Nissin created a plastic rice model to get your coworkers to shut up. The item, Onigiri, is supposed to be placed on your desk or lunchroom table. The item can prevent coworkers from commenting on your meal, or asking personal questions about how you should eat more. Nissin wants to help you avoid all the unnecessary “you should eat more” questions with the Onigiri, as SoraNews24 detailed: 

Nissin calls the item the Onigiri, but rather than writing it in Japanese as おんぎり, with お signifying respect to the rice, it’s instead written as 置にぎり. 置 means “put” or “place,” and you’re supposed to put the model on your desk or lunchroom table to prevent coworkers from commenting on how much you are, or rather aren’t, eating by making your meal look bigger than it actually is, sparing you from comments and personal questions like:

● “Is that all you’re eating for lunch?”

● “Are you doing a low-carb diet or something?”

● “You should eat more!”

image via SoraNews24

Cameo is a fast-growing startup that sells personalized celebrity videos. The company pays celebrities to record video shout-outs, aka “Cameos,” that run for a couple of minutes. The “Cameos” are then delivered via text or email. The celebrity can set a price, from $5 to $2,500, as Marker details: 

Cameo customers have purchased more than 560,000 videos from some 20,000 celebs and counting, including ’80s star Steve Guttenberg and sports legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And now, when the masses find themselves in quarantined isolation—looking for levity, distractions, and any semblance of the human touch—sending each other personalized videograms from the semi-famous has never seemed like a more pitch-perfect offering.

image via Marker

We’ve seen a lot of bizarre products sold at online shopping sites. Some are useful, some are just downright ridiculous. From as-seen-on-tv items to celebrity-endorsed disasters, Be Amazed lists the products that are so stupid, it might destroy your faith in humanity. Check it out and see if you’ve seen any of the products mentioned, or worse, bought any of them. 

When their planned trip to Iceland was cancelled due to the pandemic, Robert Ormsby decided to continue with his plans of proposing to his girlfriend. The nurse proposed in an Iceland store (a store with the same name as the country) instead. His action surprised his girlfriend, Patsy Murdoch. Murdoch said “yes”, but she was embarrassed at first, as BBC detailed: 

A photo of the proposal has gone viral and the couple said they were happy to spread some joy at this tough time.

"It's nice to know you can cheer somebody up by doing something that was just a humorous thing to make up for what we were going to miss," said Mr Ormsby, a charge nurse at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

The couple, both 58, was on their way to dinner when he nipped into Iceland under the pretence of picking something up.

"I was actually looking for an empty aisle," he said.

As he dropped on one knee, his partner "looked embarrassed at first," but quickly said "yes" and he "popped the ring on her finger," he said.

image via BBC

We can all admit that Mario has been through a lot over a very long time. He’s been rescuing princesses, fighting enemies, joining sports and racing games! He’s been working since 1981, so don’t you think that Mario should get some rest? Well, Polygon’s Brian David Gilbert surely believes that Mario can retire from all of his shenanigans. Watch as Gilbert computes the amount of coins Mario needs so he can fully retire from his long and tedious work! 

Paulo Coelho has made some of his works free for public download on his website due to the Coronavirus lockdown. The globally-acclaimed Brazilian writer, known for his works such as The Alchemist, has announced the availability of his works via his social media. The ebooks he has made available for free are in English, Portugese, and Spanish. Check out his website to see some of his works! 

(via Rappler)

image via Rappler

It’s not the roleplaying kind of furry, no. Two new Funko Pops will be available online, Pokemon’s Eevee and Pichu! The new Funko Pops are available in a furry texture. The new figurines are limited edition, Pop Vinyl World details: 

The Pichu Pop will be a FYE shared exclusive and the Eevee Pop! Vinyl will be a Hot Topic shared Exclusive.  Both should be available on April 10 and should also be available from Funko Shop as a part of their Virtual WonderCon. 

image via Pop Vinyl World

An urban algae canopy can produce 4 hectares of woodland worth of oxygen. The structure, displayed at Expo Milano, can also produce 150 kilograms of biomass. The canopy houses a fluid rich in microalgae. The microalgae in turn would produce shade, biomass, and a massive volume of oxygen, as TruthTheory details: 

The forerunner of the structure has been designed to regulate the transfer of energy, water, and CO2, influenced by several variables including weather patterns, visitor movement, and other environmental factors. Sunlight falling on the structure acts as a catalyst that leads to a synergy between biology and technology. For instance, intense sunlight will induce photosynthesis which will cause the algae to grow. This will diminish the passage of sunlight through the structure and offer shade. The algae are transformed by the process of photosynthesis and grow throughout the prototype.

image via TruthTheory

If you were a 90s or 00s baby, you might have seen these snacks in your childhood. Of course, they are long gone from the market shelves, so why not take a stroll down memory lane to see if you remember these snacks? From Disney-themed Cool Creations ice creams, to Sprinkl'ins (the sugary yogurt treat), to Reese’s Peanut Butter Bites, check out Buzzfeed’s list of 90s and 00s snacks that you never thought you would forget! 

image via Buzzfeed

GameStop informed employees that the company should be open even during the time of the pandemic, as they are “essential retail and therefore should be able to remain open during this time.” Employees were given a flyer to hand over to law enforcement should they attempt to shut down their store in different states. The flyer also includes the phone number for the company’s corporate office. It’s unclear if any stores are following the company’s instructions, as Vice detailed: 

“Due to the products we carry that enable and enhance our customers’ experience in working from home,” reads the memo, “we believe GameStop is classified as essential retail and therefore is able to remain open during this time. We have received reports of local authorities visiting stores in an attempt to enforce closure despite our classification. Store managers are approved to provide the document linked below to law enforcement as needed.”

