Beale Cipher - Truth or Hoax? Up to You

Beale Cipher is something I got to knew through "Simple Genius" by David Baldacci. The legends are definitely made more attractive by this kind of mysterious factors. It is always amusing to see how people strive to get rich. At least David Baldacci has (been inspired to) got richer through this Beal Cipher.

Fully-Functioning Synaesthesia Machine

Quoted from gizmodo.

Neuroscience

Fully-Functioning Synaesthesia Machine

You've probably heard about synaesthesia, the glamorous neurological condition in which people's senses get swapped so that they smell colors and feel words. Now a group of roboticists and bioengineers have got a working prototype of a little machine that gives you the synaesthetic ability to feel things you see. This tiny device attaches to your fingertip, using a camera to translate visual images into feelings by activating a little vibrator attached to the sensitive nerves in your finger. So you wave your hands around and "feel" objects across the street.

The creators of this device, called the Fingersight, write:

Extending the hand's innate ability, we mount miniature cameras on individual fingertips, permitting rapid sweeping through the 3D visual environment at greater distances. The information gleaned from each fingertip camera is fed back to that finger by a small vibrator, so the sense of touch remains related to each finger's individual interaction with the environment. Metaphorically speaking, we have given eyesight to the fingers, and thus we call the resulting capability, "Fingersight."

They've been working on this device and demoing it at conferences for about a year. Can't wait for the consumer version. Whoa, man, I can FEEL the colors on that chair across the room. No really, I can.

Tokyo Motor Show 2007

Yesterday, I went to Makuhari in Chiba for the Tokyo Motor Show 2007（東京モーターショー） The main purpose was not to see the cars, but to try out my new lens, a Nikkor VR (vibration reduction) one at last!
The result is really exiting. I took many photos of the campain ladies without using flash, under the not so great lighting, and sometimes with zoom from 100mm to 200mm. I got most of them nicely focoused.
The cars, motor cycles and all kinds of componets for cars are exciting, at least full of exciting technologies. But I was more amazed at how many models the companies have hired. Everywhere where demonstrations by the models are in progress, there gethered many photographers. Many of them have very professional gears, including professional flash lights. I found out for the first time that the built-in flash of D200 is really not good for such kind of situation. First of all, it takes quite some time to recharge. Secondly, the battery goes away at much faster speed.
I have two 8GB CF, and always take pictures in RAW mode, averaging 15.5MB per shot. That means I can take about 488 shots with each CF. I also I have a backup battery. Normally, I can take more than 488 shots with one battery. But yesterday, I could barely take 488 with one fully charged battery. Also since there were so many interesting subjects to take, I used up all CF and battery before I felt content to go home.
Finally, I had to rely on my compact digital camera, the Sybershot. It made me feel better because at least I could still keep taking pictures, to make full use of my 1,300 yen worth of time (yes, that's the entrance fee).
On the way back, I had the buffet dinner at Asian Garden. Some of the food there are quite salty, but at least I could have many varieties.

Warping Wallpaper, Grandma's House Got Trippy (Gizmodo copy)

This is a cute idea. Copied from Gizmodo.

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Warping Wallpaper, Grandma's House Got Trippy

Warping wallpaper may be the brainchild of German surrealist artist Tom Hanke, but it's a real product nonetheless. Coming in any pattern you wish, the warping wallpaper creates the illusion of bending and bulging to accommodate doors, windows and pictures. The catch? This wallpaper isn't based upon space age technology, but simple science. more »

How an ID (Industrial Designer) Makes the Difference.

Look at how an ID (Industrial Designer) makes the differences, even with a mouse trap. (copied from Gizmodo).

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Conceptual Non-Lethal Mousetraps Made from Everyday Objects

Industrial designer Roger Arquer came up with four ideas for a non-lethal mousetrap using household objects such as lightbulbs, paper clips, springs and pint glasses. And, of course, cheese. Check the gallery below for his ingenious devices.

The Barcelona-born designer says that you can do what you want with the mice after you've caught them. Seeing as I don't have a python, I think I'll make myself a mouse-fur bikini. [Roger Arquer via Dezeen]

Sicko

Michael Moore took a group of patients who could not receive proper medical treatement in U.S. to Cuba, who has one of the (claimed) best health care systems in the world, and where the Moore group all received good medical cares. Some of them broke into tears at the unbelievable free or extremely cheap costs.
He should also bring the patient to China, and look at how people their are being treated in hospital. China is becoming more capitalist than any other developed countries. Very little of socialism remains there now. At the same time, most of the developed countries are benefiting from the changes in China, except most of Chinese. I am saying "most of Chinese" because only a small percentage of Chinese have become finacially rich and are enjoyinging a better life than even most of middle class people in developed countries.
No matter how dramatization or exaggeration Moore has done, I believe that there are many serious problems in America's medical system, in similar ways to other systems. One of the problems is that the mass media is still under control or influence from the government, directly or indirectly. The direct influences come from the nemerous lobbyists from all kinds of rich companies, who will do anything to divert government policies toward their benefits. Indirect control or influences come in more tricky forms, much more so than those adopted by Chinese government. So tricky that most of American believe that Chinese government is a dictortatorship and terrorist, whereas US government is the opposite.
Politics: who get what, when, how. - Harold Lasswell
Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time. - E. B. White

How many have you...?! どんだけ～

This (どんだけ～) is said to be the term used by gay people in Shinjuku 2 chome. Basically it means "how many have you...?!". Now I can hear it ofen on TV. Being in Japan long enough, I have witnessed origination of many new words and terms.

Leg Cut off But not Noticed? - 足切断気付かず２キロ走る

A man riding on his favorite motorcycle got his foot and lower leg cut off. But he did not notice it until continue running for 2 more kilo meters (毎日新聞記事). 　Some expert said that when one is hurt badly, one's brain will generate morphine type of substance. Since the man must have been concentrating on his high speed cruising, and he seldom need to use his (right, the cut one) leg for braking, the morphine type substance helped to prevent him from realizing his lost.