It's a finger job for your cell phone
October 15th, 2008 by ShaunaMove over, Guitar Hero! It's all about music on the go.
Wanna hear the sounds of a flute, cello or violin without lugging around a bulky instrument case? You can now instantly fulfill your classical cravings and even control the melody if you can get your hands on the new musical mobile cell phone that has Japan all abuzz.
And what fun would it be if you can't sync up with others? Create your own orchestra and let the music begin! Hope you got some good finger skills...
Japanese game maker turns cell phones into an orchestra
By Chika Osaka
Reuters
TOKYO — Making music just got easier. A Japanese game maker has teamed up with the nation's leading cell phone network carrier to enable users to play an orchestra with their fingertips.
Game manufacturer Taito has created the "Chokkan Classic" software for NTT DoCoMo's i-mode Internet service that lets users pick their instruments and the melody they want to play.
To activate the sounds, users must either rub or move a finger in front of their phone's infrared sensor. The sensor can also be used to sync several users' phones to create the myriad sounds of an orchestra.
A Taito performer, who called himself "Tricky," directed a full performance of Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" recently at the annual Tokyo Game Show as baffled viewers looked on.
"Sound is triggered once the sensor on the cell phone captures any kind of movement in front of it," explained Tricky.
"If you stop the movement and let's say you're playing a flute, then the sound of a flute will completely stop.
"Whether you're playing a flute, violin or cello doesn't really matter because anyone can join and play as long as you're in sync during the session," he added.
Playing games and paying for goods electronically using cell phones is common in Japan, the world's biggest market of 3G mobile users, where phones are swiped at ticket gates or vending machines to pay for train fares or drinks.
Taito says the new software was created to make classical music more accessible for younger cell phone users.
With the interactive software, the company also hopes to survive the competitive mobile gaming market, which had suffered an unexpected slump last year, with many game developers and analysts pointing to weak distribution channels.
The number of cell phones sold in Japan by NTT DoCoMo, which controls half the country's mobile market of 100 million users, dropped 21 percent in the April-June period from a year earlier.
According to Taito, tech-savvy consumers are no longer impressed by new applications that once drove sales such as music distribution, TV phones and camera phones.
Japan was the world's fourth-largest market for cell phone sales in 2007, after the United States, China and India.
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What cool features do you wish your cell phone could have? Do you lean more toward practical functions or gravitate toward the wow factor?
Are you one of those folks glued to your phone all day — playing around with it if you have a minute to spare or have to wait for someone? Do you ever go anywhere without your cell phone?
Do you always get a new phone when you see a more technologically advanced model come out? How fast do you like to switch phones or carriers? How many cell phones have you already gone through?
What kind of phone and plan do you have? Are the most important features to you text messages and video? Or is it more about the unlimited talk time or rollover minutes? Is Internet service a must-have?
What other ODD uses can you think of that a cell phone of the future will be capable of?
Tags: 3G, cell phone, Japan, musical mobile phone, NTT DoCoMo, orchestra, Taito
October 15th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Back at ONE!
October 15th, 2008 at 1:30 am
I saw a clip on the news of a group playing a song with their cell phones. I must admit that they sounded much better than I would have imagined!
I'm pretty basic when it comes to cell phones... I just want good reception! I don't use most of my cell phone functions... anyway, when you get older and can't see in dim light... uhh... lots of things are pretty useless (even text messaging is difficult... sheesh, am I showing my age or what?!)! I'll use my camera from time to time, but that's about it. I think I'm on my fifth phone or so... all with the same carrier. I'll only get a new phone if I'm renewing my contract or it's broken.
I feel like I'm missing something if I don't have my cell phone! I once lost it while I was on a trip and I nearly freaked out! Luckily, I was able to track it down. It's such a convenience but, to me, sometimes it was nice that no one could track you down for a while! Now, there's no excuse!
October 15th, 2008 at 4:07 am
I haven't had a land line for 10+ years since high speed broadband became available in my neighborhood....no more spam calls
School pays for my BlackBerry so it is loaded with just about everything...since I support Email, it's also a guinea pig. I use it in place of my ipod for mp3 and watching videos...it comes in handy on plane trips as you only need one device to carry around. The only thing it does not have is a camera
but does have GPS and nav. My kids text like crazy so this is used for texting. I use the Opera mini for the web browser as the two provided with BB has much to be desired...Opera is just a bit better.
My personal is from Sprint...receive a state discount....have been with them for years with a plan that they do not offer anymore. My first cell phone was a "bag" phone...didn't use that much, just for emergencies. I only lost one phone is all the years I've been using one. I do not have an X years contract, just month to month so if I upgrade my phone, I have to pay full price for it as I do not care to be stuck in a two year agreement and forced to a higher priced plan. I use the camera a lot....I just love to make my co-workers jealous when I am on vacation and send them pictures of what they are missing
I don't play games much on it.
