Robert “The F**k” Downey Jr’s Short Film on Confidence

There has been a wave of Hollywood A-list actors offering up their services to small indie short films in recent years such as the likes of Keira Knightley, Colin Firth and Richard E Grant to name but a few. “The Route” directed by Stephen Frears and starring only the charismatic Robert Downey Jr is an interesting blend of the emotive as well as the intriguing. I can guarantee that the astonishingly well written plot will have you smiling by the end.

 

 

 

Let me know what you think in the comments section below or me directly.

Source: OneCoolThingADay.com

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OMGS: Jack Nicholson’s Sister, or should we say Mother?

At age 37, actor Jack Nicholson discovered that the woman he’d always known as his sister was actually his mother.

 

Jack Nicholson was born as the illegitimate child of his 17-year old mother June Nicholson. Fearing that she could not cope with the stresses of parenthood, Jack’s grandmother Ethel May became what Jack knew to be his mother and June was his sister. This was only discovered in 1974 after the two had passed away and a reporter from Times Magazine revealed and confirmed the truth about Jack’s family.

Source: Snopes

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Now Safe to Hadouken in the Bedroom with Street Fighter Condom

Just when you thought you’ve seen it all, in arrives the new Street Fighter branded condoms. I have no idea if this is just a novelty but the packet is pretty humorous. I had to pixelate out the image myself on good ol’ Photoshop in case I offended anybody but if you’re sick enough and want to see the image without my photoshopping handiwork, go to the source below. Hadouken!

 

Source: Destructoid

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“BioErgonomic Pen” brings out the Giggles

This “BioErgonomic Pen” or Pen-Is as I like to call it seems almost too funny to be true. I mean seriously? How did this get past the concept phase? Surely it can’t be a genuine product, but oh my friends I’m afraid it is.

 

This Pen-Is is designed by Mohsen tafazzoly and in his words:

This BioErgonomic pen is shaped to better fit in the hands. The squatter base helps it rests between the fingers and that bump keeps it from slipping.

Now I wonder how many other guy’s have gotten away with saying that to their significant other …

 

 

Source: Yanko Design

 

Technorati Tags: bioergonomic pen,mohsen tafazzoly

 

 

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Chewbacca Riding A Squirrel Killing Nazis

In probably one of the most awesome pictures I’ve seen in a while, here is Chewbacca riding a giant squirrel killing Nazis.

 

Is there anything more I need to add?

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Twilight Eclipse takes its first Human Life

On June 30th, Twilight fever hit the planet with hordes of teenagers flocking to their nearest cinema to get another helping of teen angst on the big screen. However earlier today, less than a week after Twilight first came out, A 23 year old man from New Zealand was found dead in the cinema after watching the new Eclipse movie.

 

Click the jump to find out more.

 

It is believed that the man attended the 6.00pm screening of the new movie in a cinema in Wellington and that he was discovered slumped over at the end of the film. Staff only realised during the post-film clean up that the man whom they thought had fallen asleep (you can see why). An early examination of the body revealed no injuries or anything suspicious.

 

Could the film really be so boring as to have killed a man? Or perhaps there was just too much angst for his heart to bare. We’ll know soon enough.

Source: Examiner

 

Related articles

• The Twilight Saga: Eclipse breaks US release record (guardian.co.uk)
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• Twilight Fans Already Camping Out for Eclipse Premiere (shoppingblog.com)
• 'Eclipse' Leaves One Man Dead in New Zealand (brainz.org)

LiveJournal Tags: Twilight Eclipse

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Bendtner Colours in his Socks?

 

In probably the strangest 10 seconds of footage from the World Cup so far this year, it comes from Japan’s comprehensive beating of Denmark last night in the group stages and we have Nicklas Bendtner using a felt tip ten colouring in the tape around the socks? “Huh?” I hear you all say? The only reason I could think for this was that maybe he didn’t want a white target on his ankles for the Japanese defenders to target? That’s stretching it still just a little bit. Especially considering he’s wearing silver and orange boots. That said it’s also a pretty lame attempt at colouring in that even a 10 year old child could do better. Either way Bendtner should probably have been concentrating more on his game than the colour of his ankle taping.

