| 01 September 2010
Marketing can be a thankless job. Most people do not want advertisements shoved down their throats. But we know that if there weren't ads then there would be less content and television would consist solely of reality shows and all games would be text based. But there are times when the marketing goes so overboard that we shake our heads and flip our monitor the bird.
| 01 September 2010
Asakusa Shrine is built in the gongen-zukuri style, a complex of three buildings forming an H, with a common roof. This is the Haiden, the “hall of worship” or oratory, a building used for ceremonies and for worshiping the shrine’s kami. Behind the two Zuijin guardians, I caught a glimpse of the Haiden, the main sanctuary, the most sacred building at a Shinto shrine: Click on photo for higher resolution:
| 01 September 2010
Japan's recent Good Design Expo 2010 was the site for the unveiling of a design prototype called the X-Frame Folding vehicle, an innovation in urban mobility that could ultimately replace the common motorcycle.
Designed by researchers at the Nagoya Institute of Technology, the X-Frame's shape, specifically its seating area, actually changes depending on speed, terrain and number of passengers, and when not in use the entire vehicle folds up vertically for storage. Powered by a replaceable electric battery housed in the vehicle's rear wheel, the X-Frame offers the best in eco-friendly city transport with a minimum parking footprint.
...(Read whole news on source site)
| 31 August 2010
Well, it's my first post T_TIt's the virtual diva's 3rd birthday and time to celebrate! From the day she was released her popularity has grown rapidly, with many popular songs and PVs. She has had countless figures made of her as well as other merchandise including T-shirts, straps, key-chains and even 2 popular PSP games. Live concerts were held in Tokyo, with holograms showing Miku and other Vocaloids on the stage. So let's pay tribute to the great idol and wish her many happy returns!I tried putting videos on but it would seem it doesn't work. Help anyone? orz
| 30 August 2010
Just basic pokeballs, rendered in pseudo 3d style in Adobe Illustrator for skills practice...I have been having trouble posting of late, so i decided to try a simple one and see if it works now.This is old vector art practice of mine, rendered as icons you can download here.Other than that, nothing special. Look for more significant posts in the near future.
...(Read whole news on source site)
| 30 August 2010
OLED is a difficult technology to make in large screen sizes, which is why there are only a couple of small-size OLED sets available today. But if this 31-inch prototype set from LG is any indication, when those big screen sizes come, the results will be hot, hot, hot.
...(Read whole news on source site)
| 30 August 2010
Choosing the wrong exit from the Hamamatsucho Station, I discovered this beautiful Inari Shrine, built on a terrace right next to the World Trade Center building. The torii, the fence and the lanterns, everything looked amazing in the sunset light…
| 29 August 2010
Yesterday we looked at a gorgeous way to recycle computer circuit boards, but what about all of the associated wiring? This dress made from computer ribbon wire might provide an answer.
...(Read whole news on source site)
| 28 August 2010
Marquetry is a centuries-old art, but it's almost always created using contrasting strips of fine wood veneer. New York based artist Theo Kamecke puts a beautiful spin on this process, by using the patterns contained in old printed circuit boards as his raw material.
...(Read whole news on source site)
| 28 August 2010
This time around, the DFC Saturday pictures are particularly great, in my opinion. At least I like them a lot and I hope so do you. There's no need for any more blabber; it's time to feast your eyes. Artists captions available on my blog.
| 27 August 2010
Opera-tan is the unofficial mascot for the Opera browser created by illustrator temp_h. According to temp_h's latest blog entry, Hobby Link Japan will be bringing out a garage kit figure of Opera-tan this November and that comrade Modeller-T will be the sculptor.
Is Opera the first browser to get its own figure then?
Used to be a die-hard IE user until about 2003-ish when I switched to Firefox. Me use Chrome on the MacBook Air though as Firefox is resource intensive. Have not been using Safari due to the lack of extensions up until recently. Gave Opera a whirl for a bit but then stopped whirling.
| 27 August 2010
Just saw the post by Yui over at Figure.fm about the new 50cm bodies by Volks entitled Dollfie Dream Sister (DDS). Looks like they've come out with a completely revamped body - dying to get my hands on one ^^; More pics at the official DD Blog.
