I think we can all agree that magnetic coupling is pretty cool. But in popular culture, when you say ‘transformer’, people automatically think of robots that turn into cars or dinosaurs and battle each other for control of the universe (which is also pretty cool). In an effort to bring the other kind [...]

Andy is our resident batcow who also doubles as small demon in our tabletop Vampire sessions (he even has his own stat sheet). I first stumbled across Andy sitting on a table in an innocuous homegoods store in downtown Hamamatsu. The moment I saw him I knew he was coming home with me, [...]

The rainy season has come and gone, replaced by a blazingly hot, humid, and repressive summer. The days are now averaging around 35º C, hot enough to render yours truly into a lifeless piece of flesh lounging about in her underwear in front of two electric fans. Cold showers provide temporary [...]

It’s been quiet around here, and I only have World of Warcraft to blame. I still bathe on a regular basis and haven’t given up my day job (yet), but I forget to eat and am incredibly moody when the server is having problems (more often than not on Khaz’goroth).

The West has always lagged behind Japan when it comes to technological innovation, especially in the realm of robots and heated toilet seats. Humanoid machines and warm bums are indeed exciting, but pale in comparison to the unsung combini (convience store), whose shopping experience Japan has elevated to an artform. And the Pièce [...]

My limited edition set of web designer buttons has finally made it to my doorstep after taking a somewhat circuitous route via my mom’s house (thanks mom!). Khoi Vinh’s design originally triggered my buying impulse, but I must say that all the designs (and designers) are quite fetching. Now my sabo-kitty finally has [...]

Japanese-English, or Engrish, adorns every other physical object in Japan, from clothing to billboards to candy. It’s near impossible to avoid the omnipresent poetic flourishes painted on the side of pachinko parlours and gas stations, and has even inspired several websites dedicated to documenting the phenomenon, including an online store that sells [...]