The note does not appear to be instructed at one particular region of the country; the employees VICE Games spoke with were from all over, including the midwest and east coast.

“They've essentially said to disobey law enforcement in any state that shuts down non essential retail,” said one employee, who asked to remain anonymous, “as they believe we are providing an essential service to people that shop at a video game store.”

GameStop has been criticized for its poor handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The company has been unable to provide adequate cleaning supplies to employees, instead asking them to seek out such supplies at local stores. The company has not extended sick leave policies to employees, instead asking them to rely on their existing time off options.

image via Vice

The famed manga One Piece is given new life in a reimagine by shojo manga artist Yoko Maki. Maki applied a shojo aesthetic to the characters and world of One Piece, and the results are strikingly beautiful and different (from the original). Maki reimagined the manga’s Whole Cake Island arc, where Luffy is now a transfer student at Whole Cake Academy. Try looking at the reimagined characters and see if you still recognize them! 

(via Otaku USA Magazine)

image via Otaku USA Magazine

Voice actress Sarah Natochenny shared to Vanity Fair the process of dubbing the Pokemon anime. Natochenny has been the voice actor for Ash Ketchum in the English dub of the show since 2006. The video also includes how the Pokemon Sun and Moon anime is reinterpreted for the West, and the fine-tuning and digital editing for the show. 

(via nintendolife) 

Three paintings from the Christ Church Picture Gallery at the University of Oxford were stolen amidst the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The stolen paintings were Salvator Rosa’s A Rocky Coast, With Soldiers Studying a Plan, Anthony Van Dyck’s A Soldier on Horseback, and Annibale Carracci’s A Boy Drinking. The stolen artworks were made sometime during 16th and 17th centuries, and are worth $12 million, as allthatsinteresting details: 

So far the British police have yet to identify how the thieves managed to gain access to the small gallery, which is internationally renowned for its collection. Local authorities are appealing to potential witnesses for any clues that might help with their investigation.

“The artwork has not yet been recovered but a thorough investigation is underway to find it and bring those responsible to justice,” said the Thames Valley Police in a statement. In addition to the public appeal, the police also mentioned that an increased presence of cops would be enacted in the area in the meantime.

The unexpected burglary is the last thing anyone needs during a pandemic, which might hinder investigation efforts into the heist. As for the gallery, it’s remaining closed until further notice.

image via allthatsinteresting

Akasha Rabut showcases the different cultures of New Orleans in her photobook, Death Magick Abundance. From people on horseback, to motorbikers burning pink smoke, Rabut’s photographs celebrate the city’s thriving culture. Head to The Guardian to catch some highlights from her photobook!

image via The Guardian

With many countries worldwide imposing self-quarantine at homes, some are doing their work from home. Not all live alone, and sometimes, we need to consider other people in the household when we do our work. So what can you do if, say, you and your partner are at home, and need to do your jobs remotely? Slate’s Christina Cauterucci shares some pointers on how couples can maintain their sanity and their relationship while working at home: 

Make Optimal Use of Your Space

If you’ve been blessed with a home containing multiple rooms with chairs and tables, carve out a bit of personal workspace for each person, then designate another spot—like a kitchen table or couch—as a common area where you can both work when you want company. If working in separate rooms isn’t an option, give each person a primary working area as a home base, preferably on opposite ends of your space, then switch up as needed.

Get Good Headphones

Almost everyone recommended these, both for background music and to accommodate differing appetites for consuming coronavirus news throughout the day. Here’s a nice budget pair.

Consider Getting a Hotspot if Your Wi-Fi Sucks

Nothing fosters impotent rage like slow Wi-Fi. Is your internet plan too feeble for two full-time workers? Maybe someone’s employer will spring for a hotspot.

Be Honest About Your Work Styles

Do you welcome interruptions or prefer to be left alone? What breaks your concentration, and what constitutes a break-worthy emergency or pleasant opportunity to chat? Set a few boundaries and ground rules. It’s natural to want a few breaks for socializing throughout the day, but it’s unlikely that your working rhythm will always sync up with your partner’s. Find the balance of workday communication that feels right for you.

Share Your Work Schedules

As I told my wife: I wouldn’t have made my soup at 1:30 p.m. if I’d known she’d be unmuted on an important client call at 1:30 p.m.! Most at-home workers have even more phone and video calls on their schedules now than they did before coronavirus made in-person meetings inadvisable or illegal. Start a shared calendar or check in every morning to let your partner know when’s a bad time to enter the living room in a towel and when you’ll need them to stop yelling across the room about the dog’s diarrhea. Even better, take your work calls outside.

image via Slate