Foreigners And Fights, PS3 JPN Launch’s Dark Side (from /.) –
Based on my observations of the first twenty PS3s sold at Bic Camera, they were all purchased by Chinese nationals, none of whom bought any software. After making their purchase, television crews asked for interviews but all were declined. These temporary owners of PS3s would then make their way down the street where their bosses waited. After several minutes, a dozen PS3s were rounded up, as their Japanese business manager paid out cash to those who waited in line for them. I witnessed a homeless-looking Chinese man, in his sixties or seventies get paid 20,000 yen for his services and was then sent away.
20,000 yen is a little less than $200, but to a homeless man, that’s a lot of money for just a day’s work. On the other hand, PS3s have been selling on eBay and Craigslist from $1500 to upwards of $2500.
Along the lines of the PS3 launch, Kotaku also has this article: Harrison’s PS3 Launch Day Scrap Book
Brazilian woman survives 6 shots to head – Doctors could not explain how Pereira survived the attack. The .32-caliber bullets didn’t break through her skull and didn’t even need to be immediately extracted, doctors said. Pereira also was shot once in the hand. Just amazing! What a miracle. This woman has a skull of steel.
– A dead man has been blamed for hundreds of speeding offences in Australia in what police believe is a major fraud designed to help motorists avoid traffic fines. Police in Sydney said 240 people were under investigation over the speeding scam, where hundreds of motorists blamed either the same dead man, or a person living in another state, for driving their cars at the time of the speeding offences.
Canstruction makes creations out of cans – It’s a can-do event. Architects and engineers recently gathered at Canstruction, an annual event held in New York and other cities, to build giant sculptures made from full cans of food. The show is meant to raise awareness of hunger issues. You can see the gallery here.
Help Stop the Largest and Cruelest Slaughter of Dolphins in the World! (from /.) – What a sad and cruel event.
Roller coaster massacre! – Nothing is more fun than watching hundreds of park goers get moved down by a runaway roller coaster cart, except of course watching hundreds of people get run over by three runaway roller coaster carts. Awesome video of using Rollercoaster Tycoon to build a park and crush hundreds of visitors.
Naked man arrested for concealed weapon – A man was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon after police found him outdoors — naked — and he told them he had a tool in his rectum, authorities said.
Christmas comes early at Apple: free shuffles for all! (from MS newsgroup) – Unfortunately, I don’t think we’re getting free Zunes. ;p
Oh how I miss Mitch Hedberg: Mitch Hedberg R.I.P
Hacker Puzzle (from MS newsgroup) – A fun little puzzle where I got stuck on ojofuffo. Then I cheated and searched online, but the remainder of the puzzle was easy.
Did you know that most of Will Smith’s songs are just lyrics on top of oldies?
Patrice Rushen – Forget Me Nots vs Men In Black
Sister Sledge – He’s The Greatest Dancer vs Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It
Fired over finger, driver wants job back – The 43-year-old driver, whose name was not released, was driving middle school children back to school after a zoo visit on June 16 when the president and Republican Rep. Dave Reichert drove slowly by in a motorcade. From the bus, the children waved; with the windows down in their car, Bush and Reichert waved back. That’s when the driver gave the president the finger, according to Reichert and Issaquah superintendent Janet Barry.