guys use the word 'tsuyome (strength)' to describe the darkness of their tans and impact of their fashions."

That's not to say physical strength doesn't play a part in the life of the different types of new Center Guys. In fact, physical power is a part of their daily lives. Unfortunately for the flamboyant dandies, they're usually on the receiving end of it courtesy of the practice of gaigari, or "guy hunting."

"Whenever we're out on the streets, we've always got to be careful of falling victim to gaigari," Kokonba Center Guy Nyaoki tells Weekly Playboy. "Just the other day, I met up with some gaigari hunters. They asked me if I was a guy or girl. They then told me that I had the choice of letting them either shave my head or being gagged with a pink vibrator. I was really scared, so I ended up being gagged."
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  

Hmmm.. Lemon cheesecake KitKat
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Snack Ninja

NIN NIN - Shuriken-shaped snack
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
OMG!
A GEORGE ROMERO ACTION FIGURE!!!

posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Instant Oden and Poison gas
Walk down Chuo dori...
Make the first left on Hongo dori. Peep the first alley on your right, directly across from LAOX Computer. YouŽ¡ŽÇll see two vending machines full of these...


Behold! Instant oden in a can! Being test marketed. Still donŽ¡ŽÇt have the gumption to try it myself, but how bad can it be? A salaryman was happily slurping liquid out of the container just as I looked up...and then gazed into the cold heart of banal evil.

(Sinister chord)

Behind these happy vending machines is the building where the Aum Shinrikyo cult used to have their retail shop. Can you feel the Evil vibrations?
They used to stand right here, handing out fliers to people walking by. But theyŽ¡ŽÇre long gone, and the place is perfectly harmless now. So here's to good eating in the event horizon of human tragedy.
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Chrismas jingles Pringles¾¤?

This can of Devil Hot Pringles¾¤? cost me 295 yen ($2.52 USD).* However, it came with this great omake of the handlebar-mustached, bow-tied Mr. Pringles character dressed as a reindeer singing Christmas carols.

*Note: Although Omake (Ž¤ŽªŽÉò¦Ž± ) means extra or bonus in Japanese, i know that the real world price Pringles Ž¡ŽÈDevil Hot¾¤?Ž¡ŽÉ should be $1.30 per can. Also note that in Jesusland, the tradename is Ž¡ŽÈFiery Hot¾¤?Ž¡ŽÈ, not the sinful name Ž¡ŽÈDevil Hot¾¤?Ž¡ŽÉ as it is in heathen Japan.

For more infomation, refer to the P&G Japan website for PRINGLES¾¤? (Ž¥Ž×Ž¥?Ž¥?Ž¥Ž°Ž¥?Ž¥Žº) .
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Beer, bread, milk, cornflakes and an iPod Nano


posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Suicides on Golden Gate bridge, charted by location
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
OOOHHH! Intuos3 6x11 Tablet

Having used several past versions of Wacom's Graphire and Intuos tablets, im thrilled there is finally going to be a version of the Intuos made for those of us with widescreen monitors. The Intuos3 6x11 ($370) features a 6" by 11" active area (go figure?) as well as 1024 levels of pressure and a resolution of 5080 lpi. Along with these pro features, the tablet also includes a five-button mouse, grip pen, and an impressive bundle of software that includes Adobe Photoshop Elements 3. Whether you're retouching photos, using handwriting recognition software, or just doodling stick figures of your boss being struck by lightning, this tablet is a winner.
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Mini polaroid photo booth

It's not terribly difficult to print out images from a digital camera, but it's also not nearly as easy as getting instant pictures from a Polaroid. I kind of miss those gigantic cameras and their blurry, chemical smelly pictures. My Photo Booth is a purikura booth for kids, complete with timer, flash, and mirror for taking purikura style pictures , just without special effects and stuff. It uses the ultra-tiny iZone film, which makes prints just over 1" by 1" so they make great purikura stickers (the film comes in sticky and non-sticky). This can be the digicam+flickr for the kindgergarten set.

The Photo Booth comes with one roll of film with 6 exposures and it seems that the replacement film isn't easy to find. The booth uses the regular izone film, not the newer izone200 format. The replacement film can be found on Amazon and directly from Polaroid.
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Splitfish 3D Shutter Glasses for Sony Playstation 2


Viewing games in 3D on the Sony Playstation 2 is possible with Splitfish Gameware Inc's eyeFX 3D Adapter.

I was pretty surprised to hear about the existence of 3D shutter glasses for the Sony PS2. The Splitfish eyeFX 3D is apparently the only real 3D adapter for the Sony Playstation 2. I could not find any other accessory like this on the market. Splitfish found some way to get existing games display shifted images to generate a 3 dimensional picture when viewed through the shutter glasses. The effect is quite amazing.


