A calf with heart-shape birthmark on his forehead has become a sensation in Japan as Valentine’s Day approaches. The calf was born on January 25th at Yamakun farm in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan… [image from Xinhuanet (Cn)]
Also check out some pics of a heart-marked chihuahua that made headlines in 2007.
Japanese chocolate manufacturer Lotte is teaming up with popular ramen shop Menya Musashi to create a chocolate flavoured ramen (chocolate as garnish to be precise).
The name of the dish is Ghana Miso and will be available until February 15th in honour of Valentine’s Day, where Japanese women would give give men chocolate as an expression of love or friendship [via Cscoutjapan]
Some fun and offbeat news from various sources…
China – How many beer bottles can you carry in one hand? This man did 15… (pic) [Stareastasia]
Hmmm… The top 10 everything of 2008 [Time]
Japan – Rent a pet, rent a friend, rent a relative… rent a husband? [BBC]
Japan – Japanese learns English from Obama speech textbook [Reuters]
Japan – Calculator speed freaks [Japanprobe]
Nigeria – Police are holding a goat on suspicion of attempted armed robbery [Reuters]
Peru – Court ruled that workers cannot be fired for being drunk on the job [Reuters]
USA – 1,200 New Yorkers and the 8th annual No Pants Subway Ride [Youtube]
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is issuing a 100 trillion Zimbabwe dollar banknote (~USD33) as the country’s hyperinflation continues to worsen…
Some fun and offbeat news from various sources…
Art – Amazing cityscape art made from unusual objects [Neatorama]
Canada – Three Canadian men have claimed a new record for the fastest trek across Antarctica to the South Pole [BBC]
China – A Chinese farmer shows off his self-made rickshaw-pulling robot (pic) near his home in a village at the outskirts of Beijing [Cri]
Germany – Two German children, aged five and six, have been stopped by police on New Year’s Day from eloping to Africa for a sunny wedding… poor kids lol [BBC]
Japan – Said to be Japan’s scariest suspension bridge [Youtube, via Yamatologic]
Space – National Geographic’s top 10 space photos of 2008 [Nat-Geo]
S Korea – Emergency exits used at preschools… cute, but doubtful reliability [Brian]
USA – 6-year-old missed school bus, took mom’s car instead [Neatorama]
Vietnam is planning to set up an official matchmaking agency to arrange marriages between Vietnamese women and foreign men [via BBC]
Cross country arranged marriages are not uncommon in Asia, and its popularity is ever increasing for the past two decades. Women often see it as a route out of chaos and poverty, while men seeking foreign companions for various reasons.
Chinese women used to be the wife-in-demand, but Thai and Vietnamese are catching up in recent years. Their husband-to-be are usually from relatively well being places like Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan etc.
The boom however opens loopholes for illegal syndicates to cheat ladies into prostitutions or other illegal activities; and it’s also quite common that the men they finally met are not fitting to the descriptions provided by the agencies.
The Vietnamese government says it hopes the plan will help prevent the abuse of Vietnamese women by criminal organisations or by their new husbands.
A panda lookalike doggie walking on the street in Jiangcheng, Jilin, China…
Manila metro police yesterday (Dec 2) launched its Santa Cops program where some 200 police officers would be wearing the Santa Claus hat while on duty (until Jan 2).
The Santa cops will be deployed in malls, markets, and busy public areas in the capital city of the Philippines to maintain peace during the festive season.
The concept was introduced a few years ago to portray a friendly image and to bring the cops closer to the public. The idea is probably well received by the Manila people considering the fact that the metro police is making it an annual routine.