How many of you will be completely lost if you happen to lose your cell phone? I'll bet you can't remember your friends phone number
I have to keep a list of my kids and close friends number in my wallet in case I do lose my cell...I have no clue as to what they are to save my life as they are all on speed dial or voice command.
October 15th, 2008 at 5:25 am
I'm with snow. I work in a restricted area so I can't have a cell phone with me at work and I only need to make calls on the one I have anyway. Basic works for me.
October 15th, 2008 at 5:26 am
I'm like snow. I like my phone to work when I need it. Oh yeah take pictures too. Never know when something special comes around. I was really upset a few days ago. My phone stopped receiving and sending photo messages. I have one of those Military Spec G-Zone phones that doesn't have a memory card or cable to connect to a pc to download your pics. So I have to send it to Pix Place, but couldn't since 9/11 Took it to tech support whop had to reset the programming and other doodads to get it to work. Almost 1/2 hour I stand around checking out the new phones before the guy fixed it. Now I can get my grand daughter's pics sent to me.
I don't use my phone to play music and video or anything fancy. I don't want to drain my battery and have to recharge it.
October 15th, 2008 at 7:35 am
oh wow. crazy japanese!!
i'm not so sure about the cell phone making classical music more accessible for young kids...especially when they're rocking out to it in public & putting on a mock concert. they might have a better chance of doing that if they make a DanceDanceRevolution "routine" to classical 
until recently, my mom was like you snow where she just wanted something she didn't have to read the manual to understand--just something she could make calls on. now that i've introduced her to the wonderful world of texting and sending picture messages, her phone had to have a decent camera too...oh and don't forget mp3 capable just in case her ipod dies or something! she actually upgraded her phone before i was eligible to upgrade mine so for like 5 months she had a cooler phone than i did hehe
me, i've changed cell phone carriers just once and am on phone #9...hmm that's not bad considering i got my first cell phone in high school. that only comes out to 1 phone a year!
and yes, i am guilty as charged about tinkering around with my phone if i get somewhere early or have to wait for someone...and [again] guilty about *wanting* a new phone when i see a "better" one come out 
main thing for me is usually the value for the price of the plan. i get enough minutes to talk, unlimited text & unlimited internet (which i was required to upgrade to when i got this phone) and reception pretty much wherever..."can you hear me now? good."
October 15th, 2008 at 7:38 am
what does it mean when it says that my "comment is awaiting moderation?" :??:
anyway i was gonna add that i got a kick out of using the navigation thingy on my cell...it's actually pretty good at pronouncing our street & city names. and the cool part is that there's an option to check gas prices at stations near you so you can find the best price
and if i EVER leave home without my cell, it's not on purpose!
October 15th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Wow, everyone sleeping in today? That phone sounds like musical instruments for non-musicians. How does it know what note to play?
I'm just happy if my phone can make a call. I used to have one of those "brick" phones back when there was only one cell phone company in Hawaii (remember which one?) so I guess I'm not too picky. Although now I had to get a phone with a planner since I kept forgetting appointments and stuff.
October 15th, 2008 at 7:44 am
“It’s a finger job and you’re in control”
I'll leave THIS TOPIC............to M.
OL
October 15th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Don't know if this new thing really going catch on. Not everybody into playing musical instruments, but mostly everybody takes pictures and listens to music.
I usually just get a new phone only when I break or lose mine. I still can't figure out how to down load my pics from my phone
Like snow, mostly just basic use. My phone is company phone so when I go out at night I try not to take it, don't want to be bothered....espically when having a few Beea's 
October 15th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Been using a cell phone for 10 years (wow) but only until last year my needs were relatively simple. I do admit I feel kind of strange without one...last year I took my RAZR with me to Japan even tho I knew I couldn't use it. And it was a bad decision because I lost it somewhere in the Tokyo National Museum (I think I got bachi from making funny poses with some of the exhibits).
Anyway, I have a Sprint/HTC Mogul now with all the bells and whistles. Full keyboard, nice camera, internet, even TV....I use it all. Kind of bulky compared to my RAZR but its ok since I can check my internet whenever, wherever.
Don't think I would like the super fancy features like composing my own music. Maybe if I'm bored on the toilet, but I think my own toots will suffice
October 15th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Finger job? Oh my.
I've had pretty much "bare bones" cell phones pretty much as long as I've owned them. I always got the free one or the cheapest one until my current phone. I had to switch carriers, beecause my old service, for lack of a better word, sucks.
I got an iPhone wanna bee touch screen deals, and I love it! I love it beecause I can go on the web with it, and go to "the secret place."
It was a good camera as well. That was one of the main selling points for me, beecause my digicam is too big to pocket.
