Tokyo Times

Dec 16 2004 5 Comments

Go! Go! Asimo!

Yesterday, Honda Motors unveiled the latest version of its two-legged robot Asimo.

The new model has an increased number of joints in its arms and legs, giving the diminutive robot more human-like movements. Plus sensors in Asimo’s head enable it to detect and avoid obstacles.

But perhaps the biggest advancement is in speed. Asimo’s walking pace has jumped from a painfully slow 1.6 km per hour, to a rather more respectable 2.5 km. And the robot is now able to run. Clocking in with a top speed of 3 km.

Yes, a measly 3 km per hour! Even I can run faster than that. Although it has to be said that the noise from Asimo’s mechanical movements is considerably quieter than my gasping and wheezing.

Plus it looks like the little fella has substantially more success with the ladies too.

For those of you with broadband, clicking here will allow you to see footage of Asimo in action.

Dec 16 2004 1 Comment

Ballot begging

Over at the Hong Kong based Simon World (which is rather appropriately run by Simon), the voting for Blog Of The Year is now in full swing. And whilst such an event isn’t all that surprising, Tokyo Times being nominated most definitely is.

Now although I don’t expect (or probably deserve) to win, I don’t want to come last either. So to save me the potential shame and the possibility of people pointing at me in the street and laughing, please go here and add a vote (which you can do once a day) to my no doubt meagre tally. Thanks!

And fellow supporters of democracy fear not. With this being an electronic vote without a paper trail, it goes without saying that I have an army of lawyers winging their way to Hong Kong this very minute. All of who will be ready to pounce and impound Simon’s computer should I fail to garner enough votes and come last.

Dec 15 2004 1 Comment

Fuji from afar

Once autumn and (especially) winter arrive, Mount Fuji is often visible from Tokyo. You aren’t going to catch a glimpse of the majestic mountain when you are just walking down the street, but from a decent vantage point, some pretty fine views can be had.

And if you happen to live in a luxurious high-rise apartment downtown, you may be lucky enough to look upon this wonderful sight from your no doubt spacious balcony.

Not to be outdone however, I found that by standing on my tiptoes and looking through the top corner of my living room window, Fuji-san was visible in all its hazy, distant, and electrical wire obscured glory.

Dec 15 2004 1 Comment

Group groping

Last week, five university students were arrested on suspicion of attempting to grope a woman on an early morning commuter train.

Now unfortunately groping on trains isn’t the least bit uncommon, although such an organized team effort is. And what makes this story more unusual (and unsavoury) is that the poor woman involved was already under police protection following a similar attack in November.

Luckily this protection was in place when the group moved in, and all five members were arrested on the spot as they tried to touch her. The woman was quoted as saying that the suspects were in the same group that had molested her previously, and the police report stated that the students had agreed to specific roles, with some of them doing the groping whilst the others were on lookout duties.

The mind boggles, it really does…

Dec 14 2004 Leave a Comment

Tranquil time out

In a break from the usual lowbrow stories and occasional images of bikini clad beauties, here’s a picture of a pretty little shrine surrounded by the divergent colours of autumn.

The usual mindless fare of miscreants and the maladjusted will happily return tomorrow.

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