Sarcos gets coverage on their new exoskeleton suit. And unlike others, this actually look pretty cool. They estimate this to be widely available in a few years. Here’s hoping to more wars ahead in our future for viewing pleasure. Would love to see these babies in action.

But how practical is super human strength in an exoskeleton compared to the raw firepower of tanks and other vehicles?

Many men think that they can get away with it. So this happens even more frequently as you visit different countries and people. But as always, something slips out or falls out of place, and all would be revealed to your spouse. She refuses a divorce for the sake of the kids, falls into depression and has even comtemplated suicide.

This gets even better. Many years pass, and your kids are mature to think for themselves. You relate and brag to them of your experiences of having a secret woman for more 10 years in front of your wife, and yet you’re still continuing your spree.

Opinions will vary. Some might say “What a stud!” or “This husband is a complete asshole.” Try putting yourself into their shoes, and think of what they feel in their current position. This is what I could think of if I were them.

Husband: Another day, another girl. Im already so old, but yet the girls want me. Even if I know it’s for my money, who cares? I’m satisfied, and even though I contract AIDS or any form of STDs, I’ve practically enjoyed my life more than the average male. I could say, I’m gonna die happy.

Wife: Who wants a hagged sagging woman anymore? Even I have the money, no amount in the world could fill the void of loneliness. I can’t divorce or hang myself: What would my kids become of when I’m gone? I certainly don’t want them to follow the steps of my cheating husband. It really hurts to think that my husband, who promised to care and love me many years ago, is shagging some other demure lady out there where as I’m all alone to care for my children. I can only hope for a day which he comes back to me…

For the men who read this, I’m not giving any ideas on how you should be when you’re married, you should know better by now. As for the women, comments are much appreciated.

This is definitely getting stuck onto my mind.

Some background information: Students were supposed to build these little models of about 30cm in height. Then we have to load one of us on the model, and stand on it for 30 seconds minimum. If it breaks… well you get lesser marks, but you have a chance to redeem yourself if you managed to explain nicely in your portfolio, why it broke. Like what was built wrongly, how to make the design work if it was rebuilt.

Now, some pictures to illustrate what i just said…

This is how it’s SUPPOSED to be done… A successful model that survived 30 seconds

Now… My group’s turn to stand on our model….

Pre-loading…

The model, before the loading test…

Post-loading…

The model, after the loading test… Sweet eh?

So in the end the model couldn’t sustain the loading, and broke apart… Then we had to do the explaining on what caused the thing to fail and break apart bla bla bla…. Sobz…. $40 wood… Broken apart so cruelly…

Anyway, the cheerful bunch of people we are, were happily smiling and joking 5 minutes later, in front of what WAS our model…

I like this picture =)

Behold.

After admiring around, it’s seriously similar to the previous instalments, but this one comes with a new twist. Bang things, and you pay for them. Fly over a cliff, and this time you die (okay, you lose) unlike Speed. And this time, all races are done legally on tracks.

Only two racing modes were offered in the demo release: Grip Mode and Speed Challenge. It all sounded new and fancy till I actually tried it; it’s just a simple circuit race, and a normal speedtrap mode. Other racing modes not included are the Drift and Drag modes. As usual, EA placed some beautiful names to trick our hard amassed funds, thinking that they could actually pull something new with their overhyped marketing shite.

 Menus before the race.

 Up, close and personal with the Beemer.

Now, the main highlight: damage. No more just an icing on the cake, or visual candy anymore. Bumpers rip off, and bonnets fly off at your face. It really looks fun to see cars barrel rolling with spoilers and side mirrors flying everywhere, but after the action you gotta start all over again. Think about it. Everyone who finished Underground knew how it would cost you the race if you smashed into traffic. I can’t imagine another endurance race in ProStreet, where you were just about to reach the glory line when

Curses.

Another setback would be the world physics and car physics not in sync with each other. Speeding at 100KM per hour pulls off the bonnet, but at 280++ the rear bumper doesn’t fall off although it seems that it’s hanging off a thread. What the hell?

Music has changed a little, with more Texas and country beats to suit the setting of the game. There are only a few tracks to listen to, so it might be better when the full game’s out.

 The Nissan GT-R Proto in action.

 Five minutes later.

Also, a few tweaks have been done to emphazise realism. Nitrous oxide has been changed to limited single shots, where you press once, and it pumps in the juice for you. I’ve been waiting for that to set in since Underground 2. Come on, N20 tanks don’t refill by themselves, even when you perform cool powerslides or impress chicks with your hydraulics, signifying your virile… let’s not get there. And despite the pleas and geneflects from the community, there is STILL NO NETWORK PLAY. ><

This game ain’t good enough to be on my wanted list. I’ll play if someone if I have the chance or something.

 Xylish: Hyper Cool!

Yes, this is something only found in Japan, where frequent Japlish is pasted on almost every ad. Comes in pellets, and every single one of them is bound to make your oral orifice fresh and spirited. Just like the melting glaciers at the North Pole.

The Meiji brand manufactures many of these stuff, and they use all these ’semangat-ed’ jargons from RPG games. Chew one of their other delectable flavours, and you will get a Breath UP!

WTF.

From my experience, no other mint gum comes close to this white, cute hard shelled pillow. One is enough to kill all but the numbness in your mouth. The whole packet might even make you impotent.

 Chewy.

 edit: Picture changed to a nicer one since it wasn’t up to the standards of meh Luz. Cheerios.

Respects to the man who built a place for my friends and I to ‘lepak’ around at night.

Respects to the man who created a theme park for a certain person to ride the rides, again and again.

Respects to the man whom his creation are the backbone of my childhood memories.

Respects to the man who built a certain arcade which had a secret to spewing tickets.

RIP, Lim Goh Tong. You were really something.

Who likes their cereal with breast milk?

Available only in Japan

Almost two weeks ago, the well-known japanese architect died of heart failure. He was 73 years old when he passed away. Kisho was the founder and president of Kisho Kurokawa Architect & Associates, and is also most famously known as the founder of the Metabolist Movement.

The memorial service for Kisho would be held on the 15th of November in Tokyo.

His influence in Malaysia wasn’t strong, although he was the one who designed the building that at least 70% of Malaysia’s foreign tourists (singaporeans and thai-ians excluded) first enter upon reaching Malaysia. Care to take a guess as to which building is it? Most of us would have stepped foot inside it at least once ^^

The National Art Center in Tokyo, designed by Kisho Kurokawa.

Lately I’ve been playing lots of games, but notable ones include Bioshock and Unreal Tournament 3. The demo for the latter was leaked, so I had the chance to download and try it out on my aging PC. Once the necessary install was done (hell lots of problems, like not having enough space for temporary files, but I guess it doesn’t matter to others who have lots and lots of space), I went right on and started it up.

Needless to say, more than 3 years of development on a new engine have really paid off. The world is just stunning with shader and pre-processing effects, which just makes the game truly immersive.

 Shangri-La demo map, featuring the Stinger Minigun.

Glass shard-like effects prior to death, courtesy of Liandri.

After 15 minutes of sluggish gaming, there isn’t much change from the previous successor, in terms of gameplay. Other than remodelled weapons and better AI, everything seems to be the same. Actually, it’s nothing much to complain of; games like this always turn out as such.

FPS gamers, look out for its scheduled release in November 2007. One month to go!