You never know when photo ops will rear their heads!
October 15th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Good morning everyone. As you all probably noticed, EVERY single comment submitted is going into moderation. Why that would be after you regularly submit comments is beyond me. I messaged our online guys to see what's going on. It sucks when things that should work normally all of a sudden don't. Guess that's the problem with technology...Grunt, grunt.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:08 am
My first cell phone was the old original Motorola brick. I think you may have still been an egg back then QB, or at least a little squirt.
I've changed phones regularly every year or two since then. Today, I've got the nationwide family plan with uku gazillion minutes, unlimited text and picture messaging, best coverage everywhere except home and all for only fifty dollars down, fifty dollars a month for fifty years. I've noticed how technology has improved soooo much over the years sometimes to our disadvantage; today, the rechargeable battery works well until one month after the warranty expires, then you have to pay forty bucks for a replacement. But no more! I go to ebay now and get a brand new used original equipment replacement one for ten bucks and it just barely lasts me the ten months til I can get another new phone under the "free phone at end of contract so we can renew your commitment for another two years" plan. All not really sort of kidding aside, I can't do without it. I get so upset at myself when I leave it behind. It's so convenient to call home when I'm out marketing if we need more ketchup or toilet paper, or whatever. And it's so nice to share the moment with my kids like that cute pussy cat sitting under the tree (the four legged kine, pervs). And I don't need to pay the additional five hundred dollars a day for GPS in the rental car when I travel. I just buy a week of VZ Navigator (I'm with Verizon). And hats off to those Verizon folks...I usually get very good customer service locally, and excellent service with the 1-800-PLEASEHOLD customer support line (for real!). Whenever someone asks me who my provider is, I always shoot a recommendation for Verizon because although they have their quirks, don't have the coolest phones, and are not the cheapest, their support system and network is the best and that's what really matters to me. My son switched over to another provider, but paid the early termination fee and came back under my plan because he was getting such really bad service.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:13 am
I noticed that too. I don't like being moderate! I AM A REBEL!!!!
October 15th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Go ahead.........PULL MY FINGER
for I am IN CONTROL
OL..........in "moderation"
October 15th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I noticed my post prior to the last one was deleted. Are we playing under different rules now?
October 15th, 2008 at 9:17 am
What's going on? Now my original post is back, and my second one is gone.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:35 am
the main things i look for in a phone is reliability, good clear reception and bee small/comfortably enough to fit in my pocket.
and most of the phones now days get all the bells and whistles on it anyway.
eh BF.....don't you carry your digicam in your murse?
October 15th, 2008 at 9:39 am
My fingers have no job skills....... I only use my cell for talking. I don't even text. I have the basic phone from my carrier. I lean towards Nokias because they can take a lickin and keep on tickin. I think my plan is up soon and I'll go get a new phone. Don't know which one......
October 15th, 2008 at 9:43 am
munch - thanks for reminding me that i'm old enough to be your mother!! lol...
October 15th, 2008 at 10:05 am
bummers i can't see the vid! i'm a guitar hero fan...so until i'm an expert on that i'm not givin' up to play in an orchestra on my cell phone! lol!!
October 15th, 2008 at 10:09 am
wow, what will japan think of next?!?! it's weird, i like tech stuff (tvs, stereo, audio, computers, etc, etc.) but when it comes to cell phones, i pretty much get the most basic one i can get. plus i'll wait till my current phone is one life support (duct tape holding that suckah together...) then i'll call t-mobile, ask them, "what's the cheapest phone i can get with a camera if i extend my plan another year?" and then they give me my options.
my family got the very first motorola "brick" like mr. goodBEEr mentioned. in hilo that was NO calling plan, and each call was $0.75 per MINUTE! and then after 9pm, it was something like $0.17 per minute. i think that was in the early 90s? i forget. in honolulu ('98ish) i was the last to hold on to my pager till i succumbed to getting one of those "cool" nokia 3120 phones. changed it all to cleared out casing and had a blue-lighted antennae. hahaha.
right now i have a ghetto nokia, missing pieces, and no hands-free set cause my other one broke and i can't seem to find another one anywhere. i have a motorola razr in my bag that is unused and already obsolete!
like anklebiters, no landline. gave that up a long time ago. save money too!!!
i think there was a study and so far japan's mobile phones outnumbered the landlines and america was very close (if not so already) to being in the same company.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:15 am
I guess we spent too much time in the BeeLot?!?
My fingers are good! Wanna try um out?
October 15th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Still no word on what's going on with the comments... Keep 'em coming and I'll individually approve each one...
Anyone make it to that BEElot party yet?
October 15th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Oh geez - those uji hentai designers are going to have fun with this one.