The eyeFX 3D adapter works with existing PS2 games, but, sorry to disappoint, it works not with all of them. Splitfish has a list of games on their site that work with the 3D glasses. Games include: 007 Agent Under Fire, Ace Combat 04, Aero Elite, Colosseum, DNA, DropShip, Half-Life, Kill Switch, Lara Croft Tomb Raider, Star Wars Bounty Hunter, Thunder Strike, Timesplitters 1&2 and Top Gun. Lots of top Sony PS2 games are missing from the list.
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Tiny USB Drive by Solid Alliance Called iDisk Diamond
Solid Alliance, they guys who make the USB Sushi drives, offer now a very small USB drive dubbed iDisk Diamond.

The iDisk Diamond measures 27x12x1.9mm and weighs only 1g. It has somewhat the size of a SIM card.
It still fits though into a standard USB port. The tiny flash drive has 128MB storage. In the Solid Alliance announcement is also a photo of somebody having the iDisk Diamond in his ear. Interesting way to demo a product.
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Life Size Robby The Robot Sells on Hammacher for $49,999

A 7 foot tall Robby The Robot for the bargain price of $49,999.95, I nearly fell out of my chair.

Robby is from the classic "must see" sci-fi film Forbidden Planet from 1956.
Robby the robot is created from the same blueprints, molds, and templates used to create the original costume. Robby is made by renowned artist Fred Barton.
The robot is pre-programmed to deliver his famous lines from the original movie, and the remote control allows you to adjust the robotŽ¡ŽÇs volume, track selection, and start and stop functions. Robby can also be prompted to move his computer relay assembly, rotate his servo-controlled head, spin his planetary gyro stabilizers, and rotate his scanners while his various lights flash.

This robot does not walk or move around. You would expect this for a price of $49,999.95. That leaves Robby the Robot for hard-core fans, who want to decorate their living room with him.
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Sony Offers Sony PSP Media Manager - 'iTunes for the PSP'

Sony Media Software announced today the availability of the PSP Media Manager for the PC that lets Sony PSP owners easily move content from their personal computer to their PSP.

With PSP Media Manager software, users can transfer videos, music, and still images, via a USB cable connecting their PSP system to a personal computer.
There are many tools for the PSP that let you manage videos or music from 3rd parties. The Sony Media Manager will hurt those products with the PSP Media Manager. The software looks pretty complete, but it costs money. Sony wants $20 for it.
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
'Hard Gay' releases his first book
Lazor Ramon "Hard Gay," one of Japan's hottest celebrities at the moment, pledged Wednesday at the release of his first book that it will be "a lot dirtier" than what he's allowed to get away with on TV.

HG, who has skyrocketed to fame in recent months by parodying hardcore gay activists, announced the release of his book "HG" with the customary whoop of "Whooo" that has been behind his rise from obscurity as a struggling professional wrestler.
Lazor Ramon HG said that his book will be a collection of photos, stories and conversations he has had with his partner, RG.
"The limiter on dirty talk that is normally placed on me when I appear on TV has been lifted for the book, which will be a lot dirtier," the controversial comic told reporters at a book signing.

HG told reporters of his long held dream to romp around the ring.

"It was always my dream to become a professional wrestler, so when I did so, it was awesome," he said. "I couldn't stop grinding my hips for about a month and I was hot no matter how cold it got."


HG also sent a message of support to kyogen comic artist Motoya Izumi, who has at least temporarily given up performing in the world of traditional Japanese culture to become a professional wrestler.

"If Izumi represents Japanese-style wrestling, then I'm a symbol of the West," he said, before letting loose with another whoop.
Lazor Ramon's announcement was cut short when RG, clad only a bright red loincloth, invaded the stage and the partners let loose with a series of screams.
posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
The rechargeable batteries of the future have arrived


Sanyo has announced their ENELOOP batteries yesterday. These rechargeable AA and AAA Nickel Metal Hybrid batteries have as main characteristics:

1) they are ready to use as they are already charged. Sanyo seems to have solved the "Self-Discharge" problem (a rechargeable battery discharges slowly when it's not being used).

2) the batteries are "eco-friendly" and can be recycled.

3) the battery life is greater than a Dry Cell type of battery. Sanyo did some tests and they say that you can take 4.4 times more pictures with their batteries than with a normal Dry Cell battery. They can be recharged more than 1000 times too before they start losing their initial capacity.


posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   0 comments  
Desktop and laptop in 1 by Samsung

The M70 is a hybrid PC by Samsung. It's a laptop with a detachable 19" screen, so you can use your laptop as a desktop too. What's the use you might think... well, in case you need a bigger screen than a 19", you can connect it to a bigger one or a plasma TV, and your laptop screen can be connected to another PC. And if you're on the go, you just use this PC as any other regular laptop. Quite a cool idea in my opinion...

specs:

19" WSXGA+ (1680x1050) HDTV compatible screen, Pentium M770 (2.13GHz) CPU, 1Gb of DDR 533MHz RAM, 100Gb HDD, Wireless LAN, ..


posted by Kei @ 3.11.05   1 comments  
2.11.05
Samsung PDA Phone for Cingular

Some news for my American readers: this Samsung PDA Phone will be available through Cingular. The SGH-D307 has a QWERTY keyboard, a 2.2" screen and works on CDMA.
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
Raid 5 TeraStation by Buffalo
Buffalo (Melco Inc) presents their new TeraStation in Japan, a big HDD casing with a capacity between 600Gb and 1.6Tb. The novelty os not the Ethernet port but the fact that it's RAID5. This TeraStation is designed to be connected on a corporate network.



