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<channel>
	<title>Technabob &#187; bear</title>
	<atom:link href="http://technabob.com/blog/tag/bear/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://technabob.com/blog</link>
	<description>Cool Gadgets, Gizmos, Games and Weird Science</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:30:11 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>RIBA II Robot Carries Frail Humans, Doesn&#8217;t Pile Them Like Cordwood</title>
		<link>http://technabob.com/blog/2011/10/26/riba-ii-robot-carries-humans/</link>
		<comments>http://technabob.com/blog/2011/10/26/riba-ii-robot-carries-humans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:30:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Conner Flynn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health + Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Robots]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strange + Wonderful]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RIBA II]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[robot]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://technabob.com/blog/?p=71554</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[News of the RIBA II robot has been around for quite a while, but I don&#8217;t think we&#8217;ve really had a quality video of it in action until now. The bot is designed to work in hospitals and help carry patients from one bed to another, whether they want it&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>News of the RIBA II robot has been around for quite a while, but I don&#8217;t think we&#8217;ve really had a quality video of it in action until now. The bot is designed to work in hospitals and help carry patients from one bed to another, whether they want it or not.<br />
<span id="more-71554"></span><br />
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-71582" title="riba_2_robot_carries_humans" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/riba_2_robot_carries_humans.jpg" alt="riba 2 robot carries humans" width="727" height="600" /><br />
Judging by the way the guy in the video babysits RIBA II, he obviously doesn&#8217;t trust the bot to A.) not drop the woman and B.)Not run off with her and take her to it&#8217;s bot-cave somewhere and never return. The robot was developed by Tokai Rubber Industries and RIKEN, a research institute.</p>
<p><a href="http://technabob.com/blog/2011/10/26/riba-ii-robot-carries-humans/"><strong>Click to View Embedded Video Clip</strong></a></p>
<p>The body is completely soft so as not to hurt the humans that it is accosting. RIBA II can lift people that weigh up to 80kg (~176 lbs.) off the floor and onto a bed. The fact that it looks like a bear is just a bonus.</p>
<p>[via <a href="http://www.diginfo.tv/2011/10/25/11-0215-r-en.php">Diginfo</a> and <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/26/video-watch-cute-healthcare-robot-riba-ii-in-action/">Techcrunch</a>]</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Cuddly Bear Superheroes and Star Wars: Bears Everywhere!</title>
		<link>http://technabob.com/blog/2011/08/30/cuddly-bear-superheroes-star-wars/</link>
		<comments>http://technabob.com/blog/2011/08/30/cuddly-bear-superheroes-star-wars/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:27:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Range</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Geek Art + Craft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Just Plain Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Science Fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cuddly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cute]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[julius santiago]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marvel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[star wars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[superhero]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://technabob.com/blog/?p=65617</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We all know that plush bears are cuddly, but Julius Santiago took it to a whole new level, by having some cuddly bears dress up in some famous costumes, from superheroes to <em>Star Wars&#8230;</em>. Darth Vader isn&#8217;t exactly imposing in his new body, and it&#8217;s kind of hard to]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We all know that plush bears are cuddly, but Julius Santiago took it to a whole new level, by having some cuddly bears dress up in some famous costumes, from superheroes to <em>Star Wars</em>. Darth Vader isn&#8217;t exactly imposing in his new body, and it&#8217;s kind of hard to take Batman seriously when he&#8217;s a cute little bear.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-65618" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/082911_rg_JuliusSantiagoBear_01.jpg" alt="082911 rg JuliusSantiagoBear 01" width="600" height="450" title="082911 rg JuliusSantiagoBear 01 photo" /></p>
<p><span id="more-65617"></span>Bearman?</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-65619" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/082911_rg_JuliusSantiagoBear_02.jpg" alt="082911 rg JuliusSantiagoBear 02" width="600" height="450" title="082911 rg JuliusSantiagoBear 02 photo" /></p>
<p>Stormtroopbear?</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-65620" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/082911_rg_JuliusSantiagoBear_03.jpg" alt="082911 rg JuliusSantiagoBear 03" width="600" height="450" title="082911 rg JuliusSantiagoBear 03 photo" /></p>
