Japanese singles are turning to pocket alarms to signal attraction to a likely lover. - The Daily Telegraph
TOKYO - Japanese singles seeking soulmates are turning to pocket alarms that beep and flash when a likely lover is near.
The egg-shaped "Lovegety" will, their brochure promises, "get your heart." The alarms can be set in three modes according to the kind of relationship required: Friend, playmate or lover.
When the man or woman of your dreams is within four metres - and assuming they are also equipped with the device - Lovegety starts beeping. A flashing green light means you are both in lover mode.
About 35,000 hopeful lovers have already bought the electronic cupids at $35 Cdn each. In Tokyo, where teenagers pick up dates by randomly dialing pager numbers, the Lovegetys are an instant hit.
"I set mine to lover mode and if the guy is cool I'll say 'hello.' But if he's ugly, I switch it off," said 17-year-old Kaori.
"It's a great way to break the ice," said Kiyoshi, 21. "It takes away the embarrassment of having to ask whether girls are available."
Junko, 17, who met her boyfriend when she was in playmate mode, hopes to become the first Lovegety bride - but her parents have withheld their consent.
Received: Thu, 14 May 1998 11:05:27 -0700
Dan&Eric subscribers seeking death and destruction are turning to pocket alarms that beep and flash when a likely killer or victim is near.
The skull-shaped "Cilmi" will, their brochure promises, "Kill you, allow you to kill others, or both." The device can be set in three modes according to the relationship required: victim, killer, or murder/suicide.
If you are in Killer mode, your Cilmi will beep when you are within four meters of a Cilmi in Victim mode. Pressing the button on your Cilmi will cause the other Cilmi to explode, killing the victim. If you and another are in murder/suicide mode, both Cilmis will beep, and when both buttons are pressed, both Cilmis will explode.
About 35 hopeful victims have already bought the electronic angels of death at $35,000 each. In New York City, where prospective killers pick up victims by shooting indiscriminately from moving vehicles, the Cilmi's aren't selling very well at all.
"I set mine to Killer mode and if the guy is cool I'll say 'suffer,' but if he's got some kind of flowering shrub up his butt, BLAM!" said 19-yer-old blonde sorority sister Esther Filderman.
"It's a great way to break the ice," said Jon Slenk, 28. "It takes away the embarassment of having to ask whether girls will kill you.
Fleur, 28, who met her current intended victim at work, keeps giving him Cilmis set to victim mode, but he keeps turning them off comma the bastard.
-Elliott C. Evans
Received: Fri, 15 May 1998 12:03:13 -0400