Buffalo
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
Body Control

posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
TV Screenshots
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
How many peoples does it take to install a Smoke Detector
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
Bronzzie Baby Panse
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
Chunky kids' keyboard


This "kids' keyboard" has big, chunky, colorful key ad looks somewhat ruggedized. I want a Powerbook with a build-in keyboard with this look and feel.



posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
Vader and Yoda carved from 1,000lb block of butter
"Each year at the Tulsa State Fair, an artist is commissioned to make a sculpture out of butter. In past years, cows, farmers, and baseball players were created out of hundreds of pounds of butter. This year, in celebration of Star Wars's final episode, TSF is featuring Darth Vader and Yoda, all dairy-like."

posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
Wikipedia hardcopy for the developing world
Jimmy Wales is talking about doing print deals to run parts of Wikipedia as print volumes to disseminate where computers are scarce -- in the developing world:

Entries from Wikipedia, the popular free online encyclopedia written and edited by Internet users, may soon be available in print for readers in the developing world, founder Jimmy Wales said on Monday...

"I have always liked the idea of going to print because a big part of what we are about is to disseminate knowledge throughout the world and not just to people who have broadband,"
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
Loch Ness Imposter T-Shirt

This fun Loch Ness Imposter shirt by Ross Zietz ($15) plays on the legend by picturing a giant monster squid holding a Ž¡ŽÈNessieŽ¡ŽÉ head on a stick. Funny without being in-your-face tacky.
link
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
Nikon D200

A lot of people have been waiting a long time for this one (in fact akina is the only person i know talking about it all the day). The Nikon D200 ($1700; available in Dec.) is more than just a replacement for 2001Ž¡ŽÇs D100 Ž¡Ž½ it is a real step forward in affordable dSLRs with professional stats. I features a 10.2 megapixel CCD, a 2.5Ž¡ŽÉ LCD, can shoot at a sustained 5 frames per second for up to 37 frames, and can take up to 1800 shots per charge. Now comes the hard part Ž¡Ž½ trying to find somewhere to dump off your D100 from yesteryear.

info
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
Midway Home Use Arcade Machine
The Midway Home Use Arcade Machine ($500; available Nov. 15) can make your shallow retro gaming dream come true. The full-size unit features 12 classic Midway games including: Joust, Defender I and II, Robotron, Rampage, Splat, Satan's Hollow, Root Beer Tapper, Bubbles, Wizard of War, Timber and Sinistar. The machine comes ready to roll with a full color monitor, two-player joysticks, and extra A/V inputs so you can also hook up your PS2 or Xbox to the screen.
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
3M Dual Lock Low Profile Reclosable Fastener Tape Ž¡Ž½ 'Velcro on steroids'

It's not really velcro, though -- instead of hooks and loops, both surfaces have these tiny hard plastic mushroom-shaped things that grab each other by the hundreds and don't let go.

Both sides are the same, so there is only one tape (called self-mating).

And unlike the loosy-fabricky velcro connection, the Dual Lock surfaces don't join until you've positioned them exactly, and then pressed them together with a satisfying "chunk."

They're primarily used in industrial applications as a replacement for mechanical fasteners.

$11.37 for 10 feet of 5/8"W tape here.
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
Real wax LED candles

I love the idea of LED candles, because they're safer and don't need to be replaced nearly as often as real ones, but they have one huge drawback: they don't smell as good either. They don't smell like anything, and that's really one of the reasons why candles are so nice. Even the unscented ones give off that sweet, lightly smoky/waxy aroma. Brookstone has created a hybrid that solves the problem: flameless wax sensor candles, powered by AA batteries and LEDs, but made of real wax infused with scent(I was going to say scented oils because that sounds nicer, but it's probably some weird chemicals). The candles get warmed by a heating element and so release the fragrance when the wax gets softened. I was checking them out, and they do smell pretty real, although not quite as good as the real flame, can-burn-your-house-down kind. LED lights also don't produce the same kind of soft, diffused amber glow that makes everyone look ten times prettier, but it certainly beats a harsh fluorescent.

Another cool feature is that you don't even need to push a button, you just wave your hand over the top to turn on the light, and wave it over again to turn it off. There's auto two-hour shutoff to preserve battery life too. The candles should get 100 hours of "burn time" with 4 AA batteries. They come in four colors with coordinating scents and they're suitably winter themed: pumpkin pie, vanilla, and apple picking (picking? I guess it's not just apple but like walking through a fragrant orchard filed with other nice-smelling things- or something). Also comes unscented.

Flameless wax sensor candles are $20 and are available from Brookstone.
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
Gourmet Cats
According to one report, the palate of your pet very much depends on its country of birth.

