As much as we enjoy conjecture and extravagant speculation regarding the future and the treasures it holds it’s a shock when something from the pages of the professional speculators, aka sci-fi authors, worms its way into our disappointingly nonfictional reality. Though in all fairness, less so when it comes from Japan.

Yet the newest way in which the metropolitan Japanese surprise and confound we less progressive western dullards is a bit surprising even with the knowledge of its origins. Frenetic salarymen dissatisfied with the pink-cheeked rush the pharmaceutical melange of energy drinks has to offer can now pop in to Tenteki10 for a vein full of “vitamins and other nutritional supplements”.

Yes that’s right; if you’ve got $20 (2,000 Yen) and 10 minutes you can have a doctor stuff your veins with the mysterious “vitamins and nutritional supplements” for what they describe as a “pick-me-up”. While I’m intimately familiar with the potentially less than pleasant effects of a botched intravening (to say nothing of potential “supplement” overdoses) I can’t help but wonder when we’ll have similar set ups in the States.

Even now you can swing by your local plastic surgeon’s office for a speedy syringe full of botulism for all your muscle paralysis needs. How long until Starbucks trades baristas for nurses? And further, how long until our “supplements” are supplemented with the wares of illicit chemists and old-fashioned coffeehouse snobbery is supplanted by a caste system of stat-boost aficionados?

My hope is not long; my daily ritual of chasing down a handful of No-Doze with three or four Viente Quad-Americanos has long since stopped clearing away the borderline somnambulance of the morning.

Drop-by IV drip service helps stressed Tokyoites [Japan Today : Inventor Spot]

Before your eyes is the pinnacle of human achievement, one Romeo Dev. A man whom, while obviously shortchanged in stature, has an undeniably otherwordly ardor about him. And really, why should he not? Were you the height and weight of an average pre-adolescent child, and still able to rend your enemies limb from limb, would you not strut in the manner of a peacock? Would you not smile sadly as you imagined the oncoming storm of your adorably tiny monstrous rage? I submit that you would, and that the world would tremble at your feet as it does Romeo’s.

Romeo Dev [The Telegraph : Del.icio.us]

For when your kielbasa must be served steamed. Reduces waist, tummy, hips and thighs, not to mention sperm count.

Wonder Sauna Hot Pants [Boing Boing Gadgets]