<p>Captain Ameribearn? You get the point&#8230;</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-65621" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/082911_rg_JuliusSantiagoBear_04.jpg" alt="082911 rg JuliusSantiagoBear 04" width="600" height="450" title="082911 rg JuliusSantiagoBear 04 photo" /></p>
<p>Julius likes his cute little bears so much that he <a href="http://www.bulius.com/2010/01/20/365-bears/">drew a bear a day for a year</a>. You can find the archive of his project <a href="http://kingpanpan.com/">here</a>. You can find out more about the illustrations and designs Julius does over at his <a href="http://www.bulius.com/">blog</a>, or peruse the 365 bears that he created for his King PanPan project <a href="http://kingpanpan.com/">here</a>.</p>
<p>[via <a href="http://geektyrant.com/news/2011/8/24/hardcore-cuddly-bears-as-classic-characters-from-marvel-star.html">Geek Tyrant</a> via <a href="http://blog.thaeger.com/2011/08/30/cuddly-characters/">Thaeger</a>]</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Poor Chopstick Skills? Eat a Bowl of Pandas</title>
		<link>http://technabob.com/blog/2011/07/11/panda-darake-chopstick-practice/</link>
		<comments>http://technabob.com/blog/2011/07/11/panda-darake-chopstick-practice/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:28:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Technabob</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Just Plain Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strange + Wonderful]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chopstick]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[panda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weird]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://technabob.com/blog/?p=61111</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Like to eat Asian delicacies, but don&#8217;t have a good grip on your chopsticks? Embarrassed when you go to the local Chinese or Japanese restaurant and have to ask for a fork? Well have I got a deal for you. Now you can practice your chopstickin&#8217; skillz with the help&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Like to eat Asian delicacies, but don&#8217;t have a good grip on your chopsticks? Embarrassed when you go to the local Chinese or Japanese restaurant and have to ask for a fork? Well have I got a deal for you. Now you can practice your chopstickin&#8217; skillz with the help of a dozen pandas.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61114" title="panda_darake_chopstick_practice" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/panda_darake_chopstick_practice.jpg" alt="panda darake chopstick practice" width="600" height="765" /></p>
<p><span id="more-61111"></span>No, not full-size pandas. Don&#8217;t be silly. They eat only with their bear hands (and an occasional spork). You want tiny little pandas to help you master your chopstickery. That&#8217;s exactly what you&#8217;ll get with the Panda Darake set &#8211; 12 tiny pandas, a pair of chopsticks, and a tiny tire and tabletop to balance them on.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61113" title="panda_chopstick_practice_2" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/panda_chopstick_practice_2.jpg" alt="panda chopstick practice 2" width="600" height="560" /></p>
<p>Each set comes with pandas in six completely different poses, so you can really hone your chopstick skills, as you deftly maneuver the mini pandas into different positions, without fear of spilling chicken teriyaki all over the table. Just be sure to stop short of putting the mini pandas in your mouth, unless you want to spend the night in the E.R. Trust me when I say that panda chow mein doesn&#8217;t taste very good anyhow.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61112" title="panda_chopstick_practice" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/panda_chopstick_practice.jpg" alt="panda chopstick practice" width="600" height="450" /></p>
<p>You can grab the full Panda Darake chopstick practice kit over at <a href="http://www.strapya-world.com/products/42470.html">Strapya World</a> or on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IX295Y/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=theawes-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=B004IX295Y">Amazon</a> for about $24 (USD).</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Juicy Couture Bear Speakers Are Sadly Appealing to the Women in My Household</title>
		<link>http://technabob.com/blog/2010/07/27/juicy-couture-bear-speakers/</link>
		<comments>http://technabob.com/blog/2010/07/27/juicy-couture-bear-speakers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:54:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Shane McGlaun</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Audio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Entertainment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Just Plain Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pink]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[speakers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teddy bear]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://technabob.com/blog/?p=36854</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was all ready to make fun of these Mini Bear Speakers from Juicy Couture when my wife and 5-year-old daughter walked in. The wife got all excited because they are from a designer and my daughter was all giddy because they were pink, they were stuffed bears, and they&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I was all ready to make fun of these Mini Bear Speakers from <a href="http://www.juicycouture.com/shoponline/accessoriesjewelry/funstuff/prodZ0DLZ">Juicy Couture</a> when my wife and 5-year-old daughter walked in. The wife got all excited because they are from a designer and my daughter was all giddy because they were pink, they were stuffed bears, and they will connect to &#8220;daddy&#8217;s big iPhone&#8221; otherwise known as the iPad she runs off with at every chance.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-36855  aligncenter" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/bearspeaker-tb.jpg" alt="bearspeaker tb" width="600" height="419" title="bearspeaker tb photo" /></p>