In Japan, fish features prominently in the human diet and this taste preference is transferred to Japanese cats which are often fed clam-flavour or squid-flavour food. Although popular belief has it that cats instinctively adore fish, fish is not a catŽ¡ŽÇs favourite flavour. A catŽ¡ŽÇs taste preference is largely based on what it is accustomed to eating - and Japanese cats are accustomed to eating a fish-based diet that parallels that of their owners. In the same way, laboratory kittens fed on an experimental diet of cheese-flavoured mashed potato developed a taste for the stuff.




Be that as it may, i know that cats go absolutely nuts over this brand of cat Ž¡ŽÈmaguroŽ¡ŽÉ treats. If you live with a feline, try to pick up one of these packets the next time you go to Japan, and your cat may even forgive you for taking off on a trip without him/her.
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
Upgrade into hell
The Tokyo Stock Exchange computer system crashed today, which left traders with nothing to do for more than four hours.

Though the actual cause of the glitch is not known at this time, the exchangeŽ¡ŽÇs software was upgraded only last month.

The delay to the start of the session - which also curtailed trading in bonds for much of the day - was the first since 1997.

The stock exchange said it Ž¡ŽÈdeeply apologizedŽ¡ŽÉ for the problem while Kaoru Yosano, minister for economic and fiscal policy, described the situation as Ž¡ŽÈregrettableŽ¡ŽÉ.

Ž¡ŽÈI hope the exchange will immediately investigate why the failure occurred and take measures to ensure this does not happen again,Ž¡ŽÉ Mr Yosano said.


Since the Nikkei 225 index eventually finished up 1.9% for the day, perhaps the Tokyo bourse should consider scheduling similar outages in the future.
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
Language lapse
There are numerous words that could be added to Ž¡ŽÆveryŽ¡ŽÇ in order to describe the young lady pictured on the magazine below.


Ž¡ŽÆHolidayŽ¡ŽÇ however is arguably not the first one that springs to mind.
posted by Kei @ 2.11.05   0 comments  
1.11.05

posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
I will Lucky
posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
Production I.G Exhibition
Parco Museum of Art and Beyond covering the work of Production Ishikawa - Goku aka


Ž¡ŽÈProduction I.GŽ¡ŽÉ is the top animation production studio in Japan, and maybe the worldŽ¡ŽÇs best. 10 years ago, they were responsible for the first ever Japanese movie to make it to the #1 spot in the US Movie Charts with Ž¡ŽÈGhost in the ShellŽ¡ŽÉ. Nowadays, international collaboration projects are pilling up on their desks; one recent notable succes is the animation part of TarantinoŽ¡ŽÇs Ž¡ŽÈKill Bill IŽ¡ŽÉ. Their latest anime series endeavors will be showcased along with their histories.




The Museum shop features some neat GitS - Sac merchantdising goods like...

this cute Tachikoma post-its


Tachikoma Shirt


Production I.G. Tachikoma Eye styled Cap


I.G. Construction Tachikoma Shirt


Laughing Man goods



or these Laughing man stickers, to "Hack" persons on fotos and stuff


The event ends November 14. Entry is 500 yen.
posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   1 comments  
PlayStation Spot Bus

Everywhere you see one of these Buses you can get WiFi connection with your PSP, to download Demos, Updates, or other content from the web.
Sony is using the Spot Buses to cover regions with no, or to less WiFi coverage.
Some of the Spots are used for mobile events, so youŽ¡ŽÇll get even more of a chance to try out some new PSP games. Of course, you can also just go to the Sony Building in Ginza and do the same thing, or you just look for one of the static spots,


installed where you find this logo
.


posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
Xbox Lounge


A couple of pics of the soon-to-be-opened (this week) Xbox Lounge. Peeking inside, nothing was really set up yet.
posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
MYPCE- creating your own personal computing environment

With the need to refine the workspace, the PCE provides a narrow footprint and give facility managers and office designers an exciting new possibility for efficient office configuration. You can have up to three LCD monitors and serious shake-your-fillings-out 6.1 surround sound and an ideal environment for gaming, surfing and interacting with the rest of the world on-line. We see one of the ultimate evolutions of this machine as a workstation but itŽ¡ŽÇs a bit restricted at the moment cos thereŽ¡ŽÇs no-where to leave a mess Ž¡ŽÄ oh, sorry, err, thatŽ¡ŽÇs one of the advantages.

Apart from looking good, there are actually ergonomic benefits in the MYPCE design ? the PCE frame has its own integrated ergonomic chair, though once inside the frame, there are a few more adjustments than your average ergonomic chair has ? like on your back, for example. The frame is made of aluminium and steel and comes in a choice of Black, Blue, Red and Metallic Silver.

