International

Social Media's Dark Side "Is Anyone Up" Is No Longer Up!

Social Media Exposes Its Dark Side With IsAnyOneUp.com

by Ron Callari

The number of followers who had joined "Is Anyone Up" might not have been in the hundreds of millions like some of the more popular social networks, but it sure was capitalizing on the profiles that were registered on Facebook and Twitter, nonetheless. Entrepreneur Hunter Moore had taken Chatroulette to a whole 'nother level to what some were defining as "revenge" or "identity" porn.

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Nerdy Keyboard Sandals Show Off Your Geek Sole

by China.new

Nerdy “types” out there will want to step into these keyboard sandals, artfully imprinted to soothe the geek sole... er, soul. Even the skinniest 98-pound weakling will get a kick out of these cheap flip-flops as they're ideal for a trip to the beach - sand kicking by bullies optional but likely inevitable.

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Japanese Robot Rings Redefine the Face Palm

by Steve Levenstein

A bizarre set of robotic rings developed by Japanese researchers puts the concept of wearable robots in – actually, “on” – the palm of your hand. Consisting of spherical, movable, electrically-powered eyes and mouth, the rings could someday enhance communication through non-verbal means.

Android Espresso Cup Jump-Starts Your Personal Operating System

by China.new

Google's Android is a Linux-based operating system run by mobile devices like smartphones and tablet computers. Espresso is a concentrated, caffeinated beverage prized for its effect on sluggish organic digestive and cognitive systems. The limited edition "Robopresso" delivers the latter in a cup inspired by the former.

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Social Media's Court Of Public Opinion: Zimmerman vs Martin Blurs Vigilantism & Censorship

Social Media's Court Of Public Opinion: Zimmerman vs Martin Blur Vigilantism & Censorship

by Ron Callari

When a neighborhood watch group escalates from its watchdog origins to outright vigilantism, is nothing to be done to protect the lives innocent citizens? So is the question asked by the Trayvon Martin camp. However, in their fervor to prove their point, they have assumed the same extreme behavior online as that which they are condemning on the streets.

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“Fat Guy” Underwear from China Pounds Home the Message

by China.new

Stout men considering moving to China should be prepared some very direct critiques from the country's ad agencies. You may think you're just slightly overweight but that package of “Fat Guy Briefs” in your shopping cart dares to accuse otherwise by pulling no punches.

Don't Kill Gambian Pouch Rats! Recruit Them

by Lady Bee

Annihilation by man or beast is not called for. The giant African pouch rat, with its pouchy cheeks resembling a hamster, is easily trained. So easily trained with food as treats that in its native Africa, the giant rat is used to detect land mines and tuberculosis. In Belgium, one of the countries where they are trained, the African giant pouched rat is called "heroRAT!"

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China's Next Manned Space Mission May Include Women

by China.new

China's next “manned” space mission may be a bit of a misnomer as a portion of the 3-person crew may be female. Seven Taikonauts have been announced for Shenzhou 9, scheduled to lift off for China's Tiangong 1 orbiting space station in June of 2012, and two of the candidates are female. Heavenly bodies indeed!

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Tomko Transceiver for iPhone Offers Fun Functionality with Retro Style

by Steve Levenstein

Mercy sakes alive, looks like we got us a conv-ersation! Communicate the cooler way with the Tomko Transceiver for iPhone, Strapya World's clever update on old-school radio & CB transceivers. Plug one into your iPhone and blow away Bluetooth with a single click!

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Ten Terrific Chinese Drinks You MUST Try!

by China.new

If you've been turned of by The Top Ten Weird and Bizarre Chinese Soft Drinks, prepare to turn the other cheek and turn your taste buds back on again! China is a land of contrasts, and for every bizarre drink there's a delicious canned or bottled taste treat just waiting for you to crack open. Sit back, open wide and enjoy!

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Social Media Finds Room At The Inn

by Ron Callari

Hotel commerce, branding, online reputation management, guest feedback, reviews, and customer satisfaction are no longer disconnected or disjunctive focus areas for hoteliers. Today, social media's tetra-like tentacles reaches out to all of these touch points, and the more forward-thinking hoteliers are embracing 21st century technology to get the job done comprehensively, from decision-making to check-out.

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Burger King Japan Serves Fast Fruit with Apple-Topped Burgers

by Steve Levenstein

The limited time BK RiNGO from Burger King Japan slips a slice of flame-grilled apple into a Whopper Jr-sized burger. They're also including a couple of BK Chicken Wings with each burger. Now that's some sweet deal!

Baked Apple: China's iPhone Branded Gas Stoves

by China.new

You'd be forgiven for thinking smartphones are kinda big in China but consider this: put your hand on an iPhone branded gas stove while it's cooking and we guarantee you it will really, really smart!

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Tower of Power: Tokyo Sky Tree Officially Completed on Leap Day 2012

by Steve Levenstein

Tokyo Sky Tree, the world's tallest free-standing broadcasting tower, was officially completed on Leap Day of 2012. The 2,080 ft (634 meter) tall tower soars almost twice as high as the 1958-built Tokyo Tower and will take over most of the orange & white downtown landmark's digital broadcasting duties.

Unhappy Meals: China's Top 8 Fake Foods

by China.new

China's 1.3 billion people are hungry for wealth and riches. Too often, however, making a buck means taking a buck by foisting imitation nutrition on the unwary. These top 8 Chinese fake foods and drinks may leave a bad taste in your mouth but consider yourself lucky you're just reading, not eating.

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Toxic Glue Puts Chinese Migrant Workers in Sticky Situation

by China.new

If you thought toxic glue was a “first world problem” whose only victims were women engaged to marry George Costanza, think again. A major scandal brewing in China's southern city of Guangzhou has shone the spotlight on a vast, unlicensed leather-goods trade that exposes tens of thousands of migrant worker employees to high levels of dangerous chemicals.

Four Random Things Every Mobile User Should Know

by Gadgetry Inc

The world is slowly shifting to mobile. People use mobile phones for more reasons than you think: to call their loved ones, to send text messages, to access social networking sites, and maybe read and reply to a few emails or so from work.

Cosplay Cyclops Anime Girl Rocks Tokyo Wonder Festival

by Steve Levenstein

Teenage mutant Leela's girdle? The Cosplay Corner at the Winter 2012 “Wonfes” sported someone (or some thing) so shocking, disturbing and, er, cute it deserves a blog post to try to explain it... and the more you know, the more disturbing it gets.

The Top Ten Weird and Bizarre Chinese Soft Drinks

by China.new

Though Japan is infamous (and rightly so) for its weird and bizarre soft drinks, China is quickly narrowing the gag gap with its own unique canned & bottled horrors. These ten terrifying tipples may not be available in your local supermarket unless you've been Shanghai'd, so to speak, but that's a GOOD thing. Just consider yourself lucky China doesn't export everything they make.

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China's First Homegrown Anti-Cancer Drug to be Handed out Free of Charge

by China.new

A working group of Chinese associations has agreed that Conmana, China's first independently developed small molecule-targeted anti-cancer drug, will be distributed to those needing it free of charge. It's about the last thing you'd expect to hear in today's big business friendly, entrepreneurial China but in this case at least, profits are taking a back seat to national pride.

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