Okashi: The Matrix style apocalypse will start in Japan

If machines ever gain sentience, it will be Japan's fault. Forget Bolivar Trask, it will be Japanese engineers who bring about humanity's demise at the cold, robotic hands of their creations. So many of the appliances here are already smarter than some humans. Just take a trip to a Japanese toilet and you too will fear for human being's continued survival.

Despite being harbingers of a Matrix style apocalypse, some of the technological advancements are actually quite amazing and convenient. Take the Japanese vending machine. These abundant sources of liquidy goodness are light years better than their American counterparts. Each machine offers a wide range of beverages - from tea to coffee, energy drinks to water, and a variety of fruit juices and sodas. Usually found in groups of two or three, the customer is offered as many options as they would find in some gas stations. This selection is infinitely multiplied by the fact there are vending machines on almost every corner. Literally.

But sheer selection is not what makes these machines so amazing. No, what makes them amazing is temperature regulation. As fall turns to winter and you see less and less skin on passing girls, you will notice the blue strip under vending machine drinks turning red. These are the hot drinks. Press the button for a hot beverage and you are rewarded with a toasty treat that is just cool enough to start drinking right away. Or you can buy two, one for each pocket, as you walk down chilly streets.

Fortunately Americans don't need to worry about this advanced technology making it to our shores. Inevitably someone would think a warm can was too hot and sue. But the arrival of hot offerings at my many (many) local vending machines just made all that walking on cold winter mornings seem a little more tolerable.