October 26, 2005
don't make us come over there

CNN.com: Japan developing remote control for humans

I felt a mysterious, irresistible urge to start walking to the right whenever the researcher turned the switch to the right. I was convinced -- mistakenly -- that this was the only way to maintain my balance.

The phenomenon is painless but dramatic. Your feet start to move before you know it. I could even remote-control myself by taking the switch into my own hands.

There's no proven-beyond-a-doubt explanation yet as to why people start veering when electricity hits their ear. But NTT researchers say they were able to make a person walk along a route in the shape of a giant pretzel using this technique

Posted by illovich at 09:33 AM
October 17, 2005
Model Railroad Slums

Model Railroad Slums puts the HO back into train sets, if you know what I mean.

OMG, I can't believe I just made a model train scale joke. Get me my medicine!

Seriously though, props to this guy. Inventive converted and scratch built cityscape scenery that puts a fantastic twist on the standard model train layout.

Posted by illovich at 04:46 PM
October 04, 2005
Take that, Rabies!

The Peking Duck: Guangzhou pet dogs beaten to death by government teams

Apparently the government in Guangzhou is tackling a rabies outbreak the only way they know how: by sending brute squads around to beat dogs to death in front of their owners. Take that, Rabies!

Ironically, Guangzhou is one of the only Chinese local governments to charge fees on dog ownership: 10,000 yuan (US$1,235) for the first year and 6,000 yuan (US$741) every year thereafter. It's a shame that they couldn't use that money for research and discover a rabies vaccine, or something like that.

Posted by illovich at 02:57 PM