Why is Japan the land of the rising sun?

I have always known my country as the land from which the sun rises. But today I was wondering why this is true only for Japan. If you ignore clock and compass, any point in the world is where the sun rises from. The sun was always worshiped by people everywhere in the world so why didn't any peoples in the West ever call their country the land of the rising sun?

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How should we choose our partners

I am not sure anymore whether trusting our feelings for someone helps us make the right choice of partners. It's tragic if what felt right at the start ended up being the wrong choice.

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Twisted luck

Hillary Clinton fell and broke her arm. What is that, good luck or bad luck? To break a leg is good luck but to break an arm whose bad luck will it be? Politicians should learn to break a leg when they fall. To break an arm when there is so much arm-twisting involved in your job is some pretty twisted 'luck'. No more walking and talking at the same time :)

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The Door of Revolt!

The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran succeeded because it didn't respect the state. Why should the opposition in Iran now respect the state if the state didn't respect the democratic will of the people and rigged the vote? A regime who came to power in a revolution must leave in a revolution. The Ayatollahs think of democracy as a revolving-door and guard it by the revolver. It's time for people to enter or exit by using another door. The Door of Revolt!

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Lost luggage notification

Most airlines' baggage and ticketing systems are separate. Even though airline companies know right away if a passenger's luggage did not make it on the plane, the passenger usually finds out about it after landing and after waiting quite a long time in the luggage pick up area. This waiting time is inconvenient and unnecessary. Airline companies can notify passengers whose luggage didn't make it to the plane during boarding or just before take off. They can send text message directly to the cell phone of the passenger and/or have a flight attendant inform them that the company will send it at their place so they don't have to wait for it when they land. All airlines should meet that standard in service.

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Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

In Wales (UK) there is a village called Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (58 letters), which in English means "Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of Saint Tysilio near the red cave." The locals call it Llanfairpwll. Llanfai.....gogogoch.com is the longest single word domain name in the world. If you don't believe me, copy and paste it on your browser to visit. If a tourist memorizes the whole name and pronounces it accurately, don't they deserve to receive free holidays there? After all, how many people in the world know about this place and how many of them who will ever visit can pronounce it right? Come on, free holidays to Llanfairpwll...#$%^**$% lol

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The Adam Smith solution to the economy. Sell inside info!

We are told the problem with trading credit derivatives over-the-counter is lack of transparency. Investors don't know how much risk the banks have on their balance sheet.

We read that no one really knows how much of these toxic assets have been bought by banks because they are not disclosed. They are not required to be disclosed because they are not regulated. A different solution to taxpayers footing the bill would be to ask the banks to keep the trades invisible but sell their invisibility to investors. Good information makes money so create a market.

The banks will make this invisible 'inside-info' visible to those investors who are willing to buy it in order to avoid betting their money on the wrong horse and lose more. But by selling the info to investors banks make money which reduces their losses so that other investors get interested in investing in them again.

Just because the logic is simple it doesn't mean it's not ingenius. If you don't think so, ask yourself why is it any more ingenius to have the taxpayer pay and not an investor pay to buy a good asset (a.k.a inside info on the losses).

The invisible hand of the market can recycle money as it knows best by turning the invisibility of risk exposure into a precious asset up for sale.

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You talking to me?

Just because we're both waiting for the same flight doesn't mean you should try and strike up a conversation with me. Ok? Ok. You talking to me?

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Sex scene in a movie. Your reaction.

How do you feel when you're watching a movie with your parents and there is a well-acted sex scene in it? Do you react to it by saying something about it or feel weird and say nothing hoping that your parents won't say anything about it either? It's just no fun for anybody to say anything, isn't it?

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Star Wars restaurant

With millions of fans around the world, it would be popular to have Star Wars restaurants. Like Planet Hollywood restaurants, they will be decorated with a Star Wars theme, but the food will be served by C-P30 droids R2-D2 robots. Tips for good service will be left in the form of olive oil, batteries or robotic parts and screws depending on, what else, the vintage of the droid :)

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i don't care if you think it's not funny

why do some people think that for a joke to be funny both sides have to find it funny? if you only laugh with jokes on other people but get upset when someone plays a joke on you, then you don't have a good sense of humor. a good sense of humor means that you can accept a joke played on you as funny. when comedians make fun of celebrities and we find it funny, it's not that we expect celebrities to approve the jokes before they're made. my definition for a joke to be funny is when, at minimum, third-parties find it funny. both parties involved don't have to always find it funny.

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New carpet smell machines

Install machines in carpet stores that waft out the smell of new carpet in the same way food stores waft out the smell of fresh bread or luxury car seats are sprayed to waft out the smell of fresh leather.