<p><span id="more-36854"></span></p>
<p>As a guy who won’t wear pink and thinks bears are imagery best left to a football team the Cowboys hopefully destroy, I didn’t see the target market. I do now see the market, it&#8217;s guys unlucky enough to run across these with a female in the room who can make puppy dog eyes. I will end up having to buy these damn things. I really need a lock for the office door.</p>
<p>If you are being forced to buy your own set, or happen to be a 5-year-old looking for something to hook to your &#8220;big iPhone&#8221; these might do it for you too. The things can be pre-ordered for $68 and will ship on August 20. The bears each have their own speaker inside and ship with a black cable for plugging in your stuff.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bear and Rabbit USB Hand Warmers Perfect for Furries</title>
		<link>http://technabob.com/blog/2009/09/19/bear-and-rabbit-usb-hand-warmers/</link>
		<comments>http://technabob.com/blog/2009/09/19/bear-and-rabbit-usb-hand-warmers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:28:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Technabob</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Computing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gadgets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strange + Wonderful]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[glove]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hand warmer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[heat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rabbit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[usb]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weird]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://technabob.com/blog/?p=20118</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Wanna look like a complete freak while you&#8217;re sitting at your computer surfing the web? Then look no further than these ridiculous USB hand warmers that look like stuffed animals.

I don&#8217;t know if the fluffy bunnies or the pooh bears are more insane. And even if they weren&#8217;t completely&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Wanna look like a complete freak while you&#8217;re sitting at your computer surfing the web? Then look no further than these ridiculous USB hand warmers that look like stuffed animals.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-20119  aligncenter" title="rabbit_usb_hand_warmers" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/rabbit_usb_hand_warmers.jpg" alt="rabbit usb hand warmers" width="600" height="475" /></p>
<p>I don&#8217;t know if the fluffy bunnies or the pooh bears are more insane. And even if they weren&#8217;t completely stupid looking, do your hands really ever get so cold that you can&#8217;t type and you need to wear hand warmers at the computer anyway? It&#8217;s certainly never happened to me, but then again, I don&#8217;t live in an igloo.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-20120  aligncenter" title="bear_hand_warmers" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/bear_hand_warmers.jpg" alt="bear hand warmers" width="600" height="482" /></p>
<p>Both <a href="http://www.gadget4all.com/prod_detail.php?prod_id=01076">Bear</a> and <a href="http://www.gadget4all.com/prod_detail.php?prod_id=01077">Rabbit</a> USB Hand warmers are available from Gadget4all for $22.50 (USD) a pair. I dare you to bring these to work and wear them during a board meeting while you&#8217;re typing on your laptop. When the CEO asks WTF is going on with you, just tell him your hands were cold. I&#8217;m sure he&#8217;ll understand.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Enviro-Bear 2010: Best iPhone Driving Game Ever (With Bears)</title>
		<link>http://technabob.com/blog/2009/07/11/enviro-bear-2010-best-iphone-driving-game/</link>
		<comments>http://technabob.com/blog/2009/07/11/enviro-bear-2010-best-iphone-driving-game/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:58:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Technabob</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Just Plain Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strange + Wonderful]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video Games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[driving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[enviro-bear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[funny]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[game]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iphone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ipod touch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[simulator]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[strange]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weird]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://technabob.com/blog/?p=16591</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Now let me start by saying this. When I say &#8220;best&#8221;, I really mean &#8220;weirdest&#8221;, but once you check out <em>Enviro-Bear 2010 &#8230;</em>for the iPhone and iPod Touch, you&#8217;ll understand why I say that.