 

Click the jump to see the bizarre video.

 

 

EDIT (25/06/2010): A comment on the original post by David Langham explains:

He had a message on his socks. Apparently it violated FIFA rules, you’re not meant to have any messages other than official patches/sponsors etc.

So the ref’s told him to block it out, he got the marker from his team staff, I guess.

Case Solved.

Source: 101 Great Goals Blog

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• World Cup Live: Denmark-Japan (blogs.wsj.com)
• Japan stuns Denmark to advance (msn.foxsports.com)
• Japan beats Denmark to advance (thestar.com)
• Stunning free-kicks secure Japan's place in last 16 (independent.co.uk)
• Group E: Bendtner hopes Danes can head off 'Blue Samurai' (independent.co.uk)

LiveJournal Tags: World Cup,FIFA,Bendtner

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Ingenious Door Handle Concept

This is a concept piece from the French designer Arnaud Lapierre and brings a new concept into the idea of home security. We all know the conventional way of opening a door, you turn the handle/knob and then push/pull to open your conventional door. However what if for privacy and security’s sake we decide to remove the handle altogether. Then what are you left with? Well a rather rudimentary yet ingenious way of security your door. If only someone were to create this handle into a marketable product, I’d be down to my local IKEA in a flash. 

Check the photos out after the jump.

 

 

 

The Doorknob Condition uses an innovated pulley system that makes the knob on the exterior recess inwards when pulled from the inside. Without a knob to use, there’s no way to get it.

Source: Yanko Design

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Gundam Mech invades Tokyo

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Gracing the Tokyo skyline this summer in Tokyo will be the opening of the new Gundam statue to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Gundam franchise. The 1:1 scale Gundam is of the classic RX-78-2 and will have sounds, lights, smoke screens and moving parts to top it all off.

 

Rather than regurgitate what most blogs already say, I’ve added in the relevant articles below so skim through those for more images and videos of the Gundam in action.

 

However this definitely demonstrates Japan’s love for all things anime and mecha so if you’re planning on going to Japan at any time, drop this little guy a visit.

 

 

Technorati Tags: Gundam,mech,tokyo,japan

 

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• Gundam turns 30, celebrates with the most awesome statue ever (engadget.com)
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• Gundam turns 30; robot will live on, creator says (ctv.ca)
• 5 Reasons Japan Has It Better Than All Of Us (manolith.com)
• Japan Getting "Life-Sized" Standing Gundam [Gundam] (kotaku.com)
• Life-Sized Gundam Has Nice Legs [Japan] (kotaku.com)
• Tokyo gets a 60-foot tall Gundam robot suit (crunchgear.com)
• Giant Gundam to Make 30th Anniversary Debut (everyjoe.com)

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S. Korea to pay Tourists to catch Swine Flu

In probably the most seemingly ludicrous piece marketing to be released by a tourism agency, the KTO (Korean National Tourism Agency) are set to announce it's catchy new "H1N1 New Strain Influenza Cash Relief Program".

The South Korean tourism board is set to offer NT $100,000 (New Taiwan Dollar) to any Taiwanese Tourists who catches the potentially lethally virus whilst on holiday in Korea. That equates to roughly just under £2,000 or about $3000 U.S.

 

This seemingly absurd piece of publicity does have some logical roots. The peak season in South Korea’s Tourism industry is just starting to take off and with the current economic climate the way it is, a slump in these coming summer months could damage businesses in this years winter months. Therefore by offering an almost compensation like scheme to attract visitors to travel, the hope that tourists will make full use of Korea’s flourishing theme parks and historical attractions.

There are some catches though as you have to be flying via Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, China Airlines, Eva Airways or TransAsia Airwayski. That and clearly you can’t be a stop over flight as that won’t go against the point of the scheme. Either way, if you don’t die and do end up contracting the virus whilst in Korea, start applying for that extra holiday spending money

 

Technorati Tags: swine flu,taiwan,KTO,h1n1,tourism

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Ice Cream Kid at Brazil vs Italy Match

This is an absolutely quality piece of footage. During the Brazil vs Italy match last Saturday (20th June), something we spotted on TV which can only be defined as one of those eh? What the hell moments appeared on Televisions across the world.