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PETCO

I read somewhere that concerned CIA officials have created a new organization called People for the Ethical Treatment of Americans (PETA). Throughout the world, incidents of mistreatment of Americans have been increasing at an alarming rate. Founded after 9/11, PETA operates under the basic principle that Americans are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment without their consent. Then I was reminded of this video I had seen a few years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMe032S9krc

I am a computer lover, I love my machines, they make us so much smarter than we can ever be without them. Instead of rewarding them with CPU and other upgrades, some people display unimaginable cruelty and physical violence towards them.

Following the example of concerned CIA officers, I'm thinking of starting a new organization called People for the Ethical Treatment of Computers(PETCO).

Starting today, I'm actively recruiting all sensitive souls who are gentle and caring to their computer pets. What say you?

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I was going to anyway...

If you ask me to do something that I already intended to do, you can bet that I'm going to let you know. "Will you throw my jeans in with that load of laundry?" "Yeah, I was going to anyway." I'm thinking whether I should reply the same even when I didn't intend to do what you asked me. Kind of let you know I'm so awesome that I thought of it before you did. I was going to anyway...how would you know I wasn't going to? Don't argue with me, I'm fed up being told what to do :D:D

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Automatic screensaver disable

For further convenience, allow PowerPoint and other video/photo presentation software to automatically disable the screensaver on the laptop during presentations or video/photo streaming. A lot of people forget to disable the screensaver before giving a presentation and imagine the embarrassment if the screen suddenly displayed something inappropriate...

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Mind slaves

Imagine that in the very long term (2050 and beyond) technology will allow people to link their brains to the machine world, perhaps using nanotech implants connected to each synapse to relay brain activity to a high speed neural replica hosted by a computer. When this technology matures, people will do wonderful things such as using machine sensors as extensions to their own capabilities. They will use android bodies to move around and experience distant places and activities as if they were there in person.

But here's the scary part to all this

People may not be able to die completely. If their body is an irrelevance, and there are many restore points from which they can be recovered, friends, family, or even the state might keep them 'alive' as long as they are useful.

And depending on the law, they might even become a form of slave labour, their minds used for information processing or creativity whether they wish it or not. It has often truly been noted that there are worse fates than death.

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Nobody's Perfect except for...

I am a Nobody. Nobody is Perfect. Therefore I am Perfect. Makes Perfect sense :)

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Wikipedia. Famous People's Facebook!

They're all in there. Every time I do a google search of a famous person the first result I get is their Wikipedia page. It has a bio, a photo and links to more info about them on the web. It's a detailed social network profile. It occurred to me that Wikipedia is the best social network platform for famous people. Their life's work is already included. What's missing is an 'Add me as a Friend' button and regular updates of their activities. An online encyclopedia with a social network capability for famous people, a hybrid Wikibook, would be cool to have on the web!

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What the eye can't see

If high definition TV has already made more women rush to their doctors for cosmetic fixes and gallons of Botox, I'm wondering how large mass migration to the skin specialist will be when high definition mobile phones are used by everyone in the near future. Use of heavy makeup to cover flaws doesn't work with HDTV where every tiny mole wrinkle or freckle becomes clearly visible. Imagine that every photo or video clip taken will expose these imperfections. I think it's a safe bet that skin specialists will see great growth in their business in the next few years.

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If violence breeds violence

Why don't the moderates in Iran get radicalized the way their religion would expect them to when they are the powerless minority? The media portrays the protests in Iran as a fight of Iranians versus Iranians. When it comes to the street, the Islamic government militia has the upper hand. They are in control and know it. But if a few radicalized moderates blow up a truck in a police station, behead publicly a few government officials and secret police officers, then that's a totally different story, the true beginning of fear on both sides and the spark of civil war in Iran. That's Iranians versus Iranians. Street protests is a one-sided show of power. Fear will make it two-sided and lead to the election of an Iranian Obama eventually

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Iran elections

please comment here. I heard so many rumors. Are they fake? Is it a fraud? Do you think Ahmadinejad is a dictator? He shut down facebook before the elections so his opponents couldn't use it. What's your opinion? What is the future of Iran?

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you just broke up

How long is it acceptable to you that your EX needs to wait before he/she has sex? Who cares right? Why would you want to know that your EX had sex in the first place?

Well, if it wasn't your decision you may care about it. It depends on what the two of you had. For some people even next day is okay. For me after something special it could be months, even years

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Brutal Honesty Service

Don't you think it's a fact of life that most people don't care or are too afraid to give their honest opinion on how others really look like? I often see it, for instance, in couples who go shopping for new clothes. When she'll ask him if her bum looks big, the boyfriend won't own up to that fact if he wants to keep his balls intact. Brutal honesty is a rare service many people would appreciate. I thought of creating an online service to deliver brutal honesty on any issue that deals with looks and appearance.

I reckon there could be brutal honesty services for lots of areas, for example people who overdo it with cosmetic surgery. Someone needs to tell them they look like ridiculous Madame Tussauds rather than the 20 year olds they think.

