Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
Okay, it looks weird. It IS weird. But as far as can be determined from the images and videos, it’s real. It seems a Chinese girl named KOKO has gone to great lengths to change her appearance to that of a skinny, dark-haired and huge-eyed anime character. It’s anyone’s guess as to which of the many thin and frail-looking anime femmes this seriously-committed fan is trying to emulate. But whether this young woman is naturally skinny or had to work at it, her thin appearance is perhaps the most disturbing thing about her. From the scant reports available, the girl’s anorexic and physically unhealthy appearance has many people in China concerned for her health and well-being, which you’ll find quite understandable after you see the images at the link. But becoming dangerously thin is a concept that is very easy to understand. Because of the Western obsession with being trim and fit, sometimes to extremes, the process of counting calories and eating sparingly is one with which most of us have some experience. And for some people it gets easy to let that process spiral out of control into a dangerous obsession. But the thing that is harder to understand are this young woman’s eyes. How were they done if the images of her have not been PhotoShopped? If the old cliché that the eyes are the windows to the soul bears some truth, then this Chinese girl is watching Japanese anime 24/7 and is far more committed to cosplay than anyone you might have seen at the Con last week. (Rocket News 24 – Seriously Scary Anime Girl) Additional images of anime girl can be seen here.
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Last week we reported the story of an American blogger in Kunming, China who discovered and nicely documented a fake Apple store in that city. Well, she didn’t find one, but three, or so we reported. But it turns out there are, or were, actually FIVE fake Apple stores happily selling iPods, iPads and Macbook Air computers, and other Apple gadgets. After the news broke here and in other media sources of the American blogger’s discovery, Chinese officials almost immediately descended on Kunming to confirm the existence of the fake Apple outlets and determine what to do about them. Well, it seems that Chinese laws regarding the legal concept of “trade dress” (the visual appearance of a product or the retail environment in which it is sold) are a bit different than they are in the EU or the U.S. Because despite the fact that all of the stores were faked to look almost exactly like a legitimate Apple store, three of them have been allowed to continue operation because they were found to be selling completely authentic Apple merchandise. The other two stores have had operations suspended while Chinese trade and law-enforcement officials investigate the authenticity of the Apple-branded merchandise offered for sale. We don’t know how Apple and Steve Jobs are reacting to this ongoing retail fiasco, but much of the news coverage we have reviewed is monitoring this story with healthy doses of both disbelief and bemusement. This surely does not mean that what these fake Chinese Apple shops are doing is right. It isn’t. But the situation is kind of funny when you think about it, and the story might make an entertaining documentary at the very least. (Asian Correspondent – Five Fake Kunming Apple Stores) Additional details about the two suspended stores can be read here.
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The big news out of China, of course, is the high-speed train crash which occurred near the Zhejiang Province city of Wenzhouon July 23rd. You’ve probably read all about it already, but just to sum up: Thirty-nine people were killed and 192 injured when a bullet train lost power due to a lightening strike and was subsequently struck from behind by a second bullet train. The front train was incapacitated on a viaduct when the collision occurred, causing four passenger coach cars to tumble from the elevated structure. The incident has caused a firestorm of controversy about bullet train safety in China. Families of the dead and injured are practically screaming for an exhaustive investigation of the tragedy. So far, the one bright spot in all of this is the miraculous survival of a 2 1/2-year-old girl, who was pulled from the train wreckage nearly 24 hours after the horrific crash. After word of the rescue spread, news of girl’s condition was dire due to an injury the tot suffered which left one of her legs badly mangled. However, as of yesterday Chinese doctors believe the child’s leg can be saved. Horrible news about the crash, yes, but in the end another amazing story about the resilience of even the smallest of us. (San Francisco Chronicle – Preliminary China Train Crash Story) You can read a short report about the rescued toddler here.
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The book is rescued, here’s a link where you can see it’s pages for free via the Library of Congress. It’s a recently back in print book, but makes an effort to show the injustice of the incarceration. Ansel Adams has been criticized because his photographs which were released were thought to be associated with propaganda. Life was fine, people were happy, and the treatment was fair. Images containing barbed wire wasn’t allowed. But take a look for yourself. It’s a free page by page reproduction that’s online. (Library of Congress – Born Free and Equal)
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Antiques Roadshow has to be one of the best shows, and it’s been copied multiple times, but someone hit the Lotto and their Asian Rhino horn cups are worth over a million. Asians are generally hoarders, and there has to be more of these cups in some unsuspecting collection. So, do check grandmas shelves, storage units, and more. Surely someone has a trove of these. (Washington Post - Antiques Roadshow)
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