TOTO's Networked Intelligent Toilet

Another "Only in Japan" oddity - an intelligent toilet. This is one thing that we really need in US - I wonder why these are not getting popular in US - I mean the sheer convenience, hygiene and luxury of it is enough to convert anyone!

A Plum tree in full blossom at Kiyomizudera

Drinking the holy water at Kiyomizudera (Pure Water Temple)

The stage at Kiyomizudera - built entirely of wood - no metal nails, etc.

Pray to this deity for promotion

World Heritage site - Kiyomizudera, Kyoto

The famous Yodobashi Camera store in Osaka

Osaka skyline in the morning from Hotel Granvia

Osaka at night

Car Display at Shin-Osaka Station

Shinagawa Station 

Yamaha's "MyRoom" - an indoor, soundproof private room for adults :: TechJapan :: English news on technology from Japan

Yamaha's "MyRoom" - an indoor, soundproof private room for adults :: TechJapan :: English news on technology from Japan

How the iPod Ran Circles Around the Walkman

It's just amazingly stupid - how Sony is letting everyone else get ahead in the digital music player market. Why would anyone buy Sony's 20GB hard disk player for $50 more than the comparable iPod? In fact, given that Sony can be a great volume player, they should be beating iPod on price and features and they should be coming out with an even lower priced model under their AIWA or other brand to beat the Creative, iRiver and other Asian competitors.

And they just have to support the widest variety of standards out there - Sony - hear it now before it's too late - Atrac is dead - just like the Betamax - give up now and get onto the popular stuff. Think about 5.1 channel mp3 standard recently announced with backward and cross compatibility with every other standard. And join forces wit Microsoft, Yahoo and Real to beat Apple.

As a consumer, we need the competition - Sony with its worldwide reach and branding power can really make this a consumer product from the current hightech image it has and bring standardization, lower prices and high quality to the market.
The New York Times > Business > World Business > Digital Domain: How the iPod Ran Circles Around the Walkman

Google circa 2014

I have no idea who these guys are - but this short animation of the shape of things in the year 2014 is both awe inspiring and scary. It talks about the evolution of Google, its epic battle against the traditional information sources - like the New York Times and with its adversaries like Microsoft and Amazon. Well, I won't give away the ending - see for yourself.
ols-master

Some great quotations about Cycling

Quote:Unquote: "'Nothing compares to getting your heart rate up to 170-something, riding hard for an hour-twenty, getting off and not hurting, as opposed to 24 minutes of running, at the end of which I hurt. When you ride a bike and you get your heart rate up and you're out, after 30 or 40 minutes your mind tends to expand; it tends to relax.'
President George W Bush"

What's What in Japanese Restaurants: A Guide to Ordering Eating and Enjoying

Great primer on Japanese cuisines. If you love eating Japanese food, this book is a must buy.
Amazon.com: Books: What's What in Japanese Restaurants: A Guide to Ordering Eating and Enjoying

underground tokyo guidebook -- Tokyo, underground, guide book, punk, hentai, shinjuku, harajuku, tourism, anime, hardcore, japan, akihabara

underground tokyo guidebook -- Tokyo, underground, guide book, punk, hentai, shinjuku, harajuku, tourism, anime, hardcore, japan, akihabara