Strange, Odd, Weird or Wacky

China's 'Dead Sea Water Park' is a Human Froot Loop Soup

by China.new

China's largest indoor waterpark, or Godzilla's breakfast bowl of Froot Loops? Sorry big guy, the “Dead Sea of China” resort in Daying County, Sichuan Province, was visited by over one million people this summer. From the looks of it, they all came on the same day!

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Japanese Restaurant Serves Super Sumo-Sized Sushi

by Steve Levenstein

A Japanese restaurant whose patrons' eyes must be WAY bigger than their stomachs is making a name for itself by serving up huge futomaki rolls and super-sized sushi sets. Of course, the prices are enormously inflated as well.

Army of Stray Cats Battles Plague of Rats in Western China

by China.new

Release the Army of Cats! Stray cats in and around the western Chinese city of Bole no longer have to “get their dinner from a garbage can” thanks to the area's booming population of rats.

Grilled Fish Pencil Case is Quite a Catch

by Steve Levenstein

Angling for an offbeat gift? OK, or rather, Hokke! This slim zippered case from Japan apes the delicious broiled “Hokke” (Atka Mackerel) served hot off the grill at Japanese izakaya pubs. The fishy fakery even extends to the inside of this funny, finny case.

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China's 'Most Awesome Wall of Air Conditioners' Building

by China.new

The "coolest" building in China stands in the city of Fuzhou, though not for much longer if the force of gravity has anything to say about it. Tenants frustrated by the lack of central AC in the modern office tower have festooned the 25-story building's exterior with over 500 window AC units.

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Elecom's Designer Wireless Computer Mice Sport USB Dongle Tails

by Steve Levenstein

A new series of computer mice from Elecom in association with Nendo feature a choice of 8 animal tails that – besides looking SO cute – act as USB wireless dongles.

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Angry Birds Carnival Booth Game Features Real Slingshot, Plush Birds & Pigs

by China.new

Want to play 'Angry Birds' live? Then get your apps to China! A carnival booth in the Chinese city of Guangzhou is offering fair-goers a shot at some really pretty plush pigs... with a really big real slingshot.

Euglena Burgers: The Other Green Meat

by Steve Levenstein

The tiny, single-celled Euglena has a foot in both the Animal and Plant kingdoms. It could also have a hand in changing the world's meat-eating culture and vastly improving the environment.

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Reptile Cafe: Something Newt in Yokohama!

by Steve Levenstein

Yokohama Subtropical Tea is Japan's first and only "reptile cafe", offering guests a respite from home and office stress along with the chance to warm up to the cold-blooded staff. What's more, the lounge lizards are real lizards.

Graphic Covered Mug Lets You Sip with the Fishes

by Steve Levenstein

Oh, the Piranha Tea! This anxiety-ridden graphic covered mug from the Humania series is the perfect gift for those who hate fishing, fish, or you.

China's Swimmers Wear Weird Wetsuits to Avoid Sun, Slime & Seaweed

by China.new

Tight black wetsuits sported by some Chinese swimmers are frightening to be sure, but then again so are the innumerable chemical, biological and zoological hazards lurking just off China's not-so-pristine shores. "Suit up and shut up," advise China's so-called Swimsuit Aunties.

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Beetle Larva Candy... Now That's Good Grub!

by Steve Levenstein

A northern Japanese confectioner has got just the thing for nostalgic Japanese looking to relive childhood memories of raising stag beetles... delicious chocolate beetle larvae!

Cool Kids: Environmental Artists Put 193 Baby Cribs on Himalayan Ice

by China.new

A very 'cool' environmental awareness art project at the foot of a fast-retreating glacier in the Himalayas involved nearly 200 baby cribs emblazoned with the flags of all the world's nations.

Candy Candles from Japan Make a Nice 'Light' Snack

by Steve Levenstein

It's a candle, it's a candy, it's... Candy Candles, candles that look like candies! These wacky waxy wick'd wonders are sealed in clear cellophane wrappers just like hard candies and are small enough to fit in your pocket, purse or backpack.

Chocolate's Answer To Silly Putty: Magic Choc

by Toby

If you love experimenting with food and you love chocolate, Magic Choc is the most delicious way to satisfy both urges. It's a molding chocolate that is so forgiving, you can make dozens of models, like you used to do with Silly Putty, until you can't resist gobbling it up!

Dinosaur Chopsticks Make Mealtimes More Messy-zoic

by Steve Levenstein

Gee Mom, Jurassic Pork again? No matter what's on the menu, this set of 3 different Dinosaur Chopsticks will make dining delicious even if your teeth aren't the size of steak knives.

Which Costs More - The Wine or The Corkscrew?

by Norm Cassian

I'm no connoisseur, but I imagine most wine experts consume wine that costs more per bottle than the cost of the common corkscrew used to open that bottle. At my house the typical wine on the bill of fare retails for between $4 and $10. My fancy Rabbit corkscrew runs about five times more expensive than the wine. Now meet Sveid, who manufactures a $72,000 corkscrew that deftly handles wines from $3 to $160,000.