Posts from — February 2008

Five month old Fu Long the giant panda, was finally unveiled to the Austrian public on 30th January, at Vienna’s Schoenbrunn Zoo.

The 16lb bundle of black-and-white fluff emerged gingerly from the nesting box where he was born - to the delight of crowds who had been anticipating this moment since August.

Currently there are only seven at European zoos - five in Vienna and two in the Spanish capital.

Historically, giant pandas were handed over by China as gifts to heads of state around the world.

Read more on the Daily Mail

Technorati Tags: Fu Long, giant panda, Schoenbrunn Zoo, Vienna

Eric Lau is a London-based producer who has been busy making musical waves for others.

He may well be a producer you’ve heard, but not heard of, by way of his productions for the likes of Lupe Fiasco, Dudley Perkins, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Guilty Simpson, Wildchild, Tanya Morgan, Hil St Soul, and a family of up n’coming artists who are featured on New Territories, his debut solo album.

What others are saying about his music:

“…it’s not US super producers Sa-Ra at the controls. Nor is Detroit bumpmaster Waajeed (of Platinum Pied Pipers fame) anywhere to be found. The man behind the superlative swing here is none other than Eric Lau – one of London’s best kept secrets.”
- One Week To Live

“Better than goosed down feathers to keep a brotha warm…demanded my attention and will comfort my dancefloor, seat and ears.”
- Bobbito Garcia

“New Territories represents the arrival of a talented artist and perceptive one-man production house.”
- Straight No Chaser

New Territories is set to be released on March 18th, 2008. For preview mp3’s check out the Ubiquity Records website.

Eric Lau on Ubiquity Records

Eric Lau on Visible Chinese

Technorati Tags: Eric Lau, London, music, New Territories, producer, United Kingdom

In search of more sales, tech company iRiver has coated their Mplayer a Chinese friendly gold to produce a Limited Edition, Year of the Mouse product.

Each one is individually numbered and comes in a limited edition box but it’s only available in China.

Via Gizmodo

Technorati Tags: Chinese New Year, iRiver, Mplayer, Year of the Mouse

Any fans of Heavy Metal / Hard Rockers, Deep Purple and Japanese music might be interested in this rendition of Smoke on the Water…

Thanks Stefan!

Speaking of covers - I also came across this Indian version of Guns ‘N Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine, awhile ago, which is pretty cool.

Technorati Tags: Deep Purple, Guns ‘N Roses, Japanese, music, Smoke on the Water, Sweet Child O’ Mine

Beijing-based artist Hong Hao has been collecting and documenting all the ephemera and trinkets (and sometimes just plain garbage) from his life to create a fascinating visual case study.

He’s been doing this for more than 15 years.

See more of Hong Hao on artnet

Via JoshSpear

Technorati Tags: art, Beijing, China, Hong Hao

Take a simple idea and give it to a Japanese game show producer and you have instant comedy!

Here’s another clip of a Japanese game show for a marshmallow eating contest. Participants have to slip on a band across their face which stretches, holding back their heads, whilst they reach for the dangling marshmallows.

Needless to say the distorted faces reaching out for the mallows make for entertaining viewing!

Via Neatorama

Technorati Tags: game shows, Japanese, marshmallows