I'm currently using an unlocked iPhone on T-Mobile. We have the T-mo family plan with t-mo to t-mo free as well as evenings and weekends. Got in early on the $10 a month for unlimited text, pic, and vid messaging - for all 5 phones on the family plan. My previous phone was my daughter's "old" Sony Ericsson W960i with handwriting technology (kinda flaky though).
I'm waiting to see T-mo's G1 Google phone coming out one week from today. Although it's a 3G phone and T-mo doesn't have a 3G network here yet, it'll still work on the Edge network. But the data plan is $25 additional.
I'm still trying to hack my iPhone to get the data plan to work with the $5 T-zones feature since my phone is unlocked and jailbroken.
We've been with T-mo since they were called Voicestream. Until we upgraded our sim cards about a year ago, our phones still displayed Voicestream on them. My first carrier was Primeco. Remember them?
As for those old Moto bricks - I bought one for $1 at a garage sale and have it displayed in my cubicle at work - just for old times sake.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Shauna - At least you're the moderator. Imagine if somebody else was doing it. All the BEElot comments that we love so dearly wouldn't get their chance to be enjoyed by the world
October 15th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I have a Wing from T-Mobile... I love it... But I DO want an iPhone... just cuz... I pay MORE than I would if I had a landline... but I can check my email, call, instant message, take photos, video, and play MP3s . I love it. Hope everyone is having a great day!
NEO
October 15th, 2008 at 10:45 am
weird, my previous comment didn't have to be approved...let's test this again.....
October 15th, 2008 at 10:46 am
darn, it's now "awaiting moderation"......boo!
October 15th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Shauna, "It's a finger job and you're in control". Hmmm, shall I go into this topic or not?
All I need my cell phone for is to make and receive calls. I don't even use the features on the phone. My phone is a few years old and don't plan to get a replacement unless I have too. I don't even know how to text someone. I have AT & T because I like the roll over minutes.
In Japan, their cell phones even looks different. They are always doing something on their cell phones. You are not allowed to make calls on your cell phone while riding the train or subways in Japan. So people are either reading or doing something with their cell phones while traveling. I tried to look what their doing while riding the train but everythings in Japanese.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:59 am
I have a Palm Centro with the Everything 450 plan from Sprint. It costs me about 80 bucks a month with insurance, but at least I get internet, unlimited texting, free nights and weekends, free mobile-to-mobile and I can check my e-mail throughout the day. This phone is a lifesaver. I love the Google Maps, too. I get lost without it. But, you can't beat the phones in Asia, though. They're so cool. I like to look at the ones in the K-dramas. Hehe!
October 15th, 2008 at 11:14 am
I'm a heavily-laden Luddite. My phone is just a phone (pay-as-you-go $15/month Verizon), doesn't take pictures, no games. My mp3 player plays music (but also displays teeny-tiny photos). My camera is just a camera, although it can take short videos. When I'm carrying all my personal electronics (no, not THAT kind), my purse is really heavy.
I wish they'd invent transporter technology (like Star Trek), but built into my phone so I can sleep 'til the last minute and then be at work instantly. Or home instantly. Or at Waiola Shave Ice instantly.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:27 am
honda si boy (has a dirty........car!): don't worry, every comment i see in moderation from you guys i approve...
bamboohouse808: yeah, imagine the horror if those BEElot comments couldn't make it through! haha!
October 15th, 2008 at 11:29 am
just a fyi for everyone who has verizon wireless. you cell phones may not be working. my entire office has no service. you got to love technology.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:32 am
M: Take a stab at it and delve into this topic if you dare. After all, you need some finger skills to make that music, according to the story... What were YOU thinking?
KAN: Never heard of that Star Trek technology but that would be COOL!!
Kelli: Gee, your plan is expensive!! I like those K-drama phones also. They always seem to have the latest gadgets!
October 15th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Remember this commercial?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnnPllpIqzk
I guess its cell phone use in the BEElot?
October 15th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Still waiting to hear if you can think of any other ODD uses for a phone...
Does anyone do customized ring tones? Or have certain rings for certain people so you can recognize the call?
What song or ring tone would best match your personality?
October 15th, 2008 at 11:51 am
KAN:
Hey, you can even rob a bank and no one would know till later.....zip in and zap out Your own personal ATM
October 15th, 2008 at 11:53 am
BC (Is that your phone or are just glad to see me?): Cool commercial!! I never saw that one. Very effective!
October 15th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
On the JR train line in Tokyo, every stop there's different chimes so you could know by the chimes what station it's stopping at. I have one of those chimes as my ring tone.
There's the one finger technique, two finger, three finger, fist, you can use your thumb to rub the .....while using the fingers to.....
