Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
“Where I was in Brooklyn, I don’t think I would have even known that there was a major storm happening,” says Adrian Tomine, the artist of next week’s cover, “Undeterred.” He continues: So I spent the whole night glued to the Internet and watching everything unfolding, just being shocked that this kind of dramatic destruction was happening just miles outside my home. And I started thinking about how it would affect the election. This is a first for me in terms of doing [a cover] that’s topical with a quick turnaround; and somehow, these two significant events just came together into that one image for me. Tomine adds: For all its really horrible effects, I feel like the storm has made real a lot of issues in the election that were hypothetical, that were thrown around as debate topics—global warming; and “Is Obama enough of a leader to handle a natural disaster?”; and do we need FEMA? It’s really interesting, and in a way useful, to see a lot of these things become actual issues that are right at hand. Read more http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2012/11/cover-story-sandy-and-election.html#ixzz2B73WkdWx
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Hong Kong movie freaks in the U.S. should be stoked that we’re finally seeing some Chinese movies that are fun, cool, and even anarchic–and not just overblown historical epics. On the heels of Tsui Hark’s Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (actually a China-HK coproduction) comes a crowd-pleasing, special effects feast starring Zhou Xun (Hollywood Hong Kong, Flying Swords of Dragon Gate) and Zhao Wei (Shaolin Soccer, Red Cliff). Not since Green Snake have two A-list actresses fully embraced such fantastically pagan roles, slithering, sauntering, and sometimes even bathing together onscreen when they aren’t kicking ass. And while the production value, action, effects, and bad guys in Painted Skin 2: The Resurrection might resemble the biggest-budget videogame ever, the plot actually has a lot going for it. The two-hour sequel is surprisingly tight and packed with gender confusion, role reversing, a shockingly endearing subplot, and even some poetry to the outcome–not to mention juicy topics of conversation. Who did the leads play in the first movie again? Why are such supremely badass and powerful women so hung up on dudes? Maybe that’s the point? Let me know what you think after November 13, when you can buy, rent, or stream the movie legally.
Art by Stella Im Hultberg HINT MINT AUDREY KAWASAKI – HOLIDAY SERIES Special holiday varieties of Hint Mint’s popular Audrey Kawasaki series. MICROGIARDINI CAN PLANTERS Simply pop the can open, add water, and place in sunlight. Choose from flowers, herbs, and vegetables. GAMA-GO OUCHLETS OUTLET COVERS Clever bandage like outlet cover for preventive measures. GAMA-GO KITTYKEYS KEY COVERS Cute kitty key covers for your boring keys. GAMA-GO ZOMBIE FOOT DOG TOY If the zombie apocalypse ever comes, your dog will now be prepared! HI-FRUCTOSE MAGAZINE VOLUME 25 Cover artwork by 20 Pieces of Dreams artist Audrey Kawasaki. WORK AND NON WORK SUSIE GHAHREMANI NOVEMBER 17 – DECEMBER 5, 2012 RECEPTION: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 6:30-10PM Susie Ghahremani’s work is eye catching and quickly heart warming. Her painting style is smooth and echoes her life long interests in nature, animals, music and patterns. Ghahremani graduated from RISD in 2002 and continues her own business, “boygirlparty” in various forms including gift items, crafts and more. This exhibition, Work and Non Work (the title borrowed from an album by Broadcast) “emphasizes the experimentation and play of my miniatures and drawings that I’ll be showing juxtaposed with the framed pieces.” Facebook event. More info. GR2 20 PIECES OF DREAMS OPENING NIGHT PHOTOS By GIANT ROBOT NEWS it was an awesome opening night, thanks for coming out. Also, listen to the Sena Song on Bandcamp performed live at the event by the duo Luca Ruca comprised of Ayako Fujitani and Ayumu Matsuki. >> ART EXHIBITION: FEATHERWEIGHT By ERIC NAKAMURA Featherweight at West LA College curated by friend and artist Kio Griffith features a roster of artists including many from Japan who came to LA for an art fair. >> DANIEL DAE KIM VOTE CONTEST By GIANT ROBOT NEWS Vote in next week’s election and enter to win a trip to Hawaii courtesy of Hawaii Five-0 star Daniel Dae Kim. >> 2015 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025 2062 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025
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Big no no for Nongshim, South Korea’s ramen giant. Their instant ramen produced in factories in China, and distributed through a massive – nearly global – network is under a recall for their products containing dangerous levels of benzopyrene, a carcinogen also found in coal tar and cigarettes. The benzopyrene is in the soup flavor packets included in bowl and packet ramen, maybe to give it that carbon-rific, smokey flavor… There’s a massive recall being called for all across Asia, but it’s moving very slowly. There are 6 products that have been identified as containing “dangerous” levels of benzopyrene, including some of the most popular products from the brand. The FDA in Manila are trying to clear shelves of the toxic ramen. In Mongolia there are nightly news reports about the ramen and published lists of the particular products targeted for the recall. Vietnamese retailers are pulling Nongshim products from their shelves with the support of local product safety authorities, who are also on the look out for suspicious bras from China with possibly toxic liquid fillings. Hmmm… The Korean Food and Drug Administration, as well as Nongshim are trying to respond to the backlash stating that the amounts of benzopyrene in the soup are minimal. My instincts tell me that if a Chinese watchdog group found the toxic ingredient, we should all probably pay attention. If there’s enough carcinogen present to raise a red flag for them, well… it’s time to toss the spicy ramen. What a bummer for South Korean pop stars who promote the popular instant food. Nongshim’s newest spokesperson is the worldwide sensation, PSY. He just joined the Nongshim family to help promote their newer “Black Cup” Shin Ramyun. Good thing for PSY, he can afford to skip the instant ramen and get the good stuff in Gangnam-gu.
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So, that means, ask him anything. This is your chance to get some questions answered. It’s just starting, and we’ll see where it ends up. (Reddit – David Choe)
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