 

It’s the 57th minute of the game, Brazil are walking all over the Italians by a margin of 3 goals to nil and playing brilliant olé football and the camera pans over to a chubby ginger kid in the crowd and well, have a look and see what happens next.

 

 

Was it too hot? Was that maybe not an Ice Cream? Do Magnum bars heal all wounds? Or perhaps somebody has really got to just check that kid’s IQ.

 

Related articles

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• The world derby: Brazil vs. Italy (cbc.ca)

Technorati Tags: football,ice cream,brazil,italy,confederations cup

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Mountain in China is Painted Green

Ok so I’ve posted up a few weird stories, notably all from our friends in the Far East. However this one just strikes me as being odd, very odd. It appears to be yet another prime example of the Government in China covering up what it sees as a flaw, or at least the local county officials appear to feel that way.

 

Villagers in South West China will be waking up to the sight of not a brown and barren mountain but rather a vividly painted green one. And I mean vivid, it’s about the same shade as the Hulk. When asking the workers who were spraying the mountain what the reason for all this was, it appears that they weren’t given any reason. In fact upon further investigation, nor did the people who were supposedly in charge at the Fumin County Forestry Department. All they said was that they were just obeying orders from the top.

 

The best guess has been that the 470,000 yuan (£34,000) paint job appears to have been part of an effort to make the country green. Very green. Although it seems they misread the memo translating “environmentally green” to “colour green”. That or according to confused local villagers, an attempt to bring better Feng Shui to the region considering how the Forestry departments offices actually face that side of the mountain.

 

Now correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t Feng Shui revolve around Mother Nature and the way of balancing energies in an environment so that it gives good health and fortune? Spray painting a mountain green really doesn’t seem to be very natural at all. I guess that’s China for you.

 

 

Source: New York Times

Technorati Tags: china,mountain,green,environment,weird

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Artist turns an Elephant into Pele

Either because they ran out of things to report on, or were feeling a little creative, Sky Sports News brought on Sports artists Paul Trevillion to fill in the time with a little “trick” that he does. Quite how he came up with this is anybody’s guess but anyways, enjoy the video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: 101GreatGoals

Technorati Tags: pele,elephant,sky sports news,football,artist,drawing

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Kings of the Sea: The Nomura Jellyfish

Now I’m not usually one to comment about the Wildlife and Nature that roam around our blue planet but this one definitely caught my eye. Jellyfish, not just any jellyfish but ones from Japan continues to evolve into something that I pray we may one day witness as the real life epic faceoff that is between Godzilla and Giant Jellyfish.

 

 

 

Increasing in Japanese waters, Jellyfish like the one in the photo are slowly overruling the seas. A combination of over fishing and more nutrients in the sea are to blame according to Discovery News:

 

Jellyfish are normally kept in check by fish, which eat small jellyfish and compete for jellyfish food such as zooplankton, researchers said. But, with overfishing, jellyfish numbers are increasing.

 

These huge creatures can burst through fishing nets, as well as destroy local fisheries with their taste for fish eggs and larvae.

 

Anthony Richardson of CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research and colleagues reported their findings in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution to coincide with World Oceans Day.

 

They say climate change could also cause jellyfish populations to grow. The team believes that for the first time, water conditions could lead to what they call a "jellyfish stable state," in which jellyfish rule the oceans.

 

The combination of overfishing and high levels of nutrients in the water has been linked to jellyfish blooms. Nitrogen and phosphorous in run-off cause red phytoplankton blooms, which create low-oxygen dead zones where jellyfish survive, but fish can't, researchers said.

 

"(There is) a jellyfish called Nomura, which is the biggest jellyfish in the world. It can weigh 200 kilograms (440 pounds), as big as a sumo wrestler and is 2 meters (6.5 feet) in diameter," Richardson said.

