Heights of superstitious India: Man marries dog

by Abha Malpani on

If there is a country that often takes superstition to different heights, it’s India.

Throw salt behind you over your shoulder every morning to have a good day; bury your child’s first tooth in cow-dung and throw it over your roof — it will hasten the child’s teething process; you can’t marry unless your astrological charts match; about 300 million gallons of waste go into the Ganges every day, yet people go to bathe there as they believe it will wash away their sins … the list just gets more and more absurd and is endless. (Most Indian politicians follow their faith when they make decisions for their country — but that’s a different story altogether.)

The latest demonstration of superstitious India: Indian man marries female dog to redeem himself of stoning two dogs to death. When he killed those two dogs about 15 years ago, he suffered some form of paralysis and lost hearing in one ear. An astrologer told him that he was cursed for his bad deed and marrying a dog was the only remedy.

What!?OK, just for the record: I like to respect what people have faith in. I am Indian and have been brought up around things like karma and traditional astrological / spiritual beliefs. I may not believe in most of it, but I do respect it. But when it gets taken to levels like this, I really don’t know what to think.

I know India has a huge problem of illiteracy, and poor villagers depend on their local pandit, or astrologer to show them the way. If it helps you in your life, fine — but where is your head when you are asked to marry an animal?

Not being educated doesn’t mean you don’t have common sense and it amazes me how all sense of rationality often gets thrown out of the window in the name of faith. It also scares me.

[Via Red Orbit]

Big in Japan: The Honda PUYO is man’s best friend

by Matthew Firestone on

This week (and last), Big in Japan will be bringing you scenes from the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show (???????????????????????) at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City.

For an overview of this biennial event, be sure to read Scenes from the Tokyo Motor Show. For all of you road warriors out there, don’t miss A look at the future of motorcycles. For anyone who loves crazy concept cars, check out The Nissan Pivo2 can pivot on a dime. For an intriguing look at the future personal transportation, see The Suzuki Pixy will help us survive the apocalypse. For a peek at the customizable interiors to come, see The future of Japanese automotive design.

What is man’s best friend? If you answered the Honda PUYO, than you’re correct.

Honda’s newest concept car is dubbed the PUYO, which is a Japanese onomatopoeia (??????) that is meant to convey a warm, friendly impression.

Seriously, there is a word for that Japanese – what an awesome language!

According to the Honda press release, the PUYO is a ‘fuel cell vehicle which was created to have a personable design with the feel of an adorable pet.’

Intrigued? Keep reading.

Here’s where things start to get cool.

The ‘Seamless Soft Box’ exterior of the PUYO is completely cornerless, which allows for the maximum possible spaciousness.

Believe it or not, the Honda PUYO can actually accommodate four Japanese people within its tiny frame, though I’m not sure if the designers took into consideration the size of your average American!

The PUYO is also constructed of a soft gel body, which has been made luminescent to guide people into the proper operating position, and to notify them of the vehicle’s overall condition.

This so called ‘silky feel’ is intended to provide a refreshing, people-friendly space imbued with a feeling of transparency, and to allow for intuitive operation of the vehicle.

In fact, the first thing drivers of the PUYO will notice is the lack of a steering wheel, which which has been replaced by a joystick that is used for operation and maneuvering.

Accompanying features include an instrument panel monitor, luminous fluid level displays, and elastic-like controls made from cloth that rise up when the vehicle starts.

Of course, the main appeal of the PUYO is that you can drive this adorable little contraption without harming the environment.

According to the Honda press release, the PUYO “represents a new idea in mobility that brings together the principals of clean, safe and fun all into one environmentally-responsible, people-friendly, yet minimalist design. The concept has a small frame, is ultra-efficient and is powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology. “

So, it’s unlikely that you can teach the PUYO to sit, roll over and fetch the morning paper. But, with enough of a cute factor to inspire affection amongst even the most hardened of car owners, it’s not hard to see why the PUYO could easily be man’s best friend.

And, you can help save the planet by driving one!

Well, that’s it for our coverage of the biennial Tokyo Motor Show…

See ya’ll again in 2009!

Big in Japan: The future of Japanese automotive design

by Matthew Firestone on

This week (and last), Big in Japan will be bringing you scenes from the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show (???????????????????????) at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City.

For an overview of this biennial event, be sure to read Scenes from the Tokyo Motor Show. For all of you road warriors out there, don’t miss A look at the future of motorcycles. For anyone who loves crazy concept cars, check out The Nissan Pivo2 can pivot on a dime. For an intriguing look at the future personal transportation, see The Nissan Pixy will help us survive the apocalypse.

Do you love the Japanese design aesthetic? So do I.

From the chic minimalism of Japanese interior spaces to the efficiency and reliability of Japanese electronics, form and function is indeed a virtue here in the Far East.

With that said, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that form and function were key themes at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. If you’ve been wondering where Japanese automotive design will take us in the years ahead, keep reading as you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you use your car as a business, a home away from home or as your key to the great outdoors, you’re going to love what the future holds.

%Gallery-9927%

Although space is something that most North Americans take for granted, the mind-blowing density of Japan’s urban landscapes necessitates good design.