October 15th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
i mentioned this before on MLC.
peeps in my phonebook calls. hah!
but i have "Tubular Bells"......from "The Exorcist".......set as one of my ringtones for when the
and i also have a cat meowing ringtone set for some of the "rrrwowrr" women.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Shauna,
Right now, I'm using "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White T's as my default ringtone, but thinking about changing it soon... I pay about 80 per month for my plan too, crazy, but I'd be so lost without my phone... Hope you're having a great afternoon gang. Queen, hope you're feeling better.
See ya all laters!
NEO(out to lunch...subway)
October 15th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Oh lordy, I just read M's comment...
you people are strange... that's why I love it! 
October 15th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
NEO - "you people are strange" - thank you for the compliment!
but, you know, you won't be referring to us as "you people" for long... 'cause you'll be BUZZing along with the rest of the HIVE as a newBEE for the BEEBEEDEE's!
October 15th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
i used to have certain ringtones for certain caller ids....like when my old job called the ringtone was silent
used to be able to do this on my other phones, and could even assign a different tone for when you get text messages from that person...but this one cannot.
the nice guy @ verizon told me about this free website where you could import an mp3 from your own (legal) collection and edit it down to the portion that you wanna use as a ringtone. then all you do is connect your phone to the computer & voila!
buuuuuut my phone now isn't supported yet 
and OMG BC was that commercial actually on tv?!
October 15th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Neo - "you people are strange", if you are reading this blog you are just as strange as the rest of us on this blog...LOL.. aren't each of us strange in our own way? ....LOL...that's what makes each one of us BEEs interesting.....like snow said, thank you for the compliment!
October 15th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
@opso - I was wondering if someone was going to bring up my murse.
just for clarification, I don't carry my murse 24/7. Only when I need to carry stuff that doesn't fit in my pockets, like a digicam, or a big dagger.
KIDDING! 
Oooh, I know what I want built into my cell: a TASER! You never know when you need it.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
My ringtone is Tourniquet by Linkin Park....
Caller tone for Chatty Smith is You're Beautiful by James Blunt
For soulmate is Soulmate by No Use For a Name
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaF2mxsTREU
The kids - Homer Simpson's D'OH D'OH D'OH.......D'OH D'OH
October 15th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
haha yeah I guess You're right snow...
October 15th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Hey gang, I need a little help from my friends... Thinking of a place to have dinner w/ my dad tonight someplace not too expensive, but good food... any idears? Thanks.
NEO(dad thanks you too)
October 15th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
How ironic......this message from on top of the Advertiser blogs "We have begun reviewing comments on most of our blogs before they are made public to ensure our posting guidelines are met. You may experience a delay in seeing your comments posted. We apologize for any inconvenience. "
WHAT are the posting guidelines?????
(Back to da regular programming dealing with "digits"...."fingers"....or other appendages)
OL
October 15th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
OK you asked for an ODD use of the cell phone. I don't know if I mentioned it here but one of my co-workers puts her cell phone in her BRA. So when it vibrates
HELLOOOOO!!!!!
October 15th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
NEO: How about Gyotaku or Pietro's? Those are some of my favorite restaurants...
Regarding the blog comments, here's little reminder of some of our terms of service. Please help me keep to these guidelines. Comments have gone into moderation resulting from a problem on another blog and not here. But to be safe, I may be "editing" certain comments to keep to these rules. Thanks for understanding!
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October 15th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Does this mean we cannot offer to sell our DYDEES and Muddas Milk Ice Cream and advertise da munchmobile?
October 15th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Those darn spammers!
making life hard for the rest of us.
I want to use my cell phone taser on them!
@Ynaku - at least your co-worker no put the cell phone in her panties.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
HAHAH, Pietro's my mom's favorite italian restaurant... only, it's NOT ITALIAN!!!! Come on Queenie, do you think we'd actually do any of that stupid stuff in the posting guidelines? We're all consenting and responsible adults here (at least most of us) good to know that it wasn't the Worker Bees engaging in any less than legal or legit things... of course we engage in some very less than adult banter on the blog, but... das' ok... Hope you're having a great day... and keep sending me those suggestions for places to grab grub after the memorial service for Sgt. Manglona from the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Infantry Regiment. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. I never knew Sgt. Manglona, but as the grandson of a 442nd veteran, I'll be there to show my support for the Sgt. and his family. If any of you are willing and able, I think you should do the same.
NEO(done preaching, but still thinking about fuud places
)
October 15th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Ynaku: Of course you can still advertise your wares. My only concern is some of the naughty stuff said iykwim...
O&E is all about ODD fun so that shouldn't stop!
October 15th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
boy....you folks gotta work even harder now yeah?
hah! if you REALLY had to follow all dem rulz here at da Hive and edit all our comments......you might end up without any posts.
hmm.....is this some kind of conspiracy going on?