 

Richardson said jellyfish numbers are increasing in Southeast Asia, the Black Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea.

 

That said, if i was to *touch wood* bump into one of these beasts of the deep, I would 100% dirty the ocean in the only way I see possible. I doubt any amount of urine is going to save you from that sting. Now for some more images I fished out from the internet (it had to be said.):

 

 

 

 

Source: Discovery News

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Technorati Tags: Nomura,Jellyfish,Japan,Marine,Aquatic

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And You Have Won … A Boob?

Image by midorisyu via Flickr

If you hadn’t heard, it’s pretty much a fact that the Japanese do love their Vending Machines. They have everything you can imagine from Beer to Knickers to “Bread in a Tin” and even the predictable Porn.

 

This however is definitely something new, a Boob machine. I kid you not, it’s a claw machine that well rather creepingly awards you with what looks to be a silicone/foam boob. Nothing else more to say really than have a look at the photo!

 

 

 

 

As if this vending machine really needed any competition, check out the absurdly difficult (although that’s unverified) Lobster catching machine:

 

 

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• Move To Japan So You Can Drink Veggie Pepsi, Or Green Tea Coke [Shiso Pepsi] (consumerist.com)

Technorati Tags: Boobs,Vending Machine,Funny,Japan

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Tokyo School to get World’s First Robotic Teacher

 

The latest addition to the staff at this Tokyo Primary school won’t be another stern faced teacher but an android capable of teaching young children. The Robot named Saya (oddly translated roughly to “Swift Arrow”) will be capable of speaking multiple languages, do the morning register and give out homework.

 

Saya is the brainchild of one Professor Hiroshi Kobayashi at the University of Tokyo, and has been under development for the last 15 years. The robot can even express “emotion” through it’s 18 facial motions which tries to mimic human emotions, including anger.

This is part of an initiative by the Japanese Government to extend Robotics into every home in Japan by 2015 and has thrown financial bulk behind the move with around $35 million of investment. The argument for this is that with an ageing population being a worry for the short to medium term future, it aims to cut down on the welfare bill with the help of robots. By their estimation, 1 in 4 Japanese people will be aged 65 and over and no economy can run with this weighing it down.

Already in Japanese society, robots are being used to help direct traffic on the streets, lure graduates to university with fancy robots, robots that strut their stuff down a catwalk and one that simply provides company for the bored and elderly.

One step closer to having Terminators overrun the Earth? Someone get me John Connor on the phone. Pronto.

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• Japanese Robot, Saya, Can Smile, Express 6 Emotions (risingsunofnihon.com)
• Saya Robot Teacher (ubergizmo.com)
• Robot teacher that can take the register and get angry (telegraph.co.uk)

Technorati Tags: Saya,Robot,Teacher,Education,Japan,Technology

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Anyone up for Green Tea flavoured Coke? Seriously? Anyone?

Image via Wikipedia

Yet again another story from our friends in the Far East and it’s been announced that Coca Cola will be expanding their product line with Green Tea flavoured Cola-Cola. The flavour is due to be available for general sale on June 8th in Japan and well let’s just say Pepsi wants in on the act.

Read on for pictures and more after the jump plus Pepsi’s rather disgusting rival

According to a spokesman at Japan Coca Cola, “We wanted to cater to people who are looking for something that tastes good but is also good for health and beauty,”. Now anybody else raise their high brow as high as I did when you read this? I certainly did. This is ‘supposedly’ meant to contain antioxidants called Catechins which sounds more like a South African Pokémon to me personally, and is targeted at health-conscious young women between the ages of 20-40.

Not to be outdone by their market rivals, Pepsi have responded by launching their Basil flavoured Pepsi called Pepsi Shiso. Now really, Basil flavoured? Are you kidding me? If those people were really all that bothered over Green Tea or Basil why not just drink some actual Green Tea or cook up a Salad. But who knows, I wouldn’t be surprised if this really did take off.

Source: Weird Asian News

Technorati Tags: Coke,Cola,Coca Cola,Green Tea,Pepsi,Shiso,Basil,Carbonated Drinks,Cans,Japan

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