Tokyo Cat Man - 10 Persian Cats in a Pram

If I saw this I would have to stop traffic to get out to see it.   A man in Tokyo takes not one, not two, not even just three cats, but 10 cats for a walk pushing them around in pram (stroller) like you would a baby or small child.

What I can't figure out is how he gets them all to contentedly (for the most part) to stay crammed into the pram (stroller) and allow him to push them around and not run off. I never had any luck getting kittens to ride in my Barbie car without as a child.

Google Launches Person Finder for 2011 Japan Earthquake

My heart and prayers go out to everyone that was affected by the 8.9 Earthquake/Tsunami.

If you have loved ones in Japan I wanted to let you know that Google has launched a "Person Finder" application where people can look for information on loved ones affected to by the 2011 Quake and where information can be entered by people who have survived as are still able or know someone who can access the internet.  The caveat does indicate information is public and not verified. http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en

They also have a Crisis Response  page with links and map to help survivors with information and places to go for assistance if they are able.

Source: Inventor Spot

Japanese "Smart" Vending Machine Recommends Soft Drink Based On Looks

This futurisic "Smart" vending machine is installed at Shinagawa Station in Tokoyo, Japan. 

From the article at Youtube, it has a 47 inch screen and there is a camera installed and with 75% accuracy but imaging your face what your age and sex are and recommends specific beverages by putting a red star burst over an image of the beverage. It costs 5 times what a standard vending machine would cost.

It also is connected to via high speed internet and displays news and images (and likely other ads).  To select your beverage, you touch the screen, pay with an ICCard and you get your drink within seconds.

We are getting closer and closer to an Orwellian future.  While it might be an interesting novelty, I personally don't want a machine telling me what it thinks I should drink.   I would be ticked if it only lite up only the diet products because it thinks I should lose weight. 

The only thing that I like about it is that it indicates in the event of an earthquake it will give out beverages for free to the disaster victims.   But that also begs the questions of is it really earthquake-proof and as it is an electronic gadget, usually an earthquake with knock out the electricity - are they going to have a backup generator?

What do you think of this machine?

Bandaid for Grownups

Photo from Inventors Spot

Inventorspot has an article about Nichiban creating bandaid for grownups.

"This latest batch of bandages from Japan's Nichiban might just do the same for adults as they combine standard bandage technology with appealing designs

taken from traditional and modern Japanese culture.

Hmm, I wondered what designs would be appropriate for the U.S. and I think the following would be good examples.  What do you think?

Kasedori Dance

The Kasedori dance is part of folk festival held in Kaminoyama, Yamagata-ken, Japan in February and it is fire prevention ceremony where the men in costumes dance singing "kasedori, kadesori" and townfolks pour water over them to symbolize extinguishing flames.   Sounds chilly if you are one of the dancers, but no more exotic than what we do in America where self proclaimed members of "The Polar Bear Club" jump the ocean or other nearby body of water on New Years Day in the their swimsuits.


http://www.yamagatakanko.com/english/03/01/4505.html