Nov 11 2009 Japan Firm Makes Custom Barcode Art
D-Barcode is a Japanese firm that will design your barcode to look cooler than the standard bunch of lines. These are some examples of their work. But it doesn't come cheap! And, despite what you may have read above the urinal, neither do I.
It can be pretty pricey, though: $1,500 for a design, and $200 a year for licensing fees. If you want a code all your own, that can even cost as much as $4,000.
Now I know what you're thinking, "pfft, I could do that". But that's where you're wrong, because you and I both know you couldn't. Remember kindergarten? Remember how you couldn't keep the color inside the lines? Your parents thought you were retarded. Dad still does.
Oct 23 2009 CHOO CHOO!: A Little Superconductor Train
This is some French guy making a little superconductor train out of a bunch of magnets and a cup of magic potion. I have no idea what's in the magic potion but that won't stop me from chugging a whole chalice in the hopes of floating. Plus, it even works upside down which is super cool because I've always wanted to take a nap on the ceiling. I will drool on you!
Thanks to Rich the destroyer, who destroys because he's Rich the destroyer damnit, you know who he is!
Aug 4 2009 Voltromas The Transforming Tank Engine
I like trains, and not just because they go CHOO CHOO. I also like the hobos that jump on them! THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ME, OKAY? Anyway, this is a Thomas the Tank Engine/Voltron mashup toy available from Singapore for around $8. It is in no way shape or form licensed or legal. But it is cool. Everybody's calling it a Transformer but it is clearly a throwback to Voltron. Who, despite being a robot, I still liked as a child because he was rainbow colored and, damnit, I'm a sucker for a rainbow. One time I even got a girlfriend to dress up as Rainbow Bright on Halloween. And not to brag, but she did go home with the handsomest pirate at the party. I was one sad ninja turtle. :(
Hit the jump for a couple more shots.
Jul 7 2009 There Can Be Only One: Train Vs. Tornado
In a no-holds barred, knock out, drag out cage track fight, we've got the much anticipated Train vs. Tornado matchup! In the red corner, weighing in at a couple trees, a really confused cow and a bunch of rain, THE TOOOOOORNADO! And in the blue corner, weighing in at more tons than I can count or even fathom with my animal brain, THOOOOOMAS. THE. TAAAAAANK ENGINE!
So, who will win?
Hint: Dora, I've the feeling we're not in Kansas anymore. That's right folks, WE ARE OUT EXPLORING UNCHARTED TERRITORY. CHOO CHOO!
Youtube (fight starts at 1:00)
Thanks to Red, who, together with blue, makes purple. And love.
Jan 25 2009 T-Mobile's Dance Spectacular Commercial
This is a recent commercial from T-Mobile that is almost identical in execution to this stunt (the second video), except there's like a billion times more dancing in this one. Basically a bunch of confederates (damn you, the north!) are walking around in a train station when they bust out in dance and get all wild up in that bitch while onlookers go "what the f***?" and a couple old people question if they remembered to take their medication. Good times. Oh man -- can you imagine if you were just been passing through on your way to catch a train? You'd have missed it. Then been pissed.
Youtube
Thanks to Jon and Mr M, who did a dance number in the middle school talent show but got booed off stage so they set off a stink-bomb in the back of the auditorium.
Sep 19 2008 More Phone Calls From Beyond The Grave
Okay, last time it was text messages, but still. Apparently close family members of Chuck Peck, a passenger who died on impact as a result of the recently crashed Metrolink train, received 35 calls from him the night of the accident.
It is logical to assume that the phone calls were the result of a technical malfunction and not supernatural forces. And, as far as I know, there has been no analysis of the condition of the cellphone itself. But consider this--all 35 calls were made to close family members only: his son, brother, sister, stepmother and fiancee.
Holy crap that is freaky. And sad. But to cheer you up, I've got a similar, happier story: A roommate of mine got killed by a city bus but still managed to order 4 XL pepperoni pizzas to the apartment. Just kidding, I stole his credit card before they deactivated it.
LA Train Victim Makes 35 Phone Calls From Beyond the Grave [gizmodo]
Thanks to Matt, who once sent an email from beyond the birth.