Actually, according to Destructoid&#8217;s Anthony Burch&#8217;s review of the PC version, Enviro-Bear is the &#8220;best, and]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Now let me start by saying this. When I say &#8220;best&#8221;, I really mean &#8220;weirdest&#8221;, but once you check out <em>Enviro-Bear 2010 </em>for the iPhone and iPod Touch, you&#8217;ll understand why I say that.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-16592 aligncenter" title="enviro_bear_2010" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/enviro_bear_2010.gif" alt="enviro bear 2010" width="600" height="402" /></p>
<p>Actually, according to Destructoid&#8217;s Anthony Burch&#8217;s <a href="http://www.destructoid.com/indie-nation-57-enviro-bear-2000-128974.phtml">review of the PC version</a>, Enviro-Bear is the &#8220;best, and only bear-driving-a-car-simulator&#8221;, which I have to say puts a slightly finer point on it than I did.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-16593 aligncenter" title="enviro_bear_2010_a" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/enviro_bear_2010_a.gif" alt="enviro bear 2010 a" width="600" height="403" /></p>
<p>Yep, Justin Smith&#8217;s <em>Enviro-Bear 2010</em> is a driving game, but you play a bear who&#8217;s managed to get behind the wheel, and all he can do is use a single oversize paw to steer, accelerate, brake, shift gears, and throw crap out of the passenger compartment that gets in the way of his main goals &#8211; to eat fish and berries.</p>
<p><a href="http://technabob.com/blog/2009/07/11/enviro-bear-2010-best-iphone-driving-game/"><strong>Click to View Embedded Video Clip</strong></a></p>
<p>As your bear runs amok through a jungle of clunky pixelated trees, he has to contend with leaves, pine cones, and an out of control badger &#8211; all with a single paw. Multi-touch is for wussies. Still don&#8217;t get it? Here&#8217;s the entire game manual:</p>
<ol>
<li>Grab stuff with your finger.</li>
<li>Eat fish and berries.</li>
<li>When you are FAT enough, drive in a cave to hibernate.</li>
<li>You can throw stuff out of your windows and sunroof!</li>
</ol>
<p>Ready to get your bear on? <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=321414906">Head on over to the App Store now</a> and plunk down that 99 cents you were going to spend on something from the Wendy&#8217;s value menu. No iPhone or iPod Touch? Then use your available paw to grab the free PC version <a href="http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/658973/EnviroBear2000.zip">here</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://technabob.com/blog/2009/07/11/enviro-bear-2010-best-iphone-driving-game/"><strong>Click to View Embedded Video Clip</strong></a></p>
<p>[<a href="http://www.enviro-bear.com/">Enviro-Bear</a> via <a href="http://iamhandheld.blogspot.com/2009/07/enviro-bear-2019-for-iphone-review-at.html">iamhandheld</a> and <a href="http://www.indiegames.com/blog/2009/04/freeware_game_pick_envirobear.html">indiegames</a>]</p>
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		<title>Tuned Bear iPod Speaker: Louder Than the Average Bear</title>
		<link>http://technabob.com/blog/2008/11/17/tuned-bear-ipod-speaker-louder-than-the-average-bear/</link>
		<comments>http://technabob.com/blog/2008/11/17/tuned-bear-ipod-speaker-louder-than-the-average-bear/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:20:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Technabob</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Audio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strange + Wonderful]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ipod]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mp3]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sound]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[speaker]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://technabob.com/blog/?p=5344</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Stuffed animal lovers, here&#8217;s a new portable audio setup that&#8217;s perfect for you &#8211; assuming that your animal of choice happens to be a faceless shiny bear, that is.

