If you look at the video, you can notice special markings on the robot's side of the table: there are 2 rows of 4 dots parallel to the center line, which I guess are here to help the robots to estimate the position / trajectory of the ball. But this also make the table not conform to regulations (see specifications of tables for table tennis).

FTA:

Sure, because one can operate an iphone with just one hand. Since the smartphone, it seems to me that phones that can be operated single-handedly are things of the past.

you can still hold your calculator upside down.

Japan has fingerprint scanners at the passport checking counters... for foreigners only.

Americans have not demanded higher MPG ratings for their car, but they have not been offered any either. The motorization of cars sold in America is different from what other parts of the world I have lived in (Japan, Europe) get.

Two examples (that I have driven):
- Subaru impreza (not WRX/STI model): Europe/Japan motorization: 1.6 or 2.0l - America motorization: 2.5l (Note that I wouldn't drive the 1.6l impreza, especially on German motorways, but the 2.0l is nice, I just wished it had a 6th gear)
- Volvo C30: Europe/Japan motorization: from 1.6, 1.8, 2.0 or 2.5l - American motorization: 2.5l (same comment as for the Imp' applies).

Yes, and the first thing I do when I see a study about something as controversial as global warming is to check on the author:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Roy_Spencer

Strangely enough, all those scientists who doubts the global warming seem to have some connections with oil companies...

I think that you are mistaking China for Japan...

tl;dr

Some are really awful, but some are actually quite good.
When I bought a new notebook last summer, my first concern has been typing comfort, and the only one I found really satisfying was the Thinkpad's x100e. The keys are slightly curved and comfortable under the fingers, and the press does not have the rubbery feel that is shared by much laptops (yes, Sony, I am looking at you). True, the battery life is the x100e is, at best, shitty, but that was a trade-off I was willing to make. Add the trackpoint at the center of the keyboard which is IMO far superior than the touch pad as a pointing device for casual use, be cause you don't have to bend your wrist to reach it.
I actually prefer this keyboard to the one Dell ships with their desktops, and that I had to use at work (company policy...)

Disclaimer: typed on an x100e

French: "ou un systeme d'exploitation propre"

Correct translation: "or an OS of their own" - understand: an OS that has been made specifically for the device.

I guess google translate is not subtle enough yet to discriminate the different meanings of "propre" in french.

Because you think that American or European top gymnasts achieve their feats with no sacrifice? And what happens to those who don't make it to the olympic team? Professional sport is probably the most competitive activity one can imagine, and vae victis.

The US gas production is more and more dependent on shale gas production, due to the progress of the hydraulic fracturing technique . Although the American Petroleum Institute claims that there this technique pose little or no threat to underground drinking water, environmentalists say otherwise and their voice has been gaining strength thanks to the recently released Gasland documentary film.
What is clear to me is that there is no reason to explain why Dick Cheney exempted the gas drilling industry from the Safe Drinking Water Act, but to protect the gas industry profitability...
To be fair with Democrats, I also have to say that Obama strongly supports shale gas extraction. Good luck, America!

In Future Boy Conan.

I doubt google will remove the caps lock key on MacBookPros. You're safe!
But I agree with you for the smaller spacebar. It took me a while to get used to it.