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February 26, 2006
V'Dub In Da Hizzouse!
These series of commercials for VW's new GTI Mark 5 cracks me up. Spoofed off Pimp My Ride and brilliantly done too. Actually makes me want one.
V'Dub fo LIFE, ya heard?
Check out the other two videos here and here
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February 19, 2006
I REALLY Miss Aibo!
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February 18, 2006
Child's Play
Children of the Playstation era have grown up in a totally different world from that of what most of you have. A recent focus group (the second of 2) conducted by Electronic Gaming Monthly reveals that these kids have no respect for many of the video games we hail as all time classics and yet to be matched by any of today's hyper realistic games. So what gives?
The kids were all shoved in a room and asked to comment on many of yesteryears console and arcade classics. Their responses shocked so many of EGM's older readers, the magazine was flooded with letters and emails regarding the kid's lack of respect from where games came from and blamed today's uber realistic graphics brainwashing them to go for aesthetics over innovative gameplay.
The games the kids were asked to play were;
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out (Nintendo Entertainment System - 1987)
Adventure (Atari 2600 - 1978)
The Legend of Zelda (Nintendo Entertainment System - 1987)
Star Wars (Arcade - 1983)
Defender (Arcade - 1980)
720ยบ (Arcade - 1986)
Grand Theft Auto (Playstation - 1998)
Gunstar Heros (Sega Genesis - 1993)
Galaga (Arcade - 1981)
Street Fighter II (Arcade - 1991)
The general comments from the kids were about the simplistic graphics. They seemed unable to focus on actual gameplay when characters are represented by simple dots. Many of the kids haven't even seen what some the characters looked like outside of their current 3D form. In the first focus group, one kid commented about how the original Mario looked so weird because he was flat. Another kid asked what buttons to press to make the blocks in Tetris explode. When the interviewer explained to him that you can't make them explode, the kid became totally disappointed and dismissed the game.
I am only 25 and still game nearly daily, but I still recall the feelings I got playing the "classic" games. I am from the Nintendo generation and the Playstation generation is only one after mine so in a way I can still see where the kids are coming from. However, I wonder what many of you, whom are from the Atari and Colecovision days, think of the articles.
via 1up
Posted by tranism at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
February 11, 2006
Sweden Says No To Oil
Sweden is joining the short but growing list of countries with plans to be completely oil independent. Iceland is almost already totally oil independent but wants to take it a step further by promising all of its energy will come from solar and geothermal power and its transportation system powered by hydrogen. Brazil plans to completely switch to bio power made from sugar cane within 5 years. In Sweden's case, the country of over 9 million wants to switch to renewable energy sources by 2020.
It may sound like an easy order for a small country but that's just 15 years away. The amount of planning and investment necessary is staggering.
Analysts say Sweden is in a better position to make a switch so quickly because the country was hit hard during the oil crisis in the 70's. Almost all of the country's electricity now comes from hydro, nuclear, and geothermal power. Fossil fuels are only imported for transportation. Sweden's plan is to invest heavily in fuel cell and recyclable energy to cover its need in lieu of expanding its nuclear operations. I applaud them for that.
This is in sharp contrast to the United States whom is "addicted" to oil and the Bush administration plans to ween the country off oil by reinvesting in nuclear power which many analysts believe is just prelude to greater waste problems in the future.
I am in no way an eco-nut but I have to applaud Sweden for taking such bold steps. The country is one of the most advanced nations in aeronautics, telecommunications and soon, renewable energy. If anything I think the US needs a lesson from the rest of the world but it will have to be from someone closer to home. Perhaps "America Junior", our great neighbors to the north can set an example for us.
NOTE: "America Junior" is not meant to be derogatory in anyway to our neighbors in the North. I just felt like using that phrase after hearing it on an episode of the Family Guy.
Posted by tranism at 2:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Exactitudes
I've been keeping my eye on this project called Exactitutes by Rotterdam based photographic team Ari Versluis and Ellie Uyttenbroek.
The duo have been photographing different social networks and groups noting the striking dress codes between various groups. The image above are of SKINHEADS in Europe. Although many of them do not live anywhere near each other, the style of their social group is defined enough that it transcends distance.
more pictures of other groups after the jump
FLYGIRLS
GHOULIES
SHOW AND TELL
ECOPUNKS
TECHNOGIRLS
Posted by tranism at 1:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
February 7, 2006
Park(ing)
plankton here, jackin' electro's blog account again
This creative group of people took the initiative to make San Francisco more green and improve the quality of urban habitats - at least temporary. "Park(ing)" a park in a metered parking spot made it possible for people to rest on the bench, relax on the grass, or just do nothing until the meter ran out.
70% of San Francisco's downtown outdoor space is dedicated to private vehicle, while only a fraction is allocated to the public realm.
Watch the trailer on their website to see the park unfold.
Read full story. . .
Posted by tranism at 3:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
February 6, 2006
The Brick Testament
This cracked me up!
The Brick Testament is made to give people an increased knowledge of the contents of the Bible in a way that is fun and compelling while staying very true to the original versions. To this end, all stories are retold using direct quotes from the Bible. Some pretty graphic stuff! Maybe the Bible is worth a flip through after all...
Posted by at 9:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
MIT Charm School
Brainiac or not, there are primal urges that every human feels and the brilliant but socially akward over at MIT are being "taught" how to get laid.
The charm school offers 23 classes that range from dating etiquette to table manners all in hopes of helping these men and women find true love. Lets raise a glass to the nerds over at MIT.
P.S. I'll take them as is. I LOVE me a nerd.
via The Raw Feed
Posted by tranism at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Winter Olympians Play With Snow
Just a bunch of cool photos of winter olympiads playing with big balls of snow.
click on the images to get a bigger view
via nytimes
Posted by tranism at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
February 3, 2006
How The Japanese View America
click image to enlarge
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Spotlight
Spotlight is a set of 16 interactive portraits. Each portrait has a set of 9 temporal gestures - photographic quality sequences of human gestures. The portraits are networked and placed in a 4x4 layout.
Every few seconds, a randomly selected portrait looks towards a neighboring portrait. In turn the neighboring portrait looks back. To an observer, these "random discussions" create a sense of social dynamics. The observer can interrupt the group dynamics at any time by selecting on of the 16 portraits. The remaining 15 portraits react and direct their attention to the selected portrait; being the center of attention.
check out the movie
Posted by tranism at 3:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Legend Of Zelda Turns 20
Link is officially 20 years old! Well not exactly. Link's age seems to fluctuate with each iteration but technically its been 20 years since the original Legend of Zelda game graced the NES.
I seem to be on a video game binge today but there's just so much awesomeness going on in that world right now. :)
Available only in Japan, the 20th Anniversary pixel block for The Legend of Zelda. I so wish Nintendo of America would release here. Nintendo of Japan always gets all the cool stuff. :(
Posted by tranism at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Show Some Love For Ice Climbers
1984 was the year when Nintendo set loose Ice Climbers on the original NES. The game's premise was simple. You played the role of Bobo and Nana - Eskimo ice climbers scaling obstacles, meanwhile knocking birds and bears out of your way, and eating veggies to replenish your life, all just to get to the top.
They triumphantly returned on Gamecube's Super Smash Bros. Melee appearing as a tag team duo tethered to one another, cooperatively executing deadly war-hammer moves, throwing large blocks of ice, and flying thru the air using each other as a counterweight.
I wanna see them back in a new game. Although some criticize Nintendo for constantly rehashing their old mascots over and over but if done well, I have no problem with that. I would love to see Bobo and Nana again in new adventures. Don't you?
more pictures after the jump
Posted by tranism at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)