Indeed, here in Japan it’s not about how big your apartment is, but what you do with the space that counts.

So, it’s only natural that automotive design in the years ahead will reflect our individual needs to a greater extent.

For instance, although most Americans choose car interiors based on whether or not they want cloth or leather, Japanese car manufacturers are hoping that fully customizable interiors will be the wave of the future.

Although the idea of relaxing in your car with good friends may seem far-fetched, it’s not so hard to imagine if your car’s interior had IKEA-inspired seats, a coffee table, a mini-bar and a wall-mounted plasma TV.

Or, what if instead of renting commercial space, you could take your business on the go?

Imagine instead of ruining the leather in your car in an attempt to bring Fido to the groomers, you could instead call up a service to swing on by your house.

And of course, even accessing the great outdoors will be less of a hassle in the future.

If you want to go rollerblading on the boardwalk, simply park your car, climb into the back, swivel the seats, lock in to your skates and you’re ready to go.

Or, what if you and the family want to go SCUBA diving?

Instead of trying to fit all of your tanks and gear into the trunk, simply extend the cab on your minivan, and load your gear with the ease of browsing through your closet.

Of course, customization doesn’t come cheap, which is perhaps the main hurdle in bringing these concept designs to the market.

However, in a country where form and function hold a significant amount of weight, perhaps it won’t be too long before our cars are just as personalized as our homes.

The future is indeed looking bright.

For photos of the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, check out the gallery below:

%Gallery-9927%

Big in Japan: The Suzuki Pixy will help us survive the apocalypse

by Matthew Firestone on

This week (and last), Big in Japan will be bringing you scenes from the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show (???????????????????????) at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City.

For an overview of this biennial event, check out Scenes from the Tokyo Motor Show. For all of you road warriors out there, don’t miss A look at the future of motorcycles. For anyone who loves crazy concept cars, check out The Nissan Pivo2 can pivot on a dime.

Do you ever worry about surviving the apocalypse?

Be it Armageddon, environmental degradation, nuclear war or pandemic disease, it’s becoming increasingly more likely that our days on this planet are numbered.

Fortunately, the good folks at Suzuki have a solution to our problems, namely the Pixy and the SSC (Suzuki Sharing Coach).

Together, this Segway-inspired personal mobility unit and accompanying transportation accessories will make it a cinch for humans to survive the apocalypse, be it a world of religious fury, saturated pollution, nuclear winter or seething illness.

Are you depressed yet? If not, keep reading for more information on the dark future to come.

%Gallery-9927%

In a world compromised by religious fires, noxious chemicals, nuclear fallout or airborne viruses, maintaining your own personal breathing space outside the comfort of your underground dwelling is of the utmost importance. That is why the Suzuki Pixi is the perfect answer to your individual transportation needs.

As demonstrated at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Pixi is something akin to a Segway on steroids, allowing for personalized mobility and complete control. Powered by a tweaked-up mouse, the user can spin the vehicle 360 degrees, and move either forwards or backwards using just one hand.

Depending on the harshness of the outside world, the Pixi can completely seal in the user in order to create a protected environment, or go ‘convertible’ allowing the user to take in the scenic views of the scorched, exhausted, contaminated or plagued world that we once called Earth.

Of course, mobility in a post-apocalyptic world shouldn’t just be confined to travelling from your cave to the hermetically sealed grocery store, which is why Suzuki had the good insight to imagine the SSC or Suzuki Sharing Coach.

Basically, the SSC is an acronym to describe one of several vehicles that will interface with the Pixy.

For instance, imagine if you and your family want to pack your pods into the SSC and have a picnic in the haunted, cut-down, incinerated or festering landscape once known as a park. With the land cruiser SSC unit, you can experience the perils of a post-apocalyptic world together as a family.

Or, what if you need to travel across the evaporated, oily, boiling or infectious body of water once known as the ocean. With the motor boat SSC unit, you can hit the high seas and reminisce about a day when people once ate a delicious and prolific creature known as fish.

Sure, sometimes when you turn on the news in this modern era, it’s easy to get down on the state of reality. But, don’t worry – thanks to good folks at Suzuki, clearly we should have no problem surviving the apocalypse!

For more scenes from the Tokyo Motor Show, tune in tomorrow for another installment of Big in Japan.

For photos of the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, check out the gallery below:

%Gallery-9927%

Who visits the U.S, and why

by Catherine Bodry on

Which country sent the most visitors to the U.S. in 2006? Here’s a hint: it’s one of our closest neighbors, and it’s really no surprise. If you guessed Canada, you’re correct — Canada sent 15,992,242. And if you guessed Mexico, you’re almost correct — our neighbors to the south came in second with 13,317,000 visitors. Next on down is the United Kingdom followed by Japan, Germany, France, and the Republic of Korea.

So, what are all these tourists checking out? It’s not all Las Vegas and Disneyland: Spanish tourists are “interested in rugged western outdoor tourism, and [there’s a] growing interest in Native American culture and traditions.” Japanese want to find scenes from their favorite movies. And with their strengthening dollar, many Canadians are coming to the U.S. to shop.

Forbes has a slideshow of the top U.S.-visiting countries, and you can read the full report on the U.S.’s foreign tourists on Forbes’ website.