You can take a 360 degree look at MYPCE here, and if youŽ¡ŽÇre already measuring up the office, its vital measurements are height: 5Ž¡ŽÇ6Ž¡ŽÉ (167.64 cm); length 5Ž¡ŽÇ9Ž¡ŽÉ (175 cm); width 2Ž¡ŽÇ9Ž¡ŽÉ (83.82 cm) and the weight without chair or computer is 155 pounds (70kg)

And before you get all carried away, MYPCE is not cheap at a base price of US$2750 before you start adding a screen, computer, speakers and so on and you could easily blow US$10K building a productive and comfortable working environment Ž¡ŽÄ which would of course be a complete waste of money. Hell, you only spend eight hours a day at your computer and youŽ¡ŽÇd need to earn more than US$2 an hour to justify the 20% productivity gain and Ž¡ŽÄ
posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
Yamaha introduces ride-by-wire motorcycle

Yamaha recently released the details on its 2006 R6 Supersport motorcycle. It has a fuel-injected 599cc four cylinder engine with four titanium valves per cylinder and revs cleanly to its 17,500 rpm redline, making maximum power of 133bhp at 14,500 rpm ? thatŽ¡ŽÇs 221 bhp per litre ? roughly the equivalent of a front-running MotoGP bike. ItŽ¡ŽÇs engine also has a slipper clutch as standard and it is the first production motorcycle with a ride-by-wire throttle. ThatŽ¡ŽÇs right ? there are still throttle cables but they run to a computer, not the carburettor slides.
posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
I found my new Car - The Combat T-98 Armoured Luxury SUV
What would you drive if you knew that the bad guys were coming after you? For many wealthy businessmen across the planet, assassination and kidnap are real possibilities. ThereŽ¡ŽÇs a new vehicle targeting this niche, designed to transport VIPs in luxury and safety both on- and off-road. The russian Combat T-98 is the fastest armoured 4WD in the world, and was built from the ground up to be the most capable non-military armoured luxury vehicle in the world.


The 8.1 litre 340 bhp Vortec V8 can push the T-98 along at over 180 km/h, and in addition to sumptuous leather and woodgrain fittings, you can order almost any level of active safety feature, from gun ports to a full roof ring to carry a machine gun.
Prices start at around US$138,000 for the standard luxury vehicle with the basic level of protection which includes specifically being able to stop a 357 Magnum.


Though the word basic is used to describe the package, itŽ¡ŽÇs far from basic with multiple airbags, ABS, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, a computerised driver information centre and a custom leather interior with power-operated seating with eight different adjustments, posotion memory and heated seats. ThereŽ¡ŽÇs all the expected luxury entertainment features including CD changer, and Ž¡ŽÄ well, everything you could want. Unless youŽ¡ŽÇre a President. The Presidential interior adds another US$36,000 and i can only imagine thatŽ¡ŽÇs much better again.


Of course, youŽ¡ŽÇd never have the Presidential interior with the lowest level of armouring, and the costs rise steeply as you move from stopping a relatively harmless Magnum and move into anti-anti-tank territory.

The next step is H.Pro level of protection, which will stop bullets from 7.62 calibre KalashnikovŽ¡ŽÇs and costs US$168,000, with the third tier costing US$217,000 and the full-on highest B7-level of armoured protection costing US$247,000 before further optional extras are added.


These prices are all based on the utility version with a 400 bhp GM Vortec 8100 V8 engine, though any performance level required can be fitted, with a 320bhp Duramax diesel V8 for an additional US$7,200, or you can have a tyre-screeching 550bhp Vortec engine for an extra US$14,400. The Passenger Wagon costs an extra US$6,000 over the utility and you can order a long wheelbase version (wheelbase 3630 mm) for an extra US$11,500.

The list of extras goes on and reading the specs, you get the impression that this is a very special vehicle. Buy a T-98 with the lot and the armour plating includes a special version of the monocoque chassis with the double steel sandwiching a ceramic layer. The tyres are naturally run-flat tyres which means they canŽ¡ŽÇt be rendered unusable by bullets.



The windows of the car are 50mm thick ? thatŽ¡ŽÇs the length of a box of matches ? and they work with a quiet and reassuring hiss and can stop an armour-piercing bullet.


Amazingly, a T-98 with the lot weighs more than 5000kg, yet handles like a car half that weight, capably tackling water, snow, rugged terrain and the bad guys and whatever they can throw at it.
posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
Happy Halloween
Halloween in Japan is all about costume parties or stores decorated with jack-o-lanterns, witches and so on, rather than kids menacing with Trick or Treat. In fact, Japan has its own festivity dedicated to the spirits of ancestors, called Obon which is celebrated in July or August. During Obon, the dead are believed to return to their birthplaces in order to spend time with their living family members.


I was looking for more creepy Halloween-ish gifts and found this one-eyed teddy bear in Rakuten. Its name is "Abnormal Cyrus" and "died in 1974". Then I learned that it is made in the USA and has other "friends" like


Rita Morris and



Edwin Morose.



Happy Halloween to all !
posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
Summit Sony PSP Wireless Headset

Not to be confused with the PSP SOCOM Headset, the Summit Sony PSP Wireless Headset uses an FM transmitter to broadcast the audio from your PSP to the included earphones, effectively giving you wireless audio from your PSP. In theory this should also allow you to broadcast audio from your PSP to your car radio or home stereo via FM
posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
Oooooohhhh! I want! 240-acre underground UK bunker-city for sale
A subterranean bunker-city under a UK military base is for sale. The city is 240 acres in area and has 60 miles of underground roads. It was intended to house a Tory PM and 4,000 bureaucrats in the event of a nuclear attack:

Already two uses are being considered: a massive data store for City firms or the biggest wine cellar in Europe. More outlandish ideas put forward include a nightclub for rave parties, a 1950s theme park or a reception centre for asylum seekers. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has ruled out any suggestion of using it to store nuclear waste or providing open public access because of the dangers that still lurk below...