October 15th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
YNAKU! OUR EMPIRE!!!!!!!!! The "Styling Dydee" scheme.....is in jeopardy.
"Use the Site to post, transmit or in any way exploit any information,
software or other material for commercial purposes, or that contains
advertising."
Styling Dydees..............DEAD
Muddahs Milk Ice Cream...........DEAD
Munchmobile......................DEAD
Banana's Beaver Toy...........DEAD
I'm DEPRESSED............again.
OL......former zillionaire, Diaper King, and ERECTED Official
October 15th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
WAAAAAA
There goes our gazillions. Cannot retire and go fish. For sure when we die they going to have to ERECT 2 statues of us and somebody gotta POLISH it. Shauna can do it since she DOES windows. Ho what and ODD predicament we are in.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Why is Queenie keeping me under moderation?
I wanna play with the rest of the hive!
No mare Barry the Beaver?
:cry:
October 15th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Ocean Lover (Rules/Shmules).) and Ynaku: We can catch them on a technicality. Each product will have the O&E logo attached to it so I think we'll be OK! Start working on those budget sheets for all of our entrepreneurial plans!
opso: Yeah, we can't have that happen!!
NEO: We'll be praying... Other places to eat: Spaghetti Factory, Cattle Company, Big City Diner?
anklebiters: Cool ring tone choices! I think last night's 90210 was a rerun: the first episode!! How come?
BananaFysh: Yeah, turning cell phones into a Taser will never happen. Though you should never say never. ODDER things have happened...
Speaking of which, anyone having an ODD day? Besides this whole blog comments fiasco, I was washing my pot today when the dang handle fell off!! I noticed it was loose for a while but didn't think it could actually fall off! What if it broke off while I was pouring saimin into my bowl? It would've spilled all over the place!! Anyways, so the handle and little screw fell off and I caught the screw before it washed down the drain. Yippee! I set it aside and when I attempted to piece it back together after washing the handle-less pot, I accidentally knocked the screw off the counter and it went right DOWN the drain. ARGH!! CRAP! What to do? No way am I sticking my hand down some black hole! UGH! WAH!!
Maybe it went all the way down and wouldn't clog the disposal. So I flip on the disposal. CLUNK A LUNK and these other jarring noises. What does that mean? The screw is just sitting pretty on the bottom somewhere? Will it break my disposal if I keep turning it on?
Misery loves company. Anyone have a crappy story to top that?
October 15th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
The topic title has change a bit. Is masako and I classes being shut down???
October 15th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Queen-
Yes it will break your disposal if you keep turning it on.. You need to get the thingy out... I would use a magnet taped to the end of a long chopstick or something... it's worth a shot... Just my observation. Yes, this has been a very, VERY odd day... Sunny in Pearl Harbor, but flooding near my house in Kaneohe... Go figgah!
NEO(not a plumber, just trying to help)
October 15th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Yeah Queenie, what NEO said - get that screw out of your disposal. It might get jammed in a blade and short the motor out if it can't turn.
If the magnet can't pick up the screw, try using a piece of duct tape on the end of a stick. If I was on Oahu you could call my special plumbing service. I would tell you how to call me, but that might be considered spamming the blog, and trying to solicit my services.
Eh, I go tell you the number anyways. 1-800-YOU-WISH
October 15th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
And for Pete's sake, don't stick your hand down the disposal!
Geez Louise, sounds like you need a full-time handyman/gecko-catcher/bug killer with you.
Is that internship available?
October 15th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Mr. Coors and I are catching up on posts from the last hour or so and saw the latest. Mr. Coors nudged me when he read dis:
"I accidentally knocked the screw off the counter and it went right DOWN the drain. ARGH!! CRAP! What to do? No way am I sticking my hand down some black hole! "
Oh yeah.....da lightbulb went on and Mr. Coors said to ask M to help. He has plenty experience sticking his hand into holes. He'll get that screw out of the disposal by first sticking his fingah....or two...or three....heck, he may even stick his FIST down dea. Move it around....ah huh......ah HUH? Before you know it dat screw and all da crap in dat disposal will come GUSHING OUT!
A (female) disposal "EVACUATION" if you will.....
Mr. Coors saves da day!
But seriously.....you gotta get dat screw out before it busts da blades all up.
OL.....(keeping Mr. Coors company)
October 15th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Mr. Coors wants to know if that last post is illegal considering the GUIDELINES and all........
OL.....Mr. Coors almost gone
October 15th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Shauna:
Get yourself a telescopic rod with a magnet on the end of it...mechanic use it to pick up nuts and bolts dropped into dark crevices around the engine.
