PopSugar

Oh Snap! Obama Is a Celebrity in China

TresSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:37 -0800

A stone carving of President Obama is on sale in Shanghai, China, along with carvings of celebrities like Will Smith, Tom Cruise, and Katie Holmes. Obama will be meeting with both ordinary citizens and Chinese leaders in Shanghai and Beijing starting today. As you can tell from these photos, creative vendors in China are ready to capitalize on Obama's visit. You just got to love ~~capitalism~~ communism!

View 5 Photos ›

Uh Oh! Counterfeit Condom Factory Discovered in China

TresSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Condoms might top the list of things that should never be counterfeited. Unfortunately, there may be as many as one million ineffective knock-off condoms on the market in China right now.

Four people were arrested this week at a factory allegedly producing and selling condoms that provide little to no protection against disease or pregnancy. What's worse? Authorities said they found "bare-chested" employees using vegetable oil to lubricate the condoms that they then packaged without any sterilization. Whoever came up with this fake factory sounds like they were fulfilling some sort of bizarre fantasy.

This story is scary enough to make someone outside of China paranoid. If you're freaked out, just make sure you never buy condoms labeled as "Jisson, Durex. Rough Rider, Six Sense and Love Card."

If You Give a Baby Pig a Baby Bottle, Cuteness Ensues!

PetSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:00:17 -0700

Pigs are really having their moment, wouldn't you say?! Especially with those micro pigs over in the UK, seems that baby oinkers are photogenic superstars lately. Case in point with these lil ones - check out the interesting feeding process by zoo visitors. Makes me want to book a plane ticket . . .

View Slideshow ›

Oh Snap! China Goes All Out For Its Birthday

TresSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:30:00 -0700

Bringing back memories of last Summer's epic Olympic opening ceremony, China went all out to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the communist state. While thousands celebrated the red revolution today, those who did not take part faced tight crackdowns. In fact, gatherings in cities other than Beijing and Hong Kong were banned, as were divorces! There were some anti-government protests in Hong Kong, however.

An American icon also took part in the celebrations, despite the US's historical issues with communist China and its human rights abuses. The Empire State building was lit up in red last night in honor of the anniversary. Protesters called the lighting inappropriate for a symbol of freedom and a "blatant approval" of totalitarianism.

To see more photos, read more.

View 15 Photos ›

Oh Snap! And the Nines Have It

TresSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:59:39 -0700

Were you aware that it is 9/9/09? Even if you're not, tens of thousands of Chinese couples will remember for you. They're all racing to get married today, because the number nine is supposed to be lucky. (In Chinese, the word for nine sounds a lot like the word for "forever.") And in Vegas, where nine doesn't sound like forever but some couples are getting married anyway? Maybe they just like the look of 9/9/09.

View 5 Photos ›

Say What? Laura Ling and Euna Lee Break Their Silence

TresSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0700

"Most of the North Koreans we spoke with said they were fleeing poverty and food shortages. One girl in her early 20s said she had been told she could find work in the computer industry in China. After being smuggled across the Tumen River, she found herself working with computers, but not in the way she had expected. She became one of a growing number of North Korean women who are being used as Internet sex workers, undressing for online clients on streaming video. Some defectors appeared more nervous about being interviewed than others. But they all agreed that their lives in China, while stark, were better than what they had left behind in North Korea."

- Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee opened up today about their ordeal in North Korea. They were finally able to report the story that led them to the border in the first place, of desperate women who flee North Korea only to be forced into the sex trade or arranged marriages once they get to China. In the article, the pair also describes being dragged into North Korea from Chinese soil by North Korean soldiers.

Daily Tech: Facebook Is Popular . . . Everywhere

GeekSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:30:38 -0700

Here's a visual of how many people across the world use Facebook - TechCrunch
Sony's new PlayStation 3 commercials are actually kinda funny - Gizmodo
These games are educational and you have a fun time playing them - Green Pixels
AT&T and Apple are getting sued for not being accurate about MMS launch dates - CrunchGear
China finally gets the iPhone, but it comes without WiFi - Wired
Here are some under $100 computer speaker suggestions - Switched

China Airs Its Abortion Problem

TresSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:31:16 -0700

Each year there are 20 million births in China and 13 million abortions. Each year in the US, there are four million live births and fewer than one million abortions. Chinese authorities are admitting that poor sex education and a lack of knowledge about contraception are reasons for the high rate.

Without the protection of proper contraception, pregnant women who have already had the legal number of children turn to abortion. But China's strict family planning laws, which limit women to one child unless the first child is a girl born to a family in a rural area, aren't solely to blame for terminated pregnancies. Single women, often between the ages of 20-29 and without children, are the most likely to seek an abortion.

The high rate of abortion is making front page news in China, even though it's not the highest rate in the world according to UN figures. Russia takes that prize, with an abortion rate more than double that of China's.

Whoa, Mama! Tiger Gives Birth to Six Cuddly Cubs

PetSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:00:22 -0700

Just call this show Tiger and Mate Makes Eight! Normally, tigers give birth to only three or four cubs at a time, but for this doting mom seen here resting up at a tiger park in Harabin, China, she gets an extra set to cuddle with at night. Lucky her! And it's a good change in scenery to see a few tiger cubs, since we're used to seeing panda news coming out of the Asian country, and Germany taking all the baby cat fun!

Check out a few more photos of the cuddly cubs below. All together now - "Awwwwww!"

View 5 Photos ›

China Implementing Strict Criteria For Sex Changes

TresSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:45:15 -0700

Are you single? Over the age of 20? Have you wanted a sex change for at least five years? Have you lived and worked as a member of the opposite gender for at least two years? Have you told your family about your wishes? Then you would qualify for the gender reassignment surgery in China.

The Chinese government is set to formalize its first set of sex change guidelines after putting them up for discussion on the ministry of health's website. Once a candidate meets the requirements, he or she will have to have the police sign off on it.

Experts estimate that as many as 400,000 people want sex changes in China, a country where many aren't very open-minded about the procedure. Hopefully, those seeking gender reassignment will find ways to overcome the somewhat emotionally painful guidelines (like getting police approval or having to tell potentially hostile family members) so they can live their lives as they wish.

Source