Made by Hirokawa Japan, Tuned Bear is a complete sound system for your media player, stuffed inside a teddy bear. Sound&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Stuffed animal lovers, here&#8217;s a new portable audio setup that&#8217;s perfect for you &#8211; assuming that your animal of choice happens to be a faceless shiny bear, that is.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-5345 aligncenter" title="tuned_bear_speaker" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/tuned_bear_speaker.jpg" alt="tuned bear speaker" width="520" height="441" /></p>
<p>Made by Hirokawa Japan, <a href="http://www.hirokawa.biz/products/tuned-store/tunedbear.html">Tuned Bear</a> is a complete sound system for your media player, stuffed inside a teddy bear. Sound comes from a pair of stereo speakers hidden in the bear&#8217;s feet (and powered by a battery pack in his butt).</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-5346 aligncenter" title="tuned_bear_speaker_colors" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/tuned_bear_speaker_colors.jpg" alt="tuned bear speaker colors" width="520" height="394" /></p>
<p>To turn on the bear, press his left ear. And to adjust the volume, simple grab the appropriately marked paw. Luckily this bear won&#8217;t rip your face off you when you squeeze his nubby appendages.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-5348 aligncenter" title="tuned_bear_speakers_2" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/tuned_bear_speakers_2.jpg" alt="tuned bear speakers 2" width="520" height="286" /></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">For the moment, Tuned Bears are only available in Japan (the same nation where you can also find <a href="http://technabob.com/blog/2008/08/30/oh-my-god-a-bear-is-eating-that-ladys-ear/">this</a>). If you happen to speak Japanese, you can find them over at Rakuten&#8217;s <a href="http://item.rakuten.co.jp/plywood/05137005/">Plywood</a> store for ¥3780 (appx. $39 USD).</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I can pretty much guarantee you won&#8217;t find one of these at your local Build-A-Bear Workshop.</p>
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		<title>Oh My God, a Bear is Eating That Lady&#8217;S Ear!</title>
		<link>http://technabob.com/blog/2008/08/30/oh-my-god-a-bear-is-eating-that-ladys-ear/</link>
		<comments>http://technabob.com/blog/2008/08/30/oh-my-god-a-bear-is-eating-that-ladys-ear/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:06:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Technabob</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Cool Toys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mobile Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strange + Wonderful]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[phone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weird]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[willcom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://technabob.com/blog/?p=3954</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Leave it to those wacky Japanese gadget makers to come up with something so silly as this mobile phone that looks like a teddy bear.

Mobile phone provider Willcom recently demonstrated their &#8220;Kuma Phone&#8221; (Bear Phone), at the 2008 Good Design Expo in Tokyo. Now what I find amusing about&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Leave it to those wacky Japanese gadget makers to come up with something so silly as this mobile phone that looks like a teddy bear.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3955 aligncenter" title="bear_phone" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/bear_phone.jpg" alt="bear phone" width="520" height="333" /></p>
<p>Mobile phone provider <a href="http://willcom-blog.com/archives/2008/08/00114.php">Willcom</a> recently demonstrated their &#8220;Kuma Phone&#8221; (Bear Phone), at the <a href="http://www.g-mark.org/english/news/2008/n_0731.html">2008 Good Design Expo</a> in Tokyo. Now what I find amusing about that last sentence is the fact that a fuzzy stuffed animal that you hold up to your ear to make phone calls would in any stretch of the imagination be referred to as &#8220;good design&#8221;.  Did I happen to mention this ridiculous thing costs about $500 bucks?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3957 aligncenter" title="kuma_phone_guts" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/kuma_phone_guts.jpg" alt="kuma phone guts" width="520" height="394" /></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Now this isn&#8217;t just an ordinary cell phone stuffed into a toy bear. The user interface is bear-specific too. For instance, to make a call, squeeze one of its four paws for one of your speed dial numbers.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-3956 aligncenter" title="kuma_phone" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/kuma_phone.jpg" alt="kuma phone" width="520" height="336" /></p>
<p>And to answer or hang up the call, you press on the bear&#8217;s tail. Of course, you never know how pissed off a bear might get if you squeeze its paws or press on its tail.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3958" title="kuma_phone_bear" src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/kuma_phone_bear.jpg" alt="kuma phone bear" width="520" height="345" /></p>
<p>The trick to using one of these phones is to know whether it&#8217;s a black bear or a brown bear cub that&#8217;s gnawing on your ear wax. If it&#8217;s a black bear, stay completely still and it won&#8217;t claw your eyeballs out. If it&#8217;s a brown bear, run like hell&#8230; or is that the other way around?</p>