O&E day:
...this is the second one in a week. The scary thing is, we've been seeing replies being sent back to her containing the identity information of the recipient of the original spa, 
One of our faculty user fell for a phishing spam that was generated from on campus via a compromised account. Well, she managed to get us on AOL's 'report card', Yahoo's naughty list, Hotmail's nags, and a population of angry recipients. They used her account and sent out thousands and thousands of more phishing spam. I tell you, profs around here are not very smart
October 15th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
NEO, BananaFysh and Ocean Lover (Mr. Coors and M to da rescue): Thanks for all the help!! Like the idea of sticking a tape/magnet attached to a chopstick down there... Will keep you posted! If that doesn't work, I'll call expert M!
BF: YOU got the job. Don't need to check your references or letter of recommendation. I'm sure you got lots of handy tools in that murse of yours!
And thanks for your service line! What will my ring tone be when I call?
M: Classes are on... uh... hold for a bit. Sign-ups will still be taken, however.
October 15th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Wow I miss being able to check the blog throughout the day. I getting overload trying to catch up. Like M I have a ringtone from one of the train stations on the Yamaote line in Tokyo. Japan is a feast for thte senses and I fell in love with the chimes at each train stations, thats why I downloaded a bunch of them onto my phone and use them as ringtones.
My son uses his phone to listen to music.....than he wonders why the battery doesn't last so long.
October 15th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Oh Pietro's, its one of my favorite pasta restaurants. I like the raw potato salad and thier dressings too. I had my first meeting with M over there.
October 15th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Masako: I've never been to Japan and am now immensely curious on what these Japan train chimes sound like! I should ask my sister cause she's been there many times! So Pietro's is where you and M had your first date?
NEO: Please update us on where you decided to go for dinner!
October 15th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
@OL - LOL! Okay everyone, I didn't go there! I thought about it, and backed off! That's awesome though. Don't call me the corrupter now!
@Shauna - What song would I assign to your call? That's easy! "Queen Bee" by Grand Funk Railroad. From the Heavy Metal soundtrack:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu0D4l60zOo
And yes, I DO have lots of handy tools in my murse. And some not so handy ones too.
Hard to say for sure about that screw, but I don't think a magnet will pick it up. If it came off of a pot, I would guess that it's stainless steel, and a magnet won't stick to it. But you never know, some of the screws are not stainless, and the magnet would work just fine. Fly me over, and I take 'um out for you.
October 15th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
M and I were actually set up by his friend thru the internet. His friend saw my love@aol personal and asked me if I wanted to meet a nice Christian guy who has two children. To make a long story short, we had planned to meet in a couple of weeks. Before we set up the date my girlfriend told him that we would be at Pietros so he came down and we had our first date that night.
October 15th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
BF is right, I think it's stainless steel so it would rust. I have a tool that can pick up small items like a screw so you won't have to stick your hand in the drain if it's still in there...
October 15th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
BananaFysh: Your first-class airline tickets are in the mail!!
And good point. The screw looks like stainless steel to me. I don't have a loose magnet piece anyways so I'll probably go with duct tape. I'll attach to two chopsticks and try to pick it up like that. Of course I suck at using chopsticks... So that's my ring tone and not "Dancing Queen"? Heh heh!
Masako: Aw, that's a cute story. I guess it was love at first sight! How much after that before you guys got married?
GoodBEEr: So did you know Verizon was off line for a bit today? Got word courtesy of #131...
October 15th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Shauna, we dated for 4 years before we got married.
October 15th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
opps...wouldn't rust....
October 15th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
BananaFysh: I approved your last comment but somehow it disappeared!!
This sucks!!
October 15th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Her Majesty the Queen, and other loyal subjects of the hive-
Lo, I have returned. First, the dinner update as requested by Queen Shauna. I succumbed and ended up at The Hungry Lion. I know it's a grease pit, and really unhealthy, but I was craving some good Chicken Katsu, and Hungry Lion does a pretty good job, and their homemade hamburger patty is great, cover that with curry, and rice, and ya got an Aloha Bowl, it's 9.75 but it's a HELLA lot of food (no pics though, cuz I ate em all)
Also just got back from the memorial service for SSG Julian F. Manglona from Saipan. SSG Manglona was a member of E Company 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry Regiment. He died after a training exercise at Ft. Hood, Texas, while training with the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Hawaii Army National Guard. I never knew SSG Manglona, but from the stories I heard tonight I know that I would have liked him. His commanding officers and company commanders called him a "good soldier and a good leader" To hear the voices of current members of the 100th along with the voices of the original members of the 100th, and all of us there singing "GO FOR BROKE" was one of the most emotional moments I've experienced in a while. Truly though, the moment of the night for me was hearing the Final Roll Call, where they call for SSG Manglona three times, with no response...
"STAFF SERGEANT MANGLONA"
-no response-
"STAFF SERGEANT JULIAN MANGLONA"
-no response-
"STAFF SERGEANT JULIAN FRANCIS MANGLONA"
-no response-
Very emotional evening for me... I didn't go because I wanted to, no one ever WANTS to go to these things-- I went because it was the right thing to do...
