Lifestyle

Subway authorities in China's larger cities have seemingly taken a page from Japan's book on passenger management. Uniformed, white-gloved “people pushers” in Shanghai and Chongqing subway stations are now encouraging – with a helpful push or two – train riders to squeeze into the cars so the doors can close.

The Flip.to social media marketing platform just launched direct integration with the Hotel Concept's RezExchange channel management and distribution system for hotels. The service is a new means for the hospitality industry to convert guests and website visitors into engaged advocates while extending a brand's reach exponentially and finally providing hotels with a means to push past basic social media engagement, to a definable ROI.

Show me the money? In modern China it's more like “show YOU the money”, and what better way to tell the world you're rich and successful than with the Louis Vuitton Belt Buckle Cell Phone?

First there was Japanese hair straightening; it was all the rage until it wasn’t.  Then came the Brazilian keratin treatments promising to turn your curly hair into sleek, shiny straight strands of goodness.  And now with the economy in dire straights everyone is tightening their belts and trying to be more budget conscious.  I searched for some at-home remedies for curly or frizzy hair that would provide similar results for a fraction of the cost.  J F Lazartigue has come to the rescue with a line of straightening products consisting of shampoo, conditioner and a gel.

With a movie project that has virtually taken years to "wrap," Twittamentary, is a film about communities that is now available for communities around the world. Having received numerous request from folks and organizations across the globe, the film's producer is thrilled to announce an "open call" for community screenings to take place between February 1 and May 1, 2012. That's right, if you have a suitable venue and meet the screening requirements, all you need is 20 of your closest friends or fans to put on a show - for free!

Whenever a new movement consumes the hearts and minds of a large percentage of the populace, its time to take stock in what really moves these folks to act? The zeitgeist that emanated from Facebook and Occupy Wall Street couldn't be any more different from each other, yet there is an undercurrent that threads the two together. Both attract those that have an overwhelming desire to band together within loosely-knit organizations that welcome all.

Travelers and tourists used to soaking up the world's most exotic sights and sounds can now satisfy their sense of smell as well, thanks to the new, nasally-oriented, "World Stinky Foods" infographic from TripAdvisor Japan.

One dog barking isn't enough for this year's Volkswagen Super Bowl spot.  Deutsch, LA, which produced the winning commercial for the 2011 Super Bowl, The Dark Side, featuring a mini Darth Vader and his dog, decided to make this year's stars a dozen barking dogs, moving its energy from The Dark Side to The Bark Side.

So you snapped your deck riding mongo and doing a slide on a handrail... who ya gonna call? A better question might be HOW you're gonna call, and Strapya Taobao has the answer: the Skate Deck iPhone 4 Cover from Candies!

Toward the end of 2011, the American Censorship Org took action against SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act), a U.S. bill racing through Congress that threatens "prosperity, online security and freedom of expression." On January 18, thousands of websites like Wikipedia have pledged to go dark online in protest. To show its solidarity, Google has blocked out their iconic logo on their search engine.

... Light therapy is a traditional method of relief for SAD sufferers, but it requires its subjects to be stationary while under special lamps.  But with the help of Kickstarter, three now-happy engineers have succeeded in raising the funds to produce their answer to SAD - Sequinetic™ 'sun' glasses. 

Smokers seeking a more luxurious and relaxing smoking experience need look no further than “The Peace”, an all-new, top of the line canned cigarette from Japan Tobacco. Sold by a selected number of Japanese retailers at a premium price and packaged in sleek metal cans, The Peace is the ultimate expression of an iconic brand first introduced in 1946.

The buzz surrounding social media marketing hasn’t gone unnoticed by the hospitality industry and many hotel brands seek to make inroads by engaging more effectively with leading social networks.

Add some extra fizz to any party with the LED Color Changing Ice Bucket with Remote Control. The bucket's cool-running 25,000-hour rated LED light ensures your bubbly won't boil while the remote control option is just as cool as it gets.

Where's the beef? Try looking under the foie gras and truffle butter, Jeeves. Wendy's has returned to Japan after a two-year hiatus but former customers might be hard pressed to recognize the burger chain, let alone pay for its high-priced gourmet offerings.

The buzz surrounding social media marketing hasn’t gone unnoticed by the hotel industry and hoteliers are seeking to make inroads by engaging with the leading social networks in new and innovative ways. Choice Hotels however has indicated that "hotels have been slow or very conservative in the adaptation of social media."

Who says you can't be in two places at once? Introducing Nubot, a smartphone faced robotic avatar doll controlled by Skype and webcam that allows you to interact with others remotely.

It is rare that we as geeks have one device to be excited about much less three simultaneously, but that is exactly what happened with Verizon's latest generation of Android phones: Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs the HTC Rezound vs the Motorola Droid RAZR.

SwitchEasy's colorful “Melt” 3D cases for the iPhone 4 or 4S keep your smartphone safe from life's hard knocks while managing to look hot and cool at the same time. The cases feature a slick, shiny, melty-look top portion molded in smooth polycarbonate plastic for easy ingress and egress from the owner's pocket.