FLY – the VR successor to Google Earth
Google Earth VR was the first mainstream real-world immersive map exploration app for modern PC VR headsets, but the app never made it to the standalone VR headset era. The new app FLY still uses Google Earth’s 3D map tiles, but brings exploring Google Earth in VR to Quest 2, Quest Pro, Quest 3, and Apple Vision Pro. It even includes the 3D geometry for certain cities.
Luno custom car camping mattresses
Luno makes a lot of cool car camping gear. Pillows, window covers, camp fans, organizers and other upscale tidbits for your #vanlife. Now they’re offering their AIR+FOAM custom fitted car camping mattresses. They claim to be better than a standard air mattress because they use air and perforated open-cell foam sandwiched between protective layers.
Each set is custom fitted for your specific vehicle. You put in your make/model/year and it’ll find the set that perfectly fits your vehicle (if available). It looks like they charge a flat $499 for most vehicles.
For the more budget minded, they have cheaper pre-owned/upcycled/returned products.
Car camping is fun, but something you should always keep in mind is that these pretty much take up all your cargo space (unless you use only one – which is a nice feature). So, if you’re bringing any other gear/food it better all fit in the front seat or it’ll sit outside all night (in the rain/snow/elements and with critters or bears around to nibble on anything edible). Some other tips for car camping here – like always sleeping with your head pointed uphill (since it’s been shown being inverted for long periods has even led healthy people to death).
Darn
I had this idea a number of years back. But I still have a few ideas they didn’t think of in this…
Article: https://technabob.com/augmented-reality-vehicle-windows-with-eye-tracking-technology/
Flying the climbing route up Mt Everest
Amazing Mavic drone footage of the climbing route up Mt Everest.
Why the Indianapolis Airport was rated as one of the top 10 airports in the US
Chi-town’s Chicagohenge
Japan’s Rude Resteraunt
During the day The Bake House in Nagoya is a pretty normal cafe. At night however, it turns into The Lazy House – a dining experience turned on its head. In direct conflict with highly etiquette oriented Japan, The Lazy House (Instagram) is filled with cranky and petulant staff dishing out insults while tossing dinner plates.
It reminds me of the retro diner Ed Debevic’s in Chicago where the staff can be snarky as well as put on a song and dance every now and again.
How is the restaurant fairing in Japan? It immediately started selling out for weeks in advance. It has slowed a bit since Dec 2023 but is still selling out on weekends.
Live (model) horseracing!
<Watson reading newspaper to Sherlock Holmes>
Sherlock Holmes (2009 movie -with Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law)
Watson: Lady Radford reports… Oh, her emerald bracelet has disappeared!
Holmes: Insurance swindle. Lord Radford likes fast woman and slow ponies.
I love old games – be they video games or physical games. The inventiveness of those early days was astounding.
One of the fun little rabbit holes I got into was the strange world of physical horse racing gambling games. No, these are not the big race tracks with real thoroughbreds, mint julips, and women wearing outrageous summer hats. These races happen happen on a large tabletop with horses that are less than 6 inches tall.
My first introduction to this kind of game was at Anata no Warehouse in Kawasaki Japan. On one of the upper floors, I saw this magnificent machine: GI-Horsepark Judgement by Konami. It featured miniature horse figures that physically raced around the track.
The GI series of numerous game models (GI-Horsepack Judgement, GI-World Classic, GI-Victory Road, GI-GranDesire) consisted of grand seasons with lots of races – and appears to have run from 1995 until 2011. Many of the machines lost the physical miniature horses and went to digital video races.
Modern versions of these racing games still exist today in Las Vegas – such as Konami’s Fortune Cup:
Here it is in action:
But before that, these electro-mechanical wonders existed as far back as 1985. Sigma Derby was created by a Japanese company Sigma Entertainment. Currently, there is only one remaining functional machine in the D Casino in Las Vegas – but what a treat that it’s been kept working.
Make your own Supersuit with Edna
Airbnb has brought Edna’s mansion to life to celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of my favorite movies: The Incredibles (definitely a favorite movie of mine).
Check out the cool experience:
Links: