The best part of this story from TimesOnline, about the "therapeutic ringtone" craze currently seizing Japan, isn't the fact that there are ringtones that allege to adrenalize you, ringtones that allege to improve your skin tone ("through the power of alpha waves") or ringtones that allege to "cause pollen lodged [in the sinuses] to fall from the nasal cavity." The best part isn't even that the guy behind the concept is the same guy who came up with a synthetic mosquito drone which is inaudible to people over 60 but useful for discouraging teenagers from "congregating in parks at midnight." These are just gravy. The really beautiful part of the story is the awesomely disingenuous endorsement offered by a spokesperson for Index, the mobile phone company that peddles the wonder tones: While it's true that there's a scarcely a shred of research to indicate any basis for the claims that the sounds do anything, "The number of downloads suggests the ringtones must be working to a certain extent." This is exactly the kind of logic that suggests Shake Shack must have the best burgers in New York because the lines are so long, and it needs to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame for Business Doublespeak.
Therapeutic ringtones sweep the nation, or at least a nation
- COMMENTS
- Boing Boing Gadgets
- guestblog
Long-missing John Lennon guitar from "Help!" found in attic
John Lennon played a 12-string Framus "Hootenanny" acoustic guitar in the movie "Help!" George Harrison used it on Norweigan Wood. It later disappeared for almost sixty years but was recently… READ THE REST
Irish national carrier's annual Blessing of the Planes
It's been an unnerving time to be an airline passenger, especially on a Boeing in a window seat. We don't have the golden parachutes that the Boeing execs are getting!… READ THE REST
Tom the Dancing Bug: Super-Fun-Pak Comix, feat. Bigfoot vs. Napoleon, Lester the Jester and MORE!
Please do JOIN THE INNER HIVE and get each week's Tom the Dancing Bug comic at least a day before publication! Plus other exclusive content like process pics, more comics, contests, insider… READ THE REST
Save $169 on a lifetime license to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro and never look back
TL;DR: Revamp your digital world with this incredible lifetime license to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro, with its seamless interface and top-notch security, for only $29.97 (Reg. $199) until 11:59 PM on 1/07.… READ THE REST
Upgrade your tech for the new year with this refurbished iPad Pro, less than half price right now
TL;DR: Save over $350 on a refurbished Apple iPad Pro 10.5" 256GB, plus a free accessories bundle, with this sweet deal on sale for just $315.99 right now. Tech fans, it's time… READ THE REST
Make your rockstar dreams a reality for only $15.97 with this Guitar Lessons Training Bundle
TL;DR: The perfect last-minute holiday gift for an aspiring rocker, the 2024 Guitar Lessons Training Bundle is only $15.97 (Reg. $480) until 11:59 PM on 12/25. It's really never too late to make… READ THE REST