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Clitoris straw

At a bachelorette party I found myself wondering why girls have to drink out of penis straws and wear penis necklaces but not the other way around. I would love to see a guy wear a vagina necklace and drink out of a clitoris straw. I had no idea they existed until I turned Google Safe Search off and discovered them. The real world out there seems to be way more sophisticated than I could imagine. The good news is I don't have to invent my imagination to experience it. It's already been invented for me.

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What's wrong "being alone"?

All single people are trapped because they are judged by others or given pity for "being alone". However, I spend most of my days listening to married people talking about their divorce or wanting out of their marriage. I think we're screwed either way. I mean, really! Why is being single so bad? Next time anyone tries to hook me up with the most random person they can find, I'm going to throw my drink at them. I'm single. Not Desperate.

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How to tell if someone's made for business (2)

If I tell you that whoever started the tradition of throwing coins into fountains must not have been wishing for money and you agree with the explanation then, like most people, you are not made for business. But if you add that the guy who started the tradition did not wish for money because he owned the fountain, I'd like to hire you.

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The 'letter of the law'

Last year, they passed a law in California to make it illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving. This year they made it illegal to text. Thank God I can still check email and comments on people's facebook pages. I love you so much 'letter of the law'. The world's a much safer place now!

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Hot dog discrimination

I'm slowly munching my last bite of it and inevitably I ask. Why is it that we can order a hamburger at most restaurants, but the only place we can order a hot dog is at a baseball game or the streets of NYC? I'm sensing some serious food discrimination here.

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what's wrong with french men?

their food and wine tastes good, their women like to dress nice and sleep with everyone, they don't like to work hard and they don't have to, they have a distinctly identifiabul french accent foreign women fall for and they have perfumes to cover their - pronounce it french and get laid - j'adore malodor. sounds like everything has been set perfect for them except for one thing. it's their looks. they think they are good-looking just because everything else about them and their country is so - get laid - parfait.

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print media are suckers

they whine about losing business to GOOGLE and online media. NOBODY wants to buy your papers any more. if you want to stay in the paper business, print your news on toilet paper and distribute it daily to every public and private bathroom for a large discount to regular clean-ass paper. when i don't like what i read i can just wipe my ass with your crap and put it into good use. that's how i like to consume the tons of crap you're selling. i might consider using it to blow my nose too but that's only when you sell me something paperworthy.

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The Global Warming Conspiracy?

Disclaimer: I have few, if any facts to support what I am about to post and I'm not even sure I believe it myself. It's just a thought.

It seems to me that environmentalists may have been played like a stradivarius on this one. Not so long ago, environmentalists were actually doing good things and making substantial progress, especially in the area of pollution (clean air and water, hiking trails etc).
But now you don't seem to hear much about that anymore, all you hear about is this nebulous sword of Damocles known as Global Warming. I get the sneaking suspicion that it was all orchestrated, with marvelous success, to divert attention away from real progress and regulations pertaining to fundamental environmental issues.

As long as there is no agreement and people are kept arguing, nothing gets done...about anything.

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Modern cinderella car

Wishing-trees, pumpkins, fairy-godmothers, glass slippers, fur boots, stepmother and mean sisters, princes on horses and pigeons. Who needs them anymore.

If the shoe fits, drive it.

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Does a smile worth paying for?

Imagine companies decided one day to charge for servicing us with a smile. Press 1 if you would like this service with a smile (small charge applies). Press 2 if you don't like to be served with a smile (get a discount). Press 1 and a beautiful Colgate-smile will soon be with you. Press 2 to save money. Why do we take it for granted that people will serve us with a smile on their face?

A smile doesn't pay for services so why do we expect it from others? They say we should all pay our tax with a smile. I tried...but they wanted cash!! Now that they made me lose my naivete, I am wondering. A smile is worth nothing to the government when you give it freely. But it might be worth something to the economy.

When people are sad and depressed from losing their jobs and dreams, going around with a smile is economic viagra. The government should make my smile tax-deductible and lower my taxes. Fine, you want cash?

Press 1 to pay with a smile (discount applies). Press 2 to pay the full amount...

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Lemon mint granita in lemon. Totally. Lemon.

You can get it pretty much in every restaurant in Israel. They are, single-handedly, the most refreshing thing I have ever tasted. Called lemonana. It's bold lemon and mint served in lemon. It's the perfect antidote to the sticky, oppressive summer days to come - frosty, crunchy and tart. You can eat it with a spoon or a fork. Highly recommended to try!

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MySpace vs Facebook. Let the battle begin!

Facebook is adding a "username" to people's account to "easily direct friends, family, and coworkers to your profile". Is my full name not enough to direct someone to my profile? I logged into MySpace account for the first time in a few weeks and I noticed they have a new bar at the bottom of the page...just like Facebook...with online friends and chat...just like Facebook. And yet Facebook is letting you choose a username...just like Myspace. We all know that Myspace is to Facebook like Yahoo is to Google. Tom and Jerry Zuckerberg. Mark your posts!

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