NEO(proud of himself, but prouder to be an American)
October 15th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
NEO: Hungry Lion! Wow, I haven't been there in a while! Your dinner sounded good!! You were supposed to take a picture with your camera phone, especially after today's topic! Hah! Anyways, thanks for sharing on that memorial service. That's so great of you to go even though you didn't know him. I'm sure the family was touched to see everyone there. BTW, what do you do at Pearl Harbor? God Bless our military.
On an unrelated note, I wanted to gather everyone's thoughts on the posting time for the O&E blog. Now that comments won't appear right away, should I post the story just in time for the early birds, around lunchtime, perhaps an evening blog or just stick with the standard midnight posting? As a night-shift worker, I'm less likely to be online between midnight and 9 a.m. Let me know when you can devote the most time to O&E and I'll see what the options are. Please note that it's fine to leave an isolated comment whenever you choose. The only problem is that commenting off other comments will not happen as easily as in the past since they are no longer posted instantaneously. That really sucks cause that was really the heart of O&E. But with that being said, please know again how much I appreciate you reading!
Good night!
October 15th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
hi qb! shucks, too bad about you folks having to moderate our posts! but, we'll keep BUZZing away, anyway...
(but i guess we won't be BUZZing so spontaneously!!)
anyway, i usually spend the most time in the HIVE during the day, during the week. nights and weekends are iffy but, if i do go online, it's about now (10:30 pm). i'd say, do what's best for you (since you still have a job to do and a life to live outside of the HIVE!) and i'm sure we can make it work! we certainly appreciate all you do for us, giving us a welcome and sometimes crazy break from... uuhhh... "real" life?! let's see what the BBDs and other musketeers have to say...
October 15th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Queenie - i say you do whatever is easiest for you. you do all the work....so you call the shots. we will humbly follow your lead.
and yeah.....the chatter not the same without the instant rapid fire posting.
like Cat's blog today was so funny. there was no thread all day.....then later in the afternoon i guess she finally let everything through and had like 40 something posts all of a sudden. had peeps saying "first" all over the count. too funny. but see.....no mo the flow.
October 16th, 2008 at 12:50 am
@Shauna - I think the comment you approved that "disappeared" was post #56. I noticed that was "in limbo" for a while. That's why I was crying. I thought you were ignoring me.
You would never do that, right? 
Yay! First class tickets! I'll bee waiting by the mailbox, tool in hand! Oh, uh, and my murse I guess, with stuff to fix your disposal.
HA!
I guess I can bring manju while I'm at it, as well.
As for the ringtone, I suppose I can rotate songs. I'll throw in "Queen For A Day" by Dance Hall Crashers for good measure.
http://www.last.fm/music/Dance+Hall+Crashers/_/Queen+For+A+Day
October 16th, 2008 at 5:46 am
Queenie, here's one right up your alley......
I just want to thank all my friends and loved ones for the eduational emails over the past year... Because of 20 of your warnings I live in a zip-lock plastic bag with clean oxygen piped in after passing through 18 filters which are replaced each hour.
Thanks to you, I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a paper towel. I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don't know what the last person was doing while flipping through the channels.
I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.
I can't enjoy lemon slices in my tea or on my seafood anymore because lemon peels have been found to contain all kinds of nasty germs including feces.
I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking your nose.
Eating a Little Debbie sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats and high fructose corn syrup I have consumed over the years.
I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.
I must send my special thanks to whoever sent me the one about poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.
Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.
I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program .
I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's novena has granted my every wish.
I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.
I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.
Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.
Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.
I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.
I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put 'Under God' on their cans. I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer. And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face... disfiguring me for life.
I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.
I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume and rob me.
I no longer receive packages from UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.
I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.
I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for or which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica , Uganda , Singapore and Uzbekistan .
I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman-Marcus since I now have their recipe.
Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my bum.
And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00 dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a rapist waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.
If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician...
October 16th, 2008 at 7:36 am
M:
They are playing games on their phone while on the train....I noticed this too when I was there.
October 16th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
anklebiters (MOM is back!): I was cringing when I read some of those lines cause it totally reminded me of me! Oops! Where did you find that?
BananaFysh: I could never ignore you!! You're a screw-removing, manju-bringing, dagger-protecting top BEE!
opso and snow: Yeah, I think I will stick with my regular time. That way you can read as early as you want to comment and then come back again to comment on the others.
I'm so glad you guys come back regularly. *sniff sniff*
October 17th, 2008 at 6:16 am
Shauna:
Soulmate forwarded it to me....she sees a lot of herself in some of the lines too. It was forwarded to her so I have no clue where it came from..