A system of underground power stations would have provided electricity to the 100,000 lamps that lit its streets and guided the way to a pub modelled on the Red Lion in Whitehall...

Hundreds of swivel chairs delivered in 1959 are still unpacked. There are boxes of government-issue glass ashtrays, lavatory brushes and civil service tea sets.

Pictures of the Queen, Princess Margaret and Grace Kelly are pinned to the walls. The canteen has murals of British sporting scenes painted by Olga Lehmann who went on to design costumes for films such as The Guns of Navarone and Kidnapped.
posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
USB gloves
Winter's (nearly) here, ladies!
So here's something helpful: the indispensable USB heating gloves.





Link
posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
Sony PSP Price Drop in Hong Kong
Sony announces a price drop of the Sony PSP Value Pack in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Starting November 1st the Sony PSP Value Pack sells for HK$1,780 ($230) instead of HK$1,980. A price reduction is also announced for Taiwan.
The price reduction is not really high ($35), but can make a difference for some prospects. We will see if Sony is going to reduce the price for the Sony PSP also
posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
Canon Shows Camera with Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Canon demoed digital cameras powered by Hydrogen Fuel Cells.

The current Canon fuel cells have a volume energy density equivalent to that of the lithium ion secondary batteries of the same size.

Canon is a new player in the Fuel Cell development for portable devices. Toshiba showed already a fuel cell powered mp3 player.
posted by Kei @ 1.11.05   0 comments  
31.10.05
What a heck is this!
"exciting japanese snack - Beans Brothers"



posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
The Cock

It's just a tap for a beer keg
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
Spray on computers
A group of engineers from the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews and Strathclyde plan to develop tiny "Specks" for low power sensor applications.

The Specks are sensors with computational and communications capabilities that can be embedded in objects. They could be used as lighting and temperature sensors in buildings, placed in aircraft wings to detect failures or used to sensitise medicine bottles to ensure that people take their medication at the correct times.

Thousands of Specks, scattered or sprayed on a person or surfaces, will collaborate in programmable computational networks called Specknets. Scientists are even considering the idea of a putting the devices in a spray-can, allowing the Specks to be sprayed onto any surface.

"In the future, computers will be able to be diffused into the environment," explained Professor DK Arvind. "One way to achieve that will be computers the size of a grain of sand. Just by spraying them on to objects, you can computerise them. They would create a network which can transmit wirelessly to each other. In a cubic millimetre, you can have a sensor for heat, pressure, light and so on, but also a computer and wireless technology."
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
Oh Maria keep my data safe!

Oh Maria keep my data safe! is a virgin USB you plug into your computer while hoping for the best. For many people computers are still a big mystery. Although I am not a believer, every time my computer crashes or is struck by a virus alert, I end up imploring a superior being to protect the existing data.
I bet these are the USB keys they use at the Vatican
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
NetAibo project
The NEtROBOt project aims to establish a new concept of communication over the Internet, getting a feel of existence in the virtual world by using an actual robot "AIBO" as interface.



3D models of AIBO are displayed on a web page, and the physical AIBO reflects the communication of the AIBOs in the web 3D world. You can operate AIBO avatars on the Internet, and you can also make a music session with two or more other avatars by typing and hitting keys.

NEtROBOt uses "un-simultaneous session system", in which players do not need to operate in "real-time". You can play sounds and add on the past log.

If you make your actual AIBO dance manually, the virtual AIBO will synchronize and dance (AIBO2PC). A reverse flow (PC2AIBO), i.e., "AIBO operation on your screen, -> operation of actual AIBO" works similarly. AIBOs which met on the network can enjoy a dance and a music session as a "dance battle. The motion and sound will be recorded on a server as a log, and will be used in a session with the player of the future un-simultaneously.

Photon started NEtROBOt started in April 2002, and today there are hundreds of thousands of players.

Videos on the website.
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
Tool for armchair activists

Tool for armchair activists is a machine for remote protest. It can be strapped to lampposts next institutional buildings in front of which many protests occur.

Thanks to its embedded mobile telecommunication device, the machine is able to receive incoming sms messages and speak them out loud through its megaphones, thus allowing the armchair activist to shout out its rants and protests in the comfort of his sitting room.
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
The Laser-Guided Pool Cue


This is the laser-guided pool cue. The visible laser provides a guide for lining up the perfect shot with pinpoint accuracy. I say.. Noob Aimboter
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
Half of US Marines to Leave Okinawa
Withdrawal follows years of complaints from local residents

Sad day in Okinawa
Who's going to protect those dumb ungrateful Okinawans now.. the J-Wa military?
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
Cops sleep through a smash-and-grab heist

Stolen car used in smash-and-grab
TOKUSHIMAŽ¡Ž½ About 100 luxury watches were stolen from a store in the city of Tokushima early Sunday after the thieves rammed their way into the shop in a stolen carŽ¡ŽÄ.the watches that together were worth some 36 million yen Ž¡ŽÄThe shop is about 100 meters from a police box, but the two officers stationed there were quoted as saying they did not notice the crime.


