Origami as just as hobby? You’d be surprised by the talents and acumen of a Dr. Robert Lang, who after practising the art since childhood, went on to use origami principles in the development of his scientific research, such as in creating an oversized space telescope.

Though he is one to look up to, it’s true to say he is no ordinary man. Between his efforts to earn a PhD in applied physics, his job at NASA’s Jet Propulsion laboratory, his eighty technical papers, and his forty-six patents in optoelectronics and lasers, he somehow found time to implement and evolve a number of original origami designs.

Continue reading at The Origami Resolution

Visit Lang Origami

Technorati Tags: crafts, Dr. Robert Lang, Japan, origami

The NY Public Library has scans of an 1804 book from China that shows 22 engravings depicting punishment methods. The vintage illustration is lovely even though the subject matter isn’t.

You get the gruesome methods such as lime being used to burn eyes and fingers being tortured as well as the hamstringing above.

There’s also the close confinement punishment, which might drive the prisoner mad, but at least they keep their bits intact.

Then there’s the slightly comical ear-twisting, though sure, the person being inflicted probably wouldn’t find it so funny.

See all 22 on the NYPL Digital Gallery

Via BoingBoing

Technorati Tags: China, China torture, culture, NY Public Library, punishment methods

Chordata, a project by Singaporean Joanne Lin consists of a design made up of four square polypropylene sheets and two customized clips. You wouldn’t think it looking at the gorgeous result which shields a lightbulb to create a lamp.

Read more on CulturePush

Technorati Tags: Chordata, design, pendant lamp, Joanne Lin, Singapore

Hokusai’s extraordinary Great Wave art piece has become iconic and subsequently popularised to death! However, Levi’s did do a slightly different take with their 3D jeans poster advert.

If your memory needs a nudge, see the original below, along with another rendition with an eagle.

See more Hokusai Great Wave designs on Designer-Daily.com

Technorati Tags: art, design, Great Wave, Hokusai, Levi

Talented Korean superstar Rain headlines the new awesome looking Ninja Assassin movie produced by the The Wachowski Brothers of The Matrix.

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a decent ninja flick and we’re lovin the upgraded chain dart-knife.
The film will be released in Hong Kong on November 26, 2009 but check the trailer below to see what to look forward to.

Head on over to Neonpunch to read up more about this awesome forthcoming film…

Technorati Tags: Korean superstar, Ninja Assassin, The Matrix, Rain, The Wachowski Brothers

For the arty amongst our readers, have a go at painting this awesome red assassin following the steps outlined in the Pixel2Life blog.

Red Assassin Digital Painting Tutorial

See other painting tutorials at Pelfusion.com

Technorati Tags: arts, digital painting, painting, red assassin, tutorial

LED eyelashes appear to be the order of the day here. Apparently, this contraption is a project to give East Asian women prettier (or bigger) eyes.

According to the inventors, very few East Asian women are born with big eyes – a *standard* for beauty – and so the little-eyed ones resort to other techniques such as makeup, jewelry, and plastic surgery to make their eyes bigger. These techniques border on obsession thus being labeled as the fetish of Big Eyes.

The LED Eyelash is meant to satisfy the need for big eyes and “can perceive the movements of the pupil in the eyes and eyelids. If someone wears it and moves her head, LED Eyelash will flicker following the movement.”

We at OneInchPunch do not endorse this kind of equipment. Actually, we’re not convinced anyone apart from the inventors would endorse it either. However, we do think that East Asian women do look fantastic either with or without big eyes!

Technorati Tags: eyelashes, gadgets, LED, LED eyelashes, light emitting diodes

Viewing photos of pollution won’t be everyone’s idea of a good time, but Lu Guang from the People’s Republic of China, who was a factory worker, won a $30,000 prize for his documentary project, “Pollution in China“.

He won the prize on the 14th October at the 30th annual awards ceremony of the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund which took place at the Asia Society in New York City.

His gritty images of the grimy reality that people face in China are sobering, thought provoking and heart rending. They’re accompanied by captions that add further understanding to what viewers see.

Click on the link below to find out Lu Guang’s story and to read and see more of his photos on ChinaHush. Be warned that some images and text may be distressing.

Amazing Pictures, Pollution in China

Via 1rick on Twitter

Technorati Tags: China, Lu Guang, photography, Pollution in China

Zhu Li from China has some amazing, conceptual fantasy artwork. His pieces explore standard fantasy character fare such as warriors, sorcerors and others, though its not surprising to find an eastern touch to his work.

The Design Inspiration feature more of his work together with a short interview with Zhu Li.

Read more

Technorati Tags: arts, China, concept art, fantasy art

The website Beijing Made Easy gives a brief though definitive-sounding guide to toilets in China. Though not the most riveting of texts, the guide is surely a must in your preparations if visiting the country for the first time.

Though we’re not strangers to squat toilets in the far east, the mention of pigs for “recycle” in countryside toilets put us off pork.

Read more in the guide to Chinese toilets

Technorati Tags: China, Chinese toilets, toilet guide, toilets