Concerned about their diminishing brand presence, manufacturers of photographic film have joined and combined their efforts to remain viable.

Polaroid, Fuji, and Eastman Kodak led the charge. They introduced a new camera to appeal to the adventurous. It’s called the Pistol Shot. It’s a full-function film camera in the shape of a pistol. The user simply aims and shoots. The Pistol Shot camera comes complete with realistic sound effects, night vision, gun sights, zoom-lens monocle, and laser guide.

Mr Mashimoto said that this is aimed at the younger consumer. “Young people love shooting games,” he said, “just take a look at games arcades at cinema complexes, and you will see how popular the shoot’em up games are. The cowboy appeal never goes out of fashion.”

Some countries have banned the importation of these cameras, concerned that it encourages a culture of violence. Mr Mashimoto disagreed. “Find me a James Bond movie where 007 is not carrying a gun. Besides, every department store and toy store can sell a range of toy-rifles and water pistols. We have a product that is useful, fun and safe, I don’t see why people are up in arms.”

Well, this reminds me of the recent debate in the USA about the introduction of the electronic cigarette. Apparently, the Food and Drug Administration would not allow the sale of electronic cigarettes. Its inventors could not believe their ears. They reminded us that the FDA allows the sale of tobacco filled cigarettes which have been proven to cause cancer, and which have been responsible for the death of millions of people; but our electronic cigarettes which have not claimed a single life, and whose health risks are no worse than those associated with face cream, are banned.

Believe it… or not.

As technology gallops ahead, societies need to upgrade many statutes.

While crooks and villains search for loop holes, law makers need to step up their efforts and tighten the legal system.

One of the most hotly-contested tenants of our modern legal framework is that of entrapment. Years ago, police officers posed as prostitutes to catch the clients. These days, police go online to trap anyone who might be using the internet to groom minors for sex.

However, entrapment is a tricky business. A jeweller found out the hard way when he placed a range of tracking devices within articles of jewellery, in the hope of tracking down the thieves who had swiped hundreds of thousands of dollars in stock, in repeated attacks on his business over a period of six months.

The police response has been slow and ineffective, he claims. Even the insurance companies have deserted him – he is now unable to find a company who would accept the risk and give him any form of cover.

Placing infrared radio frequency transponders inside expensive bracelets and watches which he placed in the most accessible part of his display cabinet, the jeweller prepared himself for the inevitable fifth robbery. The bees came to the honey.

With the help of a high-tech security company, he set about to bust the ring … no pun intended.

He did actually tracked the thieves down and a subsequent police raid netted millions of dollars in cash and jewellery, as well as electrical products. But here’s the twist. The case did not stick. It was argued that the jeweller was culpable. By making his jewellery accessible and thus easy to steal, he was in a sense guilty of entrapment.

So beware such law that allows thieves to get away.

Worse still are the laws that make victims responsible for the activities of criminals. Did you know that if you leave your keys in the car and it is subsequently stolen and involved in an accident, you could be legally responsible for the damage?

Believe it… or not.

A new labelling method is being proposed whereby consumers would swipe their user card or enter an ID number into a keypad located in the supermarkets. This ID informs the computer of the customer’s preferred method of calculating energy contents of a product. They would then scan the product, say a bar of chocolate, and wait for the computer to print a special label which the consumer attaches to the chocolate bar.

The label will give the consumer the kilojoule information in a way that makes it personally relevant to them. For example, those who play soccer would be told how many games they would need to play to burn off the energy or fat content in that item of confectionary. Those who enjoy walking may be advised that they to walk 5 kilometres. It may further explain that this distance is equivalent to a trip from their home address to the nearest post office and back.

The computer will customise the language, the location, and the activity advice to the individual’s age, weight, gender, as well as any special medical conditions that have been included in the user’s file.

People make better decisions when they have access to information which is personally relevant, and thus much more meaningful than joules per gram or some other abstract numbers and measurements.

It seems that food labelling is poised for radical change.

Believe it… or not.

Researchers have noted that when a baby crawls to the edge of a high surface, like a kitchen table, they do not fall off, yet when they come to the edge of a swimming pool they take that extra step and tumble in, often drowning.

The difference is in the perception of depth. A baby seems to understand depth, and so, does not fall from a high table. With this revelation, the CamBam Pool company has patented a new type of pool.

Their first innovation is the water level. Camille Bamonne of Rouse Hill Investments said that modern pools are dangerous because the water level is flush with the edge, babies are thus deprived of any depth information. They get the impression that the water is continuous with the solid surface. She explains that in CamBam pools the highest water level is 30 centimetres below the edge.

The second innovation is a patented projection system that is installed at the edge of the pool. It projects an image which creates an optical illusion. When seen from the point of view of a baby, the water surface appears to be metres away. This activates babies’ depth perception making them significantly less likely to step into the pool.

We are still testing the product which, if successful, will revolutionise the pool industry and make CamBam the most sought after company to be floated this decade.

Believe it… or not.

Unlike typical practical jokers who like to hang around to enjoy the laugh, these guys like to set the trap and leave. They derive satisfaction from knowing that they had sown the seeds of embarrassment, even though they might never see their victim’s red face.

