Happening NOW in Japan - food poisoning from gyoza

With news that would make Morimoto of Iron Chef fame furious, comes word that there are some gyoza tainted with pesticide. Turns out, these are all frozen gyoza imported from China. Time to hide all manner of Wok.

Having personally experienced food poisoning multiple times, I can attest to the horrific conditions of the illness. Here's hoping things get better in the land of the Rising Sun.

Hamburger anyone?

Jay Leno highlights the Universal Football Remote

Just in time for SuperBowl Sunday, Jay Leno highlighted this cool gadget - NFL Universal Football Remote Since the "buttons" are flush on the football, not sure how it will feel without any tactile feedback.

Of course, the flip side is, it looks sooo cool! But with your fingers greasy with potato chip and buffalo wing grease, it might be a challenge to keep your inebriated self from dropping the remote.

A good Superbowl Party gift though!

Lust rating: Cool!

Buzz Phrase alert - "Wait in the weeds..."

Watch the Republican debates here in the U.S.? Proving that the U.S. presidential candidates are keeping up with their reading, we see Senator McCain and Governor Romney trade verbal barbs on this video from CNN.

Miss Japan 2008 crowned

If your gadget fanatacism includes Japanophilia, you might already know this, but Miss Japan 2008 was recently crowned. You can take a look at some photos from this event here: http://neilduckett.com/miss-nippon-2008-miss-japan-2008-suzuki-eri/

Have you seen it yet? - Bill Gates spoof vid

Blogger Long Zheng has the Bill Gates spoof video of his last day. Bill Gates is one of the original gadgetfanatics out there. Check it out here: http://www.istartedsomething.com/20080107/bill-gates-last-day-microsoft-video/

It'll have you laughing all the way through.






Photo released under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 published by the Free Software Foundation

Feeling hot, hot, HOT!

It's still winter, and with Mother Nature keeping us aware of this fact, it'd be great to feel some warmth.







DJ Mike Rizzy has some great beats and mixes to fill your phone, Wi-Fi Portable Media Player/PVR or iPod. Check out his mad skillz at one of these two sites...

http://deejaymikerizzy.podbean.com/

http://www.myspace.com/mikerizzyktp

Sony's Muteki mini(?!!) HiFi Component System

Sony's "Muteki" ("without rival" or "no enemy") component system is anything but "mini." Looking more like a Transformer, Sony's music machine is HUGE!!



The system includes

4 massive bass speakers and a dizzying array of tweeters to make your ears bleed. Cool features are DVD,DivX, and Mp3 playback, Dolby II Surround Sound, and DVD Karaoke Mode. A significant upgrade from those old school Singing Machines to say the least.


Lust rating: Meh. It's a big mother though!!

Seattle Fry's Digital Ad 2008 revealed

EDIT: Updated on Dec 7, 2008 here




Fellow Fry's luvrs, the mystery is solved, methinks. Enjoy!



Direct Link?
http://local.ads.nwsource.com/ads/sites/frys/frys_1page/
Tuesday
http://ads.nwsource.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.seattletimes.com/home/index/L31/Top1/Seattle/Frys_1007_ST_HP-sb_Tuesday/Frys_sb_red-tue.html/
Wednesday
http://ads.nwsource.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.seattletimes.com/home/index/L31/Top1/Seattle/Frys_1007_ST_HP-sb_Wednesday/frys1007spc_1a.html/
Friday
http://ads.nwsource.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.seattletimes.com/home/index/L31/Top1/Seattle/Frys_1007_ST_HP-sb_Friday/frys1007spc_1a.html/
Saturday - Option 1
http://ads.nwsource.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.seattletimes.com/home/index/L31/Top1/Seattle/Frys_1007_ST_HP-sb_Saturday/frys1007spc_1a.html/
Saturday - Option 2
http://ads.nwsource.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.seattletimes.com/home/index/L31/Top1/Seattle/Frys_1007_ST_HP-sb_Saturday/frys1007spc_2a.html/
Sunday - Option 1
http://ads.nwsource.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.seattletimes.com/home/index/L31/Top1/Seattle/Frys_1007_ST_HP-sb_Sunday/frys1007spc_1a.html
Sunday - Option 2
http://ads.nwsource.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.seattletimes.com/home/index/L31/Top1/Seattle/Frys_1007_ST_HP-sb_Sunday/frys1007spc_2a.html/

Knight Rider 2008!!