This was a real messy way to net 36 million yen or $311,243 USD. As Ž¡ŽÈmessyŽ¡ŽÉ as this smash-and-grab heist was, it was easy to do. The Japanese police NEVER notice anything happening next their substations. A common joke here is to take photos of friends mooning or spraypainting the front door of a station.
In this case, first, the thieves hot-wire and steal a car near the police station and then. they drive it though a building setting off all the alarms. The cops never noticed a thingŽ¡Ž½typicalŽ¡Ž½the housewife murdered last August was less than 50 meters away from the police station.
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
Pet strollers
WHY??? Is this really necessary? Could you really be seen pushing your dog or cat down the block in a stroller made exclusively for pets without feeling ridiculous? I have seen people push their pups in regular old baby strollers before .


I'm just trying to think of a reason why pet owners would need this: you're taking Fluffy to the vet and it's a 10 block walk? Spot has a broken leg so he needs to be chauffeured around for his daily exercise? Check out this pink variation - LOVE the tulips in the background.



From Pet Vogue
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
Gang riding minibikes attacks cop in Osaka rampage
A gang of young men with bleached brown hair and riding on minibikes unleashed three muggings in short succession Sunday, including one attack on an off-duty police officer, police said.

None of the three attacked -- a 23-year-old police officer, an 18-year-old university student and a 24-year-old self-employed man -- were seriously harmed in the muggings, but all lost money and the police officer sustained minor injuries.

The police officer described his assailants as all being young with dyed hair and riding together on five minibikes between about 10 of them.

Police said the group rode up behind the officer as he rode his bicycle home in the early hours of Sunday morning and demanded he give them cash. They then set up him, punching him in the face and stomach and stealing the 7,000 yen in cash he had in his wallet.

About 10 minutes later, a similar group acting about 2.4 kilometers southeast attacked the university student, robbing him of some 4,000 yen in cash.

At almost the same time, a group of four or five men assailed the self-employed man, taking 190,000 yen in cash from him.

You got to visualize that...a gang riding mini bikes...

posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
(o.o)
...better stay away from the hot and cool water
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
WorldŽ¡ŽÇs Most Expensive MP3 Player

Douglas.J Music Group has pushed the limits of MP3 players, at least with glamour and pricing.

Douglas.JŽ¡ŽÇs The Presidential MP3 player costs $45,000 per unit. According to the manufacturer,

"The Presidential is the most expensive media player in the world, and it imposes a level of grandeur within a market that is saturated with flimsy plastic devices. When we first considered creating a luxury media player, we realized that it had to be more than just beautiful; we would need the finest components, and the most advanced technology. The final product was an instrument both advanced and breathtaking. The Presidential is something that everyone wants to have (ohrly?) but few can afford. In the media player market there are different tiers of quality and prestige, and we are at the very top."


Douglas.J did also states, "You choose between white gold and yellow gold for your exterior. The next stage is choosing the diamond configurations outlined in our Hansel & Gretel range. Details of the full range are given to prospective buyers. The Presidential is hand delivered by our own private escort to your door. We also provide maintenance for your Presidential so it always remains in excellent condition. It soon becomes clear that the Presidential is not just for one life; itŽ¡ŽÇs for several of them."

The company did not reveal technical specifications of the player, but looking at the specifications on its other products (two other elite MP3 players), they both had a 10-hour battery life, support to store quite a few contacts, USB 2.0 connectivity option along with onboard radio support and OLED display. Other options were exclusive to one or the other. For instance, the X2 had support for image slideshows while the DJX didnŽ¡ŽÇt. ThereŽ¡ŽÇs also support for videos and pretty much the most common audio formats, although OGG Vorbis is not supported. The general storage options i noted were either 512MB or 1GB. Even though these are not the specifications for The Presidential.

If you thought the price was ludicrous, well, get this. If you want to know the specifications of The Presidential, you would have to purchase a "Gold Card" in order to access the more exclusive part of the website. This is seriously pushing the line, but then again, when you have a tagline that states, "Wealth is a beautiful thingŽ¡ŽÄ" you canŽ¡ŽÇt blame them for keeping everything exclusive.

I personally donŽ¡ŽÇt see what Douglas.J can do to enhance the audio quality (or other functionalities) of the MP3 player, as there are limitations to technologies, regardless the price you put on them. Considering you get the company to hand deliver the unit anywhere in the world in addition to numerous configurations of diamonds and a gold exterior, the price goes up substantially.

