Miscellaneous

Japanese Army Rolls Out Floating Orb Robot That Shoots Pics – For Now

by Steve Levenstein

Remote-control Predator drones operated by the U.S. Air Force may not be old & busted but Japan's army just rolled out some awesome new hotness: a flying robot orb ready for recon or defcon!

1 comment

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

Bottle Cap Lamp is Ideal for Light Drinkers

by Steve Levenstein

The battery-powered Bottle Cap Lamp from Japan's Ideaco turns most any water or drink bottle into an eerily attractive lamp. Hmm, wonder if it'll turn a bottle of Budweiser into a Bud Light?

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.

Social Media Finds "F Word" Acceptable For Songs & Graphic Novel

by Ron Callari

From George Carlin's "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television," and Harry Nilsson's "You're Breaking My Heart" back in the 70's, it's taken almost 40 years for one of the most taboo of curse words to make it into every day discourse via social media channels such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

Origami Phone Handset is Ideal for Very Light Conversations

by China.new

The Origami Handset is an edgy telephone receiver design concept by Chengyuan Wei that really cuts the classic landline handset down to size. If your calls were recorded before; they're about to be refolded as well.

Slap Chop Chopper Hits Japan, Vince & Graty Not Included

by Steve Levenstein

Slap Chop, the handy-dandy food chopper frenetically promoted in TV infomercials by now-disgraced pitchman Vince Offer, has arrived in Japan with neither Vince or Graty in tow. How do you like his nuts now?

Zuckerberg Kills Those Who Do Not Follow, Including The Virtual

Zuckerberg Kills Those Who Do Not Follow, Including Virtual Livestock

by Ron Callari

Since lobsters, goats and pigs have not fallen in line with homosapiens by joining the world's most ubiquitous social network, Mark Zuckerberg has decided to put a target on their backs. However, instead of becoming a serial killer just for sport, he's made a vow - this year - to only eat what he kills.

1 comment

Social Media Meets Shangri-La: Tibet Tops One Million Internet Users

by China.new

Online on top of the world! Nearly half of Tibet's population has come to embrace the Internet as an ideal way to find information, exchange ideas, play games and “yak” with far-away friends.

1 comment

Peach Aviation to Take a Bite Out of the High Cost of Flying

by Steve Levenstein

Peach Aviation Ltd., Japan's first budget airline, is set to begin limited operations early next year. The new cost-cutting carrier will offer bargain-hunting travelers “surprisingly’’ low fares but the question remains, will penny-pinching fliers bite?

China's Advanced Deep-Sea Oil Platform Drills Deep for Black Gold

by China.new

China's innovative new Oceanic Petroleum 9-8-1 platform can boldly drill where no deep-sea oil platform has drilled before: 3,000 meters (almost 10,000 feet) below sea level!

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

China's 'Hotel Test Sleeper' Enjoys History’s Most Comfortable Job

by China.new

Beijing's Zhang Yumo sometimes finds her work tiring. It's not a problem, however, because as one of China's six professional 'Hotel Test Sleepers', Zhang gets paid for sleeping on the job.

1 comment

Justin Bieber's Japan Tour Sends a Positive Message to the World

by Steve Levenstein

Will success spoil Justin Bieber? Not yet, it seems. Defying concerns about visiting Japan expressed by his road crew, the teenaged music superstar and YouTube phenomenon closed out his nearly two-year long My World Tour with concerts in Osaka and Tokyo. What's more, Bieber made a point of guesting on Japanese TV programs and meeting children affected by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. He didn't have to, but he did, and that's very, very cool.

52 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.

1 comment

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.