Feeling nostalgic for
Knight Rider? The synthesizers, the car, the hair! Did you hear that NBC in the U.S. will be broadcasting a made for TV movie of Knight Rider? Check it out: http://www.nbc.com/Movies_Specials_More/



photo credit:

Mario Antonio Pena Zapatería from Irun, Spain

2008, year of the Rat. Time to study Chinese?

Being fluent in Japanese certainly has its advantages, especially when you're a GadgetFanatic like I am. Reading newspapers, magazines, and blogs in Japanese in real-time helps get the jump on new info.

I've been thinking though, what about Chinese? With most mobos being designed and manufactured in Taiwan, and the rising "emerging market" known as China, the Chinese language could be a good tool as well.

I got a look at this book,Cheng & Tsui Chinese Character Dictionary: A Guide to the 2,000 Most Frequently-Used Characters, and have to say it looks VERY interesting and very useful. Not only does it contain the characters and meanings, but also stroke order, and multiple word samples. This book will soon be joining my bookshelf, methinks.

Lust rating: Need it!

Happening NOW in Tokyo - The Great Robot Exhibition

Going to Tokyo any time this month? Then make sure to make time for The Great Robot Exhibition.
They will have Honda's ASIMO as well as nostalgic robots from the past like "AtomBoy."

I'm guessing they won't have any Zoids ;)

More info, if you can read Japanese or use babelfish or some other tool.

Keep your kids SAFE while on the computer!

These USB keys when connected to your laptop or desktop PC will keep your kids safe. One feature is very Net Nanny-esque, in that it keeps your kids from surfing to "dangerous" web sites.

Of course, this depends on how the company filters "dangerous" sites. Without the existence of the .xxx top level domain, we can assume that they use a list that must be updated frequently. Hmmm, not very reliable.

Other features include preventing accidental deletion of files by your child(ren), limiting PC use to certain times (e.g.; 5-6:30PM), allowing parents to see what files were created or downloaded.

The list continues: creating an easy environment from kids to save files, a new skin on the operating system based on the character, simple email with parents, continuously updated content, and others.

The bad news? Only available in Japan for Japanese operating systems. Here's hoping they can bring this over to other markets. I'd guess there is a huge demand for something like this.



Although, I'd want characters like Dark Angel or the Simpsons.


Lust rating: Want it!

Metrosexuals now in Tokyo??

Starting later this month (January,2008), Hello Kitty items "for men" targetting ages 18~20s will go on sale in Japan. This is the first time that any HK items will go on sale specifically for men.

I'm not sure I see the lure of this. T-shirts, bags, and watches with HK logo? Hmmm...I'd have to say I like Hello Kitty Black and White Cami/Panty set for women much better. ;)

Food Lust - from the good ole standby McDonald's

Just to show that the U.S. isn't the only Fast Food Nation, McDonald's Japan has been selling their "Mega Mac" burgers.


One patty not enough? Two not enough? What about FOUR? Need some extra toppings? How about a big egg and bacon?

Proof that the end is nigh! ;)

Fry's digital ad hijinks again

Here we are in 2008, and there are some hijinks going on with Fry's digital ads again.

Here's the URL for Friday ads
http://ads.nwsource.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.seattletimes.com/home/index/L31/Top1/Seattle/Frys_1007_ST_HP-sb_Friday/frys1007spc_1a.html/

and guesstimated URL for Wednesday ads
http://ads.nwsource.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.seattletimes.com/home/index/L31/Top1/Seattle/Frys_1007_ST_HP-sb_Wednesday/frys1007spc_1a.html/