Pink Chopsticks

Here’s a bit of tech news. I think I’m taking a day’s break from fashion features hehe.. Anyway, I was looking at xbox wireless adapter online when I decided to check out the latest in notebooks. Particularly from Samsung and what’s the latest from Asia..

Samsung Sens 9 has been launched in US last month and is now available in Korea since May 4th! So what’s the big deal? For me, yes its a big deal! I want a new lappie and I kinda dig this! Why? 3.3 inch ’9′ weighs only 1311 grams and 17.3 mm thickness. Thin and sexy. And comes with enough fire power to indulge my graphic design and blogging addiction.

Here’s more tech specs for Sams• CPU: Second Generation Intel® CoreTM i5 Processor 2537M (1.40 GHz,
3MB; turbo up to 2.3 GHz)
• Operating System: Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64 bit) /
Windows® 7 Professional (64 bit)
• Memory: 4GB DDR3
• Storage (max): 128GB Solid State Drive (SSD)
• Screen: 13.3-inch HD LED-backlit SuperBright Plus display (400 nit)
• Resolution: 1366×768
• Graphics: Intel HD GT2 Integrated Graphics
• Speakers: 3 watt (1.5W x 2) stereo speakers and 1.5 watt sub-woofer
• Battery: Lithium Polymer; up to 6.5 hours
• Wireless: 802.11b/g/n; WiMax
• Weight: 2.89 lbs.ung Sens 9:

More info at Samsung.

I’m constantly browsing news about Japan now particularly since the earthquake and tsunami disaster. I can’t help but feel for the Japanese people. I dearly hope they could surpass this challenge and recovery would be swift for everyone. Let’s all continue to pray for Japan and their wonderful people.

Anyway, I wanted to feature something light about Japan. Something to take our minds off a bit from the tragedy and showcase something awesome about this country. Here’s one reason why I want to really really visit Japan one day. Their wide selection of weird, unique, youd-only-taste-in-Japan flavors!! From Coke to Pepsi to weird teas, here’s a new one – Kitkat Japan Flavors!!!

I came across these at a very cool blog called UFunk.Net who took it upon themselves to hunt for the weird and cool KitKat Flavors.

First they found the Kit Kat with Caramelized Sweet Potato flavor

Then they found the Macha (japanese green tea) flavored Kit-Kat

Then there’s wasabi, soy sauce, yellow sweet patato,purple sweet potato, cheese cake, and annin dofu (Japanese dessert with almonds)

And I just love the packaging!! They really come up with funky stuff.

All images via UFunk.Net

Yup. You read the title right. It’s a Welcome To Japan Bra!

I think this is a justifiable reason for me to get distracted hmmm? I was about to search online for some modern coffee table design ideas when it occurred to me to check out the latest news feeds from Asia. And I this of course, caught my eye..

As Japan hosts the Asia-Pacific summit, underwear maker Triumph unveiled a bra that is meant to lift spirits as well as bust lines and support the country’s tourism sector.

Triumph says that this unique bra was inspired by a tour guide’s uniform, features a display for images of sightseeing spots and can greet visitors in three languages. “A row of three electronic push buttons running down the centre of the garment triggers audio greetings in English, Chinese and Korean. The most risque feature is a short skirt attached to the dark blue outfit that flips up to reveal a map of Japan.”

The bra though is not for sale but mainly for promotional purposes only and like other promotional items before it has been has launched to mark major trends and events.

Via LeaderPost

Here’s another techie update, before I move on to featuring entertainment, Asian lifestyle news. Tapas OS, the Chinese-centric Android based OS for smartphones is now available on 2 new handsets, both from Sharp.

SH828U, a 3G phone that comes with a 3.5” WVGA screen, a 5Mpix Camera with AF and flash, Bluetooth, WiFi, and microSD slot, powered by a 600MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 processor. This is slated to be available to the Chinese market this October 2010 with estimated price of US$475.

Meanwhile, the SH8118U comes with the very same 600MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 processor and basic specs but only features a 3.2” HVGA screen and will be sold at US$335 to be available in China about the same time as the SH828U.

Cool gadgets and I’m getting quite dizzy with the staggering array of features these gadgets have, I wouldn’t be surprised they’d be sporting radar detectors sometime soon. Now, that’s it for techo gadgets updates..

Via Sharp.

GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., the South Korean arm of U.S. automaker General Motors Co has joined the electronic car bandwagon with the announcement that it has developed the country’s first compact-sized electric vehicle with a maximum speed of 165 kilometers per hour.

A great news really! It said the critical high-performance battery and inverters were made by LG Chem Ltd. and LG Electronics Co., respectively, while 50 other South Korean companies took part in the development process.

GM Daewoo revealed that the prototype based on the company’s Lacetti Premier and its battery unit has an output of 31 kilowatt hours, with output reaching 150 kilowatts.

I like the way these car companies now are thinking of the effects of what we manufacture to our environment. I’m certain in the future I’d want to have a car like these. And now this is making me wonder about costs and prices, car insurance, maintenance etc..

Via Yonhap News

I was up early this morning, coz I had to finish hubby’s slide show presentation for a class. But typical me, I spent about an hour browsing for news and articles before I got down to it. I was checking out ChannelNewsAsia when I saw this lifestyle article that really got me interested – “Imported brides popular as money mixes Asian marriages”.

It is a well written article on a very interesting phenomenon going on. There’s no denying that its happening.

Asian men from rich countries such as Japan and South Korea are increasingly seeking brides from poorer ones like Vietnam and the Philippines — as economically liberated local women get picky.

Marriages between Japanese men and foreign women shot up 73 percent between 1995 and 2006, to 35,993, according to the latest government survey. Most of the women were Filipinas, followed by Chinese.

"Asian brides — notably Chinese and Filipina — remain popular in the countryside, where it’s quite hard to find young women," said Toshio Esaka, president of dating agency Royal in Osaka, western Japan.

Check out the article link for the full article. I am from the Philippines and now currently living here in Phnom Penh and I know some people who really go for this marriages. Most reason is to escape poverty especially in the provinces.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with inter-racial marriage, I’m prime example of it and no we didn’t meet through this dating agencies. We met in person while hubby was taking his postgraduate studies, we became good friends for sometime before we got serious. So we were in a perfectly normal courtship and relationship before we got married. But I must admit there was still that stigma attached to being a Filipina married to a foreigner. I’ve had various encounters where other people seemed to think of me as a mail order bride, and it used to raise hell with me but now I take it in stride. Hubby finds this really funny, coz he says I have far more money than him lol!

Back on the topic, I did say I see nothing wrong with these guys looking for brides elsewhere but girls should still be cautious as this can lead to some abuses if you don’t really know the person you are marrying. I have this belief that if you marry it should be to a person who considers you an equal and affords you the respect you deserve.

Just the same, I hope governments should do something to ensure the safety of these ladies who choose to go by this marriage route.

After being caught in an almost avalanche of teasers and previews, the much awaited Taeyang comeback album has finally been released.  It includes thirteen tracks and features collaborations with various artists and producers. Taeyang’s scheduled comeback is today, July 1st on the Mnet M! Countdown stage.

At least this is a happy news vs the previous news I’ve posted about. In any case, I have to say I love this album cover! Classy and would look good on promotional materials like perhaps  promotional tote bags?

I’m still waiting for the album to be available here but in case some of my friends can get hold of a copy and give me one hehe, it’ll be great. I’ll have to content myself for now with these teasers..

Where U At

Wedding Dress

Prayer MV

Look Only At Me

This is freaking me out a bit. I’ve just posted two days ago, about Park Young-ha’s upcoming drama series with Yoon Eun Hye. And I’ve never imagined I would be reading news about his death. “Police believe Park Yong Ha died between 4 and 5:30AM the 30^th of June due to suffocation and are currently going through further examinations to settle out any uncertainties. The Hallyu star (32) was found hanging in his bedroom with a camcorder charger.”

This is really sad and tragic. Park Young-ha was one very talented actor/singer and its such as waste of young life. I would always remember Park Young-ha in his Winter Sonata breakthrough role.

May he rest in peace.

Visit Park Young-ha’s Soompi Thread for more updates. Visit this link for some news about police findings.