Jul 18 2008 Eye Candy: More Chinese Anti-Terrorism Exercises For The Olympics, With Captions!
Remember the picture of the Chinese military on Segways as part of an anti-terrorism exercise? Well it turns out there's a whole bunch more of them performing various drills. And I've posted them here for your viewing pleasure. This is one of the group practicing their synchronized flailing routine.
Hit the jump for 7 more, with captions!
Jun 4 2008 UPDATE: Freaking Brilliant: A Subway Pole Dancer
In public transportation news, police in Bucharest, Romania are looking for some chick that performs pole dances on the city's subway between stations and then uses AN EMPTY KFC BUCKET to ask for donations. That's actually her in the picture (that looks like it was taken with a pinhole-cameraphone through a paper bag).
Passengers described the dancer, photographed by a passenger's mobile phone, as a "well-dressed, attractive, student-like young woman".Her modus operandi is to play Tom Jones's You Can Leave Your Hat On on a portable CD player while taking off her clothes and dancing around a pole.
One passenger, George Stancu, who witnessed the act, said: "I can't say I didn't like the show but I found it unusual. There are lots of kids who travel by underground and I just don't think it's proper."
A police spokesman said the woman faced charges and a fine for indecent exposure and public begging if she is caught in the act.
Indecent exposure? That's probably the only decent exposure those people have seen in years. I can't believe this. I mean, charges and a fine? A key to the city, sure, maybe even a national holiday named after her -- but a fine?
UPDATE: HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT!! NSFW VIDEO OF A PERFORMANCE ADDED AFTER THE JUMP! WOOHOO, BARE BOOBS! (thanks io)
Uncensored picture (which looks like a shapely pixelated woman in bra and underwear) and NSFW video after the jump.
Continue Reading " UPDATE: Freaking Brilliant: A Subway Pole Dancer "
Apr 14 2008 I Want To Be A Pusher When I Grow Up
This is the job I want when I grow up. And no, not because it gives you a great opportunity to cop the occasional feel.
Oshiya, or "pusher", is an informal Japanese term for a worker who stands on the platform of a railway station during the morning and evening rush hours, and pushes people onto the train. This video is a good example of just how crowded it gets on Japanese trains.
Oh man that's great. I love how the pusher starts shoving the guy in the white coat when he's nowhere near the door. So awesome. I could totally do that for a living. I'd love my job so much I'd even go above and beyond the call of duty, constantly honing my ability to efficiently get people on the train. I've already got a few new proprietary techniques in mind. Namely kicking and pile driving.
Thanks to Robin, who would make the best pusher sidekick ever, for the tip
Apr 11 2008 IKEA Turns Japanese Monorail Into Showroom
IKEA, best known for their sweet coffee table that I bought, has turned the Kobe Portliner Monorail of Port Island, Japan into a traveling showroom. As you can see it looks like someone threw up all over the place. It will remain that way until May 6th, so if you're in the area go check it out. While the bright colors and nutty patterns make me a little queasy, I still think it's a great idea. They should totally pimp out the D.C. Metro like this. That way when the guy sitting behind me pulls his thingy out and starts beating it against the back of my seat I can at least pretend I'm in a furniture store.
A bunch more pictures of the pimped out trains after the jump.
Continue Reading " IKEA Turns Japanese Monorail Into Showroom "
Jan 16 2008 I'm No Perv, I Swear!: Portable Subway Straps
Well I'm sure you all know about the subway groping problem that Japan has. If not, Japan has a problem with men playing grab-ass (with women) on the subway. Well now there's a solution for Japanese men aiming to keep a clean reputation -- portable subway straps (525 yen, ~$5). What you do is, uh, hold the thing -- that way women won't accuse you of touching them because you're holding on to a giant plastic door knocker. I recommend getting two just to be safe. Because while the guy on the far right of the picture is clearly not doing any groping with his right hand, I'm pretty sure his left is knuckle deep in ass. But to his credit, it's probably his own.
Portable subway strap shows you're no groper [pinktentacle]