...(Read whole news on source site)
| 27 August 2010
It's been buzzed about for years, but Virgin Galactic is now officially selling tickets to space (or, "space," if you prefer). The price is the expected $200,000, which you can get book either through Virgin or an "accredited space agent." Wait, what?
There's not a lot of info on who or what these space agents are; Virgin's site only says, "They have been specially selected and trained by us to handle all aspects of your spaceflight reservation," and clicking on the space-agent booking link doesn't take you anywhere. If common sense is any guide, they're probably some kind of glorified travel agent, though presumably one that can answer space-specific travel questions like how likely you are to vomit, how the trip compares to Xtraordinary Adventures' $95,000 ticket to space, and what sort of Star Fleet insignia to wear.
If you were wondering if it's OK to have sex in space, Sir Richard Branson himself answered that one for us a while ago.
| 27 August 2010
Teana is very cool. Because the magic of Teana is a Midchilda type, the Belka type is a mistake.
| 27 August 2010
Who knew spaceflight felt like 5 milliamps of electricity behind your ears? Apparently, that's all it takes to trick the brain into simulating similar sensorimotor disturbances that an astronaut would experience during, say, reentry.
The Galvanic vestibular stimulation (or GVS) system, created by Dr. Steven Moore of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, is especially useful during training as it allows astronauts to prepare for the disorientation during a mission. Reentry is an incredibly disorienting time for astronauts as the body is trying to adjust from the near weightlessness of orbit to the regular ol' forces exerted on us planet-side.
| 27 August 2010
This Saturday, August 28, Stan Lee and the NYCC team are hosting a tri-state-wide scavenger hunt. We'll be snorkeling around the city, hiding NYCC passes in zingy location, and it will be YOUR job to find them! Up for grabs are free passes to NYCC and sold out Stan Lee VIP tickets.
| 26 August 2010
As most otakus know, FanExpo is this weekend. FanExpo is all sorts of different types of conventions all rolled up into one. From Comics, Gaming, Anime, Sci-Fi and Horror. All comes with their own guests and events too!!! This year I think the biggest guest is so far Stan Lee (co founder of Marvel) and Yoshitaka Amano (artist for Final Fantasy) will be there to sign autographs!!! All conventions have cosplays and FanExpo I think have a great selection of cosplays, from sci fi cosplays like Star Wars to anime cosplays!!!The biggest question I have for you all out there, who's going?I'll attending all 3 days of FanExpo this year and will be providing coverage of the event!!! If anyone wants to meet up with me, my group usually camps in the area that is around the back furthest away from the dealers hall behind the escalator. On Saturday, will be cosplaying as someone from Shugo Chara! Not sure who but my friends say they got it covered. It won't be hard to spot though as there won't be that many Shugo Chara cosplayers. I might go as Len Kagamine again but not sure currently.
| 26 August 2010
A gleeful smile as a Nendoroid!
From the popular "Black Rock Shooter" comes a Nendoroid of BRS's rival, Dead Master!
She comes complete with her giant weapon, "Death Scythe" as well as two Nendoroid sized skulls. Also, just as the Nendoroid Black Rock Shooter did, Dead Master also includes a facial expression based on an illustration by CHANxCO.
Recreate your best Black Rock Shooter scenes in cute Nendoroid form!
| 26 August 2010
Tis that time of year when the creepy crawlies or cutie crawlies (depending on your preference) come out not only to play but to also bite and suck on your juicy bouncy...legs. I say "cutie crawlie" because many folks over here love insects and keeping some of them as pets are part of Japanese Culture as we learned in the Japanese Pets post.The insects that I see around the house would be cockroaches (an average of 3 a year), a spider or two near the windows and a load of mosquitoes in the Summer. I've seen a total of about 2 flies in the house after 5 years of living here!Back in the UK however, we had a ton of insects - bees and wasps loved flying into my room, flies circling the ceiling endlessly and ants would make their way in somehow. I remember biting into an apple pie only to find that a family of ants had move in. Does your gaff have insects crawling out n about?