<p>[via <a href="http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/blog-english/index.php/kuma-phone-teddy-bear-from-willcom/">CScout Japan</a> and <a href="http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/41478.html">Impress Watch</a>]</p>
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		<title>Panda Shredder Destroys Tiny Documents, Not Pandas</title>
		<link>http://technabob.com/blog/2008/01/10/panda-shredder-destroys-tiny-documents-not-pandas/</link>
		<comments>http://technabob.com/blog/2008/01/10/panda-shredder-destroys-tiny-documents-not-pandas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:45:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Technabob</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Gadgets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Just Plain Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[animal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[destroy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[document]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[panda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paper]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pencil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sharpen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shredder]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://technabob.com/blog/2008/01/10/panda-shredder-destroys-tiny-documents-not-pandas/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[These wacky mini panda bear shredders aren&#8217;t really big enough to destroy that second set of books you&#8217;ve been keeping for your business (let alone pandas), but they are perfect for getting rid of tiny pieces of paper you&#8217;ve written secret love notes on. As an added convenience, the desktop&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>These wacky mini panda bear shredders aren&#8217;t really big enough to destroy that second set of books you&#8217;ve been keeping for your business (let alone pandas), but they are perfect for getting rid of tiny pieces of paper you&#8217;ve written secret love notes on. As an added convenience, the desktop panda will sharpen your pencil while it shreds.</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/panda_shredder_diagram.jpg" alt="panda shredder diagram"  title="panda shredder diagram photo" /></p>
<p>The little hand-cranked shredders are also great for getting rid of business cards from unsolicited sales visits, that fortune you didn&#8217;t like from your Chinese lunch, and the occasional ATM receipt.</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/panda_shredder1.jpg" alt="panda shredder1"  title="panda shredder1 photo" /></p>
<p>You should be able to find these for about $12 bucks over on <a href="http://www.stupid.com/stat/SHRD.html">Stupid.com</a>, but they&#8217;re currently sold out, so you might have to settle for a crummy elephant shredder instead.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Wacky Cloth iPod Nano Cases by Annamatic</title>
		<link>http://technabob.com/blog/2007/04/15/wacky-cloth-ipod-nano-cases-by-annamatic/</link>
		<comments>http://technabob.com/blog/2007/04/15/wacky-cloth-ipod-nano-cases-by-annamatic/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:15:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Technabob</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Just Plain Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Media Players]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[annamatic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[case]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cloth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[devil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[etsy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[funny]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ipod]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leather]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pig]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sewn]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://technabob.com/blog/2007/04/15/wacky-cloth-ipod-nano-cases-by-annamatic/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[These hand sewn cases for the iPod Nano are pretty goofy looking if you ask me. They&#8217;re certainly not the typical sleek metal or plastic cases you usually see.

Individually crafted by artist Anna Lee (a.k.a. &#8216;Annamatic&#8217;,) these cases are definitely geared more toward girls, kids or men who are&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>These hand sewn cases for the iPod Nano are pretty goofy looking if you ask me. They&#8217;re certainly not the typical sleek metal or plastic cases you usually see.</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/annamatic_ipod_cases.jpg" alt="annamatic ipod cases"  title="annamatic ipod cases photo" /></p>
<p>Individually crafted by artist <a href="http://homepage.mac.com/annamatic/">Anna Lee</a> (a.k.a. &#8216;Annamatic&#8217;,) these cases are definitely geared more toward girls, kids or men who are extremely confident in their masculinity. Choose from &#8220;Mr. Devil,&#8221; a little red demon, &#8220;Bubba,&#8221; the leather-clad bear, or &#8220;Hamlet&#8221; the pink pig designs.</p>
<p>The cases cost just $15 each and are available from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5044598">Annamatic&#8217;s shop over on Etsy</a>.</p>
<p>[via <a href="http://www.smidigt.se/ipod-nano-handarbete/3393/">Smidigt</a>]</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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