Strange, Odd, Weird or Wacky

Chinese Caterpillars Stop Cargo Train In its Tracks

by China.new

Get lost, Godzilla. Keep quiet, Kung Fu Panda. When it comes to feats of strength formidable enough to impress Frank Costanza on Festivus, you've got to give it up to millions of Chinese caterpillars.

Retro Brick iPhone Case Recalls Classic Clunky 80s Cellphones

by China.new

The ThumbsUp! iPhone case takes you and your smartphone back to the Cafe 80s when men were men, greed was good, and mobile phones were big black bricks.

2 comments

Biofuel Caffeinated Popcorn: Better Than A Cup Of Coffee?

by Gadgetry Inc

When normal popcorn just ain't doing it for you, then maybe it's time to switch to the Biofuel Caffeinated Popcorn. If you want a pick-me-up other than coffee, then here's some good news: each bag of this popcorn contains just as much caffeine as a single cup of joe. The best part is that it still tastes just like normal popcorn would: sweet and just the right bit of salty. Mmm-hmm.

Virtual DVD Dinner Dates Satisfy Japan's Lonely, Hungry Geeks

by Steve Levenstein

Loneliness and shyness seem to be serious issues for many Japanese guys, but fear not: a series of 3 self-help DVDs is here to save the day. Microwave up a frozen Swanson entree, pull up a ratty sofa and pop in a disc, hungry Otaku, your virtual dinner dream date awaits!

Bullfrogs with Cholera Have Chinese Consumers Feeling Jumpy

by China.new

Bad news, amphibian gourmets: Bullfrogs are off the market and the menu in Shanghai, China, after health authorities discovered cholera bacteria during routine testing. The good news is, nobody's croaked yet.

New Zealand Prisons Ban Cigarettes, Substitute... Carrots?

by T Goodman

Cigarettes, at least through lore, have been regarded as the one luxury of prison life. Depicted in film, those long drags looked so satisfying when taken by a man behind iron bars. Prisoners would beg their visitors, not for mama's homemade meatloaf, but for cigarettes. Cigarettes were money in prison; they could be traded for favors or possessions of other prisoners....

New York City's Latest Pet Craze: Couture Fashion For Pet Rats

by Lady Bee

It's good to be the rat. At least in New York City, where pet rats are the latest hot trend in pets. This past weekend, New Yorkers even held a rat fashion show, with couture gowns and tuxes many humans would love to wear - in their sizes, of course.

2 comments

Wacky Fan Umbrella Combo Blow-Dries On the Go

by Steve Levenstein

Bad hair day? Get a Fanbrella! The unimaginatively named Fanbrella combines – you guessed it – a fan and an umbrella to keep Japanese commuters cool and dry during the hot, humid rainy season.

1 comment

Open iPhone or MP3 Player Earphone Jack? Plugy Plugs It!

Open iPhone or MP3 Player Earphone Jack? Plug it with a Plugy!

by Steve Levenstein

Plugy's are irresistible little earphone jack accessories that add a dash of Japanese “kawaii” cuteness to iPhones, iPods, MP3 music players or most any mobile electronic device.

How Cell Biologists Have Fun: The First Ever World Cell Race

by T Goodman

Some like fast cars, fast horses, fast women... Cell biologists get a kick out of fast cells - that is, cells that migrate very quickly. Researchers even modify cells, usually for professional reasons, to make them migrate faster. In recognition of the achievements, as well as the fun these biologists are having, the American and French societies for cell biology have decided to challenge members of the international cell-building community to a Cell Race - launching now!

iPhone Dock Fan Keeps You Cool While You Call

by Steve Levenstein

The iPhone Dock Fan for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch is this summer's must-have i-accessory for fanboys & fangirls worldwide. Phoning without it just wouldn't be cool.

1 comment

'Sleeping DVD' Gently Guides You Into Dreamland

by Steve Levenstein

Need a little help sleeping lately? Just pop the “Sleeping DVD” into your player and drift off to slumberland, gently guided by the soft voices and easy-on-the-eyes looks of some of Japan's most alluring dreamgirls.

3 comments

Herman Miller Aeron Chair Gets Extreme Green Makeover

by Steve Levenstein

The iconic and ergonomic Aeron chair from American office furniture maker Herman Miller Inc is going green... at least, one of them is. The plush, verdant, one-off design by Japanese botanic artist Makoto Azuma brings a bit of the great outdoors to your indoor workplace.

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KFC China's 'Taste of Ireland' Chicken Will Turn You Green

by China.new

KFC China must have mixed up Kentucky with County Kerry, otherwise how can we explain KFC's new “Taste of Ireland”: chicken roasted with Irish cream liqueur.

2 comments

Wasabi Kit Kat: Who Knew Chocolate & Horseradish Could Taste So Good?

by Steve Levenstein

Japan's Kit Kat bars are famous for their amazing variety of far-out flavors but this one takes the horseradish-flavored cake: Wasabi Kit Kat.

3 comments

Canned Breads from Tamiya Offer a Collectible Slice of Army Life

by Steve Levenstein

Canned bread in Plain, Coffee and Red Bean flavors is the latest product from Japanese model manufacturer Tamiya. Unlike most of the company's offerings, these collectible military-style canned rations can actually be eaten.

Planking Pair from Taiwan are Actively Lying Down Off the Job

by China.new

Like your women flat as a board? Then get your abs to Taiwan, where two twenty-something Planking pals from Taipei and Taichung are prone to putting themselves in some very uncompromising positions... and that's no lie.

Urinal Fly Target Creates a Buzz in Your Bathroom

by Steve Levenstein

Next time you need to let it fly, do it ON the fly: The Thermal Urinal Fly target from Japan's White Rabbit Express. This self-adhesive thermal decal adds that extra dash of nature to the act of answering nature's call.

Need to Blow Your Nose? Look for EcoLife Box's Soft Green Glow

by Steve Levenstein

You might think having something in your house that glows in the dark is about the last thing people in Japan need right now but you're not Kaikosha, designer of the EcoLife Box glow-in-the-dark facial tissue holder.

The Rolleiflex MiniDigi Is A Fun Way To Take Photos The Vintage Way

by Gadgetry Inc

Remember those cameras you often see in really old movies that look insanely huge and complicated to use? You know, the ones which look like there are two lens and then the photographer has to hide behind this veil or cloth and then pull some lever to take a photo?