Space for Rent Blog by SpaceOut » weird

How Many Folding Bikes Does It Take To Fill A Parking Space?

Andy — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:57:54 +0000

The answer is in fact 42 (count them), which I guess in today’s increasingly eco-aware society, could be argued is some justification for riding to work rather than driving. However, Hitch Hikers Guide the the Galaxy fans would also recognise that the number 42 is the mystical answer to “Life, the Universe and EVERYTHING” (even Wolfram Alpha agrees)- the problem being that although we know the answer – the original question has long been forgotten.

Curiously (or is it REALLY a coincidence)… there are a bunch of other interesting situations where the number 42 pops up – including :

One of the numbers featured in Lost
The angle of refraction (in degrees) for which a rainbow appears
The time (in minutes) it would (theoretically) take you to fall through a hole from one side of the world to the other
The name of Buzz Lightyears Spaceship
Dr House’s (from House M.D) favourite number
The number of laws of cricket
oh – and 6 x 7 of course…

Parking – think you’ve got it tough?

Damon — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:49:22 +0000

When moving house in Japan, one of the key questions people ask is “Does the property have a car park?” Unlike Australia, most dwellings do not. Next, one has to find out if the parking spot is a full size spot, or a ‘light’ space! A large portion of the Japanese own what are called ‘kei’, or ‘light’ cars. These are very small and economical vehicles and are limited to a 660cc motor. If a house only has space for a ‘kei’, you’d better not move in with your Camry or Magna, or you will just be blocking the street (until your car is towed!!).

On top of this, if a property doesn’t have a car park registered, then it’s quite normal to pay ten to twenty thousand yen (about AU$200) per month for a spot in a local long term lot, and that’s just a regular local neibourhood lot. I have met people here in Japan who have to take a train to get to where their car is parked!

In fact, it is not possible to buy a car in Japan unless you have a registered car parking space, you actually have to show proof at the time of purchase. Some apartment blocks even charge you to keep your bicycle!!

While Australia boasts more space than just about any other country, our inner cities are moving closer to the situation in Japan where space is a commodity, and a commodity that costs. Finding reasonably priced parking space these days can be a headache, but services like www.spaceout.com.au can make things a whole lot easier and cheaper.

Check out these car parks!!

Square Watermelons? – A smart and innovative use of Space.

Andy — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:04:14 +0000

You may have come across this before, and although it’s not strictly about storage, I’ve always found the idea fascinating. Also, like SpaceOut, it is a clever and innovative concept, and it is about the smart use of space.

Watermelons are big and bulky and the round shape makes them awkward to store, ship, and keep in your fridge. More than 20 years ago, a clever Japanese farmer took a lateral look at this problem and came up with a unique solution.

By growing the watermelons in square, tempered glass cases, they naturally adopt the cube shape as they grow. Perhaps this has reduced shipping and storage costs, but these melons sell for 3 or 4 times the price of a normal melon in Japan, so you would definitely be paying a premium for the novelty value.

If you’ve got a melon patch out the backyard, and would like to give this a try yourself, here is a step by step guide to growing your own square watermelon.