Its just ugly.... Goddamn decadence
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
^_^
Here is proof of soldiers misbehaving in Iraq. Isn't it really mean to take a kids bike and ride on it yourself until you break it? And see, the soldier on the right knows that what he is doing is very wrong. That must be why he covers his face, so he can't be accused of war crimes.

posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
boring
It's one in the morning. I just had the experience of laughing very very loudly at some Programmer Jokes i found on the web. Almost died from laughing....im way to easy to entertain..

And then in the moment of complete mind-body separation, I disembarked from my corporal flesh, my spirit body floated up four or five feet in the air, looked down and understood one pure truth...

....I am SUCH a geek at times (-_-;).

Everyone is gone. On vacation. Mana and Yuri are somewhere around Osaka.

Yeah..right, tease me..

All my other friends are god knows where. Mina, Kurumi and Gii are on a trip with the Germans. Akina hangs around with her Photographer club ...

The upshot of having the House to yourself though is never having to say "Is my music too loud?" or "I'm sorry that I'm naked." I am much more productive this way. Doing a lot of work and even finished the material control reports.

Gah...and now all work is done, and its all boring again.

posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
Dan Osman Speedclimbing Video

WTH... this dood is like Spiderman

He freeclimbs the 400ft of Lovers Leap in California in 00:04:25 (o.O)

Video
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
Who is LiL Poison?
LiL Poison is the youngest Professional Gamer in the World. He started his video gaming at a young age of 2 yrs old.


uhm...i would not say thats something unique, when im looking at the counterstrike community, where 90% of the players appear to be 2 years old.
But wait, LiL Poison is a "CONSOLE PRO GAMER" . Pro Halo.. and Pro Donkey Kong Drums you know. And he got a own Homepage.


awww... how can he play with such tiny hands....and short fingers
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
Yoda Dance

Nicely done...just the music and performance is crap
posted by Kei @ 31.10.05   0 comments  
30.10.05
The Snark - the meanest VTOL UAV on the planet
Meet the Snark ? an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle of immense capability that demonstrates just how far the breed has come in such a short period of time. Constructed mainly of Carbon Fibre and Kevlar, the Snark is light and fast (280 km/h), quiet (special rotor blades make it extremely quiet ), virtually invisible to radar or infrared detetection (it cools down its exhaust gases and creates almost no heat signature) and can carry a payload of 680kg, offering the ability to pack both massive firepower (enough to sink a ship) and surveillance equipment (such as high res infrared cameras with a magnification of 7500). But wait, thereŽ¡ŽÇs more, and this is the clincher. The Snark is the first UAV that runs on diesel fuel, which means it can be easily integrated into any military force ? current UAVs require their own special fuel supply to be transported with them whereas the entire US Army plans to run on a single one fuel - diesel. Last and probably most importantly, the Snark can stay airborne for 24 hours at a time, offering an unprecedented loiter time for a machine of this capability.
posted by Kei @ 30.10.05   0 comments  
PSP Solar Charger

This solar charger for the PSP also works with the GBA and DS and has its own built-in 1700mA Li-ion batery. Im not quite sure if it powers the PSP via the built-in battery or will actually charge the PSP directly though
posted by Kei @ 30.10.05   0 comments  
PS3: "Reality Synthesis"

The WPC Expo Japan is in full gear, and during his keynote speach Ken Kutaragi spoke about "reality synthesis" and how the PS3's core strength will be "creating a real time world in real time." (I'd actually like to see the PS3 generate a real time world that's just about 10 minutes fast , then I'd always be on time.) Barring unforseen delays, the PS3 will be out in March 2006
posted by Kei @ 30.10.05   0 comments  
Sony BRAVIA LCD TV Spot

250,000 superballs released at once down a hilly street in San Francisco. Here's the resulting TV commercial on the Sony BRAVIA page. Beautiful in its own way. You can even find "making of" material on the sony page, and a neat flickr gallery.


posted by Kei @ 30.10.05   0 comments  
Maybe a Fish Does Need a Bicycle
An artist, Seth Weiner, has created a robotic vehicle piloted by a goldfish. The fish goes about its aquatic business in a bowl mounted on a two-wheeled cart. A camera above the bowl tracks the fish's location and uses that information to send signals to a motor controller and two servos driving the bicycle wheels. Signal processing is done off-bot, via a PC and wireless connection. Called the Terranaut, this fish about town, is part of the NYC show "EXIT BIENNIAL 2 : Traffic."
posted by Kei @ 30.10.05   0 comments  
DriveTime: The Telecommuting Video Blog
And you thought your life involved crazed levels of multitasking. This guy, Ravi Jain, is shooting a weekly video blog from the driver's seat of his car during his daily commutes between Jamaica Plains and Allston, MA (or five hours of "studio time," as he puts it). He has guests on (who are bumming rides), and when his wife commutes with him, they do a "Regis and Kelly" type show (or at least that's how Ravi fancies it), with some "marital banter to start the show" (oh joy!). He's also thinking about doing things like a portable-grill cooking segment, if he gets snarled in traffic, and a game called "What's in the Trunk?"
posted by Kei @ 30.10.05   0 comments  

Cam Controls</a>

Cam Controls</a>

Fnn-News Building</a>

Shinbashi

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