There are three ads, each blasting a different genre (hip-hop, opera, & rock) of music into a dude’s ear.

I’ve heard some pretty good things about Samsung MP3 players but since I already have an iPod, where can I pick up a pair of those headphones?

via Ads of the World

A drama screencap. Some guy’s humorous caption read: “This is what love is like in Korea.”

Some StarCraft impressions on GAG-Concert:

There’s not much else to say, other than…now I really want to go back to Korea!! :) If you check out the YouTube clip’s related videos, there are some other hilarious StarCraft impressions.

Yup, that’s me in the back there :P

The Future Photo Museum (Miraino.jp, 未来の, Future’s) is a funny place. 1) Enter your name and ‘poof’, 2) your future self appears. It’s originally in Japanese but English and Chinese versions are available (the directions are all that need translation). A brief description says:

The Future Photo Museum is keeping “Photograph” of your “Future”. Please input the name, and see the photograph in your future.

Mind the quotation marks. The mild amusement that I got after typing in my own name and seeing my “future photograph” quickly increased as I typed in the names of everybody I could think of, snickering at their (mis)fortune.

The Future Photo Museum (English)

Thanks to Dahye for the link ;)

If you saw your future self, share a link below:

It’s pretty cool to see this little truck blaze around the track. Tearing it up with the Truenos, the modded little machine runs side-by-side and competing with them.

It’s a great time and the truck’s narrow and high body make things even more impressive. Drifting was already cool and when you put a miniature truck to the line up it adds some cuteness. Perhaps perfect for getting the girlfriend out to the race track. Check it out and watch the driver push it to the max, literally.

It’s drifting. Did I have to make an Initial D reference up there? Of course.

Check out KAMISAMA099′s YouTube channel for more videos.

via Gizmodo Japan

At least that’s what a Thai Acuvue contact lenses advertisement suggests.

It’s a cute and pretty fun ad campaign. Throw out all your Tezuka, ‘shows emotion’, and other reasons because it’s in the contacts baby. But then why must some characters wear glasses? A fashion accessory? I kid.

Acuvue Define: Boy
Acuvue Define: Girl

via Ads of the World

Perhaps that resemblance inspired the Kokeshi Dumbbell こけしアレー by Gendaibujitsu Nitouhey (現代美術二等兵).

It’s a pretty clever way to decorate a dumbbell. Forged from iron, the Kokeshi Dumbbell adds some traditional Japanese craftwork to weight training equipment and makes for an fun decorative piece.

The dumbbells come in 2 and 3-kilogram weights and cost 7350 yen (approx $72 USD) and 8400 yen (approx $82 USD), respectively. It’s pretty fun art, though out of context it may seem like just a weight with a face painted on it.

Kokeshi artists traditionally sign the bottom of their creations and likewise the designer’s name is printed on the bottom (opposite the face).

You can be proud (と自慢しちゃいましょう★)

Kokeshi Dumbbell product page

via Gizmodo Japan

Playing 25 shows in March 2008, the superhuman punk rock superheroes are going all over the place and will play at this year’s SXSW (South by Southwest).

PEELANDER-Z is one of the most unique bands in the…universe. I was introduced to them in 2003 with their P-Bone Steak album. Their wacky take on punk is ridiculously hilirious.

Here’s my quick interview with Peelander-Yellow:

Shay: How did you guys meet and what made you come to NYC?
Peelander-Yellow: We are not human beings. We are Peelander and come from Z area of Peelander-Planet. We just came in NY to buy T-shirts that have a Logo “I LOVE NY” because that T-shirts is super popular on our planet.

S: Playing over 25 shows in the month of March is amazing. Where do you get your super powers from?
PY: We are eating everybody’s smile. If you give us big smile we can jump, kick, punch, and rock you.

S: How has professional wrestling influenced your act?
PY: Spirits! Professional Wrestling is our blood!

S: Who would win in a battle? Peelander Yellow, Blue, or Red?
PY: Of course Blue!!! He is king of champion of champions!

S: Human bowling, how do you play?
PY: It’s secret. Come to see our show, you will understand it!

S: What’s the craziest live show you’ve ever played?
PY: Always our show is crazy. But the show at SXSW in Austin in 2006 @cafe was craziest! I can’t remember that show. After show my brain come back to me.

S: What musicians do you enjoy listening to?
PY: I like Japanese girls Idols like Morning Musume.

S: What musicians look up to you?
PY: Mr.T

S: Where can fans buy your music?
PY: We have our own online store.

S: Anything else you want to say?
PY: Don’t think too much, just come to see our show. We will give you new world. This is homework: learn how to dance our ending song, “Happee Pee”. Get Peelander-Z DVD called “peelander is fun”.

Image courtesy of PEELANDER-Z’s official MySpace page

Well you heard it from him, go to their show and rock out. For tour dates, info, audio, and video, check them out on MySpace. Get all your PEELANDER swag on their online store.

In the wise words of Peelander-Yellow, “Thank you. See you sooooon.”

The soft-looking, smiley-faced USB hub Hubman (USBハブ「ハブマン」) is a cute little guy with some great practicality. His arms and legs serve as four high-speed USB 2.0 ports.

Get him, name him, plug him in and have him chill on your desktop while you work. He’s comparably compact to his boring, non-human-like counterparts too.

The Hubman is pretty popular and available at Japanese convenience stores like Lawson.

The USB Hubman runs for 2000-yen ($19 USD).

Design Factory

(via Gizmodo Japan)

The Toshiba’s 815T PB “PhoneBraver” on Softbank may make that task that much easier.

Actually, they’re pretty cool and I’d certainly risk robot domination to get my hands on one of these bad boys.

Complete with arms, legs, and an animated face display, the PhoneBraver “comes with enough artificial intelligence to learn the user’s habits.” It’s based on robo-phones called “Keitai Sousakan 7″ in an upcoming television drama.

The cellular humanoid can carry on simple conversations with its owner and perform all the other cellphone-standard tasks.

Who cares what the iPhone can do, I want my cell to with arms, legs, and a face! No info on pricing or availability but it comes out in April.

Japanese cellphones to turn into ‘robot’ buddies (AFP)

Toshiba’s 815T PB on Softbank threatens humanity (Endgadget)

RIKI is the pompadoured “twin brother” of actor Riki Takeuchi (竹内力). Having starred in such films as Tokyo Mafia, Battle Royale II: Requiem, and Takashi Miike’s Dead or Alive series, Takeuchi began appearing as the flashy, over-the-top singer RIKI in 2007.

His comedic alter-ego’s latest single is “紅のバックファイヤー” (Kurenai no Backfire, Crimson Backfire).

The chromatically preigniting tune is the fitting theme to the Japanese Wii game, Dekotora

That gives us this math: Riki Takeuchi + dekotora trucks + a Wii game about dekotora trucks = jazzy snazziness.

RIKI’s fits right in with the dekotora; rocking a slick doo, sunglasses, and a fiery, baggy jumpsuit.

The “紅のバックファイヤー” single includes a song that pits RIKI versus Verbal from m-flo as well as two karaoke tracks.

Tracklisting:
01. 紅のバックファイヤー
02. 男の子守唄 RIKI VS VERBAL(m-flo)
03. 紅のバックファイヤー(カラオケ)
04. 男の子守唄 RIKI VS VERBAL(m-flo)(カラオケ)

Watch the goofy-cool PV for “紅のバックファイヤー”

Buy “紅のバックファイヤー” by RIKI

Dekotora the game (watch the trailer starring RIKI on the)