Gizmodo Australia » wtf

Guy Marries Video Game, We Don’t Judge

Mark Wilson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:40:00 +0000

That Nene Anegasaki, she’s a charmer. She’s also a video game character from extreme dating sim Love Plus, now wedded to a flesh-and-blood gamer.

The two were married when a man brought his DS along with a copy of Love Plus to a church in Guam. There’s no word on honeymoon plans, but the two will be holding a small reception for family, close friends and the internet on November 22. (Seriously, there will be a webcam and stuff.)

It just goes to show, the power of Woman has no bounds. Stick her in a digital fortress, simplify her beauty to Nintendo DS rendering limits and give her a shrill, anime voice. Woman will triumph all the same. [Tiny Cartridge via technabob]

Man Spoke Only Klingon To His Son For Three Years

Rosa Golijan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:46:00 +0000

d’Armond Speers isn’t really a huge Star Trek fan. The reason he spoke only in Klingon during his son’s first three years of life was to learn about the language acquisition process. Yeah, sure. What a petaQ.

Yes, I think That Speers is such a horrid person that I had to learn how to say so in Klingon from our intern Don. It just baffles me that Speers actually sounds genuinely proud of his personal pseudo-academic project:

I was interested in the question of whether my son, going through his first language acquisition process, would acquire it like any human language. He was definitely starting to learn it.”

It’s great that he wanted to see how languages are picked up, but did he not think that there’s potential that he hindered his son’s social development by keeping focus away from a real language? I’m all for teaching foreign languages early on, but lets make it ones that are spoken on this planet, please. [Citypages viaGeekologie]

Photo by Star Wars Blog, probably not d’Armond Speers.

Beautiful Boule Crystal Spiral Clock Is An Orb Of Extravagance

Danny Allen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:27:40 +0000

231 intricate parts go into the design of this 1kg ball of crystal excess. The spiral is fashioned from white gold and 25 jewels. It can be yours from Hermés Paris for just $US560,000. Ahh, crap.

[Hermès via SlashGear]

Awkward Microsoft Store Dances Are Why I Shop Online

Danny Allen — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:26:40 +0000

These staffers at the Microsoft Store in Mission Viejo, CA might seem really excited, but the clearly rehearsed dance routine comes across more like some kind of Stockholm syndrome.

I’ve heard the Microsoft Store pays well and all, but seriously, what a dick move for making employees do this. That’s what Disney World and Cruise Lines are for. [YouTube via Engadget]

1984’s “Masterpiece Of Micro-Processor Technology” [NSFW]

Danny Allen — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:00:00 +0000

Hey, that’s their words, not mine — I’m almost lost for any. “Sculptured by a European artist … the Erotica phone plugs into any wall-jack and is fully-guaranteed.” I bet, just look how classy this gent seems with an ear full of cleavage.

Keep it tasteless 1984. I’ve got no idea what fine publication this appeared in, but it looks like the sales came out of Mission, Kansas. And no, the 1800 number no longer works.

How much would this ultimate conversation piece have set you back? Just $US75, including shipping which takes 3-6 weeks. That’s an insane $US150 bucks today. I wonder how many they sold… [Paco Camino and LiveJournal via CopyRanter]

Steve Jobs And Sarah Jessica Parker Are Being Sued

Rosa Golijan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:45:00 +0000

In 1989, Franz Wakefield invented the iPod, iPhone and iTunes. Then the FBI stole his trade secrets and he confided in Sarah Jessica Parker and now he’s suing her and Apple…and my head’s spinning.

It’s a tale of two nutters and I can barely keep the facts straight.

The first lawsuit is Franz A. Wakefield v. Apple, Inc. and Sarah Jessica Parker:

The suit claims that Wakefield [...] developed a friendship with Parker and “made a trade secret deal” with her to commercialize the iPod classic, nano, mini, shuffle, video, touch and photo, as well as iTunes and the iPhone. The supposed agreement would have granted Parker 2 percent of gross revenues from the products. Wakefield said he asked the FBI to watch over him to ensure the security of his inventions and deal with Parker.

Apparently sexy Sarah must’ve been talked into cutting freaky Frank out of the deal entirely and told suave Steve all about what would later become Apple’s products.

Frank’s pretty forgiving though, he even wrote Steve a sweet note:

This letter is to serve as a DEMAND for payment. Otherwise I will seek legal recourse for the immediate cease and desist from the manufacture, marketing, and sale of all the iPOD, iTunes, and Iphone lines; along with pursuing damages from the products sold to date, unjust enrichment caused by the theft, enforcement of the agreed 2% gross revenues on all sales, and any other applicable damages or compensation.

Such a nice guy. I’m sure he’ll win.

[Apple Insider]

On The Auction Block: 5000 Leftover Condoms From The Olympics

Rosa Golijan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:29:19 +0000

Hot date this weekend? Impress with your sports memorabilia collection by snatching up these 5000 condoms left over from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. With inscriptions of faster, higher and stronger, they’re a bargain with a starting bid of $US730.

The tale behind the auction is that somehow, out of the 100,000 condoms distributed during the Olympics, this guy managed to get 5000. I guess at some point it sunk in that if he hasn’t used a single one by now, he never will. But hey, his loss could be your pile of probably expired condoms. Let’s call it the non-gadget deal of the day. [Sports Rubbish]

Telephone Company Ripping You Off? Get Revenge With This Lamp

Rosa Golijan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:21:55 +0000

Somehow it doesn’t seem like landline providers would be happy about people using the tiny bit of electricity coming through phone-jacks to power lamps, but this thing is so kitschy-looking that it’d be hard to resist. Plus it’s cheeeeeeap.

Less than six bucks for an 8-LED lamp that won’t even be a blip on your electricity bill? Why not grab one, especially if it somehow pisses off your telco? [Uxsight OhGizmo! via Wired]

Guess Which Country Makes These USB Breast Warmers?

Adam Frucci — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:20:00 +0000

Spolier: it’s Japan! What other country would produce USB warming pads designed for lovepillows? No other country, that’s what. Finally, ladies can work at their desks wearing only their bras without worry of cold breasts! [Thanko via TokyoMango]

Woman To Live Stream Her Child’s Birth

Rosa Golijan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

People have posted videos of deliveries online before, but this Lynsee girl has decided on a live video stream when she gives birth to her first child. I’m OK with over-sharing now and then, I’m OK with over-sharing now and then, but this could be too much.

So far Lynsee has blogged every detail of her pregnancy for the blog, Moms Like Me, but now she’s taken them up on an offer to live stream the labour and childbirth for all of the internet to see. There are promises that it’ll be “tasteful” and that only already registered users of the blog will be able to make comments on the live stream, but I’m a bit weary of the entire event.

Don’t misunderstand, I’m not prudish about seeing some girl parts, nor am I squeamish about watching a live birth, but I do wonder how the internet community will react. [Boston via Switched]