One of the most notorious of these jokers has been creating havoc at a popular holiday resort that boasts expansive villas dotted around 50 hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens. Armed with a universal remote control, the joker waits until guests are out of their room, then, through the window, activates the TV, selects the pay-per-view movie channel, and accepts the charge, on behalf of the unsuspecting guests.

You can imagine the arguments when it is time to check out. Staff point to the computer (that never lies) while guests grow red with anger as they continue to deny the movie charges. If the movie charges refer to the porn channel, anger is mixed with a high level of embarrassment.

This is a minor problem which could be easily fixed by the hotel issuing passwords for use by guests. So far, however, it seems that resort staff prefer to waste their energy arguing with clients, instead of addressing their own procedures; and that keeps the jokers laughing.

Believe it… or not.

Mr Meyer and his colleagues are looking for investors to launch their latest fitness system which guarantees fast weight loss yet requires no equipment and no diet. They have perfected a technique that works all the muscle groups, involves no pain, and keeps people coming back for more. It’s fun, easy, and guaranteed to have you laughing.

His idea is to launch a franchise of studios called ‘The padded cell’ where members are strapped down and tickled for 12 minutes at a time. It certainly takes the hard work out of the equation and adds new meaning to the phrase ‘laugh it off’.

For advanced members Mr Meyer is developing a strap-on electric pulse machine which provides an intensive tickle.

The only better way to get a full work out is to join Zero, the new aqua club, where members are plunged into tanks of freezing cold water. They claim that no other exercise system in the world can activate more muscles simultaneous.

Believe it… or not.

Exercise is not everyone’s cup of tea. So, for those who prefer to improve their heart rate by doing absolutely nothing, there is a new craze sweeping Denmark. It’s called Sauna-Robics. People just sit in a sauna and watch television. The heat is enough to increase their heart-rate.

Members who go armed with a doctor’s certificate are allowed to enjoy this new form of exercise for free, courtesy of the national health system.

Saunas are springing up all over the country. Apart from offering television and DVD entertainment, some saunas are offering poker tournaments and a variety of table-top games like billiards or pool.

If the dry heat is too much to bear, the steam-room options will soon be introduced, with a range of wet and wild activities on offer, including adults-only parties!!

That would definitely increase your heart rate!

Believe it… it’s hot.

Health experts tell us that adults must drink between two and four litres of water each day (not withstanding others who argue that humans could learn from many species of animals who only drink when really thirsty). Either way, it seems that Australian adults are averaging less than one litre of water. They make matters worse when they drink tea or coffee – beverages which actually dehydrate the body.

Figures from the Middle East show that adults easily average two litre of water. Observers have noted that this finding has little to do with the hotter climate and more to do with diet. Middle Eastern food, which contains more salt than the Australian diet, makes people feel thirsty after meals thereby drinking more water.

So, if you are finding it difficult to maximise your water intake, try adding a bit of salt in your cooking. You will find it very easy (in fact very refreshing) to drink more water.

The only downside is that excess salt in the body could lead to other complications like contracting capillaries and high blood pressure – there’s always a down side isn’t there!

Believe it… or not.

Recent stats have linked fast drivers with fast music. A study of over 2000 motor accidents in the US showed that 90% of serious accidents were caused by drivers were listening to up-tempo music, like rap, rock, techno, and disco, at the time of the accident.

A second study showed that 84% of those booked for exceeding the speed limit by 10 miles or more per hour, were also listening to up-tempo music.

Professor Bolt from the University of North Carolina is urging legislators to consider how drivers might be prohibited from listening to such music while driving. Various suggestions attempting to control car stereo systems and other audio devices are likely to have limited success as technology makes many alternative devices available to drivers, including a range of portable MP3 players.

Professor Bolt argues that all audio distractions and associated listening devices should be banned in cars. After all isn’t that the same argument that prohibits drivers from using a mobile phone while driving?

Civil libertarians are not happy with the suggestion urging studies to reconsider the earlier findings that ‘music soothes the beast’ and could contribute to keeping drivers calm and focused.

Believe it… or not.

For example, during the sniper crisis in Washington DC a few years ago, ten people were randomly shot over a three-week period. That created a crisis during which millions of people changed their entire living habits. They shopped in different locations, they travelled different routes to work, and many refused to send their children to school, because of the fear associated with those sniper attacks.

What is amazing is that during that same three-week period, 1600 other people were shot around the USA. Murders and hold-ups seem to be accepted as normal run-of-the mill occurrences. Isn’t it weird that the average citizen does not mind, and rarely reacts, to the loss of 1600 lives, but a whole town was almost paralysed when 10 people were shot in that same period of time? Think about the psychology of fear, and the notion of normality, working in that community.

When the snipers were caught, the people of Washington DC were able to relax and get back to their normal routines, even though in the subsequent three weeks, another 1600 people died of gun-related crime. Nobody felt the need to change their routine because those deaths were part of the norm.

Normality is about what we accept as regular and predictable; and predictability is comfortable even